John Klemmer — Touch
Album: TouchAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 1635
Length: 6:42
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(Instrumental)
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RP, last bastion of a decent sax solo. Long Live RP!
A friend turned me on to this album back in the day. This has always been one of my favorite tunes since.
jmgarcia wrote:
Saxy
Sexy
Saxy
idiot_wind wrote:
I have a Selmer Mk7, wish I had the 6. I have a 6 Soprano...which is beautiful....
Ha! He's one of the reasons I used a student loan to buy a Selmer tenor.
He had a couple good albums.
I have a Selmer Mk7, wish I had the 6. I have a 6 Soprano...which is beautiful....
I became a sax player because of this song and this record, in MHO this is the most sublime sax record ever recorded. I eventually was able to play along with about 80% of his lines...the other 20%.....forget about it. This is magic....
I've always loved his amazing artist, and this brings back memories of hearing cool jazz like this late at night over the radio while writing and studying...
One of the finest sax records of all time...beautiful!! Glass of wine and the headphones.....
oh wow, my first experience of this. (Which is why I love Radio Paradise) Back in the 70's I was listening to "Yatch Rock." And wasn't even aware of the saxophone until the 80's because of Kenny G. But I bet John Klemmer was a huge influence.
We played and sold the shit out of this record when it was released back then!
Highlowsel wrote:
I like the line "RP is my musical drug of choice"
HA! Well...we're the same age and I's just gots to say I liked this piece then, and still do today. So I suppose one of us has grown while the other has....not? ;-)
But then again at that point in my life my tastes were all over the map. From Grand Funk Rairlroad to Stevie Ray V. Black Oak Arkansas to the Allman Bro's, Lynard S to John Prine. Randy Newman to ELP. Steely Eye Span to Blue Oyster Cul, Happy the Man to Pat Metheny my sonic wanderings went everywhere. I'm what you might call a musical omnivore. And god help me I'm still like this today, and RP is my musical drug of choice. Heh!
In any case I've always like this one from John K. Nice stuff.
Highlow
American Net'Zen
I like the line "RP is my musical drug of choice"
Ha! He's one of the reasons I used a student loan to buy a Selmer tenor.
He had a couple good albums.
He had a couple good albums.
Sexy
I am relatively new to RP, and this “old” Klemmer just came up, which I hadn’t heard in probably decades. Forgot how wonderful it is. Thanks RP!
jas1776 wrote:
give it time, you will get there with some help from RP and yes, I love many renditions of Take Five
I'm waiting for the day I grow up enough to like a second jazz song. This isn't it. (Take Five is the first and, so far, only.)
give it time, you will get there with some help from RP and yes, I love many renditions of Take Five
the_jake wrote:
He also says that at the very beginning but cut off for this version
Technically there is one word of lyric in this "instrumental song.
It comes near the end and is almost a whisper.
The word and title are the same "Touch"
He also says that at the very beginning but cut off for this version
mgoldman wrote:
This was also the time when Michael Franks was on heavy rotation.
1975 in my college dorm room. Brings back memories. Thanks. I have not heard this in years.
This was also the time when Michael Franks was on heavy rotation.
Anodyne
I feel like I should be at a swinging lawn party in 1975 when I hear this.
This LP got me in touch with a softer side of my musical tastes at the time. 1975 was a Rockin' time in my life but this was truly special. Still is !
Just a god on a saxophone!! One of my all time favorite jazz records, I have played my horn along with this so many times...never gets old!
yofitofu wrote:
I like the tune but I feel the same...it doesn't bring me anywhere but back to 70s, and I usually enjoy sax
has a soulless 70's vibe
I'm waiting for the day I grow up enough to like a second jazz song. This isn't it. (Take Five is the first and, so far, only.)
This was in the tape deck of my Volkswagen camper van on drives to many late 70's climbing trips to Canada and Yosemite. Only the best of memories.
The segue from Year of the Cat was beautiful!
LLRP sisters and brothers rejoice in the arms of love
there was a time in 1970s, it was john k and wayne shorter as the monsters pf the tenor
Technically there is one word of lyric in this "instrumental song.
