TOUCH – ST [Rock Candy Remaster] (2013)

*

Time’s changing… one of the few labels still firmly planted on releasing CD-only material, Rock Candy Records, has launched a Digital Store.
One of the first albums available on this format is the debut of TOUCH, the great American pompy AOR / Melodic Rock band, considered one the genre’s pillars.

During the late seventies and early eighties the American rock scene was bursting with deliciously ambitious talent, none more so than New York based quintet Touch. Led by a veteran of the scene, Mark Mangold (ex- American Tears and later in Drive She Said), the band locked into a style of melodic hard rock music that would eventually father multi-platinum artists such as Survivor, Journey and Foreigner.
Focusing on supremely crafted songs with huge hooks, luscious vocals, stabbing keyboards, razor sharp guitars and impressive arrangements, their self-titled debut album immediately struck a chord with fans and critics alike.

With such rich talent on display it was hardly surprising to find that the band were courted by some of the biggest power brokers in the industry including Deep Purple manager Bruce Payne, and Atlantic Records sister label Atco, with whom the band eventually signed in 1980.
Produced by renowned British producer Tim Friese Greene, the Touch album caused a sensation amongst fans of the genre being hailed as instant classic and a record that would go on to become a master class in AOR technology.
The album shoot Touch to secure a slot at the inaugural UK Mosters Of Rock Festival held at Donington Park, going down in history as the first ever band to perform at this legendary event.

Sadly, unlike many contemporaries, Touch never received the commercial acclaim that their music undoubtedly deserved. Despite this, however, the Touch legacy continues to endure and impress with each passing day as one of the seminal rockin’ AOR bands of the genre, and now this album owns a cult classic status.
With an excellent remastering job (it’s truly brilliant) by Rock Candy and two bonus tracks, “Touch” is a must have for any AOR / Melodic Rock fan, never sounding outdated, on the contrary, all this material still stands vital and fresh.
This is where all started my friends…
Essential.

01 – Don’t You Know What Love Is
02 – When The Spirit Moves You
03 – Love, Don’t Fail Me
04 – Black Star
05 – There’s A Light
06 – So High
07 – Last Chance For Love
08 – Yes (You Need To Rock ‘N Roll)
09 – Listen (Can You Feel It)
10 – My Life Depends On You [B-side] (bonus track)
11 – Don’t You Know What Love Is [Live at Donington 1980] (bonus track)

Craig Brooks – vocals, guitars
Mark Mangold – vocals, keyboards
Doug Howard – vocals, bass
Glenn Kithcart – drums, percussion

BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Touch-Explicit/dp/B00DRQEKG4
.