Breathe – Hands To Heaven

“Hands to Heaven” – Single by Breathe from the album All That Jazz
B-side: “Life and Times”
Released: October 20 1987
Label: Siren, A&M
Songwriters: David Glasper, Marcus Lillington
Producer: Bob Sargeant
Charted No. 2 in US, No 4 in UK

Breathe were that rarity, a British pop group who had more success on the American singles charts (five Top 40 hits) than back home (just the one). This was their sole UK Top 40 hit. The ballad was kept from the Billboard Hot 100 summit by another Brit, Steve Winwood’s “Roll With It,” which just wouldn’t roll over and let “Hands” through. One consolation for the Breathe boys was that the song ranked inside Billboard’s 1988 Year-End Top Ten at #9.

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.