Cuts Both Ways

For the title track released from this album, see Cuts Both Ways (song).

Cuts Both Ways
Studio album by Gloria Estefan
Released	July 5, 1989 (1989-07-05) (see Release history)
Recorded	1988, Criteria Studios Miami, Florida
Genre	Pop
Length	49:29
Label	Epic EK-45217 Sony Music
Producer	Emilio Estefan, Jr., Jorge Casas, Clay Ostwald
Gloria Estefan chronology
Let It Loose (1987) Cuts Both Ways (1989) Exitos de Gloria Estefan (1990)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	(C)

Cuts Both Ways is a 1989 album by Gloria Estefan. It was the first studio album credited to Estefan as a solo artist, but is her 11th album overall including her work with the band the Miami Sound Machine. Although Estefan's name is on the front cover, on the spine of some of the album's pressings on cassette and vinyl, it credits Estefan and the band (as with the previous album, Let It Loose).

In some Spanish-speaking territories, the album was titled Doblemente Herida.

History

By 1989, Gloria Estefan was one of the most succssful female Latin artists in the world. After a decade of being the lead singer of Miami Sound Machine, she had been credited above the group name (Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine) on their 1987 album Let It Loose. With the release of Cuts Both Ways, it was widely believed that Estefan had gone solo, but Miami Sound Machine continued to perform as her backing band in the studio and on tour (however, the only original member of MSM to play on the album besides Estefan was her husband/producer, Emilio).

The album contains pop, rock, dance music and Latin rhythms. It has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, reaching the Top Ten on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, and peaking at #1 in the UK, Belgium, Australia, and Ireland.

The first single from the album was "Don't Wanna Lose You", which became one of Estefan's biggest hits, reaching #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (her second U.S. number one) and was certified Gold by the RIAA. It also reached the Top Ten in The Netherlands, Ireland, Brazil and the UK.

The artists Betty Wright and Jon Secada were backing vocalist for the album, and also both appeared on Estefan's next album, 1991's Into the Light.

Track listing

• All Songs Copyright Foreign Imported Productions & Publishing, except tracks 2, 6 & 8 (Copyright) Foreign Imported Productions & Publishing/Estefan Enterprises)

1. "Ay, Ay I" (Estefan) – 3:49
2. "Here We Are" (Estefan) – 4:51
3. "Say" (Secada, Duncan) – 3:41
4. "Think About You Now" (Casas) – 4:20
5. "Nothin’ New" (Estefan) – 3:50
6. "Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice) (English Version)" (Estefan, Casas, Ostwald) – 4:52
7. "Don't Wanna Lose You" (Estefan) – 4:12
8. "Get on Your Feet" (De Faria, Casas, Ostwald) – 3:38
9. "Your Love Is Bad for Me" (Estefan) – 3:50
10. "Cuts Both Ways" (Estefan) – 3:16
11. "Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice) (Spanish Version)" (Estefan, Casas, Ostwald) – 4:58
12. "Si Voy a Perderte" (Estefan) – 4:07

Personnel

• Gloria Estefan - vocal, background vocals
• Jon Secada - background vocals
• Rita Quintero - background vocals
• Donna Allen - background vocals
• Jorge Casas - background vocals, acoustic guitar, electric and fretless basses
• Randy Barlow - background vocals
• Teddy Mulet - background vocals, trumpet, trombone
• Clay Ostwald - background vocals, synthesizers, piano, synclavier programming
• John Slick - additional synclavier programming
• Betty Wright - background vocals
• Emilio Estefan Jr. - additional congas
• John de Faria - electric and acoustic guitars
• Paquito Hechevarria - piano
• Paco Fonta - acoustic guitar
• Robert Rodriguez - live drums
• Michael Thompson - electric guitar
• Mike Scaglione - saxophone
• Rafael Padilla - percussion
• Randy Barlow - trumpet

Production

• Producers: Emilio Estefan Jr., Jorge Casas & Clay Ostwald
• Arrangers (all songs): Jorge Casas & Clay Ostwald
• Additional Arrangers: Gloria Estefan, John Haag, Tom McWilliams, Scott Shapiro, John de Faria, Efrain Enriquez
• Engineers: Eric Schilling
• Engineers Assistant: John Haag, Ted Stein, Andrew Roshberg
• Mixing: Humberto Gatica, Phil Ramone, Eric Schilling,
• Mixing Assistant: Greg Laney, Mauricio Guerrero, Carlos Nieto, John Haag
• Additional Assisting: Dana Horowitz, Steve Whaley, Roger Hughes
• Sinclavier Programming: Clay Ostwald
• Sinclavier Additional Programming: John Slick
• Horn Arrangements: Teddy Mulet

Design

• Art direction: Nancy Donald, David Coleman
• Photography: Randee St. Nicholas
• Gloria Estefan’s Hair & Makeup: Eric Bernard
• Band Hair & Makeup: Samy
• Wardrobe: Vivian Turner

Singles

• Don't Wanna lose You
• Get on Your Feet
• Here We Are
• Oye mi Canto (Hear my Voice)
• Cuts Both Ways
• Si Voy a Perderte (Released in Mexico instead of "Don't Wanna Lose You")
• Se Tenho que te Perder (Released in Brazil instead of "Don't Wanna lose You")
• Toda pra Você (Released in Brazil instead of "Here We Are")

Release history

Region	Date
Japan	July 5, 1989 (1989-07-05)
World	July 10, 1989 (1989-07-10)
Canada	July 11, 1989 (1989-07-11)
United States

Chart performance

Chart (1989)	Peak Position
Australia albums chart	1
Belgium albums chart	1
Canada albums chart	42
Irish albums chart	1
Swiss albums chart	13
UK albums chart	1
U.S. Billboard Top 200 albums chart	6
U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	80
U.S. Top Latin Pop Albums	11

Certifications

Country	Certification
Australia	4x Platinum
Germany	Gold
Switzerland	Gold
UK	3x Platinum
U.S.	3x Platinum

References

Preceded by A New Flame by Simply Red	UK number one album August 5, 1989 – September 15, 1989	Succeeded by Aspects of Love by London Stage Cast
Preceded by Pretty Woman (soundtrack) by Various Artists	Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album August 5, 1990 – August 18, 1990	Succeeded by The Best of Van Morrison by Van Morrison