Hand Cut
Encyclopedia
Hand Cut is the third studio album by pop group Bucks Fizz
. It was released in 1983 and features the UK top 20 hits, "If You Can't Stand the Heat" and "Run for Your Life
".
The first single from the album was "If You Can't Stand the Heat" in November 1982, which became their fourth consecutive top ten hit in the UK charts. This was followed in March 1983 by "Run for Your Life
", which reached UK#14. Along with this came the album's release, which received favourable reviews and became their third UK top 20 album. Remaining on the chart for three months, Hand Cut was certified silver by the BPI
. The album also coincided with a successful 40 date UK tour.
Despite this, the group's management were concerned that the singles hadn't performed as well as the ones on their previous album and took the decision not to release any further singles from Hand Cut. Realising that their fans were now slightly older, they made a move for a more adult market - a factor which would remain for the rest of the group's recording career, but would ultimately provide their downfall. The following single became the hard edged "When We Were Young", which in the Summer of 1983 returned Bucks Fizz to the top ten, and a Greatest Hits compilation followed.
Some time after the group had fallen out of vogue, their record company, RCA
made one last attempt to revive fortunes by releasing a single taken from this album six years after its release. The song was the ballad "You Love Love". Somewhat predictably it failed to chart and remains the group's last ever UK single release.
Other notable tracks from the album include "10,9,8,7,6,5,4" which was later covered by another Eurovision-winning group, Herreys
. While today, fans of the group bemoan the lack of a third single from the album and cite "I'd Like to Say I Love You" as the perfect choice, which was voted in a poll as the group's all-time best song.
Hand Cut was released on Compact disc
for the first time in June 2004. In 2008, alternate versions of tracks "Run for Your Life", "If You Can't Stand the Heat", "I'd Like to Say I Love You" and "You Love Love" were featured on The Lost Masters 2 - The Final Cut compilation.
gave the album a 7 out of 10 rating, but thought that the over production was sometimes overpowering and preferred the quieter songs on the album (referencing "Where the Ending Starts"). The review stated that the album was well-produced however, saying it was "...another busy Andy Hill-directed epic. The trademarks are all here: ferocious production, terrific drum sound and booming choruses". Record Mirror
claimed that "Run for Your Life" was too similar to a previous single "My Camera Never Lies
", but did state that the group were now making "exceedingly good pop music". Writing for Irish magazine, RTE Guide
, reviewer Brendan Martin gave the album a positive review, saying "Hand Cut follows the formula of their previous albums. There are two singles along with a selection of good pop songs". NME
gave "Run for Your Life" a particularly good review, saying that the group were at their peak and singling out praise to producer, Andy Hill
. Member Mike Nolan has listed track "You Love Love" as the best of their own songs.
Musicians
Production
Design
Bucks Fizz (band)
Bucks Fizz are an English pop group who achieved success in the 1980s, most notably for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up". The group was formed in January 1981 specifically for the contest and comprised four vocalists: Bobby G, Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and...
. It was released in 1983 and features the UK top 20 hits, "If You Can't Stand the Heat" and "Run for Your Life
Run for Your Life (Bucks Fizz song)
"Run for Your Life" is a 1983 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It was written by Andy Hill and Ian Bairnson and became the group's eighth consecutive top 20 hit in the UK...
".
Overview
Hand Cut was the third album released by Bucks Fizz. Released in March 1983, the album continued the group's success, which had been building for two years since their Eurovision win.The first single from the album was "If You Can't Stand the Heat" in November 1982, which became their fourth consecutive top ten hit in the UK charts. This was followed in March 1983 by "Run for Your Life
Run for Your Life (Bucks Fizz song)
"Run for Your Life" is a 1983 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It was written by Andy Hill and Ian Bairnson and became the group's eighth consecutive top 20 hit in the UK...
", which reached UK#14. Along with this came the album's release, which received favourable reviews and became their third UK top 20 album. Remaining on the chart for three months, Hand Cut was certified silver by the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
. The album also coincided with a successful 40 date UK tour.
