# Hand Cut

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{{Infobox album
| name       = Hand Cut
| type       = [Album](/source/Album)
| artist     = [Bucks Fizz](/source/Bucks_Fizz)
| cover      = Bfhandcut.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 1 March 1983
| recorded   = 1982–83
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [Pop](/source/Pop_music)
| length     = {{Duration|m=40|s=44}}
| label      = [RCA Records](/source/RCA_Records)
| producer   = {{flatlist|
* [Andy Hill](/source/Andy_Hill_(composer))
* Brian Tench
* [Bobby G](/source/Bobby_G)
}}
| prev_title = [Are You Ready](/source/Are_You_Ready_(Bucks_Fizz_album))
| prev_year  = 1982
| next_title = [Greatest Hits](/source/Greatest_Hits_-_Bucks_Fizz)
| next_year  = 1983
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Hand Cut
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [If You Can't Stand the Heat](/source/If_You_Can't_Stand_the_Heat_(song))
 | single1date = November 1982
 | single2     = [Run for Your Life](/source/Run_for_Your_Life_(Bucks_Fizz_song))
 | single2date = March 1983
 | single3     = You Love Love
 | single3date = May 1989
}}
}}

'''''Hand Cut''''' is the third studio album by the English [pop](/source/Pop_music) group [Bucks Fizz](/source/Bucks_Fizz). It was released on 1 March 1983 and features the UK top 20 hits, "[If You Can't Stand the Heat](/source/If_You_Can't_Stand_the_Heat_(song))" and "[Run for Your Life](/source/Run_for_Your_Life_(Bucks_Fizz_song))".

{{TOC limit|2}}

== Overview ==
''Hand Cut'' continued the group's success, which had been building for two years since their [Eurovision](/source/Eurovision) win.

The first single from the album was "[If You Can't Stand the Heat](/source/If_You_Can't_Stand_the_Heat_(song))" in November 1982, which became their fourth consecutive top ten hit in the UK charts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/My%20Angel|title= If You Can't Stand the Heat|author=Official Charts|website= [Official Charts](/source/Official_Charts_Company)|access-date=2008-08-12 }}</ref> This was followed in March 1983 by "[Run for Your Life](/source/Run_for_Your_Life_(Bucks_Fizz_song))", which reached UK#14.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Something%20Special|title= Run for Your Life |author=Official Charts|website= [Official Charts](/source/Official_Charts_Company) |access-date=2008-08-12 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ianbairnson.com/discography/bucksfizzhandcut/bucksfizzhandcut.htm |title= Writer/Guitarist's website with song clips |author=Ian Bairnson|access-date=2008-12-10 }}</ref> Along with this came the album's release, which received favourable reviews and became their third UK top 20 album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/archive/official-albums-chart/ |title=''Hand Cut'', UK album Official Charts Company |author=Official Charts |website=[Official Charts](/source/Official_Charts_Company) |access-date=2008-07-18 }}</ref> Remaining on the chart for three months, ''Hand Cut'' was certified [silver](/source/silver_disc) by the [BPI](/source/British_Phonographic_Industry).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |title=Certified awars - Search Bucks Fizz |author=BPI |access-date=2009-09-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924015932/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx |archive-date=2009-09-24 }}</ref> The album also coincided with a successful 40 date [UK](/source/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](/source/When_We_Were_Young_(Bucks_Fizz_single))", which in the Summer of 1983 returned Bucks Fizz to the top ten, and a ''[Greatest Hits](/source/Greatest_Hits_(Bucks_Fizz_album))'' compilation followed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ianbairnson.com/discography/bucksfizzgreatesthits/bucksfizzgreatesthits.htm  |title= Guitarist's website (''Greatest Hits'') |author=Ian bairnson|access-date=2008-12-10 }}</ref>

Some time after the group had fallen out of vogue, their record company, [RCA](/source/RCA_Corporation) 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".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raffem.com/BucksFizz85till2003.htm#1989 |title= Bucks Fizz history - 1989 |author=Raffem|access-date=2008-07-18 }}</ref> 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](/source/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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bucksfizzearlyyears.co.uk/top40.htm |title=Bucks Fizz fan's Top 40 |author=Early years |access-date=2008-06-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012115500/http://www.bucksfizzearlyyears.co.uk/top40.htm |archive-date=2008-10-12 }}</ref>

''Hand Cut'' was released on [compact disc](/source/compact_disc) for the first time in June 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://de.click2music.co.uk//3rd/Prezence/bucksfizz/flash.html |title=Promotion for album Re-issue |author=BMG |access-date=2008-10-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605052753/http://de.click2music.co.uk/3rd/Prezence/bucksfizz/flash.html |archive-date=June 5, 2007 }}</ref> 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](/source/The_Lost_Masters_(Bucks_Fizz_album))'' compilation.

