Please Don't Touch (May 1978)

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Lyrics & Production Credits

  1. Narnia (4:06)
  2. Carry On Up The Vicarage (3:09)
  3. Racing In A (5:07)
  4. Kim (2:13)
  5. How Can I? (4:37)
  6. Hoping Love Will Last (4:06)
  7. Land Of A Thousand Autums (1:52)
  8. Please Don't Touch (3:39)
  9. The Voice Of Necam (3:10)
  10. Icarus Ascending (6:20)

    11. LP:
    1978 Chrysalis PV_41176 (Cover painting by Kim Poor, album notes, photographs, and lyrics on inner sleeve) 1978 Charisma CDS 4012
    CD:
    1988 Virgin CASCD_4012 AAD (CD booklet contains paintings, album notes, and lyrics)
    Cassette:
    1982 Charisma CASMC 105 (Double tape with this and "Voyage of the Acolyte" - fold-out liner with track list and credits.)

    Notes: The album and cassette "join" Land Of A Thousand Autumns and Please Don't Touch while the CD places an annoying space between these two tracks.
    Narnia is based on the popular "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" series by C.S. Lewis.

Players

Steve Hackett: Roland Guitar Synth, Les Paul Stratocaster, 12-String Xematis, 12-String Hodako, Yamaha, Giffen, Yairi Nylon (Guitars), Pedal Board, Comprising: Octave Dividers, Phasers, Fuzz Boxes, Wah-Wah, Volume Pedal, etc. Necam the Computer: Automata, Mechanicals. Music Box Mellotron, Psaltery Bells, Wind Chimes, Vocal Tape Loops, Roland Space Echo and Jazz Chorus, 150w Amps & Speakers, Harmonizer, Lexicon, Marshal Time Modulator, Sleigh Bells, Maraccas, Vocals, Keyboards, Pipe Organ, Percussion, and anything else I could get my hands on at the time!
John Hackett: Flutes, Piccolos, Bass Pedals, Keyboards.
Chester Thompson: Drums and Percussion.
Phil Ehart: Drums and Percussion.
Richie Havens: Vocals, Percussion.
John Acock: Keybaords.
Dave Lebolt: Keyboards.
Steve Walsh: Vocals.
Randy Crawford: Vocals.
Tom Fowler: Bass
James Bradley: Percussion
Graham Smith:Violin
Hugh Malloy: Cello.

Narnia (Steve Hackett)
Based on the children's book - "The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Vocals - Walsh and Hackett

Things they taught you at school
Can sometimes disappear
Why do you disbelieve
The things I said were true
Of a land nothing planned
It just happens
Girls and boys who shout come out to play

With a queen cold as ice
You'd best take my advice
To steer clear of her charms
She's easily annoyed
What's that sound, you turn around
There just happen to be bells
And reindeers drawing a sleigh

There troubled with snow covered peaks
Till the end of time
We know you're a daughter of eve
And a friend of mine

Yes I'm certain that you
Will influence the rest
She could turn you to stone
You're suitably impressed
And so easily led
There just happen to be repercussions
Months ahead


Carry On Up The Vicarage (Steve Hackett)
A musical tribute to Agatha Christie
Vocals - Hackett

....Body was found at the vicarage quarter past nine.....
....People die from sudden strokes all the time.....
....Verdict of misadventure mending the roof.....
....The doctor's niece, whilst tending the rosehedge.....
....Stung to death by a swarm of bees.....

...."My wife's cooking is out of this world take a bite".....
....Died from some rare tropical disease in the night.....
....Dab hand a pharmaceuticals, still no one guessed.....
....The village vet was drowned in the pigswill
You wonder whose turn will be next

"In the world of sinners all are condemned
My son this gun's loaded"
(A missing floorboard) then screaming from the belfry
he fell


Racing In A (Steve Hackett)
Vocals - Walsh & Hackett

When I feel I'm over reacting
and I'm trying too hard it might
be that I need to get out in the country
my friend

There are many ways of seeking my fortune
I don't really have to lose my mind
on the highway (my) thoughts always racing

away to the sun
no one's stopping me
from lying around
There's surely something to it all

taking a friend
I know that I can share
another day in the warm country air


Kim (Steve Hackett)
(Instrumental)


How Can I? (Steve Hackett)
Vocal - Havens

The local radio says sorry time to go
But, I don't sleep to well. Where are those Southern Belles

Tryn a' get a telephone line through South Caroline
Your call may bring somebody down from miles around
I'm watching her eyes again. I won't use no fountain pen.

