Hands to Heaven

"Hands to Heaven" is a song by English group Breathe, released as their fifth UK single on 20 October 1987, and in January 1988 as the band's second single in the US. The song was written by group members David Glasper and Marcus Lillington. The B-side features an instrumental track "Life and Times".

"Hands to Heaven"
Single by Breathe
from the album All That Jazz
B-side"Life and Times"
Released20 October 1987 (UK)
January 1988 (US)
Recorded1987
GenrePop
Length4:18
LabelA&M (US)
Siren/Virgin (UK/International)
Songwriter(s)David Glasper,
Marcus Lillington
Producer(s)Bob Sargeant
Breathe singles chronology
"All That Jazz"
(1987)		 "Hands to Heaven"
(1987)		 "Any Trick"
(1988)

"Hands to Heaven" was Breathe's breakthrough hit internationally. The ballad peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1988.[1] That same month in the United States, it logged two weeks at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also reached No. 2 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[2]

"Hands to Heaven" became a top 10 hit in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Norway.

Track listings

UK 7" single (SIREN SRN68)

A. "Hands to Heaven" - 4:18
B. "Life and Times" - 4:46

A special limited edition of the 7" single which included photos, lyrics and Fan Club address was released in the UK (SRNL 68).

US 7" single / cassette single (A&M AM-2991/TS-2991)

A. "Hands to Heaven" - 4:17
B. "Life and Times" - 4:44

UK 12" single (SIREN SRNT68)

A1. "Hands to Heaven" [Extended Heaven] - 6:23
B1. "Hands to Heaven" [Radio Mix] - 4:18
B2. "Life and Times" - 4:46

A special limited edition of the 12" single featured a poster sleeve.

UK CD single (SIREN SRCD 68)1

  1. "Hands to Heaven" - 4:18
  2. "All That Jazz" [12" Version] - 6:15
  3. "Stay" [7" Version] - 3:50
  4. "Life and Times" - 4:44

All songs written by David Glasper and Marcus Lillington. All songs published by Virgin Music, Inc.

Music video

The music video, directed by Eamon McCabe, features the group in a surreal dream sequence, with the lead singer falling asleep in a black London taxicab and waking at the end, being driven away by the driver.

Personnel
Band
  • David Glasper - vocals
  • Marcus Lillington - guitars, keyboards
  • Ian "Spike" Spice - drums
  • Mike Delahunty - bass
Guest musician
  • Paul "Shilts" Weimar - saxophone
Production
  • Arranged by Breathe
  • Engineer: John Madden ("Hands to Heaven", "Stay")
  • Mixing: John Madden ("Life and Times"), Chris Porter ("All That Jazz")
  • Remixing: Chris Porter ("Hands to Heaven")

Charts

Cover versions

The song was used for the Michael and Julia characters on the American soap opera Santa Barbara.[19]

The 2018 single "Sunflower" by Post Malone and Swae Lee interpolates the chord progression from "Hands to Heaven".

gollark: By that definition, you can't.
gollark: Leftism-inducing foods would be a *remarkable* technical achievement.
gollark: Huh, soylent actually exists and isn't an internet joke.
gollark: I think the UK is planning on banning sale of new ones by then. I doubt they'll go through on it.
gollark: It contains moving parts. They can probably undergo problems of some sort.

References
  1. UK chart info at Official Charts Company
  2. Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications)
  3. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8576." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  4. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8552." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  5. "Offiziellecharts.de – Breathe – Hands to Heaven". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  6. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Hands to Heaven". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  7. "Charts.nz – Breathe – Hands to Heaven". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  8. "Norwegiancharts.com – Breathe – Hands to Heaven". VG-lista. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  9. "Swedishcharts.com – Breathe – Hands to Heaven". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  11. "Breathe Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  12. "Breathe Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  13. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles (week ending August 13, 1988)". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  14. "Top 100 Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49 no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 9. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  15. Scaping, Peter, ed. (1991). "Top 100 Singles: 1988". BPI YearBook 1989/90. London, England: British Phonographic Industry. pp. 64–65. ISBN 978-0-9061-5410-6.
  16. "1988 Year-End Charts – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  17. "1988 Year-End Charts – Adult Contemporary Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  18. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1988". Cash Box. 31 December 1988. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  19. "Santa Barbara". Cybercom. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
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