It comes near the end and is almost a whisper.
The word and title are the same "Touch"
It comes near the end and is almost a whisper.
The word and title are the same "Touch"
Proclivities wrote:
Not necessarily; most people will either like it, dislike it, or not have a deep opinion - regardless of how old they are. There's no reason to engage in ageism; there's more than enough of that going on already everywhere else.
Ageism!!? Everything today seems to get elevated to a slight. We're all victims now - what a shame.
Not necessarily; most people will either like it, dislike it, or not have a deep opinion - regardless of how old they are. There's no reason to engage in ageism; there's more than enough of that going on already everywhere else.
Ageism!!? Everything today seems to get elevated to a slight. We're all victims now - what a shame.
Christ, I wanted mellow, not dead. 🤢
GRVMPY wrote:
Actually, Klemmer DID play with Steely Dan. Wikipedia says he played on The Royal Scam, which came out a year after this album.
Like many others here, when this came on, I realized I owned this album, haven't heard this song for so long, and I was trying to figure out why I had bought it at the time. Could have been I bought it after hearing The Royal Scam.
Anyways, thanks Bill for the great reminder!
Sounds more like Steely Dan to me. No doubt why it was just played following Haitian Divorce.
Actually, Klemmer DID play with Steely Dan. Wikipedia says he played on The Royal Scam, which came out a year after this album.
Like many others here, when this came on, I realized I owned this album, haven't heard this song for so long, and I was trying to figure out why I had bought it at the time. Could have been I bought it after hearing The Royal Scam.
Anyways, thanks Bill for the great reminder!
mgoldman wrote:
1979 dorm college room for me. Great memories.
1975 in my college dorm room. Brings back memories. Thanks. I have not heard this in years.
1979 dorm college room for me. Great memories.
Wow, I completely forgot about this album. I use to have it on cassette. Good to hear it again.
has a soulless 70's vibe
Emwolb wrote:
Forest Child is a fantastic piece of work by John Klemmer in case anyone is wanting to hear more.
Absolutely an all time fave! Great mood music
Forest Child is a fantastic piece of work by John Klemmer in case anyone is wanting to hear more.
Pseudojazz (pronounced suede-o)
Wolford wrote:
9 for me as well. Lots of great memories come each time I listen to this wonderful pieces.
I'm giving this a 9. First exposure to Klemmer was a double LP best of package (titled Mosaic) I picked up at a Navy Exchange record shop back in the late 70's. Mind you, at the time I was mostly listening to hard rock, Dylan, Motown, Stax, but was starting to venture out a bit. Bill correctly surmises that Klemmer probably kicked off the despised genre known as 'smooth jazz', but make no mistake: this guy was a lot more diverse and complex than the punters that came down the pike.
9 for me as well. Lots of great memories come each time I listen to this wonderful pieces.
zedstation wrote:
Years ahead of what? 1980? Yes -- five, to be precise.
1975.
Like it, or not, this music is years ahead?
Like it, or not, this music is years ahead?
Years ahead of what? 1980? Yes -- five, to be precise.
eveliko wrote:
It's boring, for one. It's technically correct but it is absolutely soulless. I just hear instruments playing. It is uninspiring and somniferous.
I really, really would like to read more elaborated comments by the people who voted 1, 2 or 3. What in the end can't you like in this music?
It's boring, for one. It's technically correct but it is absolutely soulless. I just hear instruments playing. It is uninspiring and somniferous.
Sax = yuck!
Automatic rating of 2
Automatic rating of 2
Never heard it before but it's great! Thanks Bill.
Is this a bad version of Kenny G?
Oh man! I had one of his albums!
Great tenor player, but he really went quiet after early 1980s.
Great tenor player, but he really went quiet after early 1980s.
I'm giving this a 9. First exposure to Klemmer was a double LP best of package (titled Mosaic) I picked up at a Navy Exchange record shop back in the late 70's. Mind you, at the time I was mostly listening to hard rock, Dylan, Motown, Stax, but was starting to venture out a bit. Bill correctly surmises that Klemmer probably kicked off the despised genre known as 'smooth jazz', but make no mistake: this guy was a lot more diverse and complex than the punters that came down the pike.
