Human Touch

Description

Human Touch is the fourth solo album by former Imperials lead vocalist Paul Smith, released on StarSong Records in 1991. Half of the tracks on the album were produced by Bret Teegarden and the other half by Chris Eaton (who also wrote or co-wrote four of the tracks).

Paul Smith, having gotten off the record company “merry-go-round” at Star Song, continues to explore his most effective niche – Christian pop music – with ‘The Human Touch’. Producers Chris Eaton and Bret Teegarden have set the stage for Smith to stretch his contemporary sounds and styles that began to congeal and take root in his last project at DaySpring, ‘Back to Who I Am‘.

While there aren’t many surprises on this album, there aren’t many disappointments either. Smith has never been stronger musically or lyrically. Aided by writers Chris Eaton, Bruce Carroll, and Dwight Liles, Smith’s songs speak of relationships and experiential faith – revealing and intimate. Once again many of the songs are sung in the lyrical first person as in «Triumph Over Me» – “God of mercy/ Help my eyes to see/ I can win so easily/ The moment you triumph over me” or once again in «Under a Moonlight Night» – “Sunlight in my eyes/ Another day soon the night begins/ Waiting for a sign/ As I breathe the life of this evening in/ I need your healing/ Your comfort and touch/ For only you know why I worry so much…” There’s even a ballad to his wife («Lady in My Life») which is lyrically benign but has some wonderful jazzy moments as Smith sings with soul. All in all, Smith sings for the common man and the songs are emotionally identifiable.

Musically, Smith is beginning to ceate his own style instead of his chameleon days of past. A strong collection of studio players – Chris Rodriguez, Marty McCall, Jerry McPherson, Mark Baldwin – create music that is bright and upbeat with some undeniable grooves under the examining eye of executive producer Dez Dickerson.

This is a strong project for the ex-Imperial who’s beginning to learn to stop chasing musical trends and pop star styles and rest in his own talent. This project indicates there’s much more to Paul Smith than we’ve heard before, and the best may be yet to come. [Kathleen A. Ervin, CCM, April 1991]

CD tracklist:

01. I’ve Got Love – 3:54
02. The Difference – 4:06
03. Triumph Over Me – 4:01
04. Don’t Give Up – 3:53
05. Pride And The Prejudice – 5:16
06. The Human Touch – 5:10
07. Under A Moonlit Night – 4:21
08. Man Of God – 5:16
09. Compassion – 4:19
10. Lady In My Life – 5:39

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by StarSong Records.