Touch

There have been at least 9 acts called Touch, including a rock band from NYC in the late 70s and early 80s, and an early progressive rock band from Portland from the late 60s. Other acts include a psychedelic band from St. Louis in 1969, a pop band from the Czech Republic, an ‘electro pop’ band from Cardiff, an alternative rock band from the Maryland area, a Canadian 70s rock trio, a Jamaican Soca (Soul/calypso) group, and a rapper from Edmonton, Canada. 1) Touch were a rock band from New York City formed in 1978. Members included Mark Mangold (songwriter and keyboards) and Glen Kithcart (drums), both who had previously been in the band American Tears (releasing three albums on Columbia Records). 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 were the first band to play at the inaugural Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington racetrack in 1980. Rumour has it that a member of Touch swallowed a bee while performing onstage. A live version of "Don't You Know What Love Is" appeared on a compilation LP simply called 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 only recently surfaced as bonus tracks on the CD reissue of the first album. Mark Mangold has continued to write and record with and for other artists. The song "I Found Someone", a collaboration with Michael Bolton, was recorded by Laura Branigan and ultimately became a top 10 hit for Cher. 2) Touch was an American proto progressive band formed by keyboardist Don Gallucci (formerly of the Kingsmen). They released the seminal album Touch in 1969 on Deram (reissued 1993 on Renaissance). 3) Touch was a psychedelic / hard rock band from St. Louis whose male/female vocal style recalled the Jefferson Airplane. Their only album, Street Suite, was released in 1969. 4) Touch is an electro-pop band from Cardiff who have since changed their name to Bluestreak Protocol. http://www.myspace.com/touchband 5) Touch is also a rapper from Edmonton, Canada. http://www.myspace.com/touch182 6) Touch was also a band formed in the summer of 1997 by lead vocalist and songwriter Matt Clark, drummer Chris Clark, guitarist Scott Gianforte, and bassist Mitch Loadholtz. They began performing in the Maryland/DC/VA area. In the winter of 2000, they released their debut CD Season of Birth. 7) Touch is currently a jazz / alternative / fusion band from Philadelphia, PA. http://www.myspace.com/experiencetouch