Slow Hand by The Pointer Sisters Song Info
Slow Hand is a ballad written by John Bettis and Michael Clark and recorded by The Pointer Sisters. It was first released in the spring of 1981 as the advance single for Black & White. Although its sultry style recalls the Pointer Sisters' first Top Ten hit: the 1978 #2 hit "Fire", "Slow Hand" was not written for the group; in fact John Bettis would state "the Pointer Sisters were the furthest [act] from [the composers'] minds." Like "Fire" - which also featured Anita Pointer on lead - "Slow Hand" peaked at #2 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 #7 on the R&B chart. The Pointer Sisters' best Hot 100 showing would remain #2 throughout their career. "Slow Hand" also afforded the Pointer Sisters international success, including the first appearance by the group in the UK Top 30 with a #10 peak. The track was ranked in the top 25 best singles of the year by the prestigious Village Voice jazz & pop poll, demonstrating music critics' appreciation of the track. "Slow Hand" was not the first song recorded by the sisters to have a country feel. In 1974 the group wrote and recorded the breakthrough track Fairytale.
