Touch Me (The Doors song)

"Touch Me" is a song by the Doors from their album The Soft Parade. Written by Robby Krieger, it is notable for its extensive usage of brass and string instruments, including a solo by featured saxophonist Curtis Amy. Ray Manzarek played harpsichord and organ on the song; he also interpolated the guitar riff from the 1967 Four Seasons song "C'mon Marianne" in his part.

"Touch Me"
Single by the Doors
from the album The Soft Parade
B-side"Wild Child"
ReleasedDecember 1968
Recorded14 November, 20–21 November 1968
StudioElektra Sound Recorders, Los Angeles
Length3:11
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)Robby Krieger
Producer(s)Paul A. Rothchild
The Doors singles chronology
"Hello, I Love You"
(1968)		 "Touch Me"
(1968)		 "Wishful Sinful"
(1969)
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It was released as a single in December 1968 and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 (their last Top Ten hit in US) and No. 1 in the Cashbox Top 100 in early 1969 (the band's third American number-one single). The single also did well elsewhere, peaking at No. 1 in the RPM Canadian Singles Chart and at No. 10 in the Kent Music Report in Australia. However, despite the band's commercial success the previous year, "Touch Me" did not chart in the UK Singles Chart.

A remixed version with added bass and compression appeared on a 1974 compilation called Heavy Metal released via Warner Bros. Special Products. The song was released as one of the first downloadable content songs for Rock Band 3, along with several other songs by the band.[1]

Working titles

According to Bruce Botnick's liner notes the song was initially referred to by its various working titles; "I'm Gonna Love You", from a line in the chorus, or "Hit Me", a reference to blackjack. The opening line was originally "C'mon, hit me ... I'm not afraid", the line thus reflecting the first person vantage point of a blackjack player.[2] Morrison reportedly[3] changed the lyric out of concern that rowdy crowds at their live shows would mistakenly believe that "hit me" was a challenge to physically assault him.

Musical style

"Touch Me" blends traditional pop[4] with psychedelic rock; a combination which was unusual at the time.[5] It has also been characterized as an early example of progressive rock.[6]

Personnel

The Doors

Additional personnel

Chart history

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[14] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. IGN staff (2010-10-22). "The Doors Most Loved Songs Kick Off Rock Band 3 DLC". IGN. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  2. "The Doors CDs Remastered". Coffeerooms.com. 2007-05-09. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  3. "Why Jim Morrison Refused to Sing the Original 'Touch Me'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  4. Nathan Brackett; Christian Hoard (January 1, 2008). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 255. ISBN 9781439109397.
  5. Ingalls, Chris (November 7, 2019). "The Doors' 'Soft Parade' Gets the Deluxe Edition Treatment and a Chance for Reassessment". Popmatters.
  6. "The Soft Parade". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  7. "NZ Listener chart statistics for Touch Me". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  8. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  9. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  10. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 8, 1969". Archived from the original on January 16, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  11. "RPM's 100 Hits of 1969". RPM Weekly. January 10, 1970. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  12. "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  13. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969". Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  14. "American single certifications – The Doors – Touch Me". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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