You Were Robbed – Touch

"You Were Robbed" features artists and bands that should have gotten much more recognition and fame than they did. Check them out now...better late than never!

The late 70s/early 80s AOR band Touch was an outgrowth of an earlier band called American Tears. Touch, led by Mark Mangold, released their self-titled debut in 1979 with their singles gracing rock radio as the decade transitioned. At the forefront of the AOR genre, the band oscillated between straight up melodic rock like Survivor or Journey to prog rock like Triumph or Styx. A little ahead of their time, the first single “Don’t You Know What Love Is” stalled at #69 on the Billboard charts.

Another classic cut off this immaculate debut record was “When The Spirit Moves You”:

“Yes – You Need To Rock N’ Roll” proved to be a great anthem for the band and fans alike:

To round out our sampling of “Touch”, give a listen to “Last Chance For Love”:

A great deal of turmoil between the band members and management prevented the formal release of the follow up record, “II”, which was produced by none other than Todd Rundgren. Fortunately, you can hear it today on sites like Spotify. Mangold would move on to become a respected songwriter, most famously for his collaboration with Michael Bolton to pen the hit “I Found Someone”. The debut by “Touch” didn't get the respect it deserved back in the day, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying it now.

You Were Robbed – Kim Mitchell

"You Were Robbed" features artists and bands that should have gotten much more recognition and fame than they did. Check them out now...better late than never!

When most people think about a Canadian rock star that hit it big in the US during the ‘80s, their mind goes to Bryan Adams. But if there was any other Canadian musician who deserved the same magnitude of success, it would be Kim Mitchell. Mitchell cut his teeth in another less known outfit called Max Webster, but began his solo career with a self-titled debut in 1982 featuring the song “Chain of Events”. You can hear his entire debut EP below, with “Chain of Events” appearing at 15:30.

 

Mitchell’s thirst for fame was satiated somewhat with the modest hit, “Go For Soda”, from his album “Akimbo Alogo”. Predictably, this song was used by a soda company (Mr. Pibb) and went on to earn Mitchell “one hit wonder” status in the US.

 

Unjustifiably, Mitchell fizzled out in the US after “Go For Soda”, but he found greater success in Canada with his 1986 follow-up record, “Shakin' Like a Human Being”. This album contained his most successful track in Canada, “Patio Lanterns”.

 

“Shakin' Like a Human Being” also spawned the excellent mid-tempo rocker, "Easy to Tame".

 

Mitchell has released a greatest hits compilation, which is a fine introduction to this underrated rocker. But there are lots of gems buried throughout his entire discography, so check them all out!