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I Can't Even Touch You

"I Can't Even Touch You"
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel I Can't Even Touch You Single 1982.jpg
Single by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
B-side "I Can Be Anyone"
Released March 1982
Format 7"
Genre Pop, Rock
Length 4:04
Label Chrysalis Records
Writer(s) Steve Harley
Producer(s) Midge Ure
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel singles chronology
"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) (re-issue)"
(1981)
"I Can't Even Touch You"
(1982)
"Ballerina (Prima Donna)"
(1983)

"I Can't Even Touch You" is a song by British singer-songwriter Steve Harley, released under his band name Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel as a non-album single in 1982. The song was written by Harley and produced by Scottish musician Midge Ure.

"I Can't Even Touch You" was Harley's first release of new solo/Cockney Rebel material since his 1979 album The Candidate. The song had originally been introduced live during Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel's 1981 Christmas tour. This tour introduced two other tracks; "Don't Shoot, Till You See The Whites Of Their Eyes" (a.k.a. "The Race Game") and "Not From Her World" (a cover of a 4 Out of 5 Doctors song). The recording and release of "I Can't Even Touch You" as a single came to fruition after Harley made a deal with Chris Wright, the founder and chairman of Chrysalis Records. Harley had met Wright at the Sandown Park Racecourse, and as a result of a conversation there, Harley sent Wright the song's demo recording. Showing interest in the song, Wright then suggested that Midge Ure produce it.

The song was soon recorded with Ure in the producer's chair. In the studio, Alan Darby, Cockney Rebel's guitarist of the time, laid down the original eight-to-the-bar chugging rhythm part of the track. However, Ure thought it was slightly off-beat at times and therefore re-did the part himself. Darby played the lead guitar parts on the track. The piano and keyboards on the song were performed by Andy Qunta of Icehouse fame, who joined Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel in late 1981.

Released in March 1982 by Chrysalis Records, the single was a commercial failure, failing to make an appearance on the UK chart. Both the label and fans of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel had believed at the time that the song would become a hit. It was Harley's only release during 1982 and his only through Chrysalis Records.

Following its release, the song started to receive airplay on the Toronto rock radio station CFNY 102.1 in April-May 1982. This was despite the single not being given an official release in Canada.

The single was released by Chrysalis Records on 7" vinyl in the UK and Germany only. The single featured the B-Side "I Can Be Anyone" which was written by Harley and produced by Ure as well. The B-Side was exclusive to the single and has not appeared on any other release since. "I Can Be Anyone" was originally introduced to fans during Cockney Rebel's 1980 Christmas tour, along with another two new songs; "My Cold Heart" and "Such is Life".


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