Please don't touch!
| Please don't touch! | ||||
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| Steve Hackett's studio album | ||||
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Publication |
April 1978 |
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admission |
November 1977 – February 1978 |
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| Label (s) | Charisma Records | |||
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Format (s) |
LP |
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Title (number) |
10 |
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running time |
38:35 |
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| occupation | ||||
|
John Acock, Steve Hackett |
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Please don't touch! is the second solo album by British guitarist and songwriter Steve Hackett . It was released in April 1978 and is his first album after leaving progressive rock band Genesis in 1977 .
Upon its release, the album ranked 38th in the UK and 103rd in the United States. To promote the album, Hackett went with his band on his first concert tour as a solo musician in 1978.
background
In October 1977 Hackett's exit from the progressive rock band Genesis became known; While mixing the live album Seconds Out (1977), Hackett informed his bandmates of his decision. He was becoming increasingly frustrated with the cooperation at Genesis because many of his ideas were not used.
Hackett had released his debut solo album Voyage of the Acolyte in 1975 . At the time, Hackett was under contract with Charisma Records in the UK and Chrysalis Records in the US. Both labels had different ideas about the direction in which they wanted to lead him. Hackett later said, "Your opposing views influenced the album to some extent, although I think the 'European' style tracks were more natural to me."
Hackett used Please Don't Touch! different styles of music. He also wanted to incorporate strange sounds into the songs; so a fair organ was added. He decided to record with American guest musicians and traveled to Los Angeles. Hackett hired various guest musicians , including singers Randy Crawford , Richie Havens and Steve Walsh , drummer Chester Thompson and bassist Tom Fowler .
The album cover was designed by Hackett's then life partner Kim Poor. It shows a Victorian couple being attacked by vending machines in a toy store.
In 2005, a revised edition of the album with bonus tracks was released on Hackett's Camino Records label .
Songs
Side one
Narnia is based on the novel The King of Narnia . Hackett wanted Steve Walsh on vocals, but a version with John Perry was also recorded.
Carry on Up the Vicarage is a musical homage to Agatha Christie . Hackett sings with electronic alienation.
Racing in A is mostly electric, but the last minute is an acoustic guitar piece that slows down.
Kim is named after Hackett's partner and later wife Kim Poor, who designed many of Hackett's album covers, including Please Don't Touch! . On the track Hackett plays classical guitar and his brother John Hackett plays the flute. The piece was inspired by Erik Satie 's Gymnopédie No 1 .
How can I? is a slow song with Havens on vocals. The members of Genesis were fans of Havens, and the singer agreed to open their series of concerts at Earls Court in London in 1977. Hackett invited him to his house for dinner, where he asked Havens to sing a song of his.
Side two
Hoping Love Will Last with American singer Randy Crawford has a soul influence, but with an acoustic guitar and atmospheric sections with synthesizers. Hackett recalled that his Genesis bandmates particularly liked the song.
Land of a Thousand Autumns is a moody instrumental title that contains references to the main theme of the title track.
Please don't touch! is an instrumental track with many time changes, in which the Roland GR-500 guitar synthesizer is in the foreground. Hackett had first the piece of Genesis to the sample during the Wind & Wuthering - presented sessions, but the song was rejected. It was written as a variation on the main theme of the title Unquiet Slumbers for the Sleepers ... on Wind & Wuthering .
The Voice of Necam contains references to the title track. Necam was one of the first automation systems for mixing consoles. For the vocal chords, Hackett and others sang the traces of a multitrack tape and reproduced them in a technique similar to that of 10cc in the song I'm Not in Love .
Icarus Ascending was sung by Richie Havens and is based on the Icarus legend.
Track list
All titles are written by Steve Hackett.
- "Narnia" - 4:05 - with Steve Walsh
- "Carry On Up the Vicarage" - 3:11
- "Racing in A" - 5:07 - with Steve Walsh
- "Kim" - 2:13
- "How Can I?" - 4:38 - with Richie Havens
- "Hoping Love Will Last" - 4:23 - with Randy Crawford
- "Land of a Thousand Autumns" - 1:38
- "Please Don't Touch!" - 3:39
- "The Voice of Necam" - 3:11
- "Icarus Ascending" - 6:27 - with Richie Havens
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d SH - Record Mirror - Interview - April 28th. In: The Genesis Archive. Retrieved April 28, 1978, December 22, 2019 (American English).
- ↑ Steve Hackett - Please Don't Touch. Retrieved December 22, 2019 .
- ↑ Album Cover Art by Kim Poor. Retrieved December 22, 2019 .
- ↑ Wrinkled Weasel: Rock Legacy: Steve Hackett. In: Rock Legacy. November 15, 2011, accessed December 22, 2019 .