Touch (Laura Branigan album)

Last updated
Touch
Laura Branigan - Touch.png
Studio album by
Laura Branigan
ReleasedJuly 7, 1987 (1987-07-07)
StudioPowertrax (Hollywood, California)
Length48:39
Label Atlantic
Producer
Laura Branigan chronology
Hold Me
(1985)		Touch
(1987)		 The Best of Laura Branigan
(1988)
Singles from Touch
  1. "Shattered Glass"
    Released: June 1987
  2. "Power of Love"
    Released: October 1987
  3. "Spirit of Love"
    Released: 1987 [1]
  4. "Cry Wolf"
    Released: 1988
  5. "Name Game"
    Released: 1988 (Philippines)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

Touch is the fifth studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released on July 7, 1987, by Atlantic Records. The album saw Branigan's return to dancefloors with the lead single, the Stock Aitken Waterman-produced "Shattered Glass", which was released in June 1987 and reached number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100. [3] The album's second single, a cover of Jennifer Rush's "Power of Love", was released in October 1987, peaking at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. [3] "Spirit of Love" was released as a single in Europe, while "Cry Wolf" served as the album's third single in the United States.

Contents

Reception

In their review of the album, Billboard commented "pop songstress gets to showcase her strongest assets here: powerful, sustained vocals and convincing lyric interpretation. The results fit best with adult contemporary; album offers more ballads than usual. Best bets: "Shattered Glass," produced by Stock, Aitken, Waterman; "Over Love " and "Spirit Of Love." [4]

Cashbox praised the album, stating that "international favorite backs off of her signature disco sonics allowing her dramatic, often plaintive vocals to shine through. The song selection on Touch ranges from delicate, introspective heart surgeries to full force gale blowers on which she exercises the breadth of her amazing range." [5]

Allmusic noted that "Laura Branigan's fifth album, Touch, showed signs of maturity as she made a bid (that was not quite successful) for adult contemporary crossover - a smart chance to take considering the longevity many A/C acts have. Her big, boomy voice is perfect for some of the moody ballads on this collection, such as "Over Love," "Meaning of the Word," and "Spirit of Love," but there are so many of those successfully evocative cuts that the dance songs don't fit as seamlessly as they should. That's not to say the upbeat tracks are not in good shape: The lead single, "Shattered Glass" and "Angels Calling" stand out; you can hardly hold back from caroling along. Synthesizer-heavy throughout, on both the slow and fast songs, the strings on the yearning "Cry Wolf" near the end of the album are welcome. The lyrics on many of the cuts are poetic and adult, making this atmospheric collection the best product she'd released so far; the material is far better suited to her voice - which has never sounded better." [6]

Track listing

All tracks produced by David Kershenbaum, except "Shattered Glass" and "Whatever I Do", produced by Stock Aitken Waterman; additional production on "Name Game" by Albert Cabrera and Tony Moran.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Over Love"
3:44
2."Shadow of Love"
  • Shifrin
  • Marlette
5:05
3."Angels Calling"
  • Rosetta Stone
  • Jan Mullaney
3:49
4."Meaning of the Word"
  • Rick Palombi
  • Roy Freeland
5:41
5."Power of Love"
5:20
6."Shattered Glass"
  • Bob Mitchell
  • Steve Coe
3:40
7."Whatever I Do"
4:02
8."Spirit of Love"
4:11
9."Name Game"
4:10
10."Touch"
  • Shifrin
  • Marlette
4:09
11."Cry Wolf" Jude Johnstone 4:48
Total length:48:39
CD bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Statue in the Rain"
  • Rick Palombi
  • Mathew Garey
4:17
Total length:52:56

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Touch. [7]

Musicians

  • Laura Branigan – lead vocals (all tracks); background vocals (tracks 1, 2, 8)
  • Bob Marlette – arrangements, drum programming, guitars, keyboards (tracks 1–3, 5, 10, 11); string arrangements (tracks 5, 11); additional keyboards (track 8)
  • Sue Shifrin – background vocals (tracks 1, 10)
  • Andrew Thomas – PPG programming (track 1)
  • Rick Palombi – arrangements, keyboards, drum programming, background vocals (tracks 4, 8)
  • Mark Leggett – keyboards (track 4); arrangements, drum programming, guitars (track 8)
  • Michael Landau – guitars (track 4)
  • Dennis Henson – background vocals (track 4)
  • Donna de Lory – background vocals (track 4)
  • Mona Young – background vocals (tracks 4, 10)
  • Kim Scharnberg – string arrangements, conducting (tracks 5, 11)
  • Kenneth G. Kugler – copyist (tracks 5, 11)
  • Julie Ann Gigante, Ralph D. Morrison III, Clayton Haslop, Alexander Horvath, R.F. Peterson, Arthur Zadinsky, Michael Nowak, Raymond J. Tischer II, Margot MacLaine, Armen Ksjikian, Dennis Karmazyn, Michael Matthews – strings (tracks 5, 11)
  • John O'Hara – keyboards (tracks 6, 7)
  • Mike Stock – keyboards, Linn programming, background vocals (tracks 6, 7)
  • Matt Aitken – keyboards, Linn programming, guitars (tracks 6, 7)
  • A. Linn – drums (tracks 6, 7)
  • Dee Lewis – background vocals (tracks 6, 7)
  • Coral Gordon – background vocals (tracks 6, 7)
  • Jeff Lorber – arrangements, keyboards, drum programming (track 9)
  • Students from St. Finbar School – background vocals (track 9)
  • Carlos Vega – drums (track 11)
  • John Nelson – guitars (track 11)
  • David J. Holman – PPG programming (tracks 2–11)

