Wilson was born in Meridian, Mississippi. He showed little interest in education but performed in school plays, sang in talent shows and won first prize in a local art contest. Wilson began his career at the age of 12 leading his own spiritual quartet and singing in the church choir, even performing covers of country and western hits as circumstances dictated. While he was in high school, Wilson and his family relocated to San Bernardino, California, where he worked odd jobs as a mail carrier, a janitor, and an office clerk, in addition to teaching himself to play drums; after graduation he spent four years touring with Johnny Harris and the Statesmen before joining the U.S. Navy and singing with an enlisted men's chorus. He also developed his stand-up comedy routine to fall back on in case he didn't make it as a singer.
After a two-year military stint, Wilson settled in Los Angeles, touring the local nightclub circuit before joining the R&B vocal group the Jewels; from there he landed with the Rollers, followed by a stint with the instrumental combo the Souls. In 1966, Wilson signed with manager Marc Gordon, who quickly scored his client an a cappella audition for Johnny Rivers — the "Secret Agent Man" singer not only signed Wilson to his Soul City imprint, but also agreed to produce the sessions that yielded the 1968 R&B smash "The Snake" (U.S. #27),which has been very popular on the Northern Soul music circuit in the UK; it also provided Wilson with his only British chart hit, reaching number 41 in 1975. The minor hit "Do What You Gotta Do" appeared that same year. In 1969, Wilson charted with his cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Lodi" (U.S. #67), and Rivers' own "Poor Side Of Town" (U.S. #75).
Wilson largely disappeared from sight until 1973, when he issued the platinum-selling Show And Tell — the album's success was spurred by the shimmering "Show and Tell", a Johnny Mathis castoff that sold well over a million copies.
"The La La Peace Song", released in 1974, proved another hit but caused some trouble as OC Smith had also recorded a version around the same time and sales suffered as a result. Two years later in 1976 he recorded "I've Got a Feeling We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again" for Playboy Records which cracked the R&B Top Three. He tried to leave Playboy Records but was unable to get a release from his contract. Two years later the label folded. With 1979's "Count the Days" Wilson scored his final chart hit, however, and he spent the next two decades touring clubs and lounges; in 2001 he re-recorded his classic hits for the album Spice of Life.
In March 2007 many of his original master tapes were lost to a fire that swept through his home garage he had converted into a recording studio.
Wilson died April 21, 2008 of kidney failure, in Fontana, California at the age of 68.
Touch and Go
Al Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If we only try
Don't let our love die
Don't let our love die
I know we can make it, baby
If only we try
Let's hang on to love
(Don't let it die)
Even though
It's been touch and go
Off and on we've been strong
But then we didn't know
That with hope we could cope
With all the ups and downs
So please stay around
I need you so
Oh, girl, I need you so
(I need you)
I'd give you a bed of roses
Right here in my arms
But you've got to take
The sweet with the thorns
And I know
It's been touch and go
Off and on, we've been strong
But then we didn't know
That with hope we could cope
With all the ups and downs
So please stay around
I need you so
Ooh, girl, I need you so
(I need you)
There's nothing to lose by trying
And so much to gain
As long as the sunshine
Follows the rain
Love will grow
You gotta know
Oh, it's been touch and go
Off and on, we've been strong
But then we didn't know
That with hope we could cope
With all the ups and downs
So please stay around
I need you so
Ooh, girl, I need you so
(I need you)
It's been touch and go
Off and on, we've been strong
But then we didn't know
That with hope we could cope
With all the ups and downs
So please stay around
I need you so
Ooh, girl, I need you so
(I need you)
It's been touch and go
Off and on, we've been strong
But then we didn't know
Al Wilson's song Touch and Go is all about holding on to love and not giving up despite the hardships and challenges that come with it. The lyrics affirm that love can survive any obstacle as long as both parties remain committed and hopeful. The chorus repeats the lines "We can make it, baby, if we only try, don't let our love die," emphasizing the importance of effort and perseverance.
The verses tell a story of a relationship that has seen its ups and downs but has managed to weather the storms. The lines "Even though it's been touch and go, off and on, we've been strong, but then we didn't know that with hope we could cope with all the ups and downs, so please stay around" paint a picture of a couple that has struggled but has realized that hope is an essential ingredient in keeping their love alive. The singer recognizes the need for compromise and the willingness to accept the good as well as the bad in a relationship, saying, "I'd give you a bed of roses, right here in my arms, but you've got to take the sweet with the thorns."
Overall, Touch and Go is a song that speaks to the enduring power of love, even in the face of adversity. It's a reminder that relationships take work but that the rewards are worth the effort.
Line by Line Meaning
We can make it, baby
I know we have the potential to make it through
If we only try
As long as we make an effort
Don't let our love die
We need to keep nurturing our love
I know we can make it, baby
I have faith in us
Let's hang on to love
We need to hold onto our love
And don't let it die
And not let it fade away
Even though
Despite the fact that
It's been touch and go
Our relationship has been uncertain
Off and on we've been strong
We have been able to hold things together on occasion
But then we didn't know
We were not aware
That with hope we could cope
If we had hope we could handle challenges
With all the ups and downs
Despite all the challenges
So please stay around
I want you to stay with me
I need you so
I need you so much
I'd give you a bed of roses
I would give you all the good things in life
Right here in my arms
As long as you are with me
But you've got to take
However, you need to also accept
The sweet with the thorns
That there will be good and bad times
There's nothing to lose by trying
We have nothing to lose by making an effort
And so much to gain
We have a lot to gain
As long as the sunshine
As long as there is hope and happiness
Follows the rain
After the tough times
Love will grow
Our love will strengthen
You gotta know
You need to understand
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERRY FULLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
hitomusic
Wow, what a great song. The opening is fabulous - the background vocals have such a fabulous chord and harmony. The lead vocal really nice - JUuuuuust right - all the notes are fabulously flowing JUUUsssst RIGHT! He is one truly great vocal artist - AL WILSON. Superbly entertaining singing. Imagine being luckily enough to sit and listen in a cozy nightclub to singing THIS GOOD. It would be a fantastic evening. We need that again in this country - vocalists who can SING to us. To US!! FOR us!
Terry Sanders
What a great voice smooth with such control.. those were the days. Al was the man. Show and Tell was my favorite.
Dasamota
A talented singer who should have been a bigger star.
Anthony Soley
Al Wilson's Touch and go should of gone to #1 on the charts.
Paul Anthony
What a singer; and, what a man. Rest in Peace, Al-
gunbuck7
Discovered this watching an old "Soul Train" rerun this weekend. I am in love. Man, what a voice!
lance007lance
Thankyou Gogse123, for putting this clip up. Thats a great salute to Al Wilson. I only found out last night that he had passed away. Sad news. Funny I was just thinking about him recently in the last few weeks. This song was my favourite song I used to listen to in the 80's. I saw the LP around in the 70's and finally picked it up in the 80's. Al Wilson was just a fantastic singer and I'll get more of his music too. Pure class & real music. Thanks again and my first time seeing this great clip.
ojohnson47 johnson
The 70s were the greatest era for R&B music. Background vocals are superb and Mr. Wilson definitely no slouch. Albeit music was prerecorded.
Graham Thomson
this guy is just to much sends shivers up my spine i miss you buddy
blase baker
Al Wilson songs bring back the memories.❤