Album flashback

Bryan Adams - Cuts Like A Knife [1983]

Let’s dig into the fascinating history of Adams’ third full length for A&M Records.

The record was recorded at the famous Little Mountain Sound in Vancouver with Bryan and Bob Clearmountain producing.

Songs were penned mainly by Adams and his writing partner Jim Vallance [former Prism], the duo really coming into form here after working together since 1978.

You may also know that the vocals of Lou Gramm are all over this project, the Foreigner man singing on a half-dozen or so of the tracks. The story is that Gramm stepped up to help at the seventh hour as some previously booked singers had fallen ill.

Sales-wise, this release performed very well - triple platinum at home and also platinum in the USA - hitting #8 on both album charts.

Eight of the ten tracks had some sort of single release before the album’s cycle was over. Interestingly only three of these charted in Canada, while no fewer than six charted at #44 or better on Billboard.

Pre-release single ‘Let Him Know’ and final attempt ‘The Best Was Yet To Come’ did not find success on either side of the border.

Have a look at the rest, in order of release.

Straight From The Heart - #20 Canada, #10 USA

This straightforward ballad was the first of many top 10s for Bryan at home and away.

Cuts Like A Knife - #12 Canada, #15 USA

Has to be one of my fave Adams tracks, and I did love this video when I was 13. Because of the Rickenbacker…

Anyway, sledgehammer drums from Mickey Curry [Hall & Oates, Rock & Hyde] , Keith Scott shredding on his solo and the ‘na na nas’ - get out of here. Perfect rock and roll.

This Time - #32 Canada, #24 USA

Oh man, another of my all time Bryan jams.

This one is a little more melodic with the main guitar hook and those singalong gang vocals. Propulsive bass from long-time sideman Dave Taylor. Great stuff!

PS - someone please tell Mr. Adams that one can’t turn up the radio after you’ve just kicked eight kinds of shit out of it.

Take Me Back - DNC Canada, #21 AOR USA

Can see how this would have done well on the AOR charts, it’s excellent, but for me is more of a depth cut.

The Only One - DNC Canada, #44 AOR USA

Quality slipping now. If you had all of the above Adams tracks to spin, not sure why you’d plump for this one instead.

I’m Ready - DNC Canada, #24 AOR USA

I’m not ready to link to the ‘MTV Unplugged’ version of this tune. Trust me when I tell you to seek out the original album cut and not the sanitized, flute-laden, and inferior version on show on YT.

‘Cuts Like A Knife’ is a must have album and contains the early blueprints for the upcoming ‘Reckless’ era, which saw diamond sales in Canada and 12m worldwide.