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Cuddly Toy (song)

"Cuddly Toy"
Roachford - Cuddly Toy.jpeg
Single by Roachford
from the album Roachford
Released June 1988 (original)
January 1989 (re-release/US release)
Format CD single, 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl
Recorded 1988
Genre Pop rock, dance-rock, R&B
Length 3:45
Label CBS
Writer(s) Andrew Roachford
Producer(s) Michael H. Brauer, Andrew Roachford, Fayney
Roachford singles chronology
"Cuddly Toy"
(1988)
"Find Me Another Love"
(1988)
"Cuddly Toy"
Beverley Knight - Cuddly Toy.jpg
Single by Beverley Knight
from the album Soul UK
Released 28 August 2011
Format Digital download
Recorded 2011
Genre R&B, soul
Length 3:56 (Album Version)
2:50 (Radio Version)
Label Hurricane Records
Writer(s) Andrew Roachford
Producer(s) Martin Terefe
Beverley Knight singles chronology
"Mama Used to Say"
(2011)
"Cuddly Toy"
(2011)
"One More Try"
(2011)

"Cuddly Toy" was the first hit single release from British band Roachford, fronted by Andrew Roachford. It was the second single taken from their self-titled debut studio album.

"Cuddly Toy" was first released in June 1988 and peaked inside the UK Singles Chart at number 61, spending four weeks inside the UK top 75. In January 1989, the song was re-released and became the band's biggest hit, peaking at number 4 and spending a further 9 weeks inside the top 75. The song was also the group's biggest hit in the U.S., where it was re-titled "Cuddly Toy (Feel for Me)", peaking at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1989. In Australia, "Cuddly Toy" peaked at number 73 on the ARIA Singles Chart in December 1988.

The song was featured in the 2009 video game Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony.

The song also features prominently in the opening credits sequence of the 2013 film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa.

Gary Barlow did a cover of the song for the B-side of his single "Love Won't Wait".

British singer Beverley Knight covered "Cuddly Toy" and released it as the second single release from her seventh studio album, Soul UK, a tribute to UK soul artists. It was released in the UK on 28 August 2011. The b-side is a radio edit of Knight's cover of "Apparently Nothin'", the original of which also appears on Soul UK.

Knight's version of "Cuddly Toy" was added to the Radio 2 Playlist, entering the B-list, one list higher than previous single "Mama Used to Say". Knight gave her first television performance of "Cuddly Toy" on The Rob Brydon Show on 29 July 2011.

Knight said of "Cuddly Toy" that "Roachford showed a cynical British media that British soul could also be fused with a rockier sound and not only work, but be a global hit. This, as well as many of his songs, influenced my own writing style." She also spoke of the b-side "Apparently Nothin'" by saying "This was one of those moments when the clubs successfully educated radio on what they should be championing, and the public "got" it, and it was a smash. I was one of that buying public. Lyrically this is sheer brilliance and relevant for every generation."


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