One Touch was the Debut Album from the Sugababes band and the only one, thus far, to feature the original trio of Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy. Released in late 2000, the girls first started recording together in 1998 after Ron Tom, manager to Siobhan, met Mutya's father in a supermarket. With two solo artists on his hands, Ron Tom asked the girls to sing together and the magic was born. Although the Sugababes we know and love was formed when Mutya brought childhood friend Keisha along to the studio to one of her recording sessions with Siobhan. Asked if she could sing, Keisha sang her way into what was to become the Sugababes we all know and love.

 

A recording contract with London Records followed and under the tutelage of Cameron McVey, the girls were encouraged to write from an early point in the recording of One Touch. An essential Sugababes trait that remains.

 

 

The album was not a huge commercial success but remains their most critically acclaimed work. Set for rerelease on October 1st with remastered tracks, unheard demos and new remixes and versions of beloved tracks, there is plenty of time to re-familiarise yourself with, or discover, the joys of One Touch. One Touch holds up remarkably well for a 20.5 year old record, although the same is true for much of the works of the first two line ups.

 

 

Listen below, and let us know what you think!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Track listing

 

1. "Overload"

2. "One Foot In"

3. "Same Old Story"

4. "Just Let It Go"

5. "Look at Me"

6. "Soul Sound"

7. "One Touch"

8. "Lush Life"

9. "Real Thing"

10. "New Year"

11. "Promises"

12. "Run for Cover"

 

Japanese bonus track

13. "Don't Wanna Wait"

Just had a relisten to the album. Same Old Story is a great track and would have made a great single tbh. There's a couple of moments where the production is slightly messy but it's still good. Just Let It Go is really pretty and Real Thing is another standout track. Obviously I love Overload and Run For Cover was another strong single choice.

Just had a relisten to the album. Same Old Story is a great track and would have made a great single tbh.

 

After they broke out with Freak Like Me and Angels With Dirty Faces, One Touch was for the longest time portrayed as an album without any single choices bar Overload. I'm glad to see that's changed because I could easily see One Foot In, Real Thing and Promises also make decent singles choices. Maybe it's because nothing is quite as "in your face" as Freak, Round Round and Hole In The Head but that doesn't mean they wouldn't have worked as a single selling the album further.

I was never a fan of this album, might give it a spin with the 20th Anniversary re-release and bag the vinyl, although the Run for Cover MNEK remix is beaut.

 

I don't think the album is amazing by any means, but I think that was due to it being a first girl group album where that was so much raw talent, it's hard to channel that properly, but I think they managed to solidify that with Angels w/Dirty Faces (which I thought was their debut for the loooongest time)

After they broke out with Freak Like Me and Angels With Dirty Faces, One Touch was for the longest time portrayed as an album without any single choices bar Overload. I'm glad to see that's changed because I could easily see One Foot In, Real Thing and Promises also make decent singles choices. Maybe it's because nothing is quite as "in your face" as Freak, Round Round and Hole In The Head but that doesn't mean they wouldn't have worked as a single selling the album further.

I think maybe because Overload and Run For Cover aside the album is kinda quietly and solidly brilliant. There isn't really a dud but also a lot of tracks don't necessarily stand out beyond the two i mentioned.

 

I was never a fan of this album, might give it a spin with the 20th Anniversary re-release and bag the vinyl, although the Run for Cover MNEK remix is beaut.

 

I don't think the album is amazing by any means, but I think that was due to it being a first girl group album where that was so much raw talent, it's hard to channel that properly, but I think they managed to solidify that with Angels w/Dirty Faces (which I thought was their debut for the loooongest time)

Literally same. I thought for actual YEARS that Three was the oddest name for a second album :lol:

 

AWDF is great but I believe some of the rawness of OT was a deliberate choice. In comparison to what was on the market in 2000, that rawness defo stood out and allowed their harmonies to really shine. Don't think there is any group out there that can stand toe to toe with them for pure raw talent, especially to put an album like this out at just 14/15/16!

Maybe this is for the AWDF thread but I didn’t even know Heidi had replaced .Siobhan until much later, with Round Round I’d just assumed Siobhan went blonde, then when I saw Hole In Head I realised it was a completely different person.

 

For context I never saw or heard Freak Like Me, Stronger or Shape until 2005/6.

This is such a great album. It has a distinctive production throughout and is so consistent. Their vocals just melt together beautifully.

 

I particularly love the final pairing of 'Promises' and 'Run For Cover' - leaves you wanting so much more!