Like 80's porn deluxe soundtrack.
Quite good actually. So many people still think that Kenny G. is a great (soprano) sax player. And what about this John K.
Quite good actually. So many people still think that Kenny G. is a great (soprano) sax player. And what about this John K.
Not my favorite style of jazz, but a nice little surprise on a rainy afternoon in the mountains. Kinda' fit.
thewiseking wrote:
Umm, this stuff is the poison
Ahh, your youth is your poison.
Umm, this stuff is the poison
Ahh, your youth is your poison.
Popes wrote:
Umm, this stuff is the poison
The best of its time...before the genre was poisoned. Really good album.
Umm, this stuff is the poison
Sweet sax. But after a while... too long… it just begins to feel like aimless wandering.
Moonflower31 wrote:
Not necessarily; most people will either like it, dislike it, or not have a deep opinion - regardless of how old they are. There's no reason to engage in ageism; there's more than enough of that going on already everywhere else.
You can tell the ages of the people just by their comments. Those who get it it and those who don't.
Not necessarily; most people will either like it, dislike it, or not have a deep opinion - regardless of how old they are. There's no reason to engage in ageism; there's more than enough of that going on already everywhere else.
I really, really would like to read more elaborated comments by the people who voted 1, 2 or 3. What in the end can't you like in this music?
me too Beaker wrote:Wow. This takes me back. One of the first jazz albums I bought.
Stephen_Phillips wrote:
In 1975 I was 21 and the person I was then would not have liked this music. Now, aged 62 I appreciate the musicianship and the ambient quality to the sound. With age brings perspective.
HA! Well...we're the same age and I's just gots to say I liked this piece then, and still do today. So I suppose one of us has grown while the other has....not? ;-)
But then again at that point in my life my tastes were all over the map. From Grand Funk Rairlroad to Stevie Ray V. Black Oak Arkansas to the Allman Bro's, Lynard S to John Prine. Randy Newman to ELP. Steely Eye Span to Blue Oyster Cul, Happy the Man to Pat Metheny my sonic wanderings went everywhere. I'm what you might call a musical omnivore. And god help me I'm still like this today, and RP is my musical drug of choice. Heh!
In any case I've always like this one from John K. Nice stuff.
Highlow
American Net'Zen
In 1975 I was 21 and the person I was then would not have liked this music. Now, aged 62 I appreciate the musicianship and the ambient quality to the sound. With age brings perspective.
HA! Well...we're the same age and I's just gots to say I liked this piece then, and still do today. So I suppose one of us has grown while the other has....not? ;-)
But then again at that point in my life my tastes were all over the map. From Grand Funk Rairlroad to Stevie Ray V. Black Oak Arkansas to the Allman Bro's, Lynard S to John Prine. Randy Newman to ELP. Steely Eye Span to Blue Oyster Cul, Happy the Man to Pat Metheny my sonic wanderings went everywhere. I'm what you might call a musical omnivore. And god help me I'm still like this today, and RP is my musical drug of choice. Heh!
In any case I've always like this one from John K. Nice stuff.
Highlow
American Net'Zen
Sounds more like Steely Dan to me. No doubt why it was just played following Haitian Divorce.
ferwoman wrote:
Not a bad call.
Just caught some of this; reminiscent of Traffic. Like it at first listen.
Not a bad call.
Wow. Blast from the past. 
Moonflower31 wrote:
In 1975 I was 21 and the person I was then would not have liked this music. Now, aged 62 I appreciate the musicianship and the ambient quality to the sound. With age brings perspective.
You can tell the ages of the people just by their comments. Those who get it it and those who don't.
In 1975 I was 21 and the person I was then would not have liked this music. Now, aged 62 I appreciate the musicianship and the ambient quality to the sound. With age brings perspective.
1975.
Like it, or not, this music is years ahead?
Like it, or not, this music is years ahead?
Always liked John Klemmer. Have this album and several others of his.
Call it what you want but it's very good to my ears at this time.
handyrae wrote:
Well, someone has to be first.
