Touch (band)
Encyclopedia
Touch were a rock
band from New York City
formed in 1978. Mark Mangold
(songwriter and keyboards), Glen Kithcart (drums), and Craig Brooks (guitars) had all previously been in the band American Tears (releasing three albums on Columbia Records
). The lineup was completed by bassist Doug Howard
.
Their single, "Don't You Know What Love Is" only reached #69 on the Billboard Hot 100
. However, the song was played heavily on AOR
radio stations in the USA at the end of the 1970s, and reached the #1 spot on the Melody Maker
chart in Great Britain
.
Touch were the first band to play at the inaugural Monsters of Rock
festival at Castle Donington
racetrack in 1980. A live version of "Don't You Know What Love Is" appeared on the compilation LP Monsters of Rock, documenting performances at the festival.
The eponymous debut album by Touch, originally issued on Atco Records
in 1980, has been noted as a touchstone for artists working in the recently developed, but retro leaning, Melodic Rock genre.
Todd Rundgren
produced a 2nd unreleased LP for Touch. The recordings surfaced as bonus tracks on the CD reissue of the first album. The band was harshly divided as to wanting to have the whole of the 2nd album re-recorded. This internal division resulted in a 'stand off' between the band members individually, their label and management. And thus the band split up.
Mark Mangold has continued to write and record with and for other artists. The song "I Found Someone
", a collaboration with Michael Bolton
, was recorded by Laura Branigan
and ultimately became a top 10 hit for Cher
.
Doug Howard has also continued to perform, record and write with acts and artists such as Todd Rundgren, Edgar Winter
, Stun Leer, and Roy Buchanan
as well as a member of Rundgren's Utopia (Howard is co-writer of the Utopia hit "Feet Don't Fail Me NowFeet Don't Fail Me Now
and managing partner of Lodestar Entertainment.
The band is not to be confused with the American proto-prog band Touch, formed in 1966 (releasing the album Touch on Deram in 1969).
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
formed in 1978. Mark Mangold
Mark Mangold
Mark Mangold is an American pop singer-songwriter best known as a member of the band Touch. As a songwriter, Mangold's songs have been performed by Michael Bolton, Cher and Jordin Sparks.-Biography:Mangold was born in Miami and grew up in New York City...
(songwriter and keyboards), Glen Kithcart (drums), and Craig Brooks (guitars) had all previously been in the band American Tears (releasing three albums on Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
). The lineup was completed by bassist Doug Howard
Doug Howard (musician)
Doug Howard is an American bassist, vocalist and songwriter. He is best known for his work as a performing/recording musician and occasional co-writer with groups, and artists such as Touch, Stun Leer, Todd Rundgren, Utopia and The Edgar Winter Group...
.
Their single, "Don't You Know What Love Is" only reached #69 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. However, the song was played heavily on AOR
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
radio stations in the USA at the end of the 1970s, and reached the #1 spot on the Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
chart in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
Touch were the first band to play at the inaugural Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock was an annual music festival held in England, then moved in other locations like The Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile.The Last show was in 2008....
festival at Castle Donington
Castle Donington
Castle Donington is a village, with a population of around 7000 in the North West of Leicestershire, part of the Derby postcode area and on the edge of the National Forest. It is the closest town to East Midlands Airport.-Transport and housing:...
racetrack in 1980. A live version of "Don't You Know What Love Is" appeared on the compilation LP Monsters of Rock, documenting performances at the festival.
The eponymous debut album by Touch, originally issued on Atco Records
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
in 1980, has been noted as a touchstone for artists working in the recently developed, but retro leaning, Melodic Rock genre.
Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
produced a 2nd unreleased LP for Touch. The recordings surfaced as bonus tracks on the CD reissue of the first album. The band was harshly divided as to wanting to have the whole of the 2nd album re-recorded. This internal division resulted in a 'stand off' between the band members individually, their label and management. And thus the band split up.
Mark Mangold has continued to write and record with and for other artists. The song "I Found Someone
I Found Someone
"I Found Someone" is the name of a chart single originally written and composed for Laura Branigan by Michael Bolton and Touch keyboardist Mark Mangold...
", a collaboration with Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton is an American singer and songwriter. Bolton originally performed in the hard rock and heavy metal genres from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s, both on his early solo albums and those recorded as the frontman of the band Blackjack...
, was recorded by Laura Branigan
Laura Branigan
Laura Ann Branigan was an American singer-songwriter and actress of Italian and Irish ancestry. She is best known in the United States for her 1982 Platinum-certified hit "Gloria" and in Europe for the number-one single "Self Control"...
and ultimately became a top 10 hit for Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
.
Doug Howard has also continued to perform, record and write with acts and artists such as Todd Rundgren, Edgar Winter
Edgar Winter
Edgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
, Stun Leer, and Roy Buchanan
Roy Buchanan
Roy Buchanan was an American guitarist and blues musician. A pioneer of the Telecaster sound, Buchanan was a sideman and solo artist, with two gold albums early in his career, and two later solo albums that made it on to the Billboard chart. Despite never having achieved stardom, he is still...
as well as a member of Rundgren's Utopia (Howard is co-writer of the Utopia hit "Feet Don't Fail Me NowFeet Don't Fail Me Now
Feet Don't Fail Me Now
Feet Don't Fail Me Now is a DVD produced and distributed exclusively by Switchfoot. It was available briefly on the band's online store and at concerts and other performance venues....
and managing partner of Lodestar Entertainment.
The band is not to be confused with the American proto-prog band Touch, formed in 1966 (releasing the album Touch on Deram in 1969).
Touch (1980)
Track listing- "Don't You Know What Love Is" - 3:50
- "When the Spirit Moves You" - 3:56
- "Love, Don't Fail Me" - 4:24
- "Black Star" - 3:32
- "There's a Light" - 3:56
- "Take It Back" - (Only available on CD reissue) 4:03
- "So High" - 5:18
- "Last Chance for Love" - 3:51
- "Yes (You Need to Rock & Roll)" - 4:22
- "Listen (Can You Feel It)" - 5:02
- "Feels Like Love" (Only available on CD reissue) - 4:12
Touch II (1982)
Track listing- Just One Step - 4:15
- Far Enough - 4:39
- Too Much in Love - 4:06
- Beg Me - 4:34
- Let Me Love You - 5:13
- Frozen on a Wire - 4:44
- Never in Love - 4:14
- Between the Lines - 3:56
- You're Not a Child Anymore - 4:20
- Is It Really Me? - 4:41