Mary Wells....Easy Touch?

**lakeside** · 02-19-2025, 12:18 PM

Does anyone know anything about this album? Is it just a compilation?

**reese** · 02-19-2025, 01:27 PM

It was released in 1982, I believe. It consists of Mary's versions of songs like TOUCH ME WHEN WE'RE DANCING, IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME, I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ME, etc. The recordings are all new.

It was released on the CBS budget subsidiary 51 West. I guess maybe after her first album for Epic, IN AND OUT OF LOVE, this one might have fulfilled the contract. Motony will probably have better info.

**daviddesper** · 02-19-2025, 01:27 PM

This looks familiar and I think I once owned it. As I recall, it was mostly covers of other songs....not new stuff by her or a compilation. Surely it appears on Discogs, which should clear it up for both of us!

**daviddesper** · 02-19-2025, 01:29 PM

Well I guess Reese was micro-seconds ahead of me!!!

**lakeside** · 02-19-2025, 01:55 PM

OK. Finally found it in LP format only. Never heard of it before. Only wish it was available in CD format.

**Starguard4** · 02-19-2025, 02:14 PM

Not a very flattering photo, sure they could've done better.

And the typography is a mess - difficult to read.

**reese** · 02-19-2025, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by lakeside

OK. Finally found it in LP format only. Never heard of it before. Only wish it was available in CD format.

The contents were released on cd under the title STUDIO 102 ESSENTIALS.

**motony** · 02-19-2025, 02:37 PM

a very budget recording. Mary was paid per side or per session.She was not happy with it or the pix, but she needed the money.

**lakeside** · 02-19-2025, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by reese

The contents were released on cd under the title STUDIO 102 ESSENTIALS.

Thanks for the heads up on this reese. I had some vague recollection of that title. I got to looking in my collection and here I have it. I think I played it once. I'll give another listen. I went back to amazon and discovered I purchased it in 2009.

**carlo** · 02-19-2025, 08:09 PM

I always found it sad that they used this shot on the album cover. It just screams, "We aren't going to put in the effort for you."

**lakeside** · 02-19-2025, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by carlo

I always found it sad that they used this shot on the album cover. It just screams, "We aren't going to put in the effort for you."

And they didn't.

**noel181** · 02-19-2025, 11:50 PM

I purchased the Studio 102 Essentials from apple itunes but it only had 9 tracks instead of 10 tracks. The song Reunited was missing but I found it included on an album called
60s Ladies Of Song. I had the LP and thought it was good. I sold the album after I got it from itunes.

**BayouMotownMan** · 02-20-2025, 06:49 PM

It was clearly a contract fulfillment, was not even distributed to record stores. The album had to be special ordered. I don't even think it was issued on cassette tape even

**telekin** · 02-20-2025, 10:48 PM

I could have sworn I saw a post earlier here, talking about some of the other 51 West releases produced by Paul Whitehead.

I just took a listen to Mary Wells’ Studio 102 Essentials. Certainly not her most inspired recordings, to put it mildly. Kind of unfortunate that this album of anemic pop covers was the follow-up to her sole Epic LP. In & Out of Love wasn’t perfect by any means but it had its moments of spark and soul [“Gigolo” is still a jam!]. One of the few that stands out to me here is her version of "Slow Hand."

Interesting to see a lot of these Paul Whitehead albums for 51 West were largely covers albums recorded in Nashville by/for veteran singers. It looks like a few have been reissued under the Studio 102 Essentials banner. Until now, I had wondered what the Cissy Houston Studio 102 Essentials was. I suppose that one must have gone unreleased at the time.

**lakeside** · 02-20-2025, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by telekin

I could have sworn I saw a post earlier here, talking about some of the other 51 West releases produced by Paul Whitehead.

I just took a listen to Mary Wells’ Studio 102 Essentials. Certainly not her most inspired recordings, to put it mildly. Kind of unfortunate that this album of anemic pop covers was the follow-up to her sole Epic LP. In & Out of Love wasn’t perfect by any means but it had its moments of spark and soul [“Gigolo” is still a jam!]. One of the few that stands out to me here is her version of "Slow Hand."

Interesting to see a lot of these Paul Whitehead albums for 51 West were largely covers albums recorded in Nashville by/for veteran singers. It looks like a few have been reissued under the Studio 102 Essentials banner. Until now, I had wondered what the Cissy Houston Studio 102 Essentials was. I suppose that one must have gone unreleased at the time.

I agree. Slow Hand was [[basically) the best of the lot with Studio 102. Much seem pretty uninspired. I always liked In & Out of Love, esp. Gigolo.

**reese** · 02-20-2025, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by lakeside

I agree. Slow Hand was [[basically) the best of the lot with Studio 102. Much seem pretty uninspired. I always liked In & Out of Love, esp. Gigolo.

I liked her version of I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ME.

When it came to IN & OUT OF LOVE, THESE ARMS was my fave.

**YourOldStandBy** · 02-22-2025, 04:47 AM

Agreed, not a very flattering photo of Mary.

I like the typography, but the placement and the colour of the album title on Mary's shoulder is very difficult to read. Too many hot colours that clash as well, it would have looked better if they had Mary wear a pink outfit and have the album cover be apple green, or vice versa.
s

**Philles/Motown Gary** · 02-25-2025, 06:12 AM

I agree that Mary Wells' "Easy Touch" LP was as lame as the day is long. She deserved so much better. But I do love her "In And Out Of Love" album -- especially the Expanded CD with extended versions of "Gigolo" and "These Arms". They did Mary justice with these.

"GIGOLO" [[12" Version)
https://youtu.be/vNgmaAz0Yog?si=OQLDb2K-wMiRdhrt

"THESE ARMS" [[12" Version)
https://youtu.be/Bu3amcZr6C8?si=h5dZ6s2ceD6uMm_h