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Cuts Both Ways
Studio album by Gloria Estefan
Released	July 10, 1989
Recorded	1988–1989
Studio	Criteria (Miami)
Genre	Pop
Length	49:29 (CD) / 40:23 (LP)
Label	Epic
Producer	Emilio Estefan, Jr. Jorge Casas Clay Ostwald
Gloria Estefan chronology
Let It Loose / Anything for You (1987) Cuts Both Ways (1989) Éxitos de Gloria Estefan (1990)
Singles from Cuts Both Ways
"Don't Wanna Lose You" Released: June 1989 "Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice)" Released: September 1989 (UK) "Get On Your Feet" Released: September 1989 (US) "Here We Are" Released: November 1989 "Cuts Both Ways" Released: May 1990

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Robert Christgau	C
Number One

Cuts Both Ways is the debut solo album by American recording artist Gloria Estefan. Though the release marked the first time Estefan was billed as a solo artist, Miami Sound Machine still performed instrumentation for the album. It has sold over 4 million copies worldwide.

In some Spanish-speaking territories, the album was titled Doblemente Herida.

History

In 1987, after a decade of being the lead singer of Miami Sound Machine, she was credited above the group name (Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine) on their album Let It Loose. By 1989, Gloria Estefan was one of the most successful female Latin artists in the world. With the release of Cuts Both Ways, Estefan was marketed as a solo artist, but Miami Sound Machine continued to perform as her backing band in the studio and on tour (however, the only original member of MSM to play on the album besides Estefan was her husband/producer, Emilio).

The album reached the top ten on the US Billboard 200 chart and peaked at number 1 in the UK and Australia.

The first single from the album was "Don't Wanna Lose You", which became one of Estefan's biggest hits, reaching number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (her second US number one) and was certified Gold by the RIAA. It also reached the top ten in the Netherlands, Ireland and the UK. Later releases from Cuts Both Ways were the commercially successful singles "Here We Are", "Oye mi Canto", and "Get on Your Feet". The title track was released as the final single from the album and was a number one hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

Jon Secada provided background vocals for the album. Emilio Estefan, Jorge Casas and Clay Ostwald received a Grammy Award nomination for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical for their work in Cuts Both Ways.

Track listing

All tracks written by Gloria Estefan, except where noted.

Singles

Release history

Charts

Certifications and sales

Personnel

Miami Sound Machine

• Gloria Estefan: lead and backing vocals
• Randy Barlow: trumpet, backing vocals
• Teddy Mulet: trumpet, trombone, backing vocals
• Jorge Casas: bass guitar, acoustic guitar, programming, backing vocals
• Mike Scaglione: saxophone
• Clay Ostwald: synthesizer, piano, programming
• John De Faria: electric guitar, acoustic guitar
• Robert Rodriguez: drums
• Rafael Padilla: percussion
• Horns on "Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice)" and "Oye Mi Canto" (Spanish version) arranged by Teddy Mulet, Gloria Estefan, Jorge Casas and Clay Ostwald
• Paquito Hechavarría: piano
• Paco Fonta: acoustic guitar
• Michael Thompson: electric guitar
• Emilio Estefan Jr.: congas
• John Slick: additional programming
• Jon Secada, Betty Wright: backing vocals

Production

• Arranged by Gloria Estefan (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 11 and 12), Jorge Casas (all tracks), Clay Ostwald (all tracks), John De Faria (track 8), Scott Shapiro (track 5), John Haag (track 5), Tom McWilliams (track 5) and Efrain Enriquez (track 9)
• Produced by Emilio Estefan, Clay Ostwald and Jorge Casas for Estefan Enterprises, Inc.
• Recorded by Eric Schilling; assisted by John Haag and Ted Stein; additional assistants: Dana Horowitz, Steve Whaley and Roger Hughes
• Mixed by Eric Schilling, except "Don't Wanna Lose You" (mixed by Humberto Gatica; assisted by Greg Laney and Mauricio Guerrero), "Here We Are" and "Cuts Both Ways" (mixed by Phil Ramone and Eric Schilling; assisted by Carlos Nieto) and "Oye Mi Canto" (additional mixing by John Haag)
• Recorded and mixed by Criteria Studios (Miami, Florida)
• Mastered by Bob Ludwig

Design

• Art direction: Nancy Donald, David Coleman
• Photography: Randee St. Nicholas
• Gloria Estefan's hair and makeup: Eric Bernard
• Band hair and makeup: Samy
• Wardrobe: Vivian Turner

References

1. "CBS LP version".
2. Cuts Both Ways - AllMusic review AllMusic.com. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
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30. ^ "Gloria Estefan" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
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32. "Japanese album certifications – グロリア・エステファン – Cuts Both Ways" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 1991年02月 on the drop-down menu
33. "New Zealand album certifications – Gloria Estefan – Cuts Both Ways". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
34. "Dutch album certifications – Gloria Estefan – Cuts Both Ways" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 12 November 2018. Enter Cuts Both Ways in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1989 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
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36. "Viva España: Best sellers" (PDF). Billboard. December 8, 1990. p. VE-28. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
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40. "American album certifications – Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound – Cuts Both Ways". Recording Industry Association of America.

• 1989 debut albums
• Gloria Estefan albums
• Albums produced by Emilio Estefan
• Epic Records albums