Touch is the third studio album by British pop duo Eurythmics, released on 14 November 1983[4] by RCA Records. It became the duo's first number-one album on the UK Albums Chart, and also peaked at number seven on the US Billboard 200. It has since been certified Platinum in both the United Kingdom and the United States.[5][6] The album spawned the singles "Who's That Girl?", "Right by Your Side" and "Here Comes the Rain Again", all of which reached the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart.
Touch | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 14 November 1983 | |||
Recorded | 1983 | |||
Studio | The Church (London) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 45:30 | |||
Label | RCA Records | |||
Producer | David A. Stewart | |||
Eurythmics chronology | ||||
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Singles from Touch | ||||
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The album was listed 500th on Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2003, and again on a revised list in 2012, at number 492.[1]
Background
editBy the time Touch was released, Eurythmics had achieved international success with their single "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" and the album of the same name. Preceded by the single "Who's That Girl?", Touch was recorded and mixed in about three weeks at Eurythmics' own London studio facility, The Church.
An accompanying remix album, Touch Dance, was released in May 1984.
2005 reissue
editOn 14 November 2005, Sony BMG repackaged and re-released Eurythmics' back catalogue as "2005 Deluxe Edition Reissues". Each of their eight studio albums' original track listings were supplemented with bonus tracks and remixes.
Critical reception
editReview scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [7] |
Mojo | [8] |
Record Collector | [9] |
Rolling Stone | [10] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [11] |
Smash Hits | 9/10[12] |
Sounds | [13] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 8/10[14] |
Uncut | [15] |
The Village Voice | B[16] |
Accolades
editIn 2000, Touch was voted number 221 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.[17] In 2012, Rolling Stone ranked Touch at number 492 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time", calling the album "divine synth pop".[1] It had originally appeared at number 500 on the 2003 version of the list.[18] Slant Magazine placed the album at number 47 on its list of "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s".[19]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart, except where noted
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Here Comes the Rain Again" | 4:54 |
2. | "Regrets" | 4:43 |
3. | "Right by Your Side" | 4:05 |
4. | "Cool Blue" | 4:48 |
5. | "Who's That Girl?" | 4:46 |
6. | "The First Cut" | 4:44 |
7. | "Aqua" | 4:36 |
8. | "No Fear, No Hate, No Pain (No Broken Hearts)" | 5:24 |
9. | "Paint a Rumour" | 7:30 |
Total length: | 45:30 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
10. | "You Take Some Lentils and You Take Some Rice" | 3:01 | |
11. | "ABC (Freeform)" |
| 2:36 |
12. | "Plus Something Else" | 5:20 | |
13. | "Paint a Rumour" (long version) | 7:57 | |
14. | "Who's That Girl?" (live) | 3:28 | |
15. | "Here Comes the Rain Again" (live) | 3:07 | |
16. | "Fame" | 2:39 | |
Total length: | 73:38 |
Personnel
editCredits adapted from the liner notes of Touch.[20]
Eurythmics
edit- Annie Lennox – lead vocals, backing vocals, keyboards, flute, arrangements
- David A. Stewart – guitars, keyboards, dulcimer, xylophone, backing vocals, drum sequencer, synthesiser sequencer, arrangements
Additional musicians
edit- Dick Cuthell – trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet
- Dean Garcia – bass guitar
- Michael Kamen – string arrangements, string conducting
- British Philharmonic Orchestra – strings
- Martin Dobson – baritone saxophone on "Right by Your Side"
Technical
edit- David A. Stewart – production
- Jon Bavin – engineering
Artwork
edit- Peter Ashworth – outer sleeve photography
- Brian Aris – inner sleeve photography
- Laurence Stevens – art direction, design
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[43] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
Germany (BVMI)[44] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[45] | Gold | 50,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[46] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[5] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[6] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
edit- ^ a b c "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ Cairns, Dan (1 February 2009). "Synth-pop: Encyclopedia of Modern Music". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011.
- ^ Besenyodi, Adam (5 December 2005). "This Is What the Future Sounded Like". PopMatters. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
...Touch kept them on new wave's cutting-edge.
- ^ "News" (PDF). Record Mirror. London, England, U.K.: Spotlight Publications Ltd.: 6 29 October 1983. ISSN 0144-5804. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
The Eurythmics release their third album 'Touch' on November 14
- ^ a b "British album certifications – Eurythmics – Touch". British Phonographic Industry. 16 January 1984. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ a b "American album certifications – Eurythmics – Touch". Recording Industry Association of America. 4 October 1984.
- ^ Promis, Jose F. "Touch – Eurythmics". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
- ^ Black, Johnny (December 2005). "Eurythmics: Touch". Mojo. No. 145. p. 134. ISSN 1351-0193.
- ^ McIver, Joel (January 2006). "Eurythmics: In the Garden / Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) / Touch / Be Yourself Tonight / Revenge / Savage / We Too Are One / Peace". Record Collector. No. 319. p. 90. ISSN 0261-250X.
- ^ Connelly, Christopher (2 February 1984). "Touch". Rolling Stone. ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ Considine, J. D. (2004). "Eurythmics". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 283–284. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Anthony, Lisa (24 November – 7 December 1983). "Eurythmics: Touch". Smash Hits. Vol. 5, no. 24. p. 27. ISSN 0260-3004.
- ^ Linfield, Carole (26 November 1983). "Massage of love". Sounds. ISSN 0144-5774.
- ^ Walters, Barry (1995). "Eurythmics". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 135–136. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
- ^ Martin, Piers (January 2006). "The hitman and her". Uncut. No. 104. p. 124. ISSN 1368-0722.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (29 May 1984). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. ISSN 0042-6180. Retrieved 4 June 2016 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2000). All Time Top 1000 Albums (3rd ed.). Virgin Books. ISBN 0-7535-0493-6.
- ^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Touch – Eurythmics". Rolling Stone. 11 December 2003. Archived from the original on 19 December 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s". Slant Magazine. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ Touch (liner notes). Eurythmics. RCA Records. 1983. PL70109.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Kent 1993, p. 105
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6274". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eurythmics – Touch" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eurythmics – Touch" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Ísland (LP-plötur)". DV (in Icelandic). 3 February 1984. p. 37. ISSN 1021-8254 – via Timarit.is.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2022. Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "Eurythmics" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
- ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Eurythmics – Touch". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Eurythmics – Touch". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Eurythmics – Touch". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Eurythmics – Touch". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Eurythmics Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Eurythmics Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ Scaping, Peter, ed. (1984). "Top 100 LPs: 1983". BPI Year Book 1984. British Phonographic Industry. pp. 44–45. ISBN 0-906154-04-9.
- ^ Kent 1993, p. 436
- ^ "Top 100 Albums of 1984". RPM. Vol. 41, no. 17. 5 January 1985. p. 8. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
- ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1984" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1984". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Top 100 Albums (January 3–December 29, 1984)" (PDF). Music Week. 26 January 1985. p. 42. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Top Pop Albums of 1984". Billboard. 31 December 1984. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Eurythmics – Touch". Music Canada. 1 June 1984. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Eurythmics; 'Touch')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – Eurythmics – Touch" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 9 February 2019. Enter Touch in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1984 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Eurythmics – Touch". Recorded Music NZ. 4 March 1984. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
Bibliography
edit- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.