Genre: rock
Rating: ** (2 stars)
Title: Touch
Company: Atlantic
Catalog: SD 181040
Year: 1974
Country/State: P
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: small cut out notch along bottom edge
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4
Price: $5.00
Cost: $66.00
The Alessi Brothers' pop catalog has never done much for me (though they write some irritatingly catchy commercials), but I was surprised to discovered the twin brothers had previously been members of Barnaby Bye (along with ex-Blues Magoos guitarist Peppy Castro and former Illusion drummer Mike Ricciardella.
Produced by Jack Richardson (of The Guess Who fame), 1974's "Touch" would seem to have all the ingredients for massive chart success. With all four members contributing material, tracks such as 'Blonde', 'Damn You Girl' and 'Bein' a Star' were full melodies and hooks that should have brought top-40 radio knocking at their door. For some reason it didn't happen. Atlantic certainly tried to spawn a hit, pulling a pair of singles from the LP:
- 1974's 'Blonde' b/w 'Take Me with You' (Atlantic catalog number 45-3244)
- 1974's 'Can't Live This Way' b/w 'Happy was the Day We Met' (Atlantic catalog number 45-3266 )
Mind you, to my ears it all sounds a bit cold and calculated. Call me cynical, but this is 'product' rather than art. Like their first album, the sophomore set went nowhere. The brothers subsequently reappeared as a solo act. Castro reappeared as a member of Angel.
"Touch" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Blonde (Billy Alessi - Moreen Tilyou) - 2:58
2.) Can't Live This Way (Bobby Alessi) - 3:52
3.) Jamie (Peppy Castro - Alan Braunstein) - 4:12
4.) Damn You Girl (Billy Alessi) - 4:02
5.) Bein' a Star (Billy Alessi) - 4:34
(side
2)
1.) Tumblin' Man (Bobby Alessi - Peppy Castro) - 2:39
2.) Happy was the Day We Met (Peppy Castro) - 3:03
3.) White Tornado (Bobby Alessi - Billy Alessi - Mike Ricciardella - Peppy Castro) - 6:47
4.) Take Me with You (Dominic Bugati) - 3:49
5.) So It End This Way (Bobby Alessi - Peppy Castro) - 2:57