Despite this, the group's management were concerned that the singles hadn't performed as well as the ones on their previous album and took the decision not to release any further singles from Hand Cut. Realising that their fans were now slightly older, they made a move for a more adult market - a factor which would remain for the rest of the group's recording career, but would ultimately provide their downfall. The following single became the hard edged "When We Were Young", which in the Summer of 1983 returned Bucks Fizz to the top ten, and a Greatest Hits compilation followed.
Some time after the group had fallen out of vogue, their record company, RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
made one last attempt to revive fortunes by releasing a single taken from this album six years after its release. The song was the ballad "You Love Love". Somewhat predictably it failed to chart and remains the group's last ever UK single release.
Other notable tracks from the album include "10,9,8,7,6,5,4" which was later covered by another Eurovision-winning group, Herreys
Herreys
Herreys, or Herrey's, is a Swedish pop group, consisting of the three Mormon brothers Per Herrey , Richard Herrey and Louis Herrey . They won the Eurovision Song Contest 1984 with the song "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley". In 1985, they won the Sopot International Song Festival with "Sommarparty på Stranden"...
. While today, fans of the group bemoan the lack of a third single from the album and cite "I'd Like to Say I Love You" as the perfect choice, which was voted in a poll as the group's all-time best song.
Hand Cut was released on Compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
for the first time in June 2004. In 2008, alternate versions of tracks "Run for Your Life", "If You Can't Stand the Heat", "I'd Like to Say I Love You" and "You Love Love" were featured on The Lost Masters 2 - The Final Cut compilation.
Reception and Reviews
As with the previous album, Hand Cut received many good reviews in the media. Smash HitsSmash Hits
Smash Hits was a pop music based magazine, aimed at teenagers and young adults and originally published in the United Kingdom by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006 and was issued fortnightly for most of that time...
gave the album a 7 out of 10 rating, but thought that the over production was sometimes overpowering and preferred the quieter songs on the album (referencing "Where the Ending Starts"). The review stated that the album was well-produced however, saying it was "...another busy Andy Hill-directed epic. The trademarks are all here: ferocious production, terrific drum sound and booming choruses". Record Mirror
Record Mirror
Record Mirror was a British weekly pop music newspaper, founded by Isadore Green and featured, news articles, interviews, record charts, record reviews, concert reviews, letters from readers and photographs. The paper became respected by both mainstream pop music fans and serious record collectors...
claimed that "Run for Your Life" was too similar to a previous single "My Camera Never Lies
My Camera Never Lies
"My Camera Never Lies" is a 1982 single by pop group, Bucks Fizz. It became a UK number-one hit single in April 1982 and was featured on their album Are You Ready.- Background :...
", but did state that the group were now making "exceedingly good pop music". Writing for Irish magazine, RTE Guide
RTÉ Guide
The RTÉ Guide is a television and radio listings magazine in Ireland published by RTÉ Commercial Enterprises Ltd, a subsidiary of Raidió Teilifís Éireann....
, reviewer Brendan Martin gave the album a positive review, saying "Hand Cut follows the formula of their previous albums. There are two singles along with a selection of good pop songs". NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
gave "Run for Your Life" a particularly good review, saying that the group were at their peak and singling out praise to producer, Andy Hill
Andy Hill (composer)
Andy Hill is a British music producer and songwriter who scored many hits during the 1980s and 90s...
. Member Mike Nolan has listed track "You Love Love" as the best of their own songs.
