Touch (Eurythmics album)
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | (B)[2] |
Touch is the third album by the British new wave duo Eurythmics, released in November 1983. The album was the duo's first UK number-one album, and also reached the top 10 in the US. It has since been certified Platinum in the US[3] and Silver in the UK.[4] It was rated #500 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums.
Background
International Success
By this time, the duo had achieved international success with their hit single "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)." The follow-up, Touch, was reputedly recorded and mixed in only about three weeks at Eurythmics' own London studio facility, The Church. In addition, Touch was also the first album to be released simultaneously on record and on the then-new CD format in the United States.
Album singles
The album featured the singles "Who's That Girl?" (#3 UK, #21 US), "Right by Your Side" (#10 UK, #29 US) and "Here Comes the Rain Again" (#8 UK, #4 US). The music video for "Who's That Girl" featured a variety of British stars (including Stewart's future wife, Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama and Meryl Streep, seen with Stewart near the beginning, also featured Lennox playing both a man and a woman. At the end of the clip the male-Lennox kisses the female-Lennox. Lennox later reprised this image dressed up as Elvis Presley for the 1984 Grammy Awards.
2005 Re-release
On 14 November 2005, SonyBMG repackaged and released Eurythmics' back catalog as "2005 Deluxe Edition Reissues." Each of their eight studio albums' original track listings were supplemented with bonus tracks and remixes.
Awards and honors
The album is ranked number 500 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[5]
Track listing
All songs 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 |
| 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" | David Bowie, Carlos Alomar, John Lennon | 2:39 |
Personnel
Eurythmics
- Annie Lennox - vocals, flute, percussion, keyboard
- Dave Stewart - vocals, dulcimer, bass, guitar, drum programming, keyboard, xylophone
Additional personnel
- Dick Cuthell - trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn
- Martin Dobson - baritone saxophone
- Dean Garcia (later of Curve) - bass
- Michael Kamen - conductor
- British Philharmonic - strings
Live band for the accompanying tour included:
- Victor Martin - synthesizer
- Dean Garcia - bass
- Gill O'Donovan - vocals
- Susie O'List - vocals
- Maggie Ryder - vocals
- Peter Phipps (formerly of the Glitter Band)- drums
Production
- Producer: Dave Stewart
- Engineer: Jon Bavin
- Sequencing: Dave Stewart
- String arrangements: Michael Kamen
- Arrangers: Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart
- Art direction: Laurence Stevens
- Design: Laurence Stevens
- Cover design: Andrew Christian, Laurence Stevens
- Photography: Brian Aris, Pete Ashworth
Chart performance
| Chart (1983/1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart[citation needed] | 4 |
| Canadian Albums Chart[6] | 3 |
| Dutch Albums Chart[7] | 9 |
| French Albums Chart[8] | 20 |
| German Albums Chart[9] | 9 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart[10] | 1 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart[11] | 8 |
| Swedish Albums Chart[12] | 9 |
| Swiss Albums Chart[13] | 14 |
| UK Albums Chart[14] | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200[15] | 7 |
| U.S. Billboard R&B Albums Chart[16] | 35 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Germany (BVMI)[17] | Gold | 250,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[4] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[3] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ Touch at AllMusic
- ^ "CG: Eurythmics". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
- ^ a b "American album certifications – Eurythmics – Touch". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ a b id MUST BE PROVIDED for UK CERTIFICATION.
- ^ "500 Greatest Albums: Touch - Eurythmics | Rolling Stone Music | Lists". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Eurythmics - Touch". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ "InfoDisc : Tous les Albums classés par Artiste". Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
- ^ "charts.de". charts.de. 14 November 2005. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Eurythmics - Touch". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Eurythmics - Touch". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Eurythmics - Touch". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Eurythmics - Touch". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ "Eurythmics - Touch". Chart Stats. 26 November 1983. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ "Eurythmics Album & Song Chart History | Billboard.com". billboard.com. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ "Eurythmics Album & Song Chart History | Billboard.com". billboard.com. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Eurythmics; 'Touch')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.