About the song
In 1981, the airwaves crackled with the sultry sounds of “Slow Hand,” a song destined to become a signature tune for the legendary Pointer Sisters. Released as the lead single from their eighth studio album, “Black & White,” “Slow Hand” captivated audiences with its smooth groove and Anita Pointer’s powerful, evocative vocals.
While the song’s smoky sensuality might seem tailor-made for the Pointer Sisters, it was surprisingly not written for them. Songwriters Michael Clark and John Bettis had a different vision in mind. However, producer Richard Perry recognized the song’s potential for the group, believing it would “recapitulate and expand on the intimacy” of their previous hit, “Fire.”
And Perry’s intuition proved to be spot on. “Slow Hand” became a runaway success, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, held back only by the juggernaut duet of Diana Ross and Lionel Richie’s “Endless Love.” It garnered international acclaim, propelling the Pointer Sisters into the UK Top Ten for the first time.
The song’s success wasn’t just about catchy melodies and Anita Pointer’s captivating performance. “Slow Hand” tapped into a mood, a yearning for a gentle touch and a slow seduction. It offered a sonic escape, a world where desire simmered just beneath the surface, waiting to be explored.
The song’s impact went beyond the charts. It cemented the Pointer Sisters’ reputation as a group that could deliver both scorching dance floor anthems and soulful ballads that tugged at the heartstrings. “Slow Hand” continues to be a beloved classic, a testament to the group’s enduring legacy and their ability to deliver timeless music.
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Lyrics
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 got 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
I found a lover with a slow hand
Oh, lover with the slow hand
And I get all excited with his easy touch
I found somebody who will spend the night
Not come and go in a heated rush