Touch and Go (album)

Touch and Go
Studio album by
Force M.D.'s
Released1987
GenreR&B,[1] soul
LabelTommy Boy
Producer
Force M.D.'s chronology
Chillin'
(1985) 		Touch and Go
(1987) 		Step to Me
(1990)

Touch and Go is the third album by the American vocal group Force M.D.'s, released in 1987.[2][3] "Love Is a House" was the first single; "Couldn't Care Less" was also released.[4][5] The group supported the album by playing shows with Madonna and Alexander O'Neal.[6][7]

Production

Nine producers contributed to the recording of Touch and Go, which was marked by a more mainstream sound.[8][9] Force M.D.'s felt they were known primarily for their ballads, so the group made sure that some dance tracks were included on the album.[10] "Would You Love Me?" was influenced by go-go music and rap.[8][11] The title track was written by Victor Bailey.[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Los Angeles Times[4]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[13]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[14]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music[15]

The Los Angeles Times wrote that, "on the whole, the gooey, studio-crafted music on the third album by the New York quartet is so far removed from the street that even the silkiest smooth singing is undermined... Occasional attempts at incorporating hip-hop styles into the arrangements sound gratuitous and gimmicky."[4] The Christian Science Monitor determined that, "from rap to ballads, to disco/funk, they do it all, without sounding like a hodgepodge ... their youthful, sweet sound continues to charm."[16] The Philadelphia Inquirer opined that "Love Is a House" "is the finest sustained pop metaphor in some time, as are the doo-wop harmonies that make the song surge with strength and beauty."[13] The Washington Post concluded that, "with its quietly fiery performances and seductively glossy production, Touch and Go is superior neo-soul."[8] Nelson George, in Billboard, listed Touch and Go among the best albums of 1987.[17] Trouser Press deemed the album "a lightweight delight."[9]

AllMusic stated: "The production on Touch and Go is crisp and super polished, which is standard for an era just discovering the world of digital production."[12]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Love Is a House"
  • Martin Lascelles
  • Geoff Gurd
  • Gina Foster
  • Geoff Gurd
  • Martin Lascelles
5:06
2."Would You Love Me?"Robert LewisHubert Eaves III5:03
3."Touch and Go"
  • Victor Bailey
  • Poogie Bell
4:57
4."Couldn't Care Less"
  • Richard Scher
  • Anne Godwin
  • Robin Halpin
  • Richard Scher
5:30
5."Your Love Drives Me Crazy"James Edward White, Jr.James Edward White, Jr.5:10
6."Midnite Lover"
  • LeRoi Evans
  • Robin Halpin
  • Anne Godwin
  • LeRoi Evans
  • Robin Halpin
5:02
7."Take Your Love Back"
  • Victor Bailey
  • Poogie Bell
  • Victor Bailey
  • Poogie Bell
4:48
8."Sweet Dreams"
  • Robin Halpin
  • Antoine Lundy
  • Robin Halpin
  • Eric Calvi
4:34

Personnel

Force MDs

Musicians

  • Victor Bailey – arrangements, bass, and bells (3, 7)
  • Poogie Bell – arrangements, drum programming, keyboards, and percussion (3, 7)
  • Alex Bugnon – keyboards (3)
  • Mike Campbell – guitar (3, 7)
  • Mike Claxton – drum programming, percussion programming, and additional vocal arrangements (2)
  • Force MDs – background arrangements (2)
  • Hubert Eaves III – keyboards, synthesizer programming, drum programming, percussion programming, additional vocal arrangements, and background arrangements (2)
  • Hubert Eaves IV – bass (2)
  • LeRoi Evans – keyboards, drums, and rhythm arrangement (6)
  • Gina Foster – additional vocal arrangements (1)
  • Anne Godwin – additional vocal arrangements (4)
  • Derek Green – additional vocal arrangements (1)
  • Geoff Gurd – arrangements (1)
  • Thom Hall – synthesizer programming (5)
  • Robin Halpin – arrangements (4, 6, 8), Synclavier programming (4, 6, 8), additional programming (4), additional keyboards (6, 8)
  • Bob Huott – Synclavier assistance (6), programming and assisting (8)
  • Bashiri Johnson – percussion (8)
  • Martin Lascelles – arrangements (1)
  • Robert Lewis – original arrangements (2)
  • Fred McFarlane – keyboards and drums (8)
  • Morris Michael – additional vocal arrangements (1)
  • Luis Resto – keyboards (5)
  • Richard Scher – arrangements, keyboards, drums, and rhythm arrangement (4)
  • Ira Siegal – guitar (4), twelve-string guitar (8)
  • Jeff Smith – saxophone (4)
  • Harold Thomas – saxophone (5)
  • Jim White – drum, strong, and vocal arrangements (5)
  • Doug Wimbish – bass (4)