Original album
| # | |Side One | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Run for Your Life Run for Your Life (Bucks Fizz song) "Run for Your Life" is a 1983 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It was written by Andy Hill and Ian Bairnson and became the group's eighth consecutive top 20 hit in the UK... " Writers: Andy Hill Andy Hill (composer) Andy Hill is a British music producer and songwriter who scored many hits during the 1980s and 90s... / Ian Bairnson Ian Bairnson Ian Bairnson is a Scottish musician, famous for being one of the core members of The Alan Parsons Project. He is a multi-instrumentalist, who has played saxophone and keyboards, although he is best known as a guitarist... Producer: Andy Hill |
4:12 |
| 2. | "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4" Writers: Steve Glen / Matthew James / Bill Edwards Producers: Brian Tench with Bobby G Bobby G Bobby G is a member of pop group Bucks Fizz. He was the only remaining original member in the group... |
4:25 |
| 3. | "I Do it All for You" Writers: Andy Hill / Alan Coates Producer: Andy Hill |
4:00 |
| 4. | "Where the Ending Starts" Writer: Andy Hill Producer:Andy Hill |
3:59 |
| 5. | "Surrender Your Heart" Writer: Bobby G Bobby G Bobby G is a member of pop group Bucks Fizz. He was the only remaining original member in the group... Producers: Brian Tench with Bobby G |
3:56 |
| # | |Side Two | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 6. | "If You Can't Stand the Heat" Writers: Andy Hill / Ian Bairnson Producer: Andy Hill |
3:35 |
| 7. | "I’d Like to Say I Love You" Writer: Warren Harry Warren Harry Warren Harry was a British songwriter and performer.-Biography:In 1978, Warren Harry and his band released the self-funded single "1965" / "Radio Show"... Producer: Andy Hill |
4:15 |
| 8. | "You Love Love" Writer: Andy Sells Producer: Andy Hill |
3:40 |
| 9. | "Shot Me Through the Heart" Writers: Andy Hill / Nichola Martin Producer: Andy Hill |
4:15 |
| 10. | "Running out of Time" Writers: Andy Hill / Ian Bairnson Producer: Andy Hill |
3:40 |
Re-issue (2004)
Bonus tracks:| # | |Song title and credits | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "If You Can’t Stand the Heat" (12" version) Writers: Andy Hill / Ian Bairnson Producer: Andy Hill |
5:40 |
| 12. | "Stepping Out" Writers: Bucks Fizz Bucks Fizz (band) Bucks Fizz are an English pop group who achieved success in the 1980s, most notably for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up". The group was formed in January 1981 specifically for the contest and comprised four vocalists: Bobby G, Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and... Producers: Bucks Fizz B-side of "If You Can't Stand the Heat" |
3:26 |
| 13. | "When the Love Has Gone" Writers: Andy Hill / Nichola Martin Producer: Andy Hill Extra track on 12" of "When We Were Young When We Were Young (song) "When We Were Young" is a 1983 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. Featuring lead vocals by member Jay Aston, the song became their sixth top ten hit in the UK.- Song information :... " |
5:49 |
| 14. | "London Town" (Extended Club Mix) Writer: Andy Hill Producer: Andy Hill |
6:36 |
| 15. | "Identity" Writers: Bucks Fizz Producer: Bobby G B-side of "London Town" |
2:38 |
| 16. | "When We Were at War" Writers: Bucks Fizz Producer: Bobby G B-side of "Rules of the Game" |
6:00 |
| + Hidden track Hidden track In the field of recorded music, a hidden track is a piece of music that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, vinyl record or other recorded medium in such a way as to avoid detection by the casual listener... |
Personnel
Bucks Fizz- Bobby GBobby GBobby G is a member of pop group Bucks Fizz. He was the only remaining original member in the group...
- Lead vocals on "I'd Like to Say I Love You", "Shot Me Through the Heart", "When the Love has Gone", "London Town" and "When We Were at War" - Mike NolanMike Nolan (singer)Mike Nolan is a singer and was one of the four original members of the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. He was born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, but raised in the UK, where he still resides.- Early career :...
- Lead vocals on "Surrender Your Heart", "Stepping Out" and "Identity" - Jay AstonJay AstonJay Hilda Aston is a singer, dancer, and occasional songwriter who was formerly with the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. She was the youngest member of the group's original line-up, being just 19 at the Eurovision Song Contest....