== Reception and reviews ==
As with the previous album, ''Hand Cut'' received many good reviews in the media. ''[Smash Hits](/source/Smash_Hits)'' 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".<ref>Ian Birch, [Smash Hits](/source/Smash_Hits) Magazine, Album reviews, March 1983</ref> ''[Record Mirror](/source/Record_Mirror)'' claimed that "Run for Your Life" was too similar to a previous single "[My Camera Never Lies](/source/My_Camera_Never_Lies)", but did state that the group were now making "exceedingly good pop music". Writing for Irish magazine, ''[RTÉ Guide](/source/RT%C3%89_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".<ref>Brendan Martin, [RTÉ Guide](/source/RT%C3%89_Guide), Album reviews, March 1983</ref> The ''[New Straits Times](/source/New_Straits_Times)'' gave the album a largely negative review saying that it was "overly clean, lacking a rough hewn edge". It did however single out two tracks which rose above "the mundane", namely "10,9,8,7,6,5,4" and "If You Can't Stand the Heat" calling them "catchy".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19830626&id=PK5UAAAAIBAJ&pg=5911,5508887|title=New Straits Times - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=2017-04-30}}</ref>

''[NME](/source/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](/source/Andy_Hill_(composer)). Member Mike Nolan has listed track "You Love Love" as the best of their own songs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/juniortvtimes2006/collect/bucksb3_mike.htm|title= Mike Nolan Profile, 1983 |author=Look-in|access-date=2008-12-19 }}{{dead link|date=October 2010|bot=AnomieBOT}}</ref>

In 2017, ''[Classic Pop](/source/Classic_Pop)'' reviewed the album positively, saying that it was "state-of-the-art pop", mentioning tracks "10,9,8,7,6,5,4" and "Running Out of Time".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lester|first=Paul|date=October 2017|title=Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Fizz|magazine=Classic Pop|volume=33|page=58}}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Tracklist
| headline = Side One
| extra_column = Producer
| title1 = [Run for Your Life](/source/Run_for_Your_Life_(Bucks_Fizz_song))
| writer1 = [Andy Hill](/source/Andy_Hill_(composer)), [Ian Bairnson](/source/Ian_Bairnson)
| extra1 = Andy Hill
| length1 = 4:12
| title2 = 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4
| writer2 = Steve Glen, Matthew James, Bill Edwards
| extra2 = Brian Tench with [Bobby G](/source/Bobby_G)
| length2 = 4:29
| title3 = I Do It All for You
| writer3 = Andy Hill, Alan Coates
| extra3 = Andy Hill
| length3 = 3:58
| title4 = Where the Ending Starts
| writer4 = Andy Hill
| extra4 = Andy Hill
| length4 = 3:57
| title5 = Surrender Your Heart
| writer5 = [Bobby G](/source/Bobby_G)
| extra5 = Brian Tench with Bobby G
| length5 = 4:09
}}

{{Tracklist
| headline = Side Two
| extra_column = Producer
| title6 = [If You Can't Stand the Heat](/source/If_You_Can't_Stand_the_Heat_(song))
| writer6 = Andy Hill, Ian Bairnson
| extra6 = Andy Hill
| length6 = 3:35
| title7 = I'd Like to Say I Love You
| writer7 = [Warren Harry](/source/Warren_Harry)
| extra7 = Andy Hill
| length7 = 4:30
| title8 = You Love Love
| writer8 = Andy Sells
| extra8 = Andy Hill
| length8 = 3:40
| title9 = Shot Me Through the Heart
| writer9 = Andy Hill, Nichola Martin
| extra9 = Andy Hill
| length9 = 4:25
| title10 = Running Out of Time
| writer10 = Andy Hill, Ian Bairnson
| extra10 = Andy Hill
| length10 = 3:45
}}