The lady isn't there. The message wasn't clear
She left an hour ago, screamed from the floor below.

Mother nature never gives in, she wants you to sing
But how can I go on just singing this song
My car's out of gas again. Hurry home to see my friend

Money won't help you to win a new look at things
Loving can bring you down so you fall
Then why do you still try to get up at all
Your good 'n bad side showin through
Problems are a part of you

You must love someone else or face life by yourself
You may expect a call. She's waiting in the hall

See the garden grows and it grows nobody else knows
And you can wear just any old thing, the show can begin
I'm falling asleep to dream. No more hills to climb it seems

Money won't help you to win a new look at things
You never give in
So why don't you sing
But how can I go on just singing this song
My car's out of gas again
I'll be home to see my friend


Hoping Love Will Last (Steve Hackett)
Vocal - Randy

There are many friends that I once knew
who felt the same special thing that I share with you
They've grown apart in different ways
I wonder if someone hears as I start to say
Hoping love will last
I'm hoping love will last on and on

Why do I dream love's labour's lost
I'm just a face with a name that you soon forgot
but when I'm scared the most, the nightmare ends
then safe and sound I awake in your arms again -
hoping love will last
Yes I'm hoping love will last on and on

How can I go on alone when your love is all I've known
Sometimes we stay many miles away
you know you're here every minute throughout the day
within my thoughts, so take good care
I only wait for the moments we both can share
hoping love will last
I'm hoping love will last on and on


Land Of A Thousand Autums (Steve Hackett)
(Instrumental)


Please Don't Touch (Steve Hackett)
For maximum effect this track should be listened to as loudly as possible With as much treble and bass as your system can muster - not to be played to people with heart conditions or those in severely hallucinogenic states of mind
(Instrumental)

The Voice Of Necam (Steve Hackett)
Vocal - Hackett & Feydor
(Instrumental)


Icarus Ascending (Steve Hackett)
Vocal - Havens & Hackett

There are many things that I would rather do
Many many places I would rather be

Splendour wings of ambition
Melted by the sun
To the sea of remorse
Graveyard come

Dogs that bark at night are fearful of the moon
Will the sound of childrens joys remain in tune

The same light shins on vineyards
That makes deserts its true
What awaits me if I follow you

All that's behind me
And I flew this time
Never falling
Since your eyes first touched mine

My Thoughts...

This is a tough one. Well, this is a great change from the last "Voyage Of The Acolyte" and it really proves that you can't label Steve Hackett's work. That is great because you never know what to expect from Steve next! Here, Steve explores folk music more, he focused more on the melodies rather than the arrangements, of course the arrangement were still immaculate as ever. One of my favourites on this album was "Carry On Up The Vicarage" as it really brought back memories of Genesis witty sense of humour back in the days of "Harold The Barrel" and "Willow Farm" but of course, this is not Genesis. I like the way Steve processed the vocals and the composition of the music was so vivid I could actually picture a cartoon of it. Great stuff! "Kim" is a lovely bit and as we know it's dedicated to his wife who also painted a lot of his album covers. What a lucky guy! She's a great artist and I really wish her work is more widely publicised.

I felt that Steve was not up to the standard of being a singer yet. I think that was why he employed this use of various singers. Such as Steve Walsh from Kansas, Richie Havens among others. Something like what Tony Banks and the Alan Parsons project would normally do. I'm really glad to see Chester manning the drum kit as he's an amazing drummer. He's more capable of what you hear on this album you know.

Steve always includes small little tidbits in his songs that will really take you places. Something like a mind trip, mind you, I'm not a drug addict but I could not think of anything else, really! One good example is the introduction of "Racing In A" which is great!

One really good song to wind down to is "Hoping Love will Last" which was wonderfully sung by Randy Crawford, much much better than Whitney or Mariah as she sings it like she really means it, so much passion and so much soul, very much like Billy Holiday.

I really find it very amusing why I could like this sort of music, especially so if you are also the sort who digs music by Sonic Youth and Carcass. But, believe me, it's really a gem of an album.

Any comments, additions, flames, mail me okay?