Touch
Original 1988 release
Studio album by
Sarah McLachlan
Released11 October 1988
3 April 1989 (re-release)
GenrePop[1]
Length47:54 (1988)
47:31 (1989)
LabelNettwerk
Capitol (1988)
Arista (1989)
ProducerGreg 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 ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Stereo Reviewvery good[2]

Track listing

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

Original release (1988)
No.TitleLength
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.TitleLength
9."Vox" (extended remix)6:59
10."Ben's Song" (78 remix)5:07
Total length:47:54
Re-release (1989)
No.TitleLength
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.TitleLength
10."Vox" (extended)6:59
Total length:47:31

Notes:

Personnel

Charts

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

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

  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.
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