Unlimited Touch was an American, New York–based post-disco group,^[2] most active in the early 1980s.^[2] The group's most famous song in its short lifespan was "I Hear Music in the Streets", which made number 6 on US Dance chart in 1981.^[3]

Overview

The group consisted of Audrey Wheeler (lead singer), Philip Hamilton, Tony Cintron, Sandy Anderson, Stephanie James and Lenny Underwood.^[1] Raymond Reid and William Anderson from New York–based band Crown Heights Affair instigated Unlimited Touch in the early 1980s,^[2] but they were not part of the band.^[4] The group was signed to Prelude Records (via Epic Records in the UK)^[4] and released their self-titled debut album in 1981.^[5] Charles Richards was the executive producer of the group. Lenny Underwood co-wrote "I Hear Music in the Streets" and "Searchin' to Find the One", which were minor hits in the US Billboard R&B chart.^[3]

Due to a label and group dispute, they disbanded by the end of 1981,^[4] but re-formed in 1983 with a new line-up of just three of the original members: Wheeler, Anderson, and James. They released a second album Yes We're Ready in 1983.^[2] Their final single "Reach Out (Everlasting Lover)" reached number 54 on the US Dance chart in 1984,^[3] but the group disbanded again not long after this.^[2] In 1993, Unidisc Music issued the Searching to Find the One compilation album.^[2]

In 1997, "I Hear Music in the Streets" was sampled by Rampage, along with Billie Lawrence on their song "Take It to the Streets".^[6] The song has also been sampled by producer Sean Combs who sampled the bass guitar and drum breakdown for the Faith Evans song "All Night Long" in 1999.^[4]

On March 31, 2020, bassist Sandy Anderson died from the COVID-19 virus.^[7]

Discography

Studio albums

• Unlimited Touch (1981)^[5]
• Yes, We're Ready (1983)^[5]

Compilation albums

• Searching to Find the One (1993)

Singles