Think we got every single by Eurythmics when they came out and certainly tried but the albums not so much . . . . . . not sure why now (economics?) but who could not appreciate one of the finest voices in pop?

On this day in music history: November 26, 1983 - “Touch”, the third album by Eurythmics is released. Produced by David A. Stewart, it is recorded at The Church in London in the Summer 1983. Flush with success from hitting number one in the US and abroad with single “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” and its accompanying album of the same name, Eurythmics move quickly to begin work on the crucial follow up.  Their next album is recorded and mixed in just three weeks, in a nineteenth century church that the duo has purchased and converted into a recording studio.  Led by the mesmerizing first single “Here Comes The Rain Again” (#8 UK,#4 US Pop), Dave Stewart comes up with the initial idea for the song. It’s melancholy mood and unorthodox song structure are topped by a haunting string arrangement written and conducted by Michael Kamen (Aerosmith, Metallica, Eric Clapton), and performed by members of the British Philharmonic Orchestra. Recording the strings proves to be a difficult task, due to limited space in the studio. They end up having to place them in various parts of the building, then blending the musicians together during the final mix down. Annie Lennox perfectly compliments the track, writing the lyrics and turning in an impassioned and soulful vocal performance. The song is an another immediate hit and paves the way for the rest of the album’s success. It spins off two other singles including “Who’s That Girl?” (#3 UK, #21 US Pop), and “Right By Your Side” (#10 UK, #29 US Pop). The cover artwork features a striking photo of Lennox taken by photographer Peter Ashworth (Soft Cell, Tina Turner, Bananarama), shot in semi profile with the singer raising her arms, hands clasped and wearing a black mask. “Touch” is also one the first to be simultaneously released on both vinyl and on the then new Compact Disc format in the US. It also spins off a remix EP titled “Touch Dance” in the UK released in May 1984 (not issued in the US), featuring 12" remixes of four tracks along with instrumental versions of three of those songs. The album is remastered and reissued on CD in 2005 with seven additional bonus tracks, including non album B-sides and live recordings. Out of print on vinyl since 1989, it is remastered and reissued as a 180 gram LP in 2018. “Touch” spends two weeks at number one on the UK album chart on February 4, 1984, peaking at number seven on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA. 

thanks to Jeff Harris' blog Behind The Grooves