I Have the Touch

Last updated
"I Have the Touch"
Peter Gabriel - I Have the Touch.jpg
Single by Peter Gabriel
from the album Peter Gabriel (Security)
B-side "Across the River"
ReleasedDecember 1982 (1982-12) [1]
Recorded1981–1982
Genre
Length
  • 4:30 (album version)
  • 3:45 (1982 single edit)
  • 5:08 (1983 remix)
  • 4:19 (1996 Robbie Robertson mix)
Label
Songwriter(s) Peter Gabriel
Producer(s)
Peter Gabriel singles chronology
"Shock the Monkey"
(1982)
"I Have the Touch"
(1982)
"I Don't Remember (Live)"
(1983)

"I Have the Touch" is a song by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel from his fourth eponymous studio album released in 1982. The song's working title during the recording sessions was "Hands". [4] This song was featured in the film The Chocolate War (1988). The 1996 remix was used in the film Phenomenon of the same year. In 1996, Heather Nova recorded a cover version of the song for the teen-witch horror film The Craft . [5]

Contents

Background

Musically, the song is built around a drum machine pattern and various synthesisers, including a Prophet-5 played by Larry Fast. In addition to the LinnDrum programming provided by Gabriel, Jerry Marotta also recorded some acoustic drums, which was treated with gated reverb. [1] [5] To achieve some of the guitar tones on "I Have the Touch", David Rhodes tapped some B chords on the twelfth fret of his guitar. [6]

The lyrics deal with the desire for human contact, which Gabriel explored after reading about the importance of touch, citing an example of how various degrees of physical contact can influence newborn brain development. [1] He cited the literary work of Michael Argyle on body language and brain stimulation as inspiration for "I Have the Touch", further referencing an experiment conducted in capital cities observing different forms of body contact. [7]

During the penultimate lines of each verse, the vocals reach the highest note, after which the tension releases at the title line: 'I have the touch'. [8] At the end of the song, Gabriel lists off several activities that he believes are insufficient to human contact, including arm folding, scratching, and finger tapping. [5] A German re-recording, titled "Kon Takt!", was included on the Deutsches Album . This version features an added refrain with shouted gibberish. [9]

The B-side of the single, "Across the River", was an instrumental which came from a session between Gabriel, Stewart Copeland, L. Shankar, and long-time Gabriel guitarist David Rhodes, recorded for on a WOMAD benefit album, Music and Rhythm, that had been released six months earlier. [9] Gabriel created the chord progression of "Across the River" the night prior to the recording session and mixed the song the following day. [7] The single cover art is a still frame from the "Shock the Monkey" music video. [1]

Alternate versions

In 1983, Gabriel and Peter Walsh re-recorded the track featuring an extended instrumental section, first released as a B-side to the 12" single of "Walk Through the Fire", a non-album track from the motion picture Against All Odds (1984). An edited remix of this version was later released on the 12" single of "Sledgehammer" and the compilation album Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats (1990).

In 1996, Gabriel remixed "I Have the Touch" with Robbie Robertson for the movie Phenomenon . This version was included on the 2003 compilation album Hit . [9]

Personnel

Chart performance

Chart (1982)Peak
position
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard) [10] 46

Related Research Articles

<i>Passion</i> (Peter Gabriel album) 1989 soundtrack album by Peter Gabriel

Passion is an album released in 1989 by the English singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel. It was the first Peter Gabriel album to be released on Real World Records, Gabriel's second soundtrack, and his eighth album overall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In the Air Tonight</span> 1981 single by Phil Collins

"In the Air Tonight" is the debut solo single by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was released as the lead single from Collins's debut solo album, Face Value, in January 1981.

<i>So</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Peter Gabriel

So is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel, released on 19 May 1986 by Charisma Records and Virgin Records. After working on the soundtrack to the film Birdy (1984), producer Daniel Lanois was invited to remain at Gabriel's Somerset home during 1985 to work on his next solo project. Initial sessions for So consisted of Gabriel, Lanois and guitarist David Rhodes, although these grew to include a number of percussionists.

<i>Peter Gabriel</i> (1982 album) Fourth solo album by Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel is the fourth studio album by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel. In the United States and Canada, the album was released by Geffen Records with the title Security. Some music streaming services refer to it as Peter Gabriel 4: Security. A German-language version, entitled Deutsches Album, was also released. The album saw Gabriel expanding on the post-punk and world music influences from his 1980 self-titled record, and earned him his first US top 40 single with "Shock the Monkey".

<i>This Womans Work: Anthology 1978–1990</i> 1990 box set by Kate Bush

This Woman's Work: Anthology 1978–1990 is a compilation box set by the English singer-songwriter Kate Bush. Released in 1990 on CD, vinyl and cassette; it comprises her six studio albums to that point together with two additional albums of B-sides, rarities and remixes. The box set was re-released on CD only in 1998 in different packaging.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shock the Monkey</span> 1982 single by Peter Gabriel

"Shock the Monkey" is a song by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel. It was released in September 1982 as the first single from his fourth self-titled studio album, issued in the US under the title Security.

<i>Peter Gabriel</i> (1980 album) Third solo album by Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel is the third solo studio album by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel, released on 30 May 1980 by Charisma Records. The album, produced by Steve Lillywhite, has been acclaimed as Gabriel's artistic breakthrough as a solo artist. AllMusic wrote that it established him as "one of rock's most ambitious, innovative musicians".

