Human Touch Explained

Human Touch
Type:studio
Artist:Bruce Springsteen
Cover:Bruce Springsteen - Human Touch - coverart - I.jpg
Released:March 31, 1992
Recorded:September 1989 – March 1991
Studio:A&M
Soundworks West
Ocean Way Recording
Westlake Recording Studios
Record Plant (Los Angeles)
Genre:
Length:58:49
Label:Columbia
Producer:Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin, Roy Bittan
Prev Title:Chimes of Freedom
Prev Year:1988
Next Title:Lucky Town
Next Year:1992

Human Touch is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. The album was released on March 31, 1992, the same day as Lucky Town. It was the more popular of the two, peaking at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, and lead single "Human Touch" (double A-side single with Lucky Towns "Better Days") peaking at number one on the Mainstream Rock and number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. "Human Touch" has since Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for over one million copies sold in the US, and was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance at the 1993 Grammy Awards.[2]

Background

Not long after Springsteen broke up the E Street Band in October 1989, pianist Roy Bittan played Springsteen three instrumental songs he had written: "Roll of the Dice", "Real World" and "Trouble in Paradise".[3] Springsteen later added lyrics to the songs, and liked them to the point where he began writing and recording more songs.[3] With the E Street Band gone—except for Bittan, who played keyboards and co-produced the album—Springsteen assembled a band of studio musicians in Los Angeles, mostly using the services of Randy Jackson on bass guitar and Jeff Porcaro on drums.[3] A wide variety of background vocalists were used, including Sam Moore, Bobby Hatfield, and Bobby King. Overall, at least 25 or so songs were recorded, but the exact number is unknown.[3]

The album was originally set for a spring-summer 1991 release date, having been pushed back from early 1991, but was once again halted when Springsteen began recording Lucky Town later that year.[3] Springsteen ultimately decided to release both albums on the same day, with Human Touch released on March 31, 1992—more than two years after starting the project.[3]

Porcaro was asked by Springsteen to join the band for the subsequent tour, but declined because he was engaged with his own band Toto. Porcaro died a few months later of a heart attack in his garden.

Critical reception

Human Touch debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 selling 246,000 copies during its first week.[4] The album was met with a generally mixed critical reception. Rolling Stone gave the album 4 stars and noted that the songs "explore the movement from disenchanted isolation to a willingness to risk love and its attendant traumas again." The review also stated that the title track "stands among Springsteen's best work." However Bill Wyman of The Chicago Reader gave the album a very harsh review, calling it "the worst piece of [expletive] you can imagine coming from a talent on Springsteen's level." Out of the album's 14 tracks, Wyman said there was only "one passable Springsteen song, 'The Long Goodbye.' The lyrics don't make much sense...but it has a bruising musical onslaught that covers up a lot."[5]

Though his initial review was more positive, Greg Kot of The Chicago Tribune later wrote that "in retrospect, Human Touch tried to re-create the stadium-rocking aura of an E Street album, with session musicians unsuccessfully replacing the road-tested band."[6] AllMusic later described the album as "generic pop" and "his first that didn't at least aspire to greatness."

The album is generally disliked by Springsteen fans, and in 2012 was ranked last among Springsteen's albums by the online magazine Nerve. Regarding the bad reputation of Human Touch and Lucky Town among his fans, Springsteen said: "I tried it [writing happy songs] in the early '90s and it didn't work; the public didn't like it."[7]

Track listing

All music and lyrics by Bruce Springsteen, except where noted

Unreleased outtakes

Springsteen's first album without the E Street Band featured numerous outtakes, many of which have been released. A cover of "Viva Las Vegas" was released as a B-side and on The Essential Bruce Springsteen, "Chicken Lips and Lizard Hips" was released on a children's album, and "30 Days Out" was also a B-side. "Part Man, Part Monkey", a track originally recorded during the Tunnel of Love session and performed on that tour, was re-recorded and released as a B-side and on Tracks along with other outtakes such as "Trouble In Paradise", "Sad Eyes", "Leavin' Train", "Seven Angels", "My Lover Man", "When the Lights Go Out", "Over the Rise", "Goin' Cali" and "Loose Change". "Trouble River" was released on 18 Tracks. Springsteen also recorded "Red-Headed Woman", a tribute to his wife Patti Scialfa and a song performed often, eventually released as a live version on the MTV Unplugged album, "Secret Garden", which would later get re-worked with the reunited E Street Band in 1995 for Greatest Hits, and "All the Way Home", a song Springsteen gave to Southside Johnny and one that Springsteen would not release until 2005's Devils & Dust.[8]

Personnel

Additional Musicians

Technical:

Singles

YearSinglePeak Chart Positions[9] [10]
USUS MainUS ACUKIREGERSWIAUTNORSWENZAUSNL
1992"Human Touch"[A]1618114154191412173
"57 Channels (And Nothin' On)"686—3226———932–—39

Singles were released in both U.S. and UK/Europe, unless otherwise indicated:

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1992)Position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart[11] 3
Austrian Albums Chart[12] 1
Canadian RPM Albums Chart[13] 2
Dutch Albums Chart[14] 3
French SNEP Albums Chart[15] 3
German Media Control Albums Chart[16] 3
Italian M&D Albums Chart[17] 1
Japanese Oricon Albums Chart[18] 4
New Zealand Albums Chart[19] 5
Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart[20] 1
Spanish Albums Chart[21] 1
Swedish Albums Chart[22] 1
Swiss Albums Chart[23] 1
UK Albums Chart[24] 1
US Billboard 200[25] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)Position
Austrian Albums Chart[26] 21
French Albums Chart[27] 51
Swiss Albums Chart[28] 19
UK Albums Chart67
US Billboard Year-End48

