Customer Reviews

Eye to Eye / Shakespeare Stole My Baby

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In 1982 a rumor was swirling around that Steely Dan had recorded a "secret" album with a new name and a new female vocalist. Well, of course the rumor turned out to be untrue, but Eye To Eye's eponymous debut album, and the 1983 follow up "Shakespeare Stole My Baby" do feature production by Gary Katz, who helmed the Steely Dan albums, as well as guest appearances by Donald Fagan and a lot of the same studio musicians that the Dan were known to favor (Elliot Randall, Larry Carlton, Jeff Porcaro etc.). In spite of the personnel overlaps, Eye To Eye forged an identity quite distinct from Steely Dan. Singer Deborah Berg and keyboard player Julian Marshall co-wrote all the songs on both albums. Berg has an amazing, beautiful high voice, almost totally free of vibrato, and she sings in a cool, detached, ethereal style. The instrumental backing is crisp, danceable techno pop, dominated by Marshall's keyboards but benefiting from the ultra-tasty flavoring added by the all-star guests. The debut is the better of the two albums, but some of the criticism I've read of the second album is truly unwarranted. Stylistically the two albums are very similar, the songwriting is stronger on the debut, but this is a "two-fer" after all, with a second album included for free, so why complain? It's a great deal! I consider the debut a 5-star effort and the follow up worthy of 3 stars. By the way, for anyone interested in buying this collection, I'd advise not waiting around too long. It took 20 years for someone to finally put this music out on CD, and lots of times CD reissues of acts that didn't sell well in the first place don't stay in print very long. So grab it now, while you have the chance. There is some great music here!

A friend put me onto these two albums several years ago describing the "group" as a "female Steely Dan"; a pretty accurate description considering they were both produced by Gary Katz, long time SD producer and friend. In fact, Don Fagen plays the keyboard on a few cuts of Shakespeare along with a list of musicians that reads like a who's who of music. I won't list them all but Larry Carlton, Steve Lukather, Jeff Porcaro, Rick Derringer and so forth. Back when I first heard these albums, I was amazed that they had never made the transfer to CD. They were done on digital tape no less....it seemed a natural to find their way to the "new" format, CD. I even called Warner Bros. to find out who had the master tapes, all to no avail. Well somehow, Wounded Bird got their hands on the masters and voila, here they are on one CD. Eye to Eye is actually just one lady by the name of Deborah Berg. Rumor has it she joined some sort of religious sect in the 80's and never performed again. Pity. The music: it may sound a bit 80ish to some or perhaps somewhat dated, but the lyrics are catchy and the music takes lots of unanticipated turns as it weaves its way. Sounds like a pretty fair description of the old Steely Dan stuff doesn't it? Great music, great musicians, a very good recording and......you get two for the price of one. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Highly recommended.

One of my dreams for the past decade was that someway, somehow, this overlooked duo's records would find their way to CD. While never gaining any mass exposure, the songs range from lively, melodic tunes ("Jabberwocky", "Shakespeare") to plaintive, soulful love songs ("Are You Listening?"). Certainly too sophisticated for popular radio, they are also too exquisite to categorize; but you'll enjoy elements of jazz, pop and even Brazilian tempos. Donald Fagen and Larry Carlton are just two of the name musicians who thought enough of Eye to Eye appear on these discs. Even after almost 20 years, this music's impact and maturity stand up - in fact, it towers over most of what is out there today. What a shame they were never recognized properly at the time, but this release gives us a chance to appreciate these neglected gems once again in a CD format.

i have had this album in my head for more than 15yrs. i borrowed a tape of it from a writer friend and never gave it back (thanks gretchen) i never bought the album and looked for years for it. i didn't even know they produced a 2nd album (marriage does that to you). on a fluke i put in the group name and up popped this CD. i am so frelling psychic! i know this is a must have. great lyrics, dance beats that won't quit! even 15+ years down the road this CD makes the cut!

Great Jazz-Pop! Grab the CD while you can. I had these casstte tapes back in the day and had been looking forever for digital versions--now they're here.
Their first, self-titled album, featured the quasi-radio hit "Nice Girls." The album features Deborah Berg's great voice and Julian Marshall's smooth keys. While there are notable guests, the album has a very stripped down feel (sometimes it seems there's only voice, keys & drums) that highlights Berg's great voice but I prefer a more lush soundscape. Overall, tracks 1-8 seem a tentative 1st effort that I never got into.

