Touch (1980s band)

This article is about the 1970s band. For the 1960s band, see Touch (1960s 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 did well on a specialist Melody Maker chart in Great Britain. The band released one eponymous album in 1980, and a second unreleased album was recorded in 1982.

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.

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.

Reformation

In 2014, Mangold resurrected the Touch name, assembling a lineup featuring Swedish singer Göran Edman on lead vocals along with other Swedish musicians. This lineup performed live at Firefest in Nottingham, UK in October 2014.

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

• MusicMight biography