Touch Me When We're Dancing

Album: Made in America (1981)
Charted: 16
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was written by Terry Skinner, J.L. Wallace and Kenny Bell. Skinner and Wallace were members of the Muscle Shoals band Bama, which recorded the song in 1979. The songwriting trio also composed "Even The Nights Are Better," which was a hit for Air Supply in 1982, as well as "Teach Me To Cheat" by The Kendalls and "I Just Came Here To Dance" by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack.
  • This was the last hit for the Carpenters. They were very popular in the '70s, but suffered as a result of Richard Carpenter's addiction to pharmaceuticals and Karen's anorexia. Karen died in 1983 from cardiac arrest brought on by her condition. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • The Country group Alabama scored a #1 Country hit with their 1986 recording.

Comments: 4

  • Donna from FloridaJerry(JL)was ALWAYS an excellent song writer and musician.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 14th 1981, "Touch Me When We're Dancing" by the Carpenters entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #76; and on July 26th it peaked at #16 (for 4 weeks) and spent 14 weeks on the Top 100...
    And on August 16th, 1981 it reached #1 (for 2 weeks) on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart; it was the duo's fifteenth and last #1 on the Adult chart...
    Exactly eleven years earlier on June 14th, 1970 "(They Long To Be) Close To You" by the duo entered the Top 100 and would become the first of their three #1 records on the Top 100...
    R.I.P. Karen (1950 - 1983) and Richard will celebrate his 68th birthday this coming October 15th, 2014.
  • Steve from Whittier, CaThe duo also suffered, sadly, due to their image..


    July 9,2010.
  • Jim from Dover, Deok, so I guess it's been established that these 2 can really put together a mood in music. I'm going to play a song we're going to slow dance on because our hearts have always beat together. We've waited oh so long for "our" moment and when it happens, just all of you enjoy the fireworks. We will. That special someone is getting closer all the time and before you know it, We've Only Just Begun....again! And this time, we'll get it right. ILY
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Brenda Russell

Brenda RussellSongwriter Interviews

Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.

Song Cities

Song CitiesMusic Quiz

Nirvana, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen are among those who wrote songs with cities that show up in this quiz.

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Cy Curnin of The Fixx

Cy Curnin of The FixxSongwriter Interviews

The man who brought us "Red Skies" and "Saved By Zero" is now an organic farmer in France.