Cuts Like a Knife is the third studio album by the Canadian rock artist Bryan Adams. Released on 18 January 1983 through A&M Records, the album became a huge commercial success in Canada and the United States whereas outside North America, the album did poorly. After the release of Reckless the album would chart on the British album chart and would later be certified Silver by the BPI.[1][2] It was recorded at Little Mountain Sound, Vancouver, Canada.
Three singles were released from the album: "Straight from the Heart", "Cuts Like a Knife" and "This Time"; the three were responsible for launching Adams into mainstream popularity.[3]
Music
Recording and production
The recording for the album was between 13 August-20 October 1982.[4] Mixing started on 14 October and would end the 20. October.[4] "Straight from the Heart" was recorded at Little Mountain Sound, Vancouver, Canada by Bob Clearmountain and Adams, it was later mixed at Le Studio, Morin-Heights, Canada.[4] "Straight from the Heart" was originally written in 1978, the title for the song originally came from his friend Eric Kagna.[4] This song was the last recorded song for the album.[4] Adams didn't really want "This Time" to be recorded but since Clearmountain insisted the song was recorded at Little Mountain studio.[4]
Songs
"Straight from the Heart" is a rock song written by Adams and was released in December 1982 as the first single released from the album, which was released the next month. It is arguably one of Adams' most recognizable and popular songs. The song peaked at the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 at 10 and 32 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song has appeared on all of Adams' compilation albums with the exception of The Best of Me.
"Cuts Like a Knife" was released in 1983 and became one of the most successful songs from Cuts Like a Knife on the American rock charts and arguably one of Adams most recognizable and popular songs from the 80s.[4] "Cuts Like a Knife" was released worldwide on March, 1984.[4] The song reached the top ten on the Mainstream Rock Tracks at six and was Adams first top ten hit on the mainstream rock chart, "Cuts Like a Knife" would also chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at 15.[5] "Cuts Like A Knife" was Adams first the top twenty hit on the Canadian singles chart and remained in the top twenty for six weeks.[6] "Cuts Like a Knife" was released the following month in Europe but didn't chart.
"This Time" is a rock song written by Adams and Vallance and was the third single released from the album. "This Time" was Adams first single to chart in Europe. While it charted after being re-released in the United Kingdom. The song peaked at the top thirty on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart at 21, it would also chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at 24.
Release and reception
Adams breakthrough album Cuts Like a Knife co-produced by Adams and Bob Clearmountain, peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200. The album was released in January, 1983 and featured the hit singles "Straight from the Heart", "This Time" and "Cuts Like a Knife". "Cuts Like a Knife" and "Straight from the Heart" were nominated for a Juno Award for Single of the Year, "Cuts Like a Knife" would win the Composer of the Year award. In Canada Cuts Like a Knife was certified three times platinum and the album would also be certified in the United States reaching platinum.
Cuts Like a Knife included the hits "Straight from the Heart", "This Time", "Cuts Like a Knife", "I'm Ready", "The Only One" and "Take Me Back". All the singles had accompanying music videos. The first three singles charted on the Billboard Hot 100, while only "Straight from the Heart" peaked at the top ten.[5] "Cuts Like a Knife" would become the most successful single from Cuts Like a Knife at its time of release on the rock charts, reaching number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the mainstream rock chart.[5]
Cuts Like a Knife tour
The Cuts Like a Knife tour started in eastern Canada.[3] In March, Adams started the American leg of the tour, after five months Adams had performed over 100 dates.[3] He later joined the British progressive rock band Supertramp on their tour in North America. He then traveled to Vancouver where he played live in front of 30,000 fans.[3] Later on he went down to Europe for a six week solo tour. He played in six different countries.[3] November, 1983 Adams went to Japan to start his own headline tour. By this time Adams had been on the road 283 days.[3] Adams supported The Police when he toured in Australia and New Zealand.[3]
Track listing
| Writer(s) |
| 1. |
"The Only One" |
Adams, Vallance |
3:14 |
| 2. |
"Take Me Back" |
Adams, Vallance |
4:41 |
| 3. |
"This Time" |
Adams, Vallance |
3:18 |
| 4. |
"Straight from the Heart" |
Adams, Kagna |
3:30 |
| 5. |
"Cuts Like a Knife" |
Adams, Vallance |
5:16 |
| 6. |
"I'm Ready" |
Adams, Vallance |
3:58 |
| 7. |
"What's It Gonna Be" |
Adams, Vallance |
3:39 |
| 8. |
"Don't Leave Me Lonely" |
Adams, Carr, Vallance |
2:58 |
| 9. |
"Let Him Know" |
Adams, Vallance |
3:11 |
| 10. |
"The Best Was Yet to Come" |
Adams, Vallance |
3:04 |
Personnel
[2]
References
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Bryan Adams |
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| Studio albums |
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| Compilation albums |
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| Live albums |
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| Concert releases |
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| Hit singles |
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