About Touch Me There
Touch Me There is a studio album by Indian-American violinist and composer Shankar (born Lakshminarayana Shankar). The label Zappa Records released the album in 1979 as an official 12\" vinyl LP. The recording features eight tracks that blend elements of Indian classical music with Western rock, funk and jazz-fusion styles.
The album opens with Dead Girls of London, a track characterized by Shankar’s rapid violin phrasing and layered rhythmic patterns. Windy Morning follows with a lighter tonal palette, incorporating acoustic guitar and percussion. Knee-Deep in Heaters introduces a funk-infused groove, while Little Stinker shifts toward a playful, syncopated arrangement. The title track Touch Me There serves as the centerpiece, combining sitar-like violin textures with a driving bassline and electronic effects.
The second half of the album includes Darlene, a melodic piece with prominent tabla and violin interplay. No More Mr. Nice Girl adopts a harder-edged rock orientation, featuring distorted guitar and aggressive violin solos. The closing track Love Gone Away returns to a contemplative mood, emphasizing Shankar’s improvisational technique over a sparse harmonic backdrop.
Shankar composed and arranged all tracks on Touch Me There. The album reflects his collaboration with Western session musicians, though specific personnel credits remain partially undocumented. The release aligns with his broader 1970s output, which often merged Carnatic music traditions with contemporary electric instrumentation. Zappa Records, founded by Frank Zappa, distributed the vinyl in North America and select international markets. No reissues or digital remasters have been officially confirmed as of the available records.