BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985
“I Touch Roses” is the second single released by the American synth-pop band Book of Love. The song was included on the band’s eponymous debut album Book of Love in 1986. The B-side to the single is “Lost Souls”, a remixed version of which also appeared on their debut album.
Although “I Touch Roses” failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100 chart, it did make the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, where it peaked at no. 8 in 1985.
“I Touch Roses” was written by band member Theodore (“Ted”) Ottaviano. After the success of their first single, “Boy”, “I Touch Roses” followed a similar trajectory, securing that the band would record a full album for Sire Records. In 2009, Ted Ottaviano revealed, “We didn’t know it at the time, but thankfully, with ‘I Touch Roses’, it was not preordained that Sire was developing us at the time. There was no grand scheme. It was more a la carte. But then people started picking up on ‘Roses’ and then the album happened.”
SIDE A:
I Touch Roses (Long Stemmed Version) 5:42
SIDE B:
I Touch Roses 3:23
Lost Souls (Remix) 4:13
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
SleeveL Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | I Touch Roses | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #8 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 0-20381
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Maxi-Single, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Art Direction – Zoë Brotman
Cover [Cover Art] – Herbert Lee
Engineer – Steve Peck
Keyboards – Lauren Roselli, Ted Ottaviano
Lead Vocals – Susan Ottaviano
Management – Steven Mulroney
Mastered By – Herb Powers*
Other [Clothes] – Jeffrey Costello
Other [Hair, Make-up] – Jill Sunshine
Percussion – Jade Lee
Photography By – David La Chapelle*
Producer – Ivan Ivan
Programmed By, Arranged By, Instruments – Book Of Love
Written-By – Theodore Ottaviano*
NOTES:
Recorded and mixed at Unique Recording, NYC
Mastered at Frankford Wayne, NYC.
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Thank you, Sir! 😉
Thank you so much for posting these Book of Love singles!! I Touch Roses is at the top of my all time favorites from the 80s. And a huge thank you again for all the work you do, and especially for the cover artwork you provide. A majority of the covers (especially the back sleeves) can’t be found anywhere on the internet.
One of my favorite bands of the 1980s. Such great song-writing and production. They were (and still are) fantastic live too.
Excellent post, Paul! Great track! Thank you!
Such a catchy record, I love the cover too.
Thanks for another delightful post, Paul 🙂
Its so great to hear these remixes again after so long. They truly had a sound of their own. They had some chart success, but not to the extent they deserve. I met the band after their Chicago show at the Metro in 1988. They were funny and sweet and unassuming – The girl I went to the show with caught one of the long stemmed Roses that Susan tossed out during this song – I swore I would have killed her to have it…. I really hope you rip their other singles. The Witchcraft 12″ remixes and b-sides were… Read more »
Oh yes Randy, the “Witchcraft” single is truly spellbinding. All the mixes are really enchant. I’ve heard that the band would use the “Enchantra” mix before they would come on. All those bells and precious chimes and vocals: a most bewitching treat.
Jeff
Outstanding post Paul, thank you so much! Like Thomas, I too would love any other BOL vinyl you would care to post. Thanks again!
Yes!!! Please, please more Book of Love! YMMFSG, Boy, Modigliani all need the PaulT treatment 🙂
Btw, Book of Love have been playing a few select live shows over the last 2 years. I luckily got to see them live back in ’86 on a small venue tour…but also 2 years ago in Houston for their first performance in many years. Actually got to go back after the show and talk with Ted, Susan and Lauren and get lots of 12″ and CDs signed. A great day indeed!
I certainly echo your thoughts about the “PaulT treatment.” When Paul does a record, he elevates it to new heights. Sometimes, I really have to pinch myself because I can’t believe how these favorites sound in his hands. His is an art that is beauteous beyond all things. I can’t help but be stupefied by the caliber of his rips/renderings and remasterings. And especially with artists, like Book Of Love — bands I know very well — that get transferred to the status of a DjPaulT rip. I can so see our Paul being celebrated, not just by the Burning… Read more »
I love this song and the artwork.
Thanks for posting!
I remember seeing Book of Love in concert in the 1980s. Rather than walking out with guitars or whatever, they each walked out holding a box of 3.5″ computer discs to use with their individual keyboards. I thought it was a terrific “statement of purpose” about their identity as an electronic band.
How I envy you VanceMan! I never got to see this band in concert. I know that they did open for Depeche Mode which must have been a tremendous show. Thanks for sharing this very cool memory with us.
Jeff
Yeah, Jeff, that was the Black Celebration tour. I didn’t know much about Book Of Love at that time, but remember quite liking their opening set. They were all very nice to look at as well. That show is of my fondest memories of the summer of ’86. My friends and I were all about to graduate high school and we were making the 100 mile trip to the venue on a college radio station sponsored bus. It was loaded with all sorts of cool older kids and we felt like such stars. The theater was outdoors and once the… Read more »
What a great memory Mothloop. Thank you for sharing it with us. Sounds like that was a really great time in your life 🙂
Oh my goodness Mothloop!! I just love these memories from Paul’s readers. I would have adored seeing them live with Depeche Mode afterwards! The “Black Celebration” album is one of my very favorites of the Mode men. Terrific memories and I so appreciate you sharing. After I download and hear this 12-inch, I plan on breaking out my BOL CDs and basking in the sound.
Have a great day Mothloop!!
Jeff
I did the same thing Jeff!
Good night to you and everyone here at BTG!
I think I remember that disk thing, but it may just be your comment’s force of suggestion. Meh, either way thanks for jogging my memory of such a great day VanceMan!
I didn’t see them opening for Depeche Mode; I saw them on a headlining club date in, I think, 1988. It must have been towards the end of a tour because, when I spoke with the band briefly afterwards, they were clearly exhausted and ready to get off of the road … but they were very polite.
Oh how I just live for Book of Love Paul!! This band is extremely special to me because of their unique sound, lyrics and overall mood they project. When I first got to your site I was thrilled that you ripped their “Pretty Boys and Pretty Girls” single which had a great dance cover of “Tubular Bells” on it. The original song by Mike Oldfield became the unofficial theme from “The Exorcist” film and I love how Book Of Love has the line: “Mother! Make It Stop!!!” I love to include this version on my Halloween music compilations. Book Of… Read more »
You’re welcome Jeff I remembered you sating this was one of your favorite songs 🙂
Thanks Paul.
You’re welcome Omar 🙂