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{{Short description|1981 single by The Pointer Sisters}} |
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{{otheruses4|the Pointer Sisters song|the Interpol song|Slow Hands|the Eric Clapton album|Slowhand}} |
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{{About|the Pointer Sisters song|the Eric Clapton album|Slowhand|other uses}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}} |
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{{more citations needed|date=April 2009}} |
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{{Infobox song |
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| name = Slow Hand |
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| cover = Slowhand.jpg |
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| alt = |
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| type = single |
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| artist = ] |
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| album = ] |
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| B-side = ] |
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| released = May 1981 |
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| recorded = |
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| studio = |
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| venue = |
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| genre = {{flat list| |
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* ]<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2023/06/how-the-pointer-sisters-made-harmonies-exciting|title= Yes We Can Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=]|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=June 16, 2023|access-date=July 1, 2023}}</ref> |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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}} |
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| length = 3:53 |
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| label = ] |
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| writer = {{flat list| |
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* Michael Clark |
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* ] |
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}} |
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| producer = ] |
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| prev_title = Where Did the Time Go |
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| prev_year = 1980 |
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| next_title = What a Surprise |
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| next_year = 1981 |
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}} |
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"'''Slow Hand'''" is a song recorded by American ] ] for their eighth studio ] '']'' (1981). The song, written by Michael Clark and ], was released by the ] label in May 1981 as the ] from ''Black & White''. |
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==Background and impact== |
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"'''Slow Hand'''" is a pop ballad by the ], released in the spring of 1981 on the Planet Records label. It is the fourth track on their ] album, released that same year. The song gave the Pointers one of their biggest successful releases as the song hit number two on the pop singles chart and became a top ten hit in other countries. The song was ranked in the top 25 best singles of the year by the prestigious Village Voice ] poll, demonstrating music critics' appreciation of the track. |
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Although its sultry style recalls the Pointer Sisters' first American top-ten hit, the 1978 number two hit "]", "Slow Hand" was not written for the group; in fact ] stated that "the Pointer Sisters were the furthest from minds."<ref>''Billboard'' vol. 93 #33 (August 22, 1981) p.</ref> However producer ] said he "knew 'Slow Hand' an instant smash <span style="font-size:50%">...</span>that<span style="font-size:50%">...</span>would recapitulate and expand on the intimacy 'Fire'."<ref>''Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction Colorado)'' 13 November 1981 "The Pointer Sisters' Sound: a musical evolution" by Abe Peck p. 16 (The Entertainer)</ref> Like "Fire"—which also featured ] on lead—"Slow Hand" peaked at number two on the ], for 3 weeks, behind "]" by ] and ]. "Slow Hand" reached that position in August 1981 when it also reached number seven on the ] chart. In September 1981, the single was certified ] by the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=pointer+sisters#search_section|title=RIAA searchable certification database: Pointer Sisters|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=December 26, 2020}}</ref> "Slow Hand" also afforded the Pointer Sisters international success, including the first appearance by the group in the top-ten on the ]. |
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== Personnel == |
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The song would be covered in 1982 by country singer ]. His version, on ], topped the '']'' ] chart for two weeks that June, and was his last multi-week No. 1 song. |
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'''The Pointer Sisters''' |
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* ] – lead vocals |
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* ] – backing vocals |
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* ] – backing vocals |
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'''Musicians''' |
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==Credits== |
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* John Barnes – electric piano |
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*Lead vocals by ] |
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* ] – ] |
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*Background vocals by ] and ] |
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* ] – guitar |
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*Produced by ] |
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* Tim May – guitar |
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*Written by ] & James Bruce Clark (ASCAP listing) |
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* ] – bass |
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* ] – drums |
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* ] – percussion |
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==Charts== |
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{{col-begin}} |
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{{col-2}} |
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===Weekly charts=== |
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{{start box}} |
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{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
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{{succession box |
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!Chart (1981) |
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| before = "For All the Wrong Reasons"<BR>by ] |
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!Peak<br>position |
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| title = ] number one single |
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|- |
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| years = ]-], ]<BR> by ] |
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! scope="row"| Australia (])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=235}}</ref> |
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| after = "]"<BR>by ] |
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| 5 |
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|- |
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! scope="row"| Canada Top Singles ('']'') |
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| 2 |
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|- |
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! scope="row"| France (]) |
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| 55 |
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|- |
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! scope="row"| Ireland (]) |
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| 2 |
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|- |
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! scope="row"| Netherlands (]) |
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| 33 |
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|- |
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! scope="row"| New Zealand (]) |
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| 6 |
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|- |
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! scope="row"| South Africa (])<ref>{{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(P).html|access-date=September 10, 2018}}</ref> |
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|align="center"|10 |
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|- |
