Customer Reviews

Eyes of Innocence

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first bought this CD in October 1991 after buying "Exitos de Gloria Estefan" the month earlier, as I was interested in listening to Miami Sound Machine's music starting from this first all-English LP on the CBS label. To be honest, I find this to be a far superior album than the one which followed, 1985's "Primitive Love", in terms of pop music. It's just a shame that this LP didn't get the recognition it should have deserved!

It isn't really appropriate to deem this album as the first to feature all-original recordings because most of the material had previously appeared on three of the four LPs the group recorded for the Miami-based CBS Discos International. The only original song written for this LP is Enrique E. García's "Prisoner of Love"! Seven of the ten songs originally appeared on the group's 1983 LP "A toda máquina", "OK" first appeared in Spanish on the 1982 LP "Rio", and "I Need Your Love" first appeared as "Regresa a mí" on the 1980 LP "Miami Sound Machine."

Depending on your point of view, the English versions of these songs are either better, equal to, or of a vastly different quality than the original Spanish version! This is what makes it an interesting experience for me when I listen to this, as I find myself constantly making comparisons between the two versions of one song.

1. Dr. Beat (originally on "A toda máquina")
-A song employing a lot of what was to come with "Conga" a year later.

2. Prisoner of Love
-The only original tune written for this LP. It's a lot of fun to listen to, and not smacking too much of sound from the early 80s.

3. OK
-First released in Spanish on 1982's "Rio." Somehow Gloria Estefan's Spanish lyrics that she wrote for the "Rio" version seem so plain and therefore make the song sound that way. But when she sings Wesley B. Wright's original lyrics, she sounds more free with her interpretation. And some of Wright's lyrics are a little unique, which makes this version more interesting for me to listen to to.

4. Love me (originally "Entrégate" on "A toda máquina")
-Some of the lyrics are essentially the same for both English and Spanish versions, but this version doesn't rely too heavily on brass instrumentation as the Spanish does. A simple ballad, but this version is a little more stripped down, and I prefer this one.

5. Orange Express (originally "A toda máquina" on "A toda máquina")
-For the life of me, I can't figure out what possessed Wesley B. Wright to choose "Orange Express" as such a title for this English version of "A toda máquina", as it has nothing to do with what the lyrics are all about! I actually like both versions, but they're vastly different from each other; the Spanish version simply encourages people to get up and enjoy a party that's going on, one which you'll never forget once it finishes ("A toda máquina, vas a divertirte. A toda máquina, vamos a bailar") while Wright's English version relies so heavily on philosophy and striving for positive outcomes in life, or at least that what it seems like to me. This is one of my favourite tracks from the album, in English or Spanish.

6. I Need A Man (originally from "A toda máquina")
-An OK song for me. Nothing more, nothing less.

7. Eyes of Innocence (originally "Los ojos del amor" from "A toda máquina")
-The lyrics for both versions are pretty much express the same things, but the instrumental mixes for both songs are slightly different at the start, in between verses and at the end. Both versions are fun to listen to.

8. When Someone Comes Into Your Life (originally "Qué triste es volver a empezar" from "A toda máquina")
-Another of the ballads that Gloria Estefan is famous for writing and singing, but the Spanish version (written with Emilio Estefan) seems to depict the heroine as holding a lot of unpleasant feelings regarding the breakup of her relationship, while the English version depicts the heroine as someone who holds no grudges over what has happened, and encourages her ex to make sure he finds someone who loves him just as much. Gloria wrote the English version herself, and she sings this version with much more conviction, in my opinion.

9. I Need Your Love (originally "Regresa a mí" from 1980's "Miami Sound Machine")
-This was the very first track I ever listened to from this album when I first bought it. I had hoped that there would be an English version of "Regresa a mí" somewhere out there, and just by looking at the song titles at the back of the CD, I wondered if this would be it. Sure enough, it was! Enrique García's lyrics are far superior to the ones he wrote in Spanish, and Gloria Estefan sings this song with much more emotion and feeling than she does with "Regresa a mí." Not to say that I didn't like that song when I first heard it (in fact I do like it a lot), but somehow to me this sounds better. The same instrumental track is used for both English and Spanish versions.

10. Do You Want To Dance (originally "Comunicación" from "A toda máquina")
-Here's an example of two very different sets of lyrics for an English and Spanish version of a song using the same instrumental track. I'm not saying the English version is bad, but here it's just a simple song getting people to get up and dance. The Spanish version "Comunicación" was about how people use two different languages to get their points across to others, and sometimes getting others upset when we do! The English version uses very little crowd sound effects, but in between the verses for the Spanish version, the band members talk to each other in sentences using both languages and the reactions elicited from each other are quite funny to hear, particularly towards the end of the song. So although "Do You Want To Dance" is just okay, I prefer its Spanish counterpart.

