Human Touch is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. The album was released on March 27, 1992, the same day as Lucky Town. It was the more popular of the two albums, peaking at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart. Its lead single, "Human Touch" (released as a double A-side single with Lucky Towns "Better Days"), peaked at number one on the Mainstream Rock chart and number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. Human Touch has since been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over one million copies in the US, and it was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance at the 1993 Grammy Awards.

Background Shortly after Springsteen disbanded the E Street Band in October 1989, pianist Roy Bittan played three instrumental tracks he had written for Springsteen: "Roll of the Dice", "Real World", and "Trouble in Paradise". Springsteen later added lyrics to the compositions and liked them enough to begin writing and recording additional material. With the E Street Band dissolved—aside from Bittan, who played keyboards and co-produced the album—Springsteen assembled a group of studio musicians in Los Angeles, primarily utilizing bassist Randy Jackson and drummer Jeff Porcaro. A diverse group of background vocalists contributed to the project, including Sam Moore, Bobby Hatfield, and Bobby King. Ultimately, approximately 25 songs were recorded, though the exact number remains unknown.

The album was initially scheduled for a spring or summer 1991 release, after being pushed back from early 1991, but production was halted when Springsteen began recording Lucky Town later that year. Springsteen ultimately decided to release both albums on the same day, resulting in Human Touch debuting on March 27, 1992—more than two years after the project commenced.

Springsteen asked Porcaro to join the touring band for the subsequent promotional tour, but Porcaro declined due to prior commitments with his own band, Toto. Porcaro died of a heart attack a few months later while working in his garden.

Critical reception

Human Touch debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, selling 246,000 copies during its first week. The album was met with generally mixed reviews. Rolling Stone awarded it four stars, noting that the songs "explore the movement from disenchanted isolation to a willingness to risk love and its attendant traumas again." The review also stated that the title track "stands among Springsteen's best work." Conversely, Bill Wyman of The Chicago Reader gave the album a harsh review, calling it "the worst piece of [expletive] you can imagine coming from a talent on Springsteen's level." Out of the album's 14 tracks, Wyman found only "one passable Springsteen song, 'The Long Goodbye.' The lyrics don't make much sense...but it has a bruising musical onslaught that covers up a lot."

Although his initial review was more favorable, Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune later wrote that "in retrospect, Human Touch tried to re-create the stadium-rocking aura of an E Street album, with session musicians unsuccessfully replacing the road-tested band." AllMusic retrospectively described the album as "generic pop" and "his first that didn't at least aspire to greatness."

The album is generally unpopular among Springsteen's fanbase, and in 2012, it was ranked last among his discography by the online magazine Nerve. Addressing the cool reception of Human Touch and Lucky Town among fans, Springsteen remarked: "I tried it [writing happy songs] in the early '90s and it didn't work; the public didn't like it."

Track listing All music and lyrics by Bruce Springsteen, except where noted

Unreleased outtakes Springsteen's first album without the E Street Band generated numerous outtakes, many of which were later released. A cover of "Viva Las Vegas" was issued as a B-side and included on The Essential Bruce Springsteen; "Chicken Lips and Lizard Hips" appeared on a children's compilation album; and "30 Days Out" served as another B-side. "Part Man, Part Monkey"—a track originally recorded during the Tunnel of Love sessions and performed on that tour—was re-recorded and released as a B-side and on Tracks. Other outtakes included on Tracks include "Trouble In Paradise", "Sad Eyes", "Leavin' Train", "Seven Angels", "My Lover Man", "When the Lights Go Out", "Over the Rise", "Goin' Cali", and "Loose Change". "Trouble River" was subsequently released on 18 Tracks. Springsteen also recorded "Red-Headed Woman", a live version of which eventually appeared on the MTV Unplugged album. Additionally, he recorded "Secret Garden", which was later re-worked with the reunited E Street Band in 1995 for Greatest Hits, and "All the Way Home", a song Springsteen gave to Southside Johnny that he would not release himself until 2005's Devils & Dust.

"Red Headed Woman" "Secret Garden" "All the Way Home"

Personnel Bruce Springsteen – guitar, vocals (all tracks), bass on "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)"Additional musicians Randy Jackson – bass Jeff Porcaro – drums, percussion (except on "With Every Wish") Roy Bittan – keyboards Sam Moore – harmony vocals on "Soul Driver", "Real World", and "Man's Job" Patti Scialfa – harmony vocals on "Human Touch" and "Pony Boy" David Sancious – Hammond organ on "Soul Driver" and "Real Man" Ian McLagan – piano on "Real Man" Bobby King – backing vocals on "Roll of the Dice" and "Man's Job" Tim Pierce – second guitar on "Soul Driver" and "Roll of the Dice" Michael Fisher – percussion on "Soul Driver" Bobby Hatfield – harmony vocals on "I Wish I Were Blind" Mark Isham – muted trumpet on "With Every Wish" Douglas Lunn – bass on "With Every Wish" Kurt Wortman – drums and dumbeck on "With Every Wish"Technical: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin, Roy Bittan – production Toby Scott – engineering Robert "RJ" Jaczko – additional engineering and assistant engineering Greg Goldman, Randy Wine, Tom Hardisty, Clif Norrell, Craig Johnson, Buzz Burrows – assistant engineering Scott Hull, Dave Collins – digital editing Bob Clearmountain – mixing Bob Ludwig – mastering Sandra Choron – art direction Victor Weaver – typography design David Rose – cover photography, interior photography Annie Leibovitz, Harry Gruyaert – interior photography

Singles Year Single Peak chart positions US US Main US AC UK IRE GER SWI AUT NOR SWE NZ AUS NL 1992 "Human Touch"[A] 16 1 8 11 4 15 4 19 1 4 12 17 3 "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" 68 6 — 32 26 — — — 9 32 – — 39

Singles were released in both U.S. and UK/Europe, unless otherwise indicated: A^' Charted as double A-Side with "Better Days" when released in the United States.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1992)PeakpositionAustralian ARIA Albums Chart3Austrian Albums Chart1Canadian RPM Albums ChartLibrary and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 1, 20142Dutch Albums Chart3European Albums (Music & Media)1French SNEP Albums ChartNote: user must select 'Bruce SPRINGSTEEN' from drop-down3German Media Control Albums Chart3Italian M&D Albums Chart Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Human touch". 1Japanese Oricon Albums Chart4New Zealand Albums Chart5Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart1Spanish Albums Chart 1Swedish Albums Chart1Swiss Albums Chart1UK Albums Chart1US Billboard 2002Zimbabwean Albums Chart* Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: albums chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 20002

Year-end charts Chart (1992)PositionAustrian Albums Chart21 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)21French Albums Chart51Swiss Albums Chart 19UK Albums Chart67US Billboard 20048

Certifications

References

External links

Audio and lyrics