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! scope="row"| UK Singles (])<ref>{{cite web|title=Slow Hand : The Pointer Sisters|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17427/pointer-sisters/|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=January 2, 2023}}</ref> |
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| 10 |
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! scope="row"| US ] |
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| 2 |
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! scope="row"| US ] (])<ref>{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=194}}</ref> |
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|align="center"|6 |
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|- |
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! scope="row"| US ] (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=465}}</ref> |
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| 7 |
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! scope="row"| US ] Top 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/19810905.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 5, 1981 |access-date=January 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603141823/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/19810905.html |archive-date=June 3, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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|align="center"|2 |
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|} |
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{{col-2}} |
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===Year-end charts=== |
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{| class="wikitable sortable" |
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!align="left"|Chart (1981) |
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! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |
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|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus81">{{cite web|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1981 |publisher= ] |issue= 393 |page= 7 |via= ] |date= 4 January 1982 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |url= https://i.imgur.com/RgsDOOc.jpg}}</ref> |
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| style="text-align:center;"|28 |
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|- |
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|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.4689&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=www.collectionscanada.gc.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020235834/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.4689&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 |archive-date=2012-10-20}} </ref> |
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| style="text-align:center;"|68 |
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|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1981-12-31|title = The Official New Zealand Music Chart|website=Aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz}}</ref> |
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| style="text-align:center;"|20 |
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|UK Singles (Official Charts Company) |
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| style="text-align:center;"|100 |
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|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1981.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1981/Top 100 Songs of 1981.|website=Musicoutfitters.com|access-date=December 25, 2024}}</ref> |
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| style="text-align:center;"|19 |
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|- |
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|US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/1981YESP.html |title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1981 |access-date=January 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022115158/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/1981YESP.html |archive-date=October 22, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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| style="text-align:center;"|5 |
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{{col-end}} |
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==Del Reeves version== |
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The song was covered in 1981 by country singer ], whose version peaked at #53 on the ] chart. |
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==Conway Twitty version== |
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{{Infobox song |
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| name = Slow Hand |
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| cover = |
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| alt = |
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| type = single |
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| artist = ] |
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| album = ] |
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| B-side = When Love Was Something Else |
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| released = April 24, 1982 |
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| recorded = |
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| studio = |
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| venue = |
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| genre = ] |
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| length = 2:56 |
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| label = ] |
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| writer = Michael Clark, ] |
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| producer = ], Conway Twitty |
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| prev_title = ] |
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| prev_year = 1981 |
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| next_title = Over Thirty (Not Over the Hill) |
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| next_year = 1982 |
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}} |
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}} |
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The song was covered in April 1982 by country singer ] with minor lyric changes to accommodate a male singer. His version, on ], topped the '']'' ] chart for two weeks that June, and was his last multi-week number-one song, and his last gold record.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=362}}</ref> |
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{{end box}} |
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===Weekly charts=== |
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{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
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!align="left"|Chart (1982) |
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!align="center"|Peak<br />position |
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|{{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|1|artist=Conway Twitty}} |
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|align="left"|Canadian ''RPM'' Country Tracks |
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| 6 |
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===Year-end charts=== |
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{|class="wikitable" |
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!Chart (1982) |
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!Position |
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|US Hot Country Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1982/hot-country-songs|title=Hot Country Songs – Year-End 1982|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 23, 2021}}</ref> |
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|align="center"|20 |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{The Pointer Sisters}} |
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{{Conway Twitty}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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Although its sultry style recalls the Pointer Sisters' first American top-ten hit, the 1978 number two hit "Fire", "Slow Hand" was not written for the group; in fact John Bettis stated that "the Pointer Sisters were the furthest from minds." However producer Richard Perry said he "knew 'Slow Hand' an instant smash ...that...would recapitulate and expand on the intimacy 'Fire'." Like "Fire"—which also featured Anita Pointer on lead—"Slow Hand" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, for 3 weeks, behind "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie. "Slow Hand" reached that position in August 1981 when it also reached number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In September 1981, the single was certified Gold by the RIAA. "Slow Hand" also afforded the Pointer Sisters international success, including the first appearance by the group in the top-ten on the UK Singles Chart.