External links

Notes and References

  1. Tramps Like Us Edition. Hit Parade Music History and Music Trivia. Slate. Molanphy. Chris. July 16, 2021. February 19, 2024.
  2. Web site: Bruce Springsteen. Grammy Awards. November 23, 2020. February 14, 2018. April 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190406060819/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/bruce-springsteen. live.
  3. Web site: Bruce Springsteen – Human Touch/Lucky Town – Album Review . AbsolutePunk.net . March 31, 1992 . January 28, 2014 . August 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230823170316/https://chorus.fm/ . live .
  4. Web site: Billboard. August 17, 2002. November 1, 2020. August 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230823171001/https://books.google.com/books?id=BgwEAAAAMBAJ&q=bruce+springsteen+human+touch+and+lucky+town+debut+billboard+200&pg=PA75. live.
  5. Web site: Double drivel . Bill Wyman . Wyman . Bill . 1992-04-09 . . en . 2020-09-27 . November 12, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151112091123/http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/double-drivel/Content?oid=879459 . live .
  6. Web site: Born Again . Greg Kot . Kot . Greg . 1995-02-26 . . en . 2020-09-27 . November 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201129075339/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-02-26-9502260078-story.html . live .
  7. Web site: Ranked: Bruce Springsteen Albums from Worst to Best . . March 5, 2012 . May 17, 2012 . April 14, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120414022215/http://www.nerve.com/music/bruce-springsteen-albums-from-worst-to-best . live .
  8. Web site: Brucebase – Human Touch – Studio Sessions . May 18, 2014 . December 16, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141216035151/http://brucebase.wikispaces.com/Human+Touch+-+Studio+Sessions . dead .
  9. Web site: Artist Chart History (Singles) – Bruce Springsteen. Allmusic. December 15, 2008. August 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230823171032/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bruce-springsteen-mn0000530745/awards. live.
  10. Web site: UK Chartlog . zobbel.de . January 27, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150322040621/http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_S.HTM . March 22, 2015 . mdy-all .
  11. Web site: australian-charts.com Bruce Springsteen – Human Touch . . ASP . May 1, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140328184721/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce%2BSpringsteen&titel=Human%2BTouch&cat=a . March 28, 2014 . mdy-all .
  12. Web site: austriancharts.at Bruce Springsteen – Human Touch . Hung Medien . de . ASP . May 1, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140330133733/http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce%2BSpringsteen&titel=Human%2BTouch&cat=a . March 30, 2014 . mdy-all .
  13. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.2102&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5 Library and Archives Canada.
  14. Web site: dutchcharts.nl Bruce Springsteen – Human Touch. MegaCharts. Hung Medien. ASP. May 1, 2014. April 24, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140424110319/http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Human+Touch&cat=a. live.
  15. Web site: InfoDisc : Tous les Albums classés par Artiste > Choisir Un Artiste Dans la Liste . fr . infodisc.fr . May 1, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130506001015/http://www.infodisc.fr/Album_S.php . May 6, 2013 . mdy-all . Note: user must select 'Bruce SPRINGSTEEN' from drop-down
  16. Web site: Album Search: Bruce Springsteen – Human Touch. de. Media Control. May 1, 2014.
  17. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e dischi. it. May 31, 2022. December 1, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161201160637/http://musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php. live. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Human touch".
  18. Web site: マドンナ、洋楽女性初の快挙 アルバム2作同時初登場TOP10. Madonna's two albums simultaneously enter the top-10. ja. April 3, 2012. May 1, 2014. oricon.co.jp. Oricon Style. November 11, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131111105733/http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/2009550/full/. live.
  19. Web site: charts.nz Bruce Springsteen – Human Touch . Hung Medien . . ASP . May 1, 2014 . mdy-all .
  20. Web site: norwegiancharts.com Bruce Springsteen – Human Touch . Hung Medien . VG-lista . ASP . May 1, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131204224343/http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce%2BSpringsteen&titel=Human%2BTouch&cat=a . December 4, 2013 . mdy-all .
  21. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st . September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
  22. Web site: swedishcharts.com Bruce Springsteen – Human Touch. ASP. sv. May 1, 2014. April 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140415201659/http://www.swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Human+Touch&cat=a. live.
  23. Web site: Bruce Springsteen – Human Touch – hitparade.ch . de . Hung Medien . ASP . Swiss Music Charts . May 1, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121103052550/http://www.hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce%2BSpringsteen&titel=Human%2BTouch&cat=a . November 3, 2012 . mdy-all .
  24. Web site: Bruce Springsteen : Artist: Official Charts. UK Albums Chart. May 1, 2014. July 9, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140709164831/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/bruce%20springsteen/. live.
  25. Bruce Springsteen Chart History: Billboard 200. Billboard. August 1, 2020.
  26. Web site: Austriancharts.at – Jahreshitparade 1992 . de . Hung Medien . May 1, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150804005246/http://austriancharts.at/1992_album.asp . August 4, 2015 . mdy-all .
  27. Web site: Les Albums (CD) de 1992 par InfoDisc . fr . PHP . infodisc.fr . May 1, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150711125153/http://www.infodisc.fr/B-CD_1992.php . July 11, 2015 .
  28. Web site: Hitparade.ch – Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1992 . de . Hung Medien . May 1, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131022160833/http://hitparade.ch/year.asp?key=1992 . October 22, 2013 . mdy-all .

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