I must respectfully, but completely, disagree with some of my fellow reviewers in regards to their 2nd (Shakespeare Stole My Baby) album (tracks 9-17). This is the true gem. Peppy and playful with catchy hooks and vocals to match. Combines Jazz & pop with some rock and even a dash of funk. My favorite, "TWA Sari," is propelled by great lead and rythym guitar licks from the phenomenal Larry Carlton combined with Marshall's somehow relaxing keystrokes. The sunny "Mermaind Man," the lovelorn "Falling for a Funny one," and the hopeful "Are You Listening?" also generate fabulous sounds.

The perfect record as day turns into night.

I found the much maligned (here, at least) second album, Shakespeare Stole My Baby in a cassette cut-out rack in 1983. All this time later, I remember where and when. The how was Gary Katz' name on the J-Card. Steely Dan had stopped recording, and suddenly, here was Katz. Had to check it out.

I was stunned and amazed. Deborah Berg was a voice I knew right away I could listen to forever, and the musicianship was every bit as precise and professional as anything Katz had done for Dan. "Guest" musicians read like a who's who of '70s studios. I was hooked. And I really, really liked the tunes. The lyrics were inspired in their simplicity - their anti-Dan straight-forward familiarity freed Berg's voice to dominate them - and the package was knee-bopping, toe tapping, finger snapping and anything but simplistic. Shakespeare Stole My Baby remains my most favorite cut-out rack find, and among my most remembered hooks and phrases at random times sources.

Oddly, again, at least based upon what I've read here, I never got into the first one. But a bonus is a bonus. Maybe living in my CD player for a couple of weeks will warm me up to it, too.

Either way, these recordings are unique, apparently rare, and cheap at any price. Get it.

I've been a "Dan" freak since the beginning. I even got to see their return to live performing back in 93' at the Buffalo Auditorium, but I still can't believe I wasn't familiar with this group's double effort......after all I know everything there is to know about Jazz/Rock/Fusion (apparently not). This for some reason wasn't even on my radar and it took me until Wounded Bird put it out on a double cd for me to catch on. I have thousands of cd's and I keep putting this one on and admire it more and more with each listen. Complex and fun at the same time. A highly recommended buy!

I remember buying Nice Girls on a 45rpm record when it came out in 1982. The song quickly made it onto a cassette tape for my car which was played regularly while driving between college parties in my Datsun 280Z. My friends didn't quite get it while riding along, but I thought it was really unique at the time and the sound has been in my head since then.

On a whim tonight I typed it in and was amazed to find and download it...after 27 years the song is just as great as I remember. I didn't know the name Deborah Berg or the Steely Dan rumor...but what a beautiful voice...phew!

I gladly paid over 50 US Dollars for the the first Eye to Eye album on CD imported from Japan. I already owned it on vinyl. Now you can get the second album too, for under 20 bucks? I'm ordering now! BTW, this is the "definition" of an exceptional recording.

The cover art is a boat on the water. I never got that, until just now.

I got the first album "Eye to Eye" on cassette in 1981 because Gary Katz was the producer and because the cassette "album cover" blurred vision of what appears to be a plane in flight resembled the artwork on Steely Dans' Greatest Hits blurred "train-like" image. Two plus two equals four?
Almost. It's not Steely Dan with a female vocalist but it sure is close. Every song on the original Eye to Eye is great with Nice Girls being the lead. You hear Fagen and Becker in the music, not in the lyrics. Deborah Berg has one of the best female voices you've heard. The music and guitar arrangements are right off a Katy Lied or AJA or Gaucho session with endings of some songs making you swear Becker's finishing it off. My understanding is that Fagen contributed for sure and it is clear he's there as well as Dan's musicians of that time.

Don't go looking for the Eye to Eye as a solo cd. This is a combo deal and the 5 stars come for the Eye to Eye tracks only. You can buy the combo or do as I did and buy the Eye to Eye album on itunes for $7.42. (receommended). If you love Steely Dan it is the best 8 bucks you'll ever spend.

I agree with an earlier reviewer, it took me twenty-five years to find this stuff long after I wore out my cassette. Like an idiot, I did not save the cassette artwork, but who knew it would be nice to have now.