THE DOORS - "Touch Me" - 1968

The Doors
Single /  B-Sides: "Wild Child"
Album: The Soft Parade
Released: December 1968
Writers: Robbie Krieger
Label: Elektra

"Touch Me" is a song by The Doors from their 1968 album The Soft Parade and was released as a single in December 1968. Written by Robby Krieger, it is notable for its extensive usage of brass and string instruments (including a solo by featured saxophonist Curtis Amy) as well as a Christmas Music like sound to accent Jim Morrison's vocals. The song also borrowed the guitar riff from the 1967 Four Season's "C''mon Maryann" and used it on keyboards.

Single "Touch Me" / "Wild Child", 1968 
(The cover art can be obtained from Elektra)

A remixed version with added bass and compression appeared on a 1974 compilation called Heavy Metal released via Warner Bros. 

According to Bruce Botnick's liner notes the song was initially referred to by its various working titles; "I'm Gonna Love You," from a line in the chorus, or "Hit Me," a reference to blackjack. The opening line was originally "C'mon, hit me...I'm not afraid," the line thus reflecting the first person vantage point of a blackjack player. Morrison reportedly changed the lyric out of concern that rowdy crowds at their live shows would mistakenly believe that "hit me" was a challenge to physically assault him.

Jim Morrison and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra 

(the Doors on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, 1968)

The group mimed "Touch Me" on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour along with the single's B-side, "Wild Child". The taping date was December 6, 1968 with air date of December 15. During the performance, Morrison, who was providing a live vocal to a pre-recorded backing track, missed his cue for the lines "C'mon, c'mon", and Krieger could be seen with a black eye. Krieger stated in several interviews given after Morrison's death that Morrison had given him the black eye during a confrontation, inadvertently referencing the song's original title. The group appeared with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, with Curtis Amy miming to the saxophone solo he had provided on the studio recording. Twice during the performance, Manzarek can be seen "conducting" the backing musicians, as if to maintain the illusion--at least to home viewers--that they were playing live.

Line-up / Musicians:
Jim Morrison – lead vocals, maracas, tambourine
Ray Manzarek – piano, Gibson G-101 organ, Harpsichord
Robby Krieger – guitar
John Densmore – drums
With
Curtis Amy – sax solos
Reinol Andino – conga
George Bohanan – trombone solo
Harvey Brooks – bass
Champ Webb – English horn solo
Paul Harris – orchestral arrangements

Links:
- The Doors official website: thedoors.com - Touch Me
- Wikipedia: Touch Me (The Doors song)