<i>Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats</i> 1990 greatest hits album by Peter Gabriel

Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats is a compilation album by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel. It was released in 1990 as Gabriel's first career retrospective, including songs from his first solo album Peter Gabriel (1977), through Passion: Music for The Last Temptation of Christ (1989). It was remastered with most of Gabriel's catalogue in 2002. The vinyl version of the album is called Shaking the Tree: Twelve Golden Greats.

<i>Plays Live</i> 1983 live album by Peter Gabriel

Plays Live is the first live and fifth album overall by English rock musician Peter Gabriel. It was originally issued as a double album and long-play cassette in 1983, with sixteen songs. It was re-released in 1985, as a single CD called Plays Live (Highlights) with only twelve songs, some of which are edited so the album fits on a single disc. It was rereleased in its entirety as a double CD set in 1987. In 2002, a remaster of the Highlights version was issued. In 2019, the complete double-LP version was released on streaming platforms for the first time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biko (song)</span> 1980 song by Peter Gabriel

"Biko" is an anti-apartheid protest song by English rock musician Peter Gabriel. It was released by Charisma Records as a single from Gabriel's eponymous third album in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Rain (song)</span> 1987 single by Peter Gabriel

"Red Rain" is the first track on English rock musician Peter Gabriel's fifth solo studio album So (1986). In the United States, it was initially only released as a promotional single and reached number three on Billboard magazine's Mainstream Rock chart in June 1986, where it stayed for three weeks between July and August. A year later, in June 1987, it was released as a commercial single in parts of Europe, Australia and the United States, peaking at 46 in the UK Singles Chart after entering the chart in July of that year. A live version also charted in the US and the UK in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel song)</span> 1986 single by Peter Gabriel

"Sledgehammer" is a song by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel. It was released in April 1986 as the lead single from his fifth studio album, So (1986). It was produced by Gabriel and Daniel Lanois. It reached No. 1 in Canada on 21 July 1986, where it spent four weeks; No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States on 26 July 1986; and No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart, thanks in part to its music video. It was his biggest hit in North America and ties with "Games Without Frontiers" as his biggest hit in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Time (Peter Gabriel song)</span> 1986 Peter Gabriel song

"Big Time" is a song by English rock musician Peter Gabriel from his fifth studio album So (1986). It was his second top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel song)</span> 1986 single by Peter Gabriel

"In Your Eyes" is a song by English rock musician Peter Gabriel from his fifth solo studio album So (1986). It features Youssou N'Dour singing a part at the end of the song translated into his native Wolof. Gabriel's lyrics were inspired by an African tradition of ambiguity in song between romantic love and love of God.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight, Tonight, Tonight</span> 1987 single by Genesis

"Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" is the second track on the 1986 album Invisible Touch by the English rock band Genesis, released in January 1987 as the fourth single from the album. It peaked at No. 3 in the US and No. 18 in the UK. The working title was "Monkey, Zulu".

"Family Snapshot" is a song written and performed by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel, appearing on his third eponymous studio album.

"Intruder" is a song written and performed by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel. The song was the first to use the "gated reverb" drum sound created by Hugh Padgham and Phil Collins, with Collins performing the song's drum part. The gated drum effect was later used in Collins' own "In the Air Tonight", and appeared frequently through the 1980s, on records such as David Bowie's "Let's Dance" and the Power Station's "Some Like It Hot".

"The Rhythm of the Heat" is a song written and performed by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel. Released in 1982, it is the opening track off his fourth self-titled album. In 1985, the song was used during the opening scene of "Evan" in season one of Miami Vice and also appeared in the Oliver Stone film Natural Born Killers in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Remember (Peter Gabriel song)</span> 1980 single by Peter Gabriel

"I Don't Remember" is a song written and recorded by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel, released as the fourth and final single from his third eponymous studio album in 1980. Although originally only released as an A-side single in the United States and Canada, a live version released with the album Plays Live (1983) reached No. 62 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 75 in Britain for 4 weeks. The song was included in Gabriel's compilation album Shaking the Tree (1990) and two different versions were included in Flotsam and Jetsam (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaking the Tree (song)</span> 1989 single by Youssou NDour & Peter Gabriel

"Shakin' the Tree" is a 1989 song by Youssou N'Dour and Peter Gabriel from the Youssou N'Dour album The Lion. Released as a single, it reached number 61 on the UK official singles chart on 3 June 1989.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "I Have The Touch". PeterGabriel.com.
  2. Reed, Ryan (19 July 2013). "Peter Gabriel Albums From Worst To Best". Stereogum . Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  3. 1 2 Leas, Ryan (18 May 2018). "A Beginner's Guide To Peter Gabriel: 27 Essential Tracks". Stereogum . Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  4. Peter Gabriel - The South Bank on YouTube
  5. 1 2 3 Bowman, Durrell (2 September 2016). Experiencing Peter Gabriel: A Listener's Companion. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 105–107. ISBN   9781442252004.
  6. Dery, Mark (September 1987). "David Rhodes - Atmospheric Guitar for Peter Gabriel". Guitar Player. Retrieved 25 June 2024 via David Rhodes Archive.
  7. 1 2 Fielder, Hugh (2 October 1982). "Don't Touch Me There: Hugh Fielder Gets and Earbending From Peter Gabriel". Sounds. p. 28. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  8. Fiori, Umberto (1987). "Listening to Peter Gabriel's 'I Have the Touch'". Popular Music. 6 (1): 37–43. ISSN   0261-1430.
  9. 1 2 3 Scarfe, Graeme (2021). Peter Gabriel: Every Album, Every Song. United Kingdom: SonicBond. pp. 35, 39, 124. ISBN   978-1-78952-138-2.
  10. "Peter Gabriel Chart History: Mainstream Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 26 September 2023.