Touch (band)

This article is about 1970's era band named Touch and is not to be confused with the American proto-prog band also named Touch, formed in 1966 (releasing the album Touch on Deram in 1969). For the article about the 1960's era band, see Touch (60s band).

Touch was 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.

Career

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 was 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.

This last paragraph is ABSURD. There was no division in the band or management or label about re recording the album. EVERYONE wanted it re recorded, the problem was who was going to pay for it as Mr. Runtgren had taken the entire budget. It dragged on and on...and finally Craig decided to leave the band and pursue another path in life.

Post Break-up

Mark Mangold has continued to write and record with and for other artists, with one of his earliest collaborators being a then-relatively unknown musician named Michael Bolton. This working relationship began when Mangold co-wrote and performed on Bolton's first solo hit, "Fool's Game," which was featured on the latter artist's self-titled 1983 solo album. The song "I Found Someone," another collaboration with Bolton, was initially recorded by Laura Branigan, though it ultimately became a top 10 hit for Cher.

Craig Brooks joined Mangold in the studio for Michael Bolton's solo album. In addition to being a fellow co-writer on "Fool's Game," Brooks performed guitar and backing vocals on the album. The following year, he sang on Roger Glover's solo album, Mask.

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 Now" and managing partner of Lodestar Entertainment.

Discography

Touch (1980)

Track listing

1. "Don't You Know What Love Is" - 3:50
2. "When the Spirit Moves You" - 3:56
3. "Love, Don't Fail Me" - 4:24
4. "Black Star" - 3:32
5. "There's a Light" - 3:56
6. "Take It Back" - (Only available on CD reissue) 4:03
7. "So High" - 5:18
8. "Last Chance for Love" - 3:51
9. "Yes (You Need to Rock & Roll)" - 4:22
10. "Listen (Can You Feel It)" - 5:02
11. "Feels Like Love" (Only available on CD reissue) - 4:12

Touch II (1982)

Track listing

1. Just One Step - 4:15
2. Far Enough - 4:39
3. Too Much in Love - 4:06
4. Beg Me - 4:34
5. Let Me Love You - 5:13
6. Frozen on a Wire - 4:44
7. Never in Love - 4:14
8. Between the Lines - 3:56
9. You're Not a Child Anymore - 4:20
10. Is It Really Me? - 4:41

External links

• {9E521B9E-9A9B-4808-9FD1-9428FAE MusicMight biography