- Lead vocals on "Where the Ending Starts" and "Running out of Time" - Cheryl BakerCheryl BakerCheryl Baker is an English television presenter and singer. She is most famous for being a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, and has performed for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, winning it the second time.-Early career:After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl...
- Lead vocals on "You Love Love"
Musicians
- Andy HillAndy Hill (composer)Andy Hill is a British music producer and songwriter who scored many hits during the 1980s and 90s...
- Keyboards, Guitars, Bass - Nichola Martin - Keyboards, Backing vocals
- Richard Cottle - Keyboards
- Pete WingfieldPete WingfieldPete Wingfield is an English record producer, keyboard player, songwriter, singer and music journalist.-Career:...
- Keyboards - John ReedJohn Reed-Arts, letters, and entertainment:* John Reed , New York novelist and author* John Reed , actor and singer with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company* John Reed , Australian critic and art patron...
- Bass - Ian BairnsonIan BairnsonIan Bairnson is a Scottish musician, famous for being one of the core members of The Alan Parsons Project. He is a multi-instrumentalist, who has played saxophone and keyboards, although he is best known as a guitarist...
- Guitars - Graham BroadGraham BroadGraham Broad is an English drummer who has been playing professionally since the age of fifteen, after attending the Royal College of Music in 1970....
- Drums, Percussion - Chris HunterChris HunterChris Hunter is a former field hockey forward from Canada, who earned a total number of 69 international caps for the Women's National Team during her career in the 1990s. She started playing hockey in high school in Winnipeg. Hunter studied Occupational Therapy at the University of Alberta.-...
- Saxophone - SpikeSpike EdneyPhilip 'Spike' Edney is a British musician who, since early 1970s, has performed with a number of bands, most notably, Queen, where his participation, starting in 1984, has been so extensive that some writers have described him as the "fifth member of Queen". In the earlier phase of his career,...
- Trombones - Guy BarkerGuy BarkerGuy Barker is an English jazz trumpeter and composer. Barker was born in Chiswick, London, the son of an actress and a stuntman. He started playing the trumpet at the age of twelve, and within a year had joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra...
- Trumpets - Anne DudleyAnne DudleyAnne Dudley is an English composer and pop musician, and was the first BBC Concert Orchestra's Composer in Association in 2001. She has worked in both the classical and pop genres. She is perhaps best known, however, as one of the core members of the synthpop band Art of Noise and also as a film...
- String arrangements
Production
- Recorded at Mayfair Studios, Utopia Studios, Power Plant Studios, R.G. Jones Studios, Comforts Place Studios
- Andy Hill - Producer
- Brian Tench - Producer on "10,9,8,7,6,5,4" and "Surrender Your Heart"
- Bobby G - Producer on "Identity" and "When We Were at War". Co-producer on "10,9,8,7,6,5,4" and "Surrender Your Heart"
- Bucks FizzBucks Fizz (band)Bucks Fizz are an English pop group who achieved success in the 1980s, most notably for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up". The group was formed in January 1981 specifically for the contest and comprised four vocalists: Bobby G, Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and...
- Producer on "Stepping Out" - Brian Tench, Martin Webster, John Hudson - Engineers
- Dean Murphy - Executive Producer of CD re-issue
Design
- John Thornton - Photography and Cover design concept
- Andrew Christian - Design and art direction
- Gered MankowitzGered MankowitzGered Mankowitz is a British photographer of the rock music scene over the last 40 years. Some of his portraits of rock musicians, such as The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Slade, are now part of the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery.-Personal life:His father was the late...
- Inner sleeve photography
Chart performance
| Release date | Single title | UK Chart position |
|---|---|---|
| November 1982 | "If You Can't Stand the Heat" | 10 |
| March 1983 | "Run for Your Life" | 14 |
| May 1989 | "You Love Love" | - |
| Release date | Album title | UK Chart position |
| March 1983 | Hand Cut | 17 |
| June 2004 | Hand Cut (re-release) | - |