No man....there is no way this is smooth jazz. It's way more intricate and less conceived. It's more of a jam vibe.
Well, someone has to be first.
No man....there is no way this is smooth jazz. It's way more intricate and less conceived. It's more of a jam vibe.
Wallybob wrote:
COOL! follow inspiration, receive exhilaration ; ) rock on Wallybob
When I first heard this I was inspired to get a saxaphone. I would sit in front of a speaker with my Hawaiian home grown and play along with Klemmer.
COOL! follow inspiration, receive exhilaration ; ) rock on Wallybob
You can tell the ages of the people just by their comments. Those who get it it and those who don't.
Am I at the dentist office? ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz......
Now you're getting it.
garyalex wrote:
I must be taking the wrong elevators. The hundreds I've been on in NYC don't play music like this.
If they played music like this, no one would get out. I think this is a great piece. Klemmer's entire album is something you can put up front or in the background and enjoy and appreciate. 8
I must be taking the wrong elevators. The hundreds I've been on in NYC don't play music like this.
If they played music like this, no one would get out. I think this is a great piece. Klemmer's entire album is something you can put up front or in the background and enjoy and appreciate. 8
Wow Thanks
- Hadn't thought of this in 30+ years. - Good to hear again
- Hadn't thought of this in 30+ years. - Good to hear again
Chrisjea wrote:
I must be taking the wrong elevators. The hundreds I've been on in NYC don't play music like this.
I must be on an elevator. Or waiting on the phone for a service rep. Yuck
I must be taking the wrong elevators. The hundreds I've been on in NYC don't play music like this.
The best of its time...before the genre was poisoned. Really good album.
Wow, I haven't heard this in 30 plus years. It is an excellent album.
I must be on an elevator. Or waiting on the phone for a service rep. Yuck
dragon1952 wrote:
Well, someone has to be first.
John Klemmer is not smooth jazz. In 1978 when this was released there wasn't even a genre called smooth jazz.
Well, someone has to be first.
Wow, maJic. Thanks once again RP for opening my eyes...
Music Touch
snitramc wrote:
Smoove jazz. Time to run away.
John Klemmer is not smooth jazz. In 1978 when this was released there wasn't even a genre called smooth jazz. Although this might have been a predecessor to that particular genre, and way ahead of it's time I might add, it still had a touch of fusion to it like his earlier work....similar to Charles Lloyd at the time and maybe Chuck Mangione? thewiseking wrote:
That was really rude. On the other hand, I agree with you.
I never rated this music when it came out, and I don't rate it now.
Dr Fishbein will see you now. Don't worry, we will numb you up first with some lidocaine, John Klemmer or perhaps a little Kenny G.
That was really rude. On the other hand, I agree with you.
I never rated this music when it came out, and I don't rate it now.
Wow....I haven't heard this for 35 yrs.
Dr Fishbein will see you now. Don't worry, we will numb you up first with some lidocaine, John Klemmer or perhaps a little Kenny G.
1975 in my college dorm room. Brings back memories. Thanks. I have not heard this in years.
Love this song. And Tom Scott's "Shadows" a year or so later.
I took my girlfriend at the time to see Klemmer on the Barefoot Ballet tour. She just about ripped her clothes off, better to storm the stage. He had that certain effect.
I still have this LP.
I haven't heard this in years.
This came out during an Interesting time for me.
I haven't heard this in years.
This came out during an Interesting time for me.
Smoove jazz. Time to run away.
When I first heard this I was inspired to get a saxaphone. I would sit in front of a speaker with my Hawaiian home grown and play along with Klemmer.
It's possible I have not heard this John Klemmer track since a 70's Sunday afternoon on WCAS, Cambridge!
Ah memories..... most excellent thanks
wow is this nice!
Tasty indeed.
This brings back memories of my single, "set-the-mood" days. Sigh.
sweet and melodic
I had forgotten this
thanks
This reminds me slightly of Steely Dan
Oh yeah............ So subtle and sexy smooth.............
This song made it on to my make-out mix cassette tapes back in the day.
Good memories and same effect today
This song made it on to my make-out mix cassette tapes back in the day.
