Touch Me in the Morning
Encyclopedia
"Touch Me in the Morning" is a popular song
recorded by Diana Ross
on the Motown label. It became her second solo number-one (and 14th career number-one) single in the United States
on the Billboard Hot 100
in 1973.
This song was conceived by then-unproven songwriter and producer Michael Masser
, who had been recruited by Motown CEO, Berry Gordy
, and A&R chief, Suzanne de Passe
, to create another huge hit recording three years after Ross' successful solo debut album, for which she recorded a 1970 cover of Ashford and Simpson's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough
". Masser teamed up with the proven ballad lyricist Ron Miller
to write this song.
According to Masser, in a video documentary about Ross, the singer "always tried to push hard to get the vocals right for this particular song", calling it a "draining experience" that resulted in several near-emotional breakdowns by Ross when she felt the song wasn't up to her abilities. The song was recorded in the early morning hours, as was Diana Ross' custom after she began raising her children. According to Ross' second-oldest daughter, Tracee Ellis Ross
, during a Barbara Walters Mother's Day interview special, her mother would put them to bed, record all evening, in order to wake her children & send them to school the next morning. At this time, Mrs. Ernestine Ross, Diana's mother, handled the evening babysitting duties.
Motown released the song as a single and the song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100
popular singles chart, becoming Ross' longest-charting record, remaining on the chart for 21 weeks. It also spent a week at #1 on the adult contemporary chart
, the singer's first #1 on this chart. Sherlie Matthews, Clydie King and Venetta Fields sang background vocals for Miss Ross's recording.
This song marked a turning point in both the careers of Diana Ross and Mr. Masser as it reinvigorated Ross's singing career coming immediately after her Academy Award nomination for Best Actress
for her acting debut in Lady Sings the Blues, and it introduced Masser to an audience that would become accustomed to his prowess at writing good love songs.
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
recorded by Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
on the Motown label. It became her second solo number-one (and 14th career number-one) single in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1973.
This song was conceived by then-unproven songwriter and producer Michael Masser
Michael Masser
Michael Masser , a former stockbroker, is a composer and producer of popular music. He attended the University of Illinois College of Law, but left to pursue his interest in music...
, who had been recruited by Motown CEO, Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
, and A&R chief, Suzanne de Passe
Suzanne de Passe
Suzanne de Passe is an American television, music and film producer. As well as the Co-Chairman of de Passe Jones Entertainment Group-Career:Suzanne began her career at Motown as Creative Assistant to company founder, Berry Gordy...
, to create another huge hit recording three years after Ross' successful solo debut album, for which she recorded a 1970 cover of Ashford and Simpson's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is an R&B/soul song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla Motown label. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, becoming a hit again in 1970 when recorded by former Supremes...
". Masser teamed up with the proven ballad lyricist Ron Miller
Ron Miller (songwriter)
Ronald Norman Miller was an American popular songwriter and record producer, who attained many Top 10 hits with ballads written for Motown artists in the 1960s and 1970s....
to write this song.
According to Masser, in a video documentary about Ross, the singer "always tried to push hard to get the vocals right for this particular song", calling it a "draining experience" that resulted in several near-emotional breakdowns by Ross when she felt the song wasn't up to her abilities. The song was recorded in the early morning hours, as was Diana Ross' custom after she began raising her children. According to Ross' second-oldest daughter, Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross is an American actress. She is best known for her lead role as Joan Clayton on the UPN/CW series, Girlfriends. She is currently starring as Dr...
, during a Barbara Walters Mother's Day interview special, her mother would put them to bed, record all evening, in order to wake her children & send them to school the next morning. At this time, Mrs. Ernestine Ross, Diana's mother, handled the evening babysitting duties.
Motown released the song as a single and the song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
popular singles chart, becoming Ross' longest-charting record, remaining on the chart for 21 weeks. It also spent a week at #1 on the adult contemporary chart
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
, the singer's first #1 on this chart. Sherlie Matthews, Clydie King and Venetta Fields sang background vocals for Miss Ross's recording.
This song marked a turning point in both the careers of Diana Ross and Mr. Masser as it reinvigorated Ross's singing career coming immediately after her Academy Award nomination for Best Actress
Academy Award for Best Actress
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry...
for her acting debut in Lady Sings the Blues, and it introduced Masser to an audience that would become accustomed to his prowess at writing good love songs.