(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)
Diana Ross - "Touch Me in the Morning"
Hit Number 1: August 18, 1973
Stay at Number 1: 1 Week
There were hardly any humans on Earth that were more successful than Diana Ross. Not only was she known for her tenure with the Supremes, but not long after the band's breakup, she topped the charts in 1970 with her cover of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". Not only that, but she also made her film debut as an actress in the 1972 movie Lady Sings the Blues. She got excellent reviews for her role in the movie, and arguably could've been the most famous woman in America in the early '70s afterwards. (Of course, if she wasn't already beforehand) After getting to #1 again after "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", she was absent from the music charts, though that could be because of her role in the movie. Her return to music was imminent though, and she was not only back to the charts, but she made a return to #1. She couldn't miss.
That didn't mean life was especially easy for her in this time though. She had become a mother, and was juggling a life of being a mother, an actress and a singer all at the same time. "Touch Me in the Morning" was primarily written by Michael Masser, a songwriter/producer who was said to still be "unproven" in the music world. He was recruited by Motown Chief Berry Gordy, and the goal was to find some new song material for Ross after her successful film debut. Initially, Ross agreed to record "Touch Me in the Morning", but the process of recording proved to be a difficult one for her. She was hardly ever satisfied with her voice on the record, feeling like she was underachieving, and that led to near emotional breakdowns. Masser said it was a draining experience for her, and Ross would record all night and send her kids to school in the mornings. So when you listen to "Touch Me in the Morning", you're listening to a very distressed Ross at some time around 3 in the morning.
It's hard to imagine all of that, considering how joyous "Touch Me in the Morning" sounds. Ross still sounds great on the track, and she's backed by an exuberant choir. It's about as far from draining as you can get. If anything, I guess this proves that these singers have their own personal problems that they deal with, and life isn't always easy for anyone. Luckily for Ross, her troubles with "Touch Me in the Morning" proved to be worth it since it hit #1, continuing this amazing trend of success that she had.
"Touch Me in the Morning", lyrically, seems to be pretty sad despite the way it sounds. I'm not certain that this is 100% what the song's about, but it seems that Diana is singing about a love that's ending, which she doesn't want to see end. She understands the reasoning for the guy to leave, but she can't live in a life without him. (If you interpret this song a different way, let me know) But this is one of those songs to where I'm not paying much attention to the lyrics, as I'm more focused on the production of the song. It's a bright and sunny song, and it's drowning in its own sunshine. While it's a pretty good song, the only amazing thing about it is, surprise, Ross' lead vocal. At the end of the day, "Touch Me in the Morning" is a song that blends into the background as far as Ross' catalogue goes, but now knowing about the trouble that went into the making of it, I have more respect for its existence.
Lastly, I think it's worth pointing out Ross would definitely still continue to make new music, and will appear in this blog a handful more times.
GRADE: 7/10
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