Good memories and same effect today
imuc wrote:
it wasn't musac at the time. It was actually kind of "out there"...but I agree the Kenny G era killed this sort of mellow improv. Still a 9 from me, though, but only because it was the first album a girlfriend ever thought to buy me.
This deviates too far into the elevator musaac genre for me. There aren't many songs like this on Radio Paradise that I have to press the mute button for!!!
it wasn't musac at the time. It was actually kind of "out there"...but I agree the Kenny G era killed this sort of mellow improv. Still a 9 from me, though, but only because it was the first album a girlfriend ever thought to buy me.
"I can see myself walking through a Dillard's store with this music."
- My Coworker, Right Now.
This deviates too far into the elevator musaac genre for me. There aren't many songs like this on Radio Paradise that I have to press the mute button for!!!
Interesting, although I could do without the wind chimes and noodling electronic keyboard. This is the first time I've heard Klemmer and he doesn't seem too far off from (please don't brickbat me)...Kenny G.
btt wrote:
Ha! Not the first for me, but I'm right there with ya on the aging aspect as I did a head-jerking spin-around to check the artist recognition that I, too, had bought this back in '75. And then was dumbfounded in the "it's been THAT long where'd I go" aspect of the recognition
But.....hey......look at it this way; you may not be as young as you used to be but you're nowhere near as old as you're gonna be (somday).
Live well!
Highlow
American Net'Zen
This is the first jazz album I ever owned , and unlike me , this has aged very well .
Ha! Not the first for me, but I'm right there with ya on the aging aspect as I did a head-jerking spin-around to check the artist recognition that I, too, had bought this back in '75. And then was dumbfounded in the "it's been THAT long where'd I go" aspect of the recognition
But.....hey......look at it this way; you may not be as young as you used to be but you're nowhere near as old as you're gonna be (somday).
Live well!
Highlow
American Net'Zen
I haven't heard this in ages. That's a very minor tragedy. This is a great piece of music.
waiting room music (but not really bad at all)
Dr Feingold will see you now. Don't worry, we will numb you up first with some lidocaine, John Klemmer or perhaps a little Kenny G.
VERY TASTY....
love this. always did.
oldsaxon wrote:
It still is.
This was sooo sexy.
It still is.
Jazbo wrote:
nightdrive wrote:
I can't decide between "timeless crap" or "horrible beauty".
Timeless beauty.....
nightdrive wrote:
Horrible crap.
I can't decide between "timeless crap" or "horrible beauty".
This is the first jazz album I ever owned , and unlike me , this has aged very well .
Timeless beauty.....
Horrible crap.
Nice sweet jazz. Thanks.
Absolutely an all time fave! Great mood music
One of the greatest jazz albums ever made! I play tenor sax and know every single line by heart! I fell asleep every night to the 8 track...Bill you are a genius for pulling this one out!!!
Thanks Bill. RP is radio paradise.
kaviksdad wrote:
I am adding this to the relevant playlist as we speak :)
Man - I can't tell you how many times this was playing in the background during some of my more "intimate" moments 
I'd give it a 20 if I could, just on the memories alone
I'd give it a 20 if I could, just on the memories alone
I am adding this to the relevant playlist as we speak :)
oldsaxon wrote:
Actually, it was Sax-y....
This was sooo sexy.
Actually, it was Sax-y....
This was sooo sexy.
DaveInVA wrote:
Just played this earlier today....
I haven't played mine in years!
Just played this earlier today....
I haven't played mine in years!
kaviksdad wrote:
No shit. What a way to set the mood. And keep it.
Man - I can't tell you how many times this was playing in the background during some of my more "intimate" moments
I'd give it a 20 if I could, just on the memories alone
I'd give it a 20 if I could, just on the memories alone
No shit. What a way to set the mood. And keep it.
Needs to be followed up with some Barry White!
Hey, Tina...I'm still dreaming of you and it's only been, what....30 years?
Hey, Tina...I'm still dreaming of you and it's only been, what....30 years?
This album is fantastic. Had it on vinyl. Lost or gave away all vinyl. Forgot I had this, will now need to get it again.
They put out alot of music with really good session players or band members.