Technical

Artwork

Charts

Chart performance for Touch
Chart (1987)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [8] 68
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [9] 94
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [10] 20
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [11] 24
US Billboard 200 [12] 87
US Cash Box Top 200 Albums [13] 97

Notes

  1. ↑ Mixed at Powertrax (Hollywood, California)
  2. ↑ Mastered at Masterdisk (New York City)

Related Research Articles

<i>Self Control</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Laura Branigan

Self Control is the third studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released on April 1, 1984, by Atlantic Records. The album peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Internationally, it charted within the top five in several continental European countries.

<i>Branigan 2</i> 1983 studio album by Laura Branigan

Branigan 2 is the second studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released in March 1983 by Atlantic Records. The album reached number 29 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 18, 1985, denoting shipments in excess of 500,000 copies in the United States.

<i>Hold Me</i> (Laura Branigan album) 1985 studio album by Laura Branigan

Hold Me is the fourth studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released on July 15, 1985, by Atlantic Records. The album peaked at number 71 on the US Billboard 200, though it fared better internationally, reaching the top 10 in Sweden and Switzerland, and the top 15 in Norway.

<i>Laura Branigan</i> (album) 1990 studio album by Laura Branigan

Laura Branigan is the sixth studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released on March 21, 1990, by Atlantic Records. The album's lead single, "Moonlight on Water", reached number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the second single, "Never in a Million Years", peaked at number 22 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. The third and final single, a cover version of Vicki Sue Robinson's 1976 song "Turn the Beat Around", failed to chart. The song "Unison" was recorded by Celine Dion the same year.

<i>Rockbird</i> 1986 studio album by Debbie Harry

Rockbird is the second solo studio album by American singer Debbie Harry. It was released in November 1986 by Geffen Records in the United States and Chrysalis Records in the United Kingdom.

<i>Wow!</i> (Bananarama album) 1987 studio album by Bananarama

Wow! is the fourth studio album by English group Bananarama, released on 4 September 1987 by London Records. The album was entirely produced and co-written with the Stock Aitken Waterman production trio. Tensions between group member Siobhan Fahey and Stock, Aitken and Waterman regarding songwriting input and lyrical content prompted Fahey's departure from Bananarama five months after its release. The album reached number 26 on the UK Albums Chart and number 44 on the US Billboard 200, while peaking at number one in Australia. The album was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 3 February 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Found Someone</span> 1986 single by Laura Branigan

"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. The song was a bigger hit for Cher in 1987, reaching the top 10.

<i>Please Yourself</i> 1993 studio album by Bananarama

Please Yourself is the sixth studio album by English pop act Bananarama. It was released on 29 March 1993 by London Records, the group's last release under the label. It is also the first album from Bananarama as a duo – with original members Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward continuing after the departure of Jacquie O'Sullivan in 1991. Please Yourself also reunites Bananarama with two-thirds of the Stock Aitken Waterman production team. Musician Gary Miller was brought in to do keyboards and guitar and would be Bananarama's next collaborator on their following album Ultra Violet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Many Broken Hearts</span> 1989 single by Jason Donovan

"Too Many Broken Hearts" is a song by Australian singer and actor Jason Donovan, released on 20 February 1989 as the third single from his debut album, Ten Good Reasons (1989), and 1991's Greatest Hits album and again on a later collection in 2006. The song reached number-one in the United Kingdom and Ireland in March 1989. The song additionally peaked within the top 10 in Australia, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain. British magazine Classic Pop ranked "Too Many Broken Hearts" number 19 in their list of "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs" in 2021.

<i>Whenever You Need Somebody</i> 1987 studio album by Rick Astley

Whenever You Need Somebody is the debut studio album by English singer Rick Astley released on 16 November 1987 by RCA Records. It is his best-selling album, which, according to his own official website, has sold 15.2 million copies worldwide. The album is listed as the 136th best-selling album in Spain and was the seventh best-selling album of 1987 in the United Kingdom. A remastered version, containing rare remixes and extended versions, was released on 12 April 2010.

