
Peak
2
Weeks
24
Score
4,661
Chart Year
1981
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In the early '80s, Karen Carpenter wanted her lover to Touch Me When We're Dancing and Olivia Newton-John wanted to get "Physical," but The Pointer Sisters made it clear that slow, sensual love was their priority. The songs were all written by men - this one by John Bettis and Michael Clark. This song followed in the vein of "Fire," a 1978 hit for The Pointer Sisters that was written by Bruce Springsteen. That one finds them boiling over with passion for the man who is pulling them close, presumably with a slow hand. Conway Twitty showed that this song has a great deal of country appeal when he recorded it in 1982. His version went to #1 on the Country chart. >> The lyricist John Bettis also wrote the words to several Carpenters' hits including "Top Of The World" and "Goodbye to Love" as well as Whitney Houston's "One Moment In Time." This was featured in a Schick razor commercial in the late '80s when more and more songs were being used to promote products in exchange for hefty compensation or corporate sponsorship. It was a thorny issue for industry veterans and artists who turned their noses at "selling out." Not so for John Bettis. "In a way it's the ultimate compliment. It's like your song is part of the culture, so recognizable that it's a kind of celebrity. As long as these commercials are tasteful - and I think the Schick one is - it's fine," he told BAM magazine. But, he warned, there's a catch: "By allowing a song to be used in a commercial, you're cutting off any immediate follow-up cover possibilities. For instance, 'Slow Hand' was a #2 hit for the Pointers. A year later, Conway Twitty recorded it and had a #1 country hit. Had I allowed it to be used in a commercial right after the Pointers had a hit with it, Twitty would never have covered it. So you've got to be careful."
As the midnight moon, was drifting through The lazy sway of the trees I saw the look in your eyes, lookin' into mine Seeing what you wanted to see Darlin' don't say a word, cause I already heard What your body's sayin' to mine I'm tired of fast moves I've got a slow groove... On my mind I want a man with a slow hand I want a lover with an easy touch I want somebody who will spend some time Not come and go in a heated rush I want somebody who will understand When it comes to love, I want a slow hand On shadowed ground, with no one around And a blanket of stars in our eyes We are drifting free, like two lost leaves On the crazy wind of the night Darlin', don't say a word, 'cause I already heard What your body's sayin' to mine If I want it all night You say it's alright We got the time 'Cause I got a man with a slow hand I got a lover with an easy touch I found somebody who will spend some time Not come and go in a heated rush I found somebody who will understand When it comes to love, I want a slow hand If I want it all night Please say it's alright It's not a fast move But a slow groove On my mind 'Cause I got a man with a slow hand I got a lover with an easy touch I found somebody who will spend some time Not come and go in a heated rush I found somebody who will understand When it comes to love, I want a slow hand "Slow Hand" by the Pointer Sisters. As the midnight moon, was drifting through The lazy sway of the trees I saw the look in your eyes, lookin' into mine Seeing what you wanted to see Darlin' don't say a word, cause I already heard What your body's sayin' to mine I'm tired of fast moves I've got a slow groove... On my mind I want a man with a slow hand I want a lover with an easy touch I want somebody who will spend some time Not come and go in a heated rush I want somebody who will understand When it comes to love, I want a slow hand On shadowed ground, with no one around And a blanket of stars in our eyes We are drifting free, like two lost leaves On the crazy wind of the night Darlin', don't say a word, 'cause I already heard What your body's sayin' to mine If I want it all night You say it's alright We got the time 'Cause I got a man with a slow hand I got a lover with an easy touch I found somebody who will spend some time Not come and go in a heated rush I found somebody who will understand When it comes to love, I want a slow hand If I want it all night Please say it's alright It's not a fast move But a slow groove On my mind 'Cause I got a man with a slow hand I got a lover with an easy touch I found somebody who will spend some time Not come and go in a heated rush I found somebody who will understand When it comes to love, I want a slow hand
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 30, 1981 | 83 | 43 |
| 2 | Jun 6, 1981 | 73 | 53 |
| 3 | Jun 13, 1981 | 57 | 69 |
| 4 | Jun 20, 1981 | 44 | 82 |
| 5 | Jun 27, 1981 | 32 | 94 |
| 6 | Jul 4, 1981 | 18 | 108 |
| 7 | Jul 11, 1981 | 10 | 116 |
| 8 | Jul 18, 1981 | 9 | 117 |
| 9 | Jul 25, 1981 | 7 | 119 |
| 10 | Aug 1, 1981 | 6 | 120 |
| 11 | Aug 8, 1981 | 6 | 120 |
| 12 | Aug 15, 1981 | 6 | 120 |
| 13 | Aug 22, 1981 | 4 | 122 |
| 14 | Aug 29, 1981 | 2 | 124 |
| 15 | Sep 5, 1981 | 2 | 124 |
| 16 | Sep 12, 1981 | 2 | 124 |
| 17 | Sep 19, 1981 | 10 | 116 |
| 18 | Sep 26, 1981 | 12 | 114 |
| 19 | Oct 3, 1981 | 27 | 99 |
| 20 | Oct 10, 1981 | 30 | 96 |