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Monday, January 18, 2016

"Human Touch" by Rick Springfield

Song#:  1524
Date:  07/09/1983
Debut: 70
Peak: 18
Weeks:  15
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Springfield grabbed his fourth Top 10 hit with "Affair of the Heart" (#9 Pop/#23 Rock), the first single from his album Living in Oz. This second single didn't connect quite as well with listeners and it faltered just after entering the Top 20. It didn't attract Rock radio that much either where is stalled at #34. However, in the UK where Springfield had not been popular at all, this song became his biggest hit there reaching #23. Unusually, it crossed over onto the US Dance chart as well where it peaked at #23.

ReduxReview:  Springfield's new almost-over-produced sound was in full effect with this rocker. Lots of synth sounds and dense layering going on. I loved it back in the day and still kind of dig it, but it almost overshadows what is a essentially a good rock tune. It really didn't need the epic treatment, which left it stuck in the 80s. But that's okay as it is still a fun listen.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Prior to his music career really taking off in the US, Springfield had some acting gigs before landing the role of Dr. Noah Drake on the ABC soap General Hospital. One of his jobs had him co-starring in the TV movie Saga of a Star World. The sci-fi movie was an expensive venture that was meant to be a lead-in to a regular TV series. Slated for a full three hours, the movie was a success despite an hour-long interruption in the broadcast by live news coverage of the Camp David Accords overseen by President Jimmy Carter. However, the movie was so expensive to make ($7 million), an edited version of it ended up being released to theaters in other countries before its US TV premiere in order to try and recoup some of the cost. The week after the movie aired, the regular series began. Titled Battlestar Galactica, the sci-fi series was initially a ratings success, but counter-programming from CBS took a major toll on the expensive show and it got cancelled after one season. Springfield played Lieutenant Zac in the original movie, but his character was killed off and did not cross over into the TV series.

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