Released 12 May 1984 (1984-05-12) Producer Steve LillywhiteStan Shaw Touch Sensitive(1984) Back in the Room(2012) | ||
Touch Sensitive is the debut solo studio album by the English rock singer-songwriter and bass guitarist Bruce Foxton. It was originally released in 1984, on the record label Arista. Two tracks, "It Makes Me Wonder" and "Trying To Forget You (Vocal Mix)" were co-written by Foxton and Pete Glenister. The remainder of the songs are credited solely to Foxton himself. In March of the same year, fellow Jam counterpart Paul Weller released his first official studio album with the band The Style Council, titled Café Bleu. The album was notably his last recording of original material for twenty-eight years, until he released Back in the Room in 2012. Keen to establish himself as a solo artist, after the breakup of The Jam Foxton enlisted the multiple-award winning producer Steve Lillywhite to give the album a contemporary sound.
Contents
On release, Touch Sensitive received a mixed critical reception on release and retrospectively, which have included criticism that it was too commercial in contrast to his work with The Jam. The album peaked at number 68 on the UK albums chart. Three singles were issued from Touch Sensitive: "Freak", "This is the Way", and "It Makes Me Wonder". The album's lead single, "Freak" was a minor success, peaking at number 23 in the UK. It also provided Foxton with his only Top 40 hit.
The album was re-released on 20 August 2001 on Cherry Red Records featuring rare bonus content. The reissue is a CD with the original album digitally remastered from the original 1/2" mix tapes; the bonus content consists of three associated B-sides, including cover versions of the songs "25 or 6 to 4" by Chicago and "Get Ready" by The Temptations, as well as the song "Sign of the Times", an out-take written by Foxton.
Background
When Paul Weller decided to split the Jam in 1982, Foxton suddenly found himself as a solo artist with not a lot of confidence. Bolstered by his publisher, he began writing some songs and got together with session musicians to record what would eventually be known as Touch Sensitive.
Some of the musicians working with Foxton were Andy Duncan, Stan Shaw, Anthony Thistlethwaite, Roddy Lorimer, Adrian Lillywhite, and Judd Lander.
The album wasn't bad, but there was no quality control. The label said they saw me as a solo artist and were behind me for four or five albums, they weren't. It transpired they just wanted to cash in while I was still fresh in the Jam fans' heads. Everything I was writing they would say, 'Yeah, that's great.' I like four or five songs on the album, the rest were like a school report, could do better. But, it got me going again.
Critical reception
Reviewing for AllMusic critic Steve "Spaz" Schnee praised the album stating that the album features "top-notch pop songs with hooks galore" adding that "there are plenty of pure pop gems to satisfy any fan of '80s pop music".
Side one
All tracks written by Bruce Foxton, except where noted.
Side two
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.
Chart performance
Album
Singles UK Singles Chart