Bryan Adams definitely found his sound in this recording. He had experimented with some different styles on his first album, YOU WANT IT, YOU GOT IT, including New Wave (he doesn't even sound like himself on that album's "One Good Reason"). This album abandons all experimentation in favor of two predominant styles: hard rock and ballad. On CUTS LIKE A KNIFE, we do get more hard rock than anything else. I bought this on vinyl back in the summer of '83, and it has always been one of my favorite records from that period.

The first track, "The Only One," is sort of a hard-pop song that is fairly forgettable (put it to you this way, when was the last time you ever heard this song, much less played it on your own?). But then things get busy: we get the wonderful "Take Me Back" which has a bluesy-keyboard tune which is slightly reminiscient of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, with some soulful screaming on Bryan's behalf. "This Time" is a straightforward hard rock/pop song which easily made the Top 40 at the time (it even sounds like a single), but is nevertheless a catchy tune with enough heartfelt singing from Bryan to ensure it never reaches bubblegum status. "Straight From The Heart" is the first of two ballads on this record, and is very good. Interestingly enough, later that same year (1983), Bonnie Tyler did a version of that song on her explosive FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF NIGHT, and while I do like her slightly harder take on the song, I think that the Bryan Adams original is more memorable.

Of course, after this song we get the most memorable song on here, the wonderful title track which caused me to sing "na-NA-na-na-na-NA-na-NA" for the better part of that year! After "Cuts Like A Knife," you would expect the rest of the CD to pale by comparison, right? Wrong! The very next track is "I'm Ready" which is the greatest keyboard-hook-and-guitar-lick-laden hard rock track that Bon Jovi never recorded. Bryan Adams screams with authority "I'm ready!" and he sure sounds like he is ready...to rock us REAL good! :)

The next three songs "What's It Gonna Be," "Don't Leave Me Lonely," and "Let Him Know" are all good, but not very memorable. However, just as was the case on his debut album, this record ends with another very good piano-driven ballad. This one is called "The Best Was Yet to Come." It is a heartfelt, plaintive song dealing with the breakup of a relationship that the protagonist felt was strong and would have gotten even stronger, that is, until his girl broke up with him. Having experienced this same type of thing myself, and crying myself to tears listening to this song at the time, I must say that this song hit a particularly strong chord with me. Of course, it is because of this that I have not played the song since-- it's just too depressing for me now.

Overall, this is a great Bryan Adams CD that no one who likes him should ever be without! It's definitely one of his very best. :)

I'm surprised no one has reviewed this Bryan Adams release, now on Audio Fidelity Gold disc. People are probably reluctant to do so, as it seems for every positive review of an AF disc, another equally negative review is posted. So I guess I'll be the first to say it...this is one FANTASTIC sounding disc! I've owned the LP, cassette and original A&M CD release back in 1990. The AF gold disc sounds more in tune with the vinyl LP and is leagues better in every sound department that the original '90 CD. I can't find anything to fault with this one, it's sounds absolutely perfect to my ears. Nice work, AF, keep 'em coming!!

I absolutely adore this album. I have listened to it so many times, especially my old audio cassette I got in 1983, that I know all the words to every song. NOt that it's hard to learn them, Bryan Adams has a voice you can understand all the words coming out of his mouth..Unlike many of the artist today.

He is a true rock artist that emerged from the 80's.

This is an album that truly defines rock and roll and what it was like back in the early 80's. I love all the songs on it, and have fun listening to it. While there were so many "one hit wonders" and artists that disappeared with the 80's, Bryan Adams is one rocker that is here to stay. Although he seems more popular now for his movie theme songs. I still love this album today just as much as I did when I got in 1983.

Definitely worth purchasing for any Adams fan.

CUTS LIKE A KNIFE is the first great album by Bryan Adams because it's also the first where he really seemed to find his own sound. On his self-titled debut and YOU WANT IT, YOU GOT IT, he had experimented with different styles (you can't even recognize him as the singer we all know on a few tracks on each of those two, especially the first album's "Baby Let Me Take You Dancin'", where he tries out a disco style and winds up sounding totally un-human), but here he hits on a more streamlined blend of Springsteen/Seger heartland rock, Allmans/Skynyrd guitar rock, and Eagles/Steve Miller/Fleetwood Mac pop-rock. This album was best known for its three singles, but the whole album is great, beginning a string of four great studio albums. He would later turn into a bland adult contemporary singer, but on CUTS LIKE A KNIFE, he's a rocker to the core. Recently, however, Adams' strong belief that the young Australian tourist jailed in Indonesia on drug-smuggling charges was unjustly convicted has made him more committed again, with a greater sense of purpose, as is obvious on his new album ROOM SERVICE.

This song should have all the highes stars you can get,'cause this song is really great!. I've listened to this song since it first come out in the public,and now. And I still love this song.