{{Tracklist
| headline = 2004 Reissue Bonus Tracks
| extra_column = Producer
| title11 = If You Can't Stand the Heat
| note11 = 12" version
| writer11 = Andy Hill, Ian Bairnson
| extra11 = Andy Hill
| length11 = 5:39
| title12 = Stepping Out
| note12 = B-side of "If You Can't Stand the Heat"
| writer12 = [Bucks Fizz](/source/Bucks_Fizz_(band))
| extra12 = Bucks Fizz
| length12 = 3:28
| title13 = When the Love Has Gone
| note13 = Extra track on 12" of "[When We Were Young](/source/When_We_Were_Young_(Bucks_Fizz_song))
| writer13 = Andy Hill, Nichola Martin
| extra13 = Andy Hill
| length13 = 5:50
| title14 = [London Town](/source/London_Town_(Bucks_Fizz_song))
| note14 = Extended Club Mix
| writer14 = Andy Hill
| extra14 = Andy Hill
| length14 = 6:38
| title15 = Identity
| note15 = B-side of "London Town"
| writer15 = Bucks Fizz
| extra15 = Bobby G
| length15 = 2:40
| title16 = When We Were at War
| note16 = B-side of "[Rules of the Game](/source/Rules_of_the_Game_(song))
| writer16 = Bucks Fizz
| extra16 = Bobby G
| length16 = 6:00
| title17 = [Pinball Wizard](/source/Pinball_Wizard) / [Hot Stuff](/source/Hot_Stuff_(Donna_Summer_song)) / [Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?](/source/Da_Ya_Think_I'm_Sexy%3F) / [Knock on Wood](/source/Knock_on_Wood_(Eddie_Floyd_song)) / [Rockin' All Over the World](/source/Rockin'_All_Over_the_World_(song))
| note17 = hidden track
| writer17 = [Pete Townshend](/source/Pete_Townshend) / [Pete Bellotte](/source/Pete_Bellotte), [Harold Faltermeyer](/source/Harold_Faltermeyer), [Keith Forsey](/source/Keith_Forsey) / [Rod Stewart](/source/Rod_Stewart), [Carmine Appice](/source/Carmine_Appice) / [Eddie Floyd](/source/Eddie_Floyd), [Steve Cropper](/source/Steve_Cropper) / [John Fogerty](/source/John_Fogerty)
| extra17 = Bucks Fizz
| length17 = 5:50
}}

== Personnel ==
<ref>Album sleeve notes</ref>

=== Bucks Fizz ===
*[Bobby G](/source/Bobby_G)&nbsp;- 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 Nolan](/source/Mike_Nolan_(singer))&nbsp;- Lead vocals on "Surrender Your Heart", "Stepping Out" and "Identity"
*[Jay Aston](/source/Jay_Aston)&nbsp;- Lead vocals on "Where the Ending Starts" and "Running out of Time"
*[Cheryl Baker](/source/Cheryl_Baker)&nbsp;- Lead vocals on "You Love Love"

=== Musicians ===
*[Andy Hill](/source/Andy_Hill_(composer))&nbsp;- Keyboards, Guitars, Bass
* Nichola Martin&nbsp;- Keyboards, Backing vocals
* Richard Cottle&nbsp;- Keyboards
* [Pete Wingfield](/source/Pete_Wingfield)&nbsp;- Keyboards
* [John Reed](/source/John_Reed_(musician))&nbsp;- Bass
* [Ian Bairnson](/source/Ian_Bairnson)&nbsp;- Guitars
* [Graham Broad](/source/Graham_Broad)&nbsp;- Drums, Percussion
* [Chris Hunter](/source/Chris_Hunter_(musician))&nbsp;- Saxophone
* [Spike](/source/Spike_Edney)&nbsp;- Trombones
* [Guy Barker](/source/Guy_Barker)&nbsp;- Trumpets
* [Anne Dudley](/source/Anne_Dudley)&nbsp;- String arrangements

=== Production ===
* Recorded at Mayfair Studios, Utopia Studios, Power Plant Studios, [R.G. Jones Studios](/source/RG_Jones_Recording_Studios), Comforts Place Studios
*Andy Hill&nbsp;- Producer
*Brian Tench&nbsp;- Producer on "10,9,8,7,6,5,4" and "Surrender Your Heart"
*Bobby G&nbsp;- Producer on "Identity" and "When We Were at War". Co-producer on "10,9,8,7,6,5,4" and "Surrender Your Heart"
* [Bucks Fizz](/source/Bucks_Fizz_(band))&nbsp;- Producer on "Stepping Out"
*Brian Tench, Martin Webster, John Hudson&nbsp;- Engineers
*Dean Murphy&nbsp;- Executive Producer of CD re-issue

=== Design ===
*John Thornton&nbsp;- Photography and Cover design concept
*Andrew Christian&nbsp;- Design and art direction
*[Gered Mankowitz](/source/Gered_Mankowitz)&nbsp;- Inner sleeve photography <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raffem.com/images/Bucks_Fizz/cut5.jpg|title=Inner sleeve photograph taken by Gered Mankowitz|author=Raffem|access-date=2008-07-18|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720062945/http://www.raffem.com/images/Bucks_Fizz/cut5.jpg|archive-date=2011-07-20}}</ref>

==Charts==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Weekly chart performance for ''Hand Cut''
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1983)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|[UK Albums](/source/UK_Albums_Chart) ([OCC](/source/Official_Charts_Company))<ref name="UK Albums">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18903/bucks-fizz/ |title=UK Albums |publisher=officialcharts.com |accessdate=2016-06-26}}</ref>
|align="center"| 17
|-
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Bucks Fizz}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1983 albums
Category:Bucks Fizz albums
Category:RCA Records albums
Category:Albums produced by Andy Hill (composer)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hand Cut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_Cut) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_Cut?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.