ON THE TRACKS 4.0 - HUMAN TOUCH

HUMAN TOUCH

Commercially Released: March 31, 1992

Produced by Springsteen, Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin and Roy Bittan
Recording Engineer: Toby Scott

Recorded from September 1989 thru March 1991 at A&M STUDIOS (Los Angeles), SOUNDWORKS WEST (Los Angeles), OCEANWAY STUDIOS (Los Angeles), ONE ON ONE STUDIO (Hollywood), THE RECORD PLANT (Los Angeles), WESTLAKE STUDIOS (Los Angeles) and THILL HILL WEST (Springsteen’s Los Angeles home studio).

PART 1 – HUMAN TOUCH SESSIONS OVERVIEW

Tunnel Of Love was dominated by relationship songs. Although technically still a couple, the relationship between Springsteen and Julianne Phillips had become estranged by spring 1987, several months before Tunnel Of Love was released. However the split did not become common knowledge until a year after-the-fact. Springsteen began the TOL-Amnesty Tour in Feb 1988 and completed it in Oct 1988. During this tour a romance blossomed between Bruce and band member Patti Scialfa. Following the tour Springsteen and Scialfa spent most of the following 8 months out of the public eye at Bruce’s home in California. However they spent the summer of 1989 in New Jersey, which included numerous Springsteen shore-area club guest appearances. Jon Landau has mentioned in interview that Bruce did virtually no songwriting during this Oct 1988 – Aug 1989 period. Bruce and Patti were back out on the west coast by early fall. Bruce and Patti’s Oct 1989 decision to start a family (their first child was born 9 months later) seems to have coincided with Springsteen’s decision to put the E Street Band into semi-permanent retirement. Bruce phoned all the members in October 1989 to give them this news.

The sessions for what became the Human Touch album took place entirely on the west coast (a first for Springsteen) and spanned about a 19-month period - from Sept 1989 to March 1991. The sessions included a variety of musicians, including E Street Band members Roy Bittan and David Sancious. Indeed, Springsteen’s initial songwriting efforts for these sessions included several collaborations with Roy Bittan, who lived in Los Angeles close to Bruce. There were about 30 new songs recorded over the entire 19-month period, which means that there are still several titles still un-documented. An LP could easily have been released in early 1991. However Bruce got cold feet and decided, after a short break, to continue writing and recording more material during 1991 (this material became the Lucky Town LP sessions). So effectively the Human Touch LP sat in the can, collecting dust, for an entire year. Many believe that decision to delay was a mistake. Some major compositions from the sessions were inexplicable left of the original album. Fortunately they have since appeared on TRACKS and other compilations.

In Nov 1991, nearly 5 months prior to the album’s commercial release, a 13-song tape from the Human Touch sessions leaked out to collectors. This tape contained different mixes (some barely noticeable, others quite different) from what would ultimately be released on the official album. Some of the 13 songs on his tape can be found on the mainstream boot cd’s “GOSPEL’S RAIN” and/or “HUMAN DEMOS” – the others are currently only available via private cdr sources.

PART 2 – HUMAN TOUCH SESSIONS DETAILS

Note: Recorded Sept 13-14, 1989 at ONE ON ONE STUDIO, North Hollywood. Bruce handles guitar and vocals and his 3-man backing band on this recording is Bob Glaub (bass), Ian McLagan (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums). First released in the UK in Feb 1990 on the “LAST TEMPTATION OF ELVIS” charity LP. Both above are the same recording. V1a is the charity album version and includes some brief Presley dialog prior to the start of the song. V1b deletes that dialog.

Note: Believed to have been one the first songs recorded for the album, in late 1989. All three versions above are the same basic recording. V1a contains just vocals and guitar (by Springsteen) and keyboards (by Roy Bittan). V1b and V1c (which are virtually identical sounding) contain overdubbed trumpet (Mark Isham), bass (Douglas Lunn) and drums (Kurt Wortman).

Note: Co-written by Springsteen (lyrics) and Roy Bittan (music). Recorded in Dec 1989 at SOUNDWORKS WEST, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles lead guitar and vocals and his 4-man backing band on this recording is Randy Jackson (bass), Roy Bittan (keyboards), Jeff Porcaro (drums) and Tim Pierce (rhythm guitar). Background vocals courtesy of Bobby King. V1a is a significantly different mix than the album version and may possibly be a different recording altogether. It includes and additional 20 seconds of duet singing between Springsteen and King not found on the official version. According to comments by King he was called into the studio in January 1990 to overdub background vocals onto an already completed core recording. 

