The Touch of Your Lips is a romantic ballad composed by Ray Noble, the English bandleader, composer, and arranger whose small but enduring catalog also includes The Very Thought of You and Cherokee. The song dates from 1936, when it was first recorded by Hal Kemp and His Orchestra with a vocal by Skinny Ennis, and it was closely associated with Noble's longtime vocalist Al Bowlly. It emerged during Noble's prolific mid-1930s period, as he transitioned from leading the New Mayfair Orchestra in Britain to forming an American band that included Glenn Miller among its personnel. The composition exemplifies the elegant, heartfelt songwriting of the British dance band era, with a lyrical melody and smooth harmonic movement that have made it a lasting vehicle for jazz interpretation. As a jazz standard, it occupies a comfortable middle ground in the repertoire, widely recognized and frequently performed but not overexposed, making it an appealing choice for musicians seeking a ballad with space for personal expression. Chet Baker made the tune a centerpiece of his 1979 SteepleChase album that bears its name, The Touch of Your Lips, performing in a spare trio setting with guitarist Doug Raney and bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen. Baker's intimate, unhurried reading has become one of the most well-known treatments of the song.
