Touch Me There
Encyclopedia
Touch Me There is a 1979 album by L. Shankar
(credited as "Shankar"). Shankar performed acoustic
and 5-string Barcus Berry electric violin
, string orchestra, and provided vocals on the track "Knee Deep in Heaters." Shankar composed all the music for the album, except on two tracks which he composed music with Frank Zappa, and further served as an arranger and orchestrator on the record. The album was produced by Frank Zappa
who also served as the album's lyricist and who co-wrote, with Shankar, the music for the tracks "Dead Girls of London" and "No More Mr. Nice Girl."
The song "Dead Girls of London" was released as a 12" maxi single on September 24, 1979.
In the final version of the song, "Dead Girls Of London" the lyrics are sung by Zappa and collaborator Ike Willis
. Vicky Blumenthal provides the chorus on "Dead Girls Of London," "Knee-Deep In Heaters," and "No More Mr. Nice Girl," while Jenny Lautrec sings the lyrics to the album's title track, "Touch Me There," and Shankar himself sings the lyrics to the album's final track, "Knee-Deep In Heaters."
The lyrics for the album's opening track, "Dead Girls Of London" were originally supposed to be sung by Van Morrison
, but since Morrison was signed to the Warner Bros. Records
record label who Zappa was in a legal dispute with at the time, Zappa was unable to release the song on his label with Morrison's vocals, and so they were re-recorded (this early version did appear on Frank Zappa bootlegs
, such as "Another Cheap Aroma").
The album was reissued on CD
by Barking Pumpkin Records
in 1992.
)
Side One:
Side Two:
)
L. Shankar
Lakshminarayanan Shankar, also known as L. Shankar and Shenkar, is an Indian-born American violinist, singer and composer.-Early life:...
(credited as "Shankar"). Shankar performed acoustic
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and 5-string Barcus Berry electric violin
Electric violin
An electric violin is a violin equipped with an electronic output of its sound. The term most properly refers to an instrument purposely made to be electrified with built-in pickups, usually with a solid body...
, string orchestra, and provided vocals on the track "Knee Deep in Heaters." Shankar composed all the music for the album, except on two tracks which he composed music with Frank Zappa, and further served as an arranger and orchestrator on the record. The album was produced by Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
who also served as the album's lyricist and who co-wrote, with Shankar, the music for the tracks "Dead Girls of London" and "No More Mr. Nice Girl."
The song "Dead Girls of London" was released as a 12" maxi single on September 24, 1979.
In the final version of the song, "Dead Girls Of London" the lyrics are sung by Zappa and collaborator Ike Willis
Ike Willis
Ike Willis is a singer and guitarist who was a regular sideman for Frank Zappa, first joining Zappa's band for the fall 1978 tour and remaining in the band for several years. He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 for personal reasons, but returned to touring with Zappa for his final two...
. Vicky Blumenthal provides the chorus on "Dead Girls Of London," "Knee-Deep In Heaters," and "No More Mr. Nice Girl," while Jenny Lautrec sings the lyrics to the album's title track, "Touch Me There," and Shankar himself sings the lyrics to the album's final track, "Knee-Deep In Heaters."
The lyrics for the album's opening track, "Dead Girls Of London" were originally supposed to be sung by Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
, but since Morrison was signed to the Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
record label who Zappa was in a legal dispute with at the time, Zappa was unable to release the song on his label with Morrison's vocals, and so they were re-recorded (this early version did appear on Frank Zappa bootlegs
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
, such as "Another Cheap Aroma").
The album was reissued on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
by Barking Pumpkin Records
Barking Pumpkin Records
Barking Pumpkin Records was a record label created by Frank Zappa in 1981. The label was initially distributed by CBS Records from 1981–1984 and Capitol Records from 1984 - 1993. Records sold outside of the US and Canada were distributed by the Music for Nations label. In 1993, after Zappa's death,...
in 1992.
Original vinyl release
(Zappa Records, 19791979 in music
See also:Record labels established in 1979* 1979 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1979.-January–February:*January 1...
)
Side One:
- Dead Girls Of London (L. ShankarL. ShankarLakshminarayanan Shankar, also known as L. Shankar and Shenkar, is an Indian-born American violinist, singer and composer.-Early life:...
: Music, Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
: Lyrics, music) – 5:23 - Windy Morning (Shankar: Music) – 3:57
- Knee Deep in Heaters (Shankar: Music, F. Zappa: Lyrics) – 5:38
- Little Stinker (Shankar: Music) – 3:20
Side Two:
- Darlene (Shankar: Music) – 2:56
- Touch Me There (Shankar: Music, F. Zappa: Lyrics) – 3:03
- No More Mr. Nice Girl (Shankar, F. Zappa) – 8:16
- Love Gone Away (Shankar: Music) – 3:33
CD reissue
(Barking Pumpkin Records, 19921992 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s....
)
- Dead Girls Of London (L. ShankarL. ShankarLakshminarayanan Shankar, also known as L. Shankar and Shenkar, is an Indian-born American violinist, singer and composer.-Early life:...
: Music, Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
: Lyrics, music) – 5:23 - Little Stinker (Shankar: Music) – 3:20
- Touch Me There (Shankar: Music, F. Zappa: Lyrics) – 3:03
- No More Mr. Nice Girl (Shankar, F. Zappa)– 8:16
- Love Gone Away (Shankar: Music) – 3:33
- Darlene (Shankar: Music) – 2:56
- Windy Morning (Shankar: Music) – 3:57
- Knee-Deep in Heaters (Shankar: Music, F. Zappa: Lyrics) – 5:38
Personnel
- L. ShankarL. ShankarLakshminarayanan Shankar, also known as L. Shankar and Shenkar, is an Indian-born American violinist, singer and composer.-Early life:...
– Acoustic violin, 5 string Barcus Berry electric violin and string orchestra. Vocals on "Knee Deep in Heaters" - Phil PalmerPhil PalmerPhilip 'Phil' John Palmer is a sideman and session guitarist in jazz and rock who has toured, recorded, and worked with numerous famous artists...
- Mandolin, acoustic and electric guitars - Dave Marquee - Bass
- Simon PhillipsSimon PhillipsSimon Phillips is an English jazz, pop and rock drummer.-Career:Phillips began to play professionally at the age of twelve in his father's Dixieland band for four years. He was then offered the chance to play in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar...
- Drums - James LascellesJames LascellesJames Edward Lascelles , styled The Hon. James Lascelles, is a British musician and the second son of the 7th Earl of Harewood and his first wife, the former Marion Stein...
- Fender rhodes, organ, acoustic piano, synthesizer - Jack Emblow - Accordion on "No More Mr. Nice Girl"
- Stucco Holmes (Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
) - Vocals on "Dead Girls of London" - Vicky Blumenthal - Chorus on "Dead Girls of London," "Knee Deep in Heaters," "No More Mr. Nice Girl"
- Jenny Lautrec - Vocals on "Touch Me There"
- Ike WillisIke WillisIke Willis is a singer and guitarist who was a regular sideman for Frank Zappa, first joining Zappa's band for the fall 1978 tour and remaining in the band for several years. He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 for personal reasons, but returned to touring with Zappa for his final two...
- Vocals on "Dead Girls of London"
Production
- L. ShankarL. ShankarLakshminarayanan Shankar, also known as L. Shankar and Shenkar, is an Indian-born American violinist, singer and composer.-Early life:...
- Basic arrangement for "Little Stinker," "Love Gone Away" and "Darlene". Recording arrangement and orchestration for "Love Gone Away" - Ron Frangipane - Basic arrangement except on "Little Stinker" and "Darlene." Recording arrangement and orchestration for "Love Gone Away"
- Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
- Producer, recording arrangements and orchestration except on "Love Gone Away" - Geoff Young - Engineer
- Peter Wooldiscroft - Tape Operator
- Steve NyeSteve NyeSteve Nye is a music producer for several artists. Some of his better known artists include Bryan Ferry , Penguin Cafe Orchestra, XTC , Japan , David Sylvian , Clannad, TM Network, Scary Thieves , as...
- Engineer - Tim Cuthbertson - Tape Operator
- Mick Glossop - Engineer
- Alan Douglas - Tape Operator
- Carol Friedman - Cover design & photography
- Jonathan Pite - Photographer's assistant