"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]
| "I Have the Touch" | ||||
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| Single by Peter Gabriel | ||||
| from the album Peter Gabriel (Security) | ||||
| B-side | "Across the River" | |||
| Released | December 1982[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1981–1982 | |||
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| Length |
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| Songwriter(s) | Peter Gabriel | |||
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| Peter Gabriel singles chronology | ||||
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Background
editMusically, 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
editIn 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
edit- Peter Gabriel – lead and backing vocals, Fairlight CMI, Prophet-5, Linn LM-1 programming
- Larry Fast – Prophet-5, Moog synthesizer
- David Rhodes – electric guitar
- Tony Levin – Chapman Stick
- Jerry Marotta – drums
- John Ellis – backing vocals
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[10] | 46 |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "I Have The Touch". PeterGabriel.com.
- ^ Reed, Ryan (19 July 2013). "Peter Gabriel Albums From Worst To Best". Stereogum. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- ^ a b Leas, Ryan (18 May 2018). "A Beginner's Guide To Peter Gabriel: 27 Essential Tracks". Stereogum. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- ^ Peter Gabriel - The South Bank on YouTube
- ^ a b c Bowman, Durrell (2 September 2016). Experiencing Peter Gabriel: A Listener's Companion. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 105–107. ISBN 9781442252004.
- ^ Dery, Mark (September 1987). "David Rhodes - Atmospheric Guitar for Peter Gabriel". Guitar Player. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via David Rhodes Archive.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Fiori, Umberto (1987). "Listening to Peter Gabriel's 'I Have the Touch'". Popular Music. 6 (1): 37–43. ISSN 0261-1430.
- ^ a b c Scarfe, Graeme (2021). Peter Gabriel: Every Album, Every Song. United Kingdom: SonicBond. pp. 35, 39, 124. ISBN 978-1-78952-138-2.
- ^ "Peter Gabriel Chart History: Mainstream Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 26 September 2023.