Note: Co-written by Springsteen (lyrics) and Roy Bittan (music). Recorded Dec 1, 1989 at SOUNDWORKS WEST, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and his 3-man backing band on this recording is Randy Jackson (bass), Roy Bittan (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums).

Note: Co-written by Springsteen (lyrics) and Roy Bittan (music). Recorded in Dec 1989 at SOUNDWORKS WEST, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and his 3-man backing band on this recording is Randy Jackson (bass), Roy Bittan (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums). The background vocals are by Sam Moore, who was called into the studio in January 1990 to overdub onto an already completed basic recording. V1a is a much different mix than the album version, with Sam Moore’s vocals cutting in sooner and more prominent throughout.

Note: Recorded in Dec 1989 at SOUNDWORKS WEST. Springsteen handles guitar and lead vocals and his 3-man backing band on this recording is Randy Jackson (bass), Roy Bittan (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums). Background vocalists are Bobby King and Sam Moore. According to comments by King both Sam Moore and himself were called into the studio in January 1990 to overdub their background vocals onto the already completed basic recording. Both versions are the same core recording. V1a, which many consider superior, includes more prominent vocals from both King and Moore and what sounds like a different vocal take by Springsteen.

Note: Written in 1986 and first recorded during the 1987 Tunnel Of Love sessions (that version isn’t circulating) and then performed live regularly during the 1988 TOL Tour. This studio version dates from Jan 1990 at SOUNDWORKS WEST, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles guitar, bass and vocals and his 2-man backing band on this recording is David Sancious (keyboards) and Omar Hakim (drums). V1a and V1b are extremely similar and may in fact be identical mixes.

Note: An interesting history behind this song. V1 was recorded by Springsteen and Roy Bittan at THRILL HILL WEST (Springsteen’s Los Angeles home studio) sometime in Nov 1989. The music for V1, which has a reggae feel, was composed by Roy Bittan, which is why some advanced pre-release info about the LP mistakenly listed “Soul Driver” as a “Springsteen-Bittan” composition. As it turned out the Bittan melody was ultimately dropped in favor of a Springsteen melody (which is why it’s listed as a Spingsteen-only song). V2 (two mixes) contains the Springsteen melody and was recorded at SOUNDWORKS WEST, Los Angeles sometime during mid-late Jan 1990. Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and his 5-man backing band on V2 is Randy Jackson (bass), David Sancious (keyboards), Michael Fisher (percussion), Jeff Porcaro (drums) and Tim Pierce (rhythm guitar). Background vocals by Sam Moore.

Note: Recorded on Jan 25, 1990 at SOUNDWORKS WEST, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and his 4-man backing band on this recording is Randy Jackson (bass), David Sancious (keyboards), Michael Fisher (percussion) and Jeff Porcaro (drums).

Note: Recorded sometime mid Jan to early Feb 1990 at SOUNDWORKS WEST, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and his 4-man backing band on this recording is Randy Jackson (bass), David Sancious (organ), Ian McLagen (piano) and Jeff Porcaro (drums). V1a is a slightly different mix, with the organ more prominent.

Note: Recorded on Feb 27, 1990 at OCEANWAY STUDIOS, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and his 3-man backing band on this recording is the same as on “Viva Las Vegas” - Bob Glaub (bass), Ian McLagan (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums).

Note: Co-written by Springsteen (music and lyrics) and the late Sonny Boy Williamson (lyrics). Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and his 3-man backing band on this recording is Randy Jackson (bass), Roy Bittan (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums). Both of the above are a different mix of same core recording. V1a features an extended fade-out and an alternate guitar solo.

Note: Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and his 3-man backing band on this recording is Randy Jackson (bass), Roy Bittan (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums). Same recording, two different mixes. V1a has a longer beginning and ending and a different guitar solo near the end of the song.

Note: Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and his 3-man backing band on this recording is Randy Jackson (bass), Roy Bittan (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums). Both above are different mixes of the same core recording. V1a features a much-extended intro and fade out.