<i>If I Have to Stand Alone</i> 1990 studio album by Lonnie Gordon

If I Have to Stand Alone is the debut album by Hi-NRG and house singer Lonnie Gordon, released in 1990 on Supreme Records. It includes Gordon's breakthrough hit "Happenin' All Over Again", which was a top 10 hit in the UK and Ireland. However, the two follow-up singles, "Beyond Your Wildest Dreams" and "If I Have to Stand Alone" did not fare as well. The album was released in parts of continental Europe in late 1990, and Japan and Australia in early 1991, albeit in limited quantity, and wasn't released in the UK until a Cherry Pop reissue in 2009. The album was also released in South Africa in 1990.

<i>Trust</i> (Brother Beyond album) 1989 studio album by Brother Beyond

Trust is the second album of the British boy band / pop group Brother Beyond, released in 1989, by EMI / Parlophone. It was their last album, since they disbanded. After their two major hits, "The Harder I Try" and "He Ain't No Competition", written for them by famous producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman, the band, as lead singer Nathan Moore puts it on his Official Website, "made the classic mistake of thinking they did not need Stock Aitken and Waterman... We wrote the whole of the next album ourselves and (it) bombed totally". The three singles taken from the Trust album were only minor hits, getting no higher than the UK Top 40. The first, "Drive On", which was also the opening track of Side 2 on the vinyl edition, got to Number 39, in October 1989. The second, "When Will I See You Again?", a soulful ballad by The Three Degrees, stopped at Number 43, in December 1989. The third and last, "Trust", the title-track and opener to the whole album, stalled at Number 53, in March 1990.

<i>Get Even</i> 1988 studio album by Brother Beyond

Get Even is the debut album by British boy band Brother Beyond, released on the EMI/Parlophone label in two different editions, both in 1988, generally referred to as Get Even I and Get Even II. The second edition of the album included two songs by Stock Aitken Waterman, "The Harder I Try" and "He Ain't No Competition", which replaced two songs written by the band.

<i>Hold Me in Your Arms</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Rick Astley

Hold Me in Your Arms is the second studio album by English singer Rick Astley, released on 26 November 1988 by RCA Records. It is the follow-up to his successful debut album Whenever You Need Somebody, and was his last album produced and written with the Stock Aitken Waterman team. It continued Astley's success, with the three UK singles from the album becoming top ten hits, and it achieving Platinum and Gold certifications worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Would Take a Strong Strong Man</span> 1988 single by Rick Astley

"It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" is a 1987 song by English singer-songwriter Rick Astley. Written by Stock Aitken Waterman, it was released as the fifth single from Astley's debut album Whenever You Need Somebody. It was mainly intended for the American market where it was a top ten hit, and was not released in the United Kingdom and most of Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shattered Glass (song)</span> 1987 single by Laura Branigan

"Shattered Glass" is a song written by Bob Mitchell and Steve Coe which was originally recorded in 1980 by Scottish singer Ellie Warren. The song was recorded in 1987 by American singer Laura Branigan with the Stock Aitken Waterman production team to serve as the lead single from Branigan's fifth studio album, Touch (1987).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cry Wolf (Laura Branigan song)</span> 1988 single by Laura Branigan

"Cry Wolf" is a song by American singer Laura Branigan, released as the third and final single from her fifth studio album, Touch (1987). It was written by singer-songwriter Jude Johnstone, who later recorded the song herself for her 2002 debut album. Stevie Nicks recorded a cover in 1989 for her fourth solo studio album, The Other Side of the Mirror.

<i>Glasshouse</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Jessie Ware

Glasshouse is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware. It was released on 20 October 2017 through Island Records. The album was supported by the singles "Midnight", "Selfish Love" and "Alone".

<i>Thank You</i> (Diana Ross album) 2021 studio album by Diana Ross

Thank You is the twenty-fifth studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on November 5, 2021, by Decca Records. It marks Ross' first studio album since 2006's I Love You, and her first original material since 1999's Every Day Is a New Day. The album was written during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020 and recorded in Ross's home studio. Ross worked with songwriter and producer Jack Antonoff, as well as Jimmy Napes, Amy Wadge, Tayla Parx, and Spike Stent. The title track was issued as the lead single on June 17, 2021, and is one of nine tracks on the album co-written by Ross. The album received a nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 65th Grammy Awards, Ross' first nomination since 1983.

<i>Legend</i> (John Legend album) 2022 studio album by John Legend

Legend is the ninth studio album by American singer John Legend. It was released on September 9, 2022, through John Legend Music Inc. and Republic Records.

References

  1. ↑ "Laura Branigan – Spirit of Love (1987, Vinyl)". Discogs .
  2. ↑ Buss, Bryan. "Touch – Laura Branigan". AllMusic . Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Laura Branigan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard . Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard Music Week. No. 11 July 1987. p. 64. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Album Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. No. 11 July 1987. p. 9. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Touch - Laura Branigan | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  7. ↑ Touch (liner notes). Laura Branigan. Atlantic Records. 1987. 81747-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 45. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  9. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0877". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Laura Branigan – Touch". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Laura Branigan – Touch". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Laura Branigan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Albums". Cash Box . Vol. LI, no. 11. September 5, 1987. p. 18. ISSN   0008-7289.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.