Technical personnel

  • Victor Bailey – mixing (3, 7)
  • Poogie Bell – mixing (3, 7)
  • Steve Boyer – recording engineer (1)
  • Brains – recording engineer (1)
  • Eric Calvi – mixing, recording engineer, and mix engineer (8)
  • Pete Diorio – recording and mix engineer (2)
  • Hubert Eaves III – mixing (2)
  • LeRoi Evans – mixing (6)
  • Franklyn Grant – recording engineer (7)
  • Bruce Gray – mix engineer (1)
  • Alan Gregorie – mix engineer (6)
  • Geoff Gurd – mixing (1)
  • Robin Halpin – mixing (4, 6, 8), recording engineer (8)
  • Bob Huott – assistant engineer (4, 6)
  • George Karna – assistant engineer (3)
  • Gail King – editing (6)
  • Martin Lascelles – mixing (1)
  • Jeff Lord-Alge – recording engineer (3, 7), mix engineer (7)
  • Monica Lynch – executive producer
  • George Meyers Jr. – assistant engineer (3)
  • Alan Meyerson – mixing (5), recording engineer (3), mix engineer (3, 4), overdub engineer (8)
  • Jeff Neiblum – recording engineer (5)
  • Rob Paustian – recording engineer (4, 6, 8)
  • Mike Potash – recording and mix engineer (2)
  • Herb Powers, Jr. – mastering
  • Ken Quarterone – assistant engineer (7)
  • Greg Reilly – recording engineer (5)
  • Richard Scher – mixing (4)
  • Tony Smalios – assistant engineer (7)
  • Jim White – recording engineer (5)

References

  1. ^ a b Mitchell, Rico (January 7, 1988). "Music". LA Weekly. p. 107.
  2. ^ "The Force is not with their third album". Star Tribune. August 21, 1987. p. 3C.
  3. ^ Hess, Mickey (2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 122.
  4. ^ a b c Hochman, Steve (August 9, 1987). "Force: Gooey, Gimmicky". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 76.
  5. ^ Takiff, Jonathan (June 24, 1988). "This One's for You". Features Friday. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 58.
  6. ^ Talevski, Nick (2010). Rock Obituaries: Knocking on Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 459.
  7. ^ Hiltbrand, David (September 25, 1987). "Alexander O'Neal". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 28.
  8. ^ a b c Brown, Joe (August 28, 1987). "The Hot-Blooded Force M.D.". The Washington Post. p. N17.
  9. ^ a b "Force M.D.'s". Trouser Press. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  10. ^ Davis, Ken (September 17, 1987). "The musical 'force' is with M.D.'s". South Bend Tribune. p. C2.
  11. ^ Wolff, Carlo (September 14, 1987). "New groups exploring depths of soul music". Akron Beacon Journal. p. C8.
  12. ^ a b "Touch and Go Review by Rob Theakston". AllMusic. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Tucker, Ken (August 23, 1987). "Force MDs Touch and Go". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. G9.
  14. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 257.
  15. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music. Virgin. p. 122.
  16. ^ Duncan, Amy (August 19, 1987). "Rock/Pop/Jazz". Arts. The Christian Science Monitor.
  17. ^ "Critics' Choice". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987. p. Y50.
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