Hands to Heaven
Encyclopedia
"Hands to Heaven" is the title of a popular song released in 1987 and peaking on the charts in 1988 (see 1988 in music
) by the British
pop
group Breathe
. The song was written by group members David Glasper (lead vocals) and Marcus Lillington (guitar, keyboard).
Although it was released as the first single
from the group's debut album All That Jazz
, "Hands to Heaven" was not Breathe's debut single; the group had recorded and released songs prior to signing an album deal with A&M Records
. One of these songs, "Don't Tell Me Lies
", reached #77 on the UK Singles Chart
in 1986 before being included on Breathe's debut album and subsequently being reissued.
"Hands to Heaven" was, however, Breathe's breakthrough hit in both the UK as well as the United States
. The ballad peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1988. In the US, it logged two weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart that same month (kept from the summit by "Roll with It
" by Steve Winwood
) and spent 16 weeks in the Top 40. "Hands to Heaven" also peaked at #2 on the Billboard
adult contemporary chart
.
The song reached #4 in Norway and #14 in Sweden.
This song was one of a number of singles, many by British and Australia
n bands, that helped to shape the smooth jazz
radio format in the US in the mid to late 1980s. Other associated artists include Swing Out Sister
, Johnny Hates Jazz
, Icehouse
and Sade
.
1988 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1988.-January-March:* January 1 – André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra plays its first concert....
) by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
group Breathe
Breathe (band)
Breathe were a London based group formed in the early 1980s.-Career:Originally a larger, five-person band called Catch 22, all the members were actually childhood friends who went to Yateley School together in Hampshire where they lived. They later trimmed down to a quartet. Phill Harrison left to...
. The song was written by group members David Glasper (lead vocals) and Marcus Lillington (guitar, keyboard).
Although it was released as the first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from the group's debut album All That Jazz
All That Jazz (Breathe album)
All That Jazz is the title of the debut album by the British pop group Breathe, released in April 1988. The album peaked at #22 on the UK Albums Chart and at #34 on the US albums chart. It has been certified Silver in the UK by the BPI and Gold in the US by the RIAA.The group's first single, "Don't...
, "Hands to Heaven" was not Breathe's debut single; the group had recorded and released songs prior to signing an album deal with A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
. One of these songs, "Don't Tell Me Lies
Don't Tell Me Lies
"Don't Tell Me Lies" is the title of the debut single by the British pop group Breathe. It was written by group members David Glasper and Marcus Lillington ....
", reached #77 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1986 before being included on Breathe's debut album and subsequently being reissued.
"Hands to Heaven" was, however, Breathe's breakthrough hit in both the UK as well as the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The ballad peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1988. In the US, it logged two weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart that same month (kept from the summit by "Roll with It
Roll with It (Steve Winwood song)
"Roll with It" is a song recorded by Steve Winwood for his album, Roll with It, released on Virgin Records. It was written by Winwood and songwriter Will Jennings....
" by Steve Winwood
Steve Winwood
Stephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
) and spent 16 weeks in the Top 40. "Hands to Heaven" also peaked at #2 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
adult contemporary chart
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
.
The song reached #4 in Norway and #14 in Sweden.
This song was one of a number of singles, many by British and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n bands, that helped to shape the smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
radio format in the US in the mid to late 1980s. Other associated artists include Swing Out Sister
Swing Out Sister
Swing Out Sister are a British "sophisti-pop" group best known worldwide for their 1986 song "Breakout". Other hits include "Surrender", "Twilight World", "Waiting Game" and a remake of "Am I the Same Girl?" Though album sales in the U.S. and Europe have levelled off since the early 1990s, the...
, Johnny Hates Jazz
Johnny Hates Jazz
Johnny Hates Jazz is an Anglo-American Pop/Rock band, formed in 1986 by Clark Datchler , Mike Nocito , and Calvin Hayes...
, Icehouse
Icehouse (band)
Icehouse is an Australian rock band, formed as Flowers in 1977 in Sydney. Initially known in Australia for their pub rock style, they later achieved mainstream success playing new wave and synthpop style music and attained Top Ten singles chart success in both Europe and the U.S...
and Sade
Sade (band)
Sade is a British smooth jazz band that formed in 1983, named for Nigerian lead singer Sade Adu. Their music features elements of R&B, soul, jazz, and soft rock....
.