(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear
Encyclopedia
" Presence, Dear" is a song from the 1977 album Plastic Letters
by Blondie
, and was the second single off that album, following up the international breakthrough single "Denis", reaching number 10 in the UK in May 1978. It was never released as a single in the US.
player Gary Valentine
, for his then girlfriend Lisa Jane Persky
before his departure from the band. Valentine had also written the band's first single, "X-Offender
".
The single was issued in both 7" & 12" formats in the UK, with two songs on the B-side, as were previous singles, "Rip Her to Shreds
" and "Denis". One of the single's B-side tracks was "Detroit 442", and the other was Jimmy Destri
's "Poets Problem", which was not on the original release of Plastic Letters
. "Poets Problem" was first issued on CD on the 1993 rarities compilation Blonde and Beyond
and later as a bonus track on both the 1994 and 2001 re-releases of Plastic Letters
.
"(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear" was included on Blondie's first 'greatest hits' compilation, The Best of Blondie
, released in October 1981.
covered it in her album, You Broke My Heart in 17 Places
.
In 1995, Annie Lennox
covered the song for her album Medusa
. The song didn't make it on to the album but was released as the B-side of the single, "A Whiter Shade of Pale
".
Plastic Letters
Plastic Letters is the second studio album by American New Wave band Blondie, released in February 1978 on Chrysalis Records. It was the second and final Blondie album to be produced by Richard Gottehrer...
by Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
, and was the second single off that album, following up the international breakthrough single "Denis", reaching number 10 in the UK in May 1978. It was never released as a single in the US.
Song information
It was written by former bassBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player Gary Valentine
Gary Valentine Lachman
Gary Lachman, born December 24, 1955 in Bayonne, New Jersey, is an American writer and musician. Lachman is best known to readers of mysticism and the occult, in the numerous articles and books he has published...
, for his then girlfriend Lisa Jane Persky
Lisa Jane Persky
Lisa Jane Persky is an American actress.Persky was born in New York City, New York, the daughter of Jane Holley and Mort Persky...
before his departure from the band. Valentine had also written the band's first single, "X-Offender
X-Offender
"X Offender" is a song by American New Wave band Blondie. Written by Gary Valentine and Debbie Harry for the band's self-titled debut album, Blondie, the song was released as the album's lead single on Private Stock in June 1976.-Song information:...
".
The single was issued in both 7" & 12" formats in the UK, with two songs on the B-side, as were previous singles, "Rip Her to Shreds
Rip Her to Shreds
"Rip Her to Shreds" is a song by American New Wave band Blondie, which features on the band's self-titled debut album . It is rumored to be about punk rock singer Cherry Vanilla.- Single information :...
" and "Denis". One of the single's B-side tracks was "Detroit 442", and the other was Jimmy Destri
Jimmy Destri
Jimmy Destri is an American musician. He played keyboards in the rock band Blondie, and is one of the principal songwriters for the band along with Chris Stein and Deborah Harry. Destri stopped touring with the band in 2004, but remained an official member of the band for several more years...
's "Poets Problem", which was not on the original release of Plastic Letters
Plastic Letters
Plastic Letters is the second studio album by American New Wave band Blondie, released in February 1978 on Chrysalis Records. It was the second and final Blondie album to be produced by Richard Gottehrer...
. "Poets Problem" was first issued on CD on the 1993 rarities compilation Blonde and Beyond
Blonde and Beyond
Blonde and Beyond is a compilation album of recordings by Blondie released on Chrysalis Records in 1993. Blonde and Beyond gathers some of the band's hit singles like "Heart of Glass", "Denis", "X-Offender", "Picture This" and "Island Of Lost Souls" along with album tracks and a few rarities like...
and later as a bonus track on both the 1994 and 2001 re-releases of Plastic Letters
Plastic Letters
Plastic Letters is the second studio album by American New Wave band Blondie, released in February 1978 on Chrysalis Records. It was the second and final Blondie album to be produced by Richard Gottehrer...
.
"(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear" was included on Blondie's first 'greatest hits' compilation, The Best of Blondie
The Best of Blondie
- Chart positions :- References :# [ Allmusic]...
, released in October 1981.
Cover versions
In 1983, Tracey UllmanTracey Ullman
Tracey Ullman is a British stage and television actress, comedienne, singer, dancer, screenwriter and author ....
covered it in her album, You Broke My Heart in 17 Places
You Broke My Heart In 17 Places
You Broke My Heart In 17 Places, is a studio album by singer-actress-comedienne, Tracey Ullman. It peaked at number 14 on the UK album chart and number 34 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., in the Spring of 1984....
.
In 1995, Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...
covered the song for her album Medusa
Medusa (Annie Lennox album)
Medusa is the second solo album by the Scottish singer Annie Lennox, released in March 1995. It consists solely of cover songs, all originally recorded by male artists. It entered the UK album chart at No. 1 and peaked in the US at number 11, spending 60 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart. It has...
. The song didn't make it on to the album but was released as the B-side of the single, "A Whiter Shade of Pale
A Whiter Shade of Pale
"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the debut song by the British band Procol Harum, released 12 May 1967. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 8 June 1967, and stayed there for six weeks. Without much promotion, it reached #5 on the US charts, as well...
".
Side one
- "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear" (Gary ValentineGary Valentine LachmanGary Lachman, born December 24, 1955 in Bayonne, New Jersey, is an American writer and musician. Lachman is best known to readers of mysticism and the occult, in the numerous articles and books he has published...
) – 2:43
Side two
- "Poets Problem" (Jimmy DestriJimmy DestriJimmy Destri is an American musician. He played keyboards in the rock band Blondie, and is one of the principal songwriters for the band along with Chris Stein and Deborah Harry. Destri stopped touring with the band in 2004, but remained an official member of the band for several more years...
) – 2:20 - "Detroit 442" (Jimmy Destri, Chris SteinChris SteinChristopher "Chris" Stein is co-founder and guitarist in the New Wave band, Blondie. He is also a producer and performer for the classic soundtrack of the hip hop film Wild Style....
) – 2:28
Chart peaks
| Chart (1978) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| UK | 10 |
| Netherlands | 10 |