Note: Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and his 3-man backing band on this recording is Randy Jackson (bass), Roy Bittan (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums). The legendary Bobby Hatfield (of Righteous Brothers fame) provides background vocals. Both above are significantly different mixes of the same core recording. Many consider V1a is the superior version - it features an alternate guitar, a different Springsteen lead vocal, Hatfield more upfront in the mix and a longer Springsteen-Hatfield duet fade-out. Note: due to the copying speeds used, V1a circulates among collectors in slightly different running time lengths (from 5:15 to 5:30)

Note: Recorded sometime March – April 1990 at A&M STUDIOS, Los Angeles. Both above are slightly different mixes of the same core recording.

Note: Recorded on April 6, 1990 at SOUNDWORKS WEST, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and his 3-man backing band on this recording is Randy Jackson (bass), Roy Bittan (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums). Both above are different mixes of the same core recording. V1b is superior.

Note: Recorded sometime in April-May 1990, most likely at SOUNDWORKS WEST, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and his 3-man backing band on this recording is Randy Jackson (bass), Roy Bittan (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums).

Note: Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and his 3-man backing band on this recording is Randy Jackson (bass), Roy Bittan (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums). Additional background vocal overdub by Patti Scialfa. All of the above are different mix/edits of the same core recording. V1a features an extended intro and an extra guitar break mid song. V1c is merely an edited version of V1b and was officially released as a promo single in some countries and later on the official Greatest Hits package.

Note: Recorded on June 29, 1990 at OCEANWAY STUDIOS, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles guitar, bass and vocals and his 2-man backing band on this recording is Roy Bittan (keyboards) and Shawn Pelton (drums).

Note: A traditional children’s song not written by Springsteen. Recorded at the same time as “Chicken Lips And Lizard Hips”, sometime June - Sept, 1990 at THRILL HILL WEST. V1 is Springsteen solo. V2 is a different recording and with additional vocals by Patti Scialfa. Initially considered for donation to the Disney charity CD “For Our Children” but nixed in favor of “Chicken Lips”. Surprisingly (given the great original songs Bruce had available) V2 ended up on the Human Touch LP. The version heard on the original leaked demo tape is V2.

Note: A children’s song written by John & Nancy Cassidy. Recorded (at the same time as “Pony Boy”) sometime June - Sept, 1990 at THRILL HILL WEST. V1 is Springsteen solo. V2 is a different recording and with additional vocals by Patti Scialfa. V1 was donated to and released on the Disney “For Our Children” charity CD album in January 1991. Incredibly it was released on a single in Australia in March 1991.

Note: Recorded on Dec 4, 1990 at SOUNDWORKS WEST, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles guitar, bass, keyboards and vocals and his 1-man backing band on this recording is Jeff Porcaro (drums).

Note: Recorded in early Dec 1990, most likely at THE RECORD PLANT, Los Angeles. The song was registered at the US copyright office on Dec 18, 1990. Springsteen handles guitar, bass and vocals and his 2-man backing band on this recording is Roy Bittan (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums). Springsteen had premiered this song live a couple of weeks earlier at the Nov 1990 Christic Benefit – the LP version has more refined lyrics. V1a is the leaked demo version, which seems to be virtually identical to V1b. V1c, V1d and V1e are 3 alternate dance mixes (the so-called “Little Steven Remixes”) done in spring 1992 by mixer David McNair and produced by Steve Van Zandt. These were first released in July 1992 in various single formats and there was even an edited version of V1c issued as well.

Note: Recorded on Dec 6, 1990 at THE RECORD PLANT, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles guitar, bass and vocals and his 2-man backing band on this recording is Roy Bittan (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums).

Note: Recorded on Dec 7, 1990 at SOUNDWORKS WEST, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles vocals and all instruments except for Roy Bittan (keyboards).

Note: Recorded on Jan 29, 1991 at A&M STUDIOS, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles vocals and all instruments.

Note: Recorded on Jan 31, 1991 at THE RECORD PLANT, Los Angeles. Springsteen handles vocals and all instruments except for Roy Bittan (keyboards).

Note: Springsteen premiered this song live at the Nov 1990 Christic Benefit shows – a studio version was completed sometime during the Human Touch sessions (probably Dec 1990) but it remains un-issued.

Note: Recorded for Human Touch but not utilized. Bruce re-recorded it in Jan 1995 with the E Street and that version appeared on Greatest Hits. .

Note: Written sometime in 1990 or early 1991. Springsteen donated the song to Southside Johnny and Bruce took part in the July 1991 recording session in New York that produced Southside’s cover version. Bruce re-recorded the song in 2004 and released it on the Devils & Dust album.

Page updated June 13, 2007