Human Touch

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Sample Album
ALBUM INFORMATION

Total Tracks: 14   Total Length: 57:59

eMusic Review

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Glenn Kenny

eMusic Contributor

06.30.09
Bruce Springsteen, Human Touch
1992 | Label: Columbia

Bruce goes Hollywood? After parting ways, at least for the time being, with the E Street Band, Springsteen moved to LA with new wife and longtime backup singer Patty Scialfa. And embarked on a record using, for the most part, session musicians, including the late Jeff Porcaro, stalwart drummer for Steely Dan and Toto, and future American Idol judge Randy Jackson on bass. Righteous Brother Bobby Hatfield and Sam and Dave's Sam Moore kicked in some backing vocals. It's Bruce's stab at making a relatively conventional ’90s rock album, and because of the ever-solid songwriting, the results still hold up. Although in these days of digital TV, the everyman's cable lament "57 Channels (And Nothin'On)" could use an update.

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Worst of the Best

littlered039

Fans can spend hours debating which Springsteen album is his best work, but there's little disagreement on his low point: 'Human Touch.' It's still The Boss, and his workmanlike songwriting skill is still evident, so it's not terrible. But it definitely falls into the Generic '90s Rock Album pile. Some tracks have merit (the title track, 'Soul Driver' and 'I Wish I Were Blind' shine only due to the relative mediocrity around them, but they're decent Springsteen fare), but this one's really only for Boss completionists as a whole. 'Lucky Town,' released at the same time has a similar sound with much stronger material. A lot of 'Human Touch' feels like it could have been left on the cutting room floor.

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A few good tracks

downingcr

While this may be Bruce's most disappointing release, it still has some very good songs on it. "Human Touch" is excellent, as is "With Every Wish." Several other fairly good tracks here, including Soul Driver, Man's Job, Real World, I Wish I Were Blind, and Cross My Heart. I definitely would not start here, but if you are a serious fan, it's worth the download.

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eMusic Features

0fdb823c3e0f9fc973880113c2e6b106

Icon: Bruce Springsteen

By Glenn Kenny

If ever there was a rock 'n 'roll icon who needed no introduction, Bruce Springsteen - who got his nickname "The Boss" because, from very early on, he was the guy who made sure the band got paid - is surely that guy. As for that band, the current lineup of his longtime crew the E Street Band is Nils Lofgren on guitar, Miami Steve Van Zandt on guitar and sundries, Clarence "the Big Man"… more »

They Say All Media Guide

Bruce Springsteen has always been steeped in mainstream pop/rock music, using it as a vocabulary for what he wanted to say about weightier matters. He has always written generic pop as well, but Human Touch was the first album to consist entirely of this kind of genre material, which he seems capable of turning out endlessly and effortlessly. Having largely jettisoned the E Street Band, Springsteen enlisted some sturdy minor talent to play and sing, among them ace studio drummer Jeff Porcaro, Sam Moore of Sam & Dave, and Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers. It’s pleasant enough stuff, easy to listen to, and at nearly 59 minutes it was the longest single-disc album of his career. And although it was Springsteen’s first album that didn’t aspire to greatness, Human Touch did contain several songs that could have been big hits: the “Tunnel of Love” sound-alike title track, which actually made the Top 40; “Roll of the Dice,” an AOR radio favorite; and “Man’s Job.” – William Ruhlmann

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