Touch may have
possibly been the first American progressive rock band, although there
are counterclaims from supporters of equally neglected/forgotten United
States Of America and now the hindsighted claims for ZAPPA & The
MOTHERS OF INVENTION. However, (unlike USA and ZAPPA) on hearing much of
TOUCH's small catalogue of progressive music one might be forgiven for
saying it was influenced by the early British prog bands, but for the
facts they were formed in the mid 60's and released their only complete
album 'Touch' in early 1969 in the USA/mid 1969 in the UK. In other
words their music, their ideas and their special album, predates
CRIMSON's « In The Court » and the first RENAISSANCE album. Lead by the
former garage pop/rocker Don Gallucci, he brought together guitarist
Joey Newman and vocalist Jeff Hawks into Don & The Goodtimes. With
TV appearances, they had a pop hit « I Could Be So Good To You ». But
exposed to more ambitious bands, such as JEFFERSON AIRPLANES and the
BEATLES expanding the language of rock, and The GOODTIMES themselves
increasing in their music maturity, Gallucci and Newman felt compelled
to move away from the limitations of 3 minute pop songs. As a result the
innovative, seminal and specifically, archetypal prog song, 75, was
written in early 1967. Musically and name-wise Don & The Goodtimes
metamorphosed into TOUCH, while their fans thought they looked and had
gone weird. John Bordorano and Bruce Hauser were added on drums and bass
respectively. During the end of 1967/early 1968 they had recorded their
eponymously titled album. Praise for TOUCH's music came from many well
known rock artists, e.g. Hendrix (who part bank rolled studio costs of
the recording), and Mick Jagger. Glowing endorsements as to the
influence of TOUCH have been made subsequently by Jon Anderson and Kerry
Livgren. TOUCH had been long forgotten in the short term memory of
rock. In 1973 Gallucci and Newman wrote and recorded music for a film
score, and only one piece was released, as part of the Buried Treasures
disc. Alas TOUCH never came together again to record, Gallucci becoming a
free lance record producer. Line-up / Musicians John Bordonaro/drums Don Gallucci/keyboards Bruce Hauser/bass Jeff Hawks/vocals Joey Newman/guitars Discography Touch 1968
1.We Feel Fine 2.Friendly Birds 3.Miss Teach 4.The Spiritual Death Of Howard Greer 5.Down At Circ's Place 6.Alesha And Others 7.Seventy Five
