Please Don't Touch

Infobox Album |
Name = Please Don't Touch
Type = Album
Artist = Steve Hackett


Released = May 1978
Recorded = Nov. 1977-Feb. 1978
Genre = Progressive/Rock
Length = 38:35
Label = Charisma (UK)
Chrysalis Records (U.S.)
Producer = Steve Hackett and John Acock | Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jmozefekhgfj~T10 link]
Last album = "Voyage of the Acolyte"
(1975)
This album = "Please Don't Touch"
Next album = "Spectral Mornings"
(1979)

"Please Don't Touch" is the second solo album by English guitarist Steve Hackett, and his first after leaving Genesis in 1977.

"Please Don't Touch" contains a myriad of musical styles that many were either rejected or never put in front of the "democratic process" which Genesis was known for, which also was amongst one of the reasons that Steve would leave the band. This album, of the many he had released, had finally shown the compositional side of Steve's talent and would prove how valuable his contributions to Genesis were. Rumour has it that the title track was rehearsed and but later rejected by Genesis, when drummer Phil Collins said that he "can't get behind that". ["Genesis Archive #2" booklet, p. 18]

The album featured a plethora of musical stars, including R&B singer Randy Crawford, American folk icon Richie Havens, the drummer and vocalist for the progressive rock band Kansas (Phil Ehart and Steve Walsh respectively) and Frank Zappa alumni Tom Fowler and Genesis concert drummer Chester Thompson.

In 2005, "Please Don't Touch" was remastered and re-released by Hackett's Camino Records label. The new edition features updated liner notes and three bonus tracks.

Track listing

#"Narnia" (Steve Walsh vocal) - 4:05
#"Carry on Up the Vicarage" (Steve Hackett vocal) - 3:11
#"Racing in A" (Steve Walsh vocal) - 5:07
#"Kim" - 2:13
#"How Can I?" (Richie Havens vocal) - 4:38
#"Hoping Love Will Last" (Randy Crawford vocal) - 4:23
#"Land of 1000 Autumns" - 1:38
#"Please Don't Touch" - 3:39
#"The Voice of Necam" - 3:11
#"Icarus Ascending" (Richie Havens vocal) - 6:27

*2005 remaster bonus tracks
#"Narnia" (John Perry vocal) - 3:36
#"Land of 1000 Autumns / Please Don't Touch (live)" - 7:53
#"Narnia" (Alternate version w/Steve Walsh vocal) - 4:30

Notes

*"Narnia" is based on the children's book "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis.
*"Carry on Up the Vicarage" is a musical tribute to Agatha Christie.
*The original CD release had several seconds of silence between "Land Of A Thousand Autumns" and "Please Don't Touch." This was a mistake that was corrected on the remastered version.

Personnel

*Steve Hackett – electric and acoustic guitars, vocals, keyboards, percussion
*John Hackett – flute, piccolo, bass pedals, keyboards
*John Acock – keyboards, engineer
*Maria Bonvino – guest female soprano on "Hoping Love Will Last"
*James Bradley – percussion
*Randy Crawford – vocals on "Hoping Love Will Last"
*Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
*Feydor – vocals on "The Voice of Necam"
*Tom Fowler – bass
*Richie Havens – vocals, percussion
*Dave Lebolt – keyboards
*Hugh Malloy – cello
*Dale Newman – guest vocals on "Icarus Ascending"
*Dan Owen – guest vocals on "Icarus Ascending"
*Graham Smith – violin
*Chester Thompson – drums, percussion
*Steve Walsh – vocals on "Narnia" and "Racing in A"

References