Touch (Sarah McLachlan album)

1988 studio album by Sarah McLachlan

Touch

Original 1988 release

Studio album by

Sarah McLachlan

Released| 11 October 1988
3 April 1989 (re-release)
Genre| Pop[1]
Length| 47:54 (1988)
47:31 (1989)
Label| Nettwerk
Capitol (1988)
Arista (1989)
Producer| Greg Reely
Sarah McLachlan chronology
|  | Touch
(1988)  | Solace
(1991)

|
|

1989 Nettwerk–Arista re-release
Singles from  Touch

1. "Vox"
Released: October 21, 1988
2. "Steaming"
Released: 1989

Touch is the debut album by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan. It was originally released on October 11, 1988 through Nettwerk and Capitol Records. The album was then re-released on April 3, 1989 through Nettwerk and Arista Records with additional material and new cover art. The album includes "Vox", McLachlan's debut single, which reached number 90 in Canada upon its release.

McLachlan did not achieve commercial stardom until 1991 in Canada, with Solace, and 1994–1995 internationally, with her 1993 album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. In 1993, McLachlan and Nettwerk were sued by Darryl Neudorf, a Vancouver musician and former member of 54-40, who alleged that he had made a significant and uncredited contribution to the songwriting on Touch. Although both McLachlan and Nettwerk acknowledged that Neudorf was involved in the album's production, both took the position that his contribution had not been primarily in songwriting. The judge in that suit ultimately ruled in McLachlan's favor.

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [1]
Stereo Review| very good[2]

## Track listing[edit]

All tracks written by Sarah McLachlan, except "Steaming" and "Uphill Battle" (music by McLachlan and Darren Phillips).

Original release (1988)No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Out of the Shadows"| 4:57
2.| "Steaming"| 4:45
3.| "Strange World"| 4:05
4.| "Touch" (instrumental)| 3:11
5.| "Vox"| 4:50
6.| "Sad Clown"| 4:28
7.| "Uphill Battle" (instrumental)| 4:37
8.| "Ben's Song"| 4:55
Total length:| 35:48

Bonus tracks (CD)No.| Title| Length

|
|

9.| "Vox" (extended remix)| 6:59
10.| "Ben's Song" (78 remix)| 5:07
Total length:| 47:54

Re-release (1989)No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Out of the Shadows"| 4:57
2.| "Vox"| 4:48
3.| "Strange World"| 4:05
4.| "Trust"| 4:45
5.| "Touch" (instrumental)| 3:11
6.| "Steaming"| 4:46
7.| "Sad Clown"| 4:28
8.| "Uphill Battle" (instrumental)| 4:37
9.| "Ben's Song"| 4:55
Total length:| 40:32

Bonus track (CD and cassette)No.| Title| Length

|
|

10.| "Vox" (extended)| 6:59
Total length:| 47:31

Notes:

* Some pressings credit "Trust" to McLachlan, Stephen Nikleva, Jeff Sawatzky, Sherri Iwaschuk, and Phillips.
* Not all versions of the original 1988 release contained tracks 9 and 10.
* The remix of "Vox" on the original release is not the same as the extended version from the 1989 release.

## Personnel[edit]

* Sarah McLachlan – vocals, 12-string and classical guitars, piano, keyboards
* Stephen Nikleva – electric guitar
* David Kershaw – bass guitar, double bass, backing vocals
* Jeff Krosse (aka Jeff Sawatzky) – bass guitar, backing vocals
* Naomi McLeod – backing vocals
* Greg Reely – drums, percussion
* Darren Phillips – drums, percussion, keyboards
* Ross Hales – drums
* Sherri Leigh (aka Sherri Iwaschuk) – percussion
* Tippi – percussion
* Steve – percussion
* Rudy – percussion

## Charts[edit]

Chart (1988–89)  | Peak
position

|

Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[3] | 61
US Billboard 200[4] | 132

The RPM Albums Chart between October 1988 and April 1989 is not available. The Touch peak position is taken from May 1989.

## Certifications and sales[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Canada (Music Canada)[5] | Platinum  | 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[6] | Gold  | 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Torreano, Bradley. "Sarah McLachlan — Touch Review". AllMusic. Netaktion LLC. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
2. ^ Nash, Alanna (August 1989). "Review: Sarah McLachlan — Touch" (PDF). Stereo Review (magazine). Vol. 54, no. 8\. New York: Diamandis Communications Inc. p. 78-79. ISSN 0142-6230. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021 - via World Radio History.
3. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6333". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
4. ^ "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
5. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Sarah McLachlan – Touch". Music Canada. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
6. ^ "American album certifications – Sarah Mc Lachlan – Touch". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 26 October 2016.

* v
* t
* e

Sarah McLachlan

Studio albums|

* Touch
* Solace
* Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
* Surfacing
* Afterglow
* Wintersong
* Laws of Illusion
* Shine On
* Wonderland

Live albums|

* Mirrorball
* Afterglow Live
* Mirrorball: The Complete Concert

Compilations|

* Rarities, B-Sides and Other Stuff
* iTunes Originals
* Rarities, B-Sides and Other Stuff Volume 2
* Closer: The Best of Sarah McLachlan
* The Essential
* The Classic Christmas Album

Remix albums|

* The Freedom Sessions
* Remixed
* Bloom: Remix Album

EPs|

* Live
* Live Acoustic
* Live From Etown: 2006 Christmas Special

Singles|

* "Vox"
* "The Path of Thorns (Terms)"
* "Into the Fire"
* "Drawn to the Rhythm"
* "Possession"
* "Hold On"
* "I Will Remember You"
* "Building a Mystery"
* "Sweet Surrender"
* "Adia"
* "Angel"
* "Fallen"
* "Stupid"
* "World on Fire"
* "River"
* "U Want Me 2"

Other songs|

* "Silence"
* "Sing"
* "When She Loved Me"

Collaborators|

* Pierre Marchand
* Ashwin Sood
* Terry McBride

Related articles|

* Discography
* Awards and nominations
* Lilith Fair
* Nettwerk
* Music of Canada
* Music of British Columbia

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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