All in all, I would recommend this CD to anyone who was interested in listening to Miami Sound Machine. It's a lot of fun and it's just simple pop music, plain and simple, as I mentioned in the title! But one should really study the comparisons between the English and Spanish versions of the songs if one understands and speaks both languages.

One should also note that for CBS Discos International, not all of the four records that Miami Sound Machine released before "Eyes of Innocence" were exclusively in Spanish. Only 1981's "Otra vez" and "Rio" from 1982 are done completely in Spanish while 1980's "Miami Sound Machine" and 1983's "A toda máquina" (which first contained "Dr. Beat" and "I Need A Man")have tracks in English.

When I picked up this CD, I thought that 'Primitive Love' would be her first. Until I've heard of 'Eyes Of Innocence', I was wrong. Indeed, this is the first set of Estefan's engish dubbed songs after her Spanish recordings. This album has all the synth-pop, dance music you can handle. Who can ever forget the song "Dr. Beat"? Very pure dance music right there, so are "I Need A Man" and "Prisoner Of Love". Besides those, there's "OK" with an upbeat 50's doo-wop style. For some good time songs, try listening to "Orange Express", "Eyes Of Innocence" and "Do You Want To Dance". And for the love song department, try these slow movers "Love Me", "When Someone Comes Into Your Life" and "I Need Your Love". With a great '84 sound, this is worth spicing up your party. Take it from me, if you think that 'Primitive Love' was her first, try this CD out first, and you'll hear what I mean.

Now this is not the debut of Miami Sound Machine but it is their first album released entirely in English and designed for the crossover market. At the time this was released everyone from his band to Julio Iglesies and Jon Secada were often pigeonholed into "specialty" and/or "foreign" markets and promoted more by ethnicity than music. But the execs at Epic records heard the obvious pop appeal of Gloria Estefan,husband Emilio and the rest of the band and decided to pull out all the stops to get them wet on the national pop scene. For the most part this isn't exactly a cohesive album but rather a collection of English versions of songs from the previous three Miami Sound Machine albums presented to an audience who likely hadn't heard any of them before.

Because this is not exactly a cohesive album the songs all have different musical and production flavors. Of course this album is largely known for the pulsing latin electro funk groove of "Dr.Beat". It's quite a lot more up and front percussive and less glossily produced then the sound they would soon become known for and the same goes for the album closer "Do You Want To Dance",which captures the same funk tinged flavor. In terms of more latin pop stylings the curiously titled cover "Orange Express" and the title song both bring the style of the Southern Florida Cuban dance/club music of the late 70's/early 80's to a mass public who may not even have been aware of Igelsias or Santana,who had very very different styles anyway. In the meantime there are also torchy ballads such as "I Need A Man","I Need Your Love" and "Love Me" (literally a lot of love in these titles) that showcase what an big,impressive vocal instrument Gloria possesses.

This is an album where pop is presented with a good variety of different kinds of songs something like a musical stiry fry for the radio so doo-woppish fare such as "Ok" and the one song written spesifically for this album "Prisoner Of Love" which,with it's strong new wave rock inflection has more to do with crossover than anything else here but certainly has stood the test of time for something of this era. It doesn't exactly have the established Miami Sound Machine pop sound that would crop up to fuller effect on their albums to come. Most of the greatest hits sets available don't contain any songs from this album,even the more popular ones and since it contains nothing but high quality songs,even if they are all very different this is one of those 80's albums that definatley worth picking up.

Length:: 0:44 Mins

Big MSM and Gloria Estefan fans should eat up this Japanese reissue of their pre-Primitive Love attempt at the American market. Eyes of Innocence is definitely the same in sound and style as the hit album that followed, with plenty of pop and electronic beats as well as ballads, plus the important Latin ingredient MSM brings to the table. This version of the CD, which comes in a cardboard sleeve like a real album cover, features TWO bonus tracks. First is the 12" version of one of my favorites on the album, "I Need A Man". Classic 80s electronic pop sound. Although the disc itself says it's an 'instrumental' version, it's not. It's a full vocal 6 minute extended version. Next we have the only 'hit' from this album--at least on the US dance charts. Dr. Beat 12" clocks in at 6:15, and I still can't figure out what the difference is between this length (which has shown up on various compilations), and the 6:30 version that has also appeared on various compilations, Including the MSM "Best Remixes" mini album CD. Either way, the 12" of I Need a Man makes this a must for MSM collectors.

Way back in 1987 I found "Eyes of Innocence" in a bargain bin at my local record store