Name: Please Don't Touch
Brand: Caroline World Service
SKU: 430723
Price: 63.9 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 3.7 (3 reviews)

Performer Notes

Personnel: Steve Hackett (vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion), Randy Crawford, Steve Walsh (vocals), Richie Havens (vocals, percussion), Graham Smith (violin), Hugh Malloy (cello), John Hackett (flute, piccolo, keyboards, bass pedals), Dave Lebolt, John Acock (keyboards), Tom Fowler (bass), Chester Thompson (drums), Phil Ehart (drums, percussion), James Bradley (percussion), Dale Newman, Dan Owen, Maria Bonvino (background vocals).
Recorded between November 1977 and February 1978.
All songs written by Steve Hackett.
Personnel: Steve Hackett (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, psaltery, keyboards, guitar synthesizer, maracas, percussion, bells, sleigh bell, wind chime, computer); Richie Havens (vocals, percussion); Randy Crawford, Steve Walsh (vocals); Hugh Malloy (cello); John Hackett (flute, piccolo, keyboards); Dave Lebolt, John Acock (keyboards); Chester Thompson , Phil Ehart (drums, percussion); James Bradley, Jr. (percussion).
Recording information: Cherokee (11/1977-02/1978); De Lane Lea (11/1977-02/1978); Kingsway (11/1977-02/1978); Record Plant (11/1977-02/1978).
Photographer: Armando Gallo.
Steve Hackett left Genesis in June 1977 (following the tour that would be documented on Seconds Out), and started his solo career in earnest with Please Don't Touch. Unlike Voyage of the Acolyte, which was a largely instrumental concept album steeped in the progressive rock idiom, this record is primarily a collection of songs featuring guest vocalists Richie Havens, Randy Crawford, and Kansas' Steve Walsh (their Phil Ehart also chips in here on drums). Although the sum effect is something of a patchwork, the individual pieces are often lovely. Over his career, Hackett has shown a propensity for extremes, in this case letting the jazzy and sentimental "Hoping Love Will Last" segue into the musical maelstrom of "Land of a Thousand Autumns" and "Please Don't Touch" (which will delight fans of Hackett's first record, although the Caroline CD inexplicably pauses too long between the two). In a nod to King Crimson (specifically Lizard), the title track is quickly cut off with the quirky carousel sounds of "The Voice of Necam," which itself dissolves into a mix of airy voices and acoustic guitar. The best tracks belong to Richie Havens: "How Can I?" ("Hackett"'s take on Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill") and the conclusive "Icarus Ascending." Hackett is no singer, so he wisely masks his voice in a "laughing gnome" effect on the delightful "Carry on Up the Vicarage" and hides behind Walsh's lead on "Narnia" and "Racing in A." Perhaps taking his cue from Gabriel (whose debut had appeared in 1977), Hackett seems eager to show his range as a songwriter. While he clearly has a closet full of good ideas and a genuine knack for interesting arrangements, Hackett is too much the eccentric Englishman to appeal to broad commercial tastes. Please Don't Touch remains a uniquely effective amalgam of progressive rock and pop; like his first album, he never made another one quite like it, perhaps because he again taps the concept's full potential here. ~ Dave Connolly

Album: Please Don't Touch
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Narnia	More Info...
2)	Carry On Up The Vicarage	More Info...
3)	Racing In A	More Info...
4)	Kim	More Info...
5)	How Can I?	More Info...
6)	Hoping Love Will Last	More Info...
7)	Land Of A Thousand Autumns	More Info...
8)	Please Don't Touch	More Info...
9)	The Voice OF Necam	More Info...
10)	Icarus Ascending	More Info...
11)	Narnia (John Perry Vocal Version)	More Info...
12)	Land Of A Thousand Autumns/Please Don't Touch (Live)	More Info...
13)	Narnia (Alternate Version)	More Info...

Album: Please Don't Touch
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Narnia	More Info...
2)	Carry On Up The Vicarage	More Info...
3)	Racing In A	More Info...
4)	Kim	More Info...
5)	How Can I?	More Info...
6)	Hoping Love Will Last	More Info...
7)	Land Of A Thousand Autumns	More Info...
8)	Please Don't Touch	More Info...
9)	The Voice OF Necam	More Info...
10)	Icarus Ascending	More Info...
11)	Narnia (John Perry Vocal Version)	More Info...
12)	Land Of A Thousand Autumns/Please Don't Touch (Live)	More Info...
13)	Narnia (Alternate Version)	More Info...