"Touch" is a soft ballad written by

Pamela Sawyer Pamela Sawyer is a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives. Biography Sawyer was born in Providence, Rhode Island. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island The University of Rhode Island (URI) is a public land-grant res ...

and Frank Wilson, who also produced it as a single for

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

recording group

The Supremes The Supremes were an American girl group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successf ...

, who issued it as a single in 1971. It was the title track of the group's fourteenth studio album of the same name. It was the first single in which sole original Supremes member Mary Wilson had a lead vocal on a released Supremes single.

Cindy Birdsong Cynthia Ann Birdsong (born December 15, 1939) is an American singer who became famous as a member of The Supremes in 1967, when she replaced co-founding member Florence Ballard. Birdsong had previously been a member of Patti LaBelle & The Blu ...

also sings lead toward the end of the song. The single, upon release, peaked at number 71 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 becoming the first post-

Diana Ross Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown's most successful act during the 1960s and one of the world's best-selling girl groups ...

Supremes song to miss the Top 40. It was also the last single in which Frank Wilson would serve as producer. This single would later be covered two years later by

The Jackson 5 The Jackson 5 (sometimes stylized as the Jackson 5ive, also known as the Jacksons) are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, and for most o ...

as the b-side to their single "Hallelujah Day", with almost no changes to the lyrics, lead singer

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the " King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over ...

was only fourteen at the time he recorded the song for the '' Skywriter'' album. Fellow Motown group The Originals also cut a version for their 1975 album ''Communique''.

Critical reception

'' Cashbox'' published 'Title track from group's latest LP presents an electrifying ballad surrounded by an outstanding musical showcase and all ready for its climb to the top of the r&b and pop charts. Song is the kind that will be recorded by many other artists in the future.'

Personnel

The Supremes version

*Lead and background vocals by

Jean Terrell Velma Jean Terrell (born November 26, 1944) is an American R&B and jazz singer. She replaced Diana Ross as the lead singer of The Supremes in January 1970. Biography Early life and career She is the sister of the former WBA heavyweight box ...

, Mary Wilson, and

*Additional background vocals by

The Blackberries The Blackberries were a female vocal trio composed of experienced backing vocalists. They backed various artists, including Pacific Gas & Electric (band), Pacific Gas & Electric, Humble Pie, Ringo Starr, and Pink Floyd. The Blackberries recorded ...

*Produced by Frank Wilson *Instrumentation by

The Funk Brothers The Funk Brothers were a group of Detroit-based session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972. Its members are considered among the most successful groups of stud ...

Jackson 5 version

*Lead vocals by

and

Jermaine Jackson Jermaine La Jaune Jackson (born December 11, 1954) is an American singer-songwriter and bassist. He is best known for being a member of the Jackson family. From 1964 to 1975, Jermaine was second vocalist after his brother Michael of The Jackso ...

*Background vocals by

Jackie Jackson Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson (born May 4, 1951) is an American singer best known as a founding member of the Jackson 5, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Jackson is the second child of the Jackson family, a ...

Tito Jackson Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson (born October 15, 1953) is an American musician. He is an original member of the Jackson 5 (later known as The Jacksons), who rose to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s with the Motown label, and later had continued ...

and

Marlon Jackson Marlon David Jackson (born March 12, 1957) is an American entertainer, singer and dancer best known as a member of the Jackson 5. He is the sixth child of the Jackson family. Marlon now runs Study Peace Foundation to promote peace and unity wor ...

*Produced by

Hal Davis Harold Edward Davis (February 8, 1933 – November 18, 1998) was an American songwriter and record producer. Davis was a producer and writer for Motown Records for nearly thirty years, and was a key figure in the latter part of the Moto ...

*Instrumentation by various

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

session musicians

Charts

The Supremes version

References

{{The Jackson 5 singles 1971 songs 1971 singles The Supremes songs The Jackson 5 songs Songs written by Pam Sawyer Songs written by Frank Wilson (musician) Song recordings produced by Frank Wilson (musician) Motown singles