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I listened to the full 12" mix of this yesterday expecting to hear the best version as I remembered this song, however I was a bit disappointed to find it was lacking in vocals and wasnt as good as I remembered it :(
Mebbe the version from Glastobury is the best after all then.... 
I think the version on the Salvation soundtrack is really good - has a bit of a harder edge and seems much less 'produced' than the single version.
Thats the problem with the 7" and the 12" they sound too "produced" it was at a time when they were really pulling out the clichés in the remixs (i.e true faith and its morning sun shite)
In the beginning its live incarnations were loud proud and really did the tune justice. It later became more restrained and therefore more like its vinyl counterpart.
I will give the salvation version another listen and pass judgement 
Originally posted by five hates six I think the version on the Salvation soundtrack is really good - has a bit of a harder edge and seems much less 'produced' than the single version.
I agree, the Salvation version of TBTHOG is the best.
Originally posted by Buffer Low
> Originally posted by five hates six> I think the version on the Salvation soundtrack is really good - has a bit of a harder edge and seems much less 'produced' than the single version.
I agree, the Salvation version of TBTHOG is the best.
Without a doubt!!
Originally posted by Sir CHUNKS > Originally posted by Buffer Low
I agree, the Salvation version of TBTHOG is the best.
agreed but to clarify I like the original version on the Salvation Soundtrack and not the addtional extended remix that comes on some of the copies...that one is ok but doesn't sound finished to me.
I find that most of the stuff that was produced by outsiders has aged quite badly, especially Touched.
The version on Radio 1 Sessions is excellent and much closer to the live performance sound which is spunky.
Wait a second! You are saying Touched and True Faith were cliched and overly produced, but this is from hindsight!
If you like me first heard these songs in the late 80s, they were actually cutting edge dance! Sure, if you got into New Order in the 90s, the 80s stuff may sound a bit cliched, but at the time it was ahead of its time... a few years after Touched, tons of records sounded like it, and the orchestra hits were grating.... but in 1986-87, even the now ridiculous orch hit was a 'new' sound....
That is the price a dance band pays... some of your material will sound out of date years later.... 808 State was once pushing the envelop, but you hear it now and it sounds 'dated' -
Well, that is cause everyone after them ripped them off!
Same with New Order.... by the 1990s stuff like Touched was cliche, but when it was first composed, it was groundbreaking for a Brit band to mix indie vocals with such dance tech.... no one had really done it like that.
so, sure, it is easy to say in 2004 that New Order's 80s stuff is cliched, but what you are really saying is "they were among the first to hit on a sound that later was copied ad nauseum..." - is that New Order's fault?
-tarbox
music.tarbox23.com
Originally posted by Buffer Low
I agree, the Salvation version of TBTHOG is the best.
The Biff & Memphis remix on the Rest Of is a forgotten masterpiece. Unfortunately, the soundquality is a little bit "hollow"... However, the track is one of the main reasons why you would want to get the Rest Of.
/TLV
All the way through their career they've been doing things that were either groundbreaking or pretty quick off the mark. Sometimes those innovative sounds date, sometimes they don't.
Touched is a good example of a song that was out there at the time but now clearly hasn't lasted the technological sands of time. It was always crap live, mind you, and worsened when they brought it back because they'd changed the multibass sequencer lines for one big thumping bass sequencer. Best recorded version for me is the original Salvation version, it's probably the nearest to how it sounded live to begin with.
The 12" really sounds dated,which is a shame cos its the last one they did themselves before the brought the likes of Hurley,Oakenfold and Weatherall.
Do that many people really like this song? I love No, don't get me wrong, but I really do not dig this track. I always pass by it while watching 316.
i like the lyrics to the song, but the sound itself is a bit lumbering. i think it's the bassline that bothers me since it is really the same line throughout every part of the song.
the live version that is on the BBC concert broadcast from 1986 is the one that sounds the most dated.
Originally posted by oldmonkey All the way through their career they've been doing things that were either groundbreaking or pretty quick off the mark. Sometimes those innovative sounds date, sometimes they don't.Touched is a good example of a song that was out there at the time but now clearly hasn't lasted the technological sands of time. It was always crap live, mind you, and worsened when they brought it back because they'd changed the multibass sequencer lines for one big thumping bass sequencer. Best recorded version for me is the original Salvation version, it's probably the nearest to how it sounded live to begin with.
I've always thought the Salvation OST version was recorded live, which is why i love it, but i also have a soft spot for the 7" version of it as well. The 12" on the other hand is too long and boring.
Always liked the Salvation version. Its been a while, but I'm thinking that the long version on the German CD of the Salvation soundtrack is different than the 12". I'll have to double check...
I've liked this song, no matter what version it is. Live, in my opinion, it's not too bad but definetly sounds different, which isn't bad, as long as the band can hold it together. The 12" version always seemed long, but it's still good. Anyway, music made with the equipment of the time, especially something that keeps changing, like synths and sequencers, is bound to sound dated, although "dated" isn't necessarily bad.
i like touched by the hand of god too, but only cos we get to see gillian in nickers n suspenders in the video
Originally posted by mike powell i like touched by the hand of god too, but only cos we get to see gillian in nickers n suspenders in the video
Gillian Gilbert; Sex Goddess, never thought if her like that. I've always thought of her as the cool chick in the band who would never want this sort of attention.
Originally posted by DoN I listened to the full 12" mix of this yesterday expecting to hear the best version as I remembered this song, however I was a bit disappointed to find it was lacking in vocals and wasnt as good as I remembered it :(
Mmm... Someone's getting 'Touched By The Hand Of Dub' and 'Touched By The Hand Of God' mixed up here. The full 12" has all the vocals in, and a lovely intro. As far as I'm aware, the 7" and 12" versions are actually that Salvation original, with overdubbed synth parts and mix by Arthur Baker. John Peel still plays the 12" mix every now and again on his show to this day. Probably is dated, but who cares - it's still a classic.
Andy
I got the In Session cd 2 weeks ago & found that I love the Touched version on it. I always felt the vocals on the single were too bland (too high in the range) - which worked well in the video (as an anti-rock type thing) but not on record - it always spoiled the song for me. So I was more than plesently surprised at the in session version - which shows how good a song it really is!
Also - I DID like the GG in suspenders aspect of the video - no english humour necessary!
Originally posted by Tarbox23 Wait a second! You are saying Touched and True Faith were cliched and overly produced, but this is from hindsight! If you like me first heard these songs in the late 80s, they were actually cutting edge dance! Sure, if you got into New Order in the 90s, the 80s stuff may sound a bit cliched, but at the time it was ahead of its time... a few years after Touched, tons of records sounded like it, and the orchestra hits were grating.... but in 1986-87, even the now ridiculous orch hit was a 'new' sound.... That is the price a dance band pays... some of your material will sound out of date years later.... 808 State was once pushing the envelop, but you hear it now and it sounds 'dated' - Well, that is cause everyone after them ripped them off!Same with New Order.... by the 1990s stuff like Touched was cliche, but when it was first composed, it was groundbreaking for a Brit band to mix indie vocals with such dance tech.... no one had really done it like that. so, sure, it is easy to say in 2004 that New Order's 80s stuff is cliched, but what you are really saying is "they were among the first to hit on a sound that later was copied ad nauseum..." - is that New Order's fault?-tarboxmusic.tarbox23.com
Yeah but Touched By the Hand of God now sounds like cheesey 80s pop to me... never really liked it other than the excellent Biff & Memphis Remix... which hasn't particularly dated at all. 80s drum machines basically make the songs sound dated I think... I wouldn't say any of 808 State's material has dated as badly as New Order's material between 1985-1987. Other New Order material has dated particularly well. Power, Corruption & Lies for instance has dated far better than Low-Life and Brotherhood I think, largely due to the less experimental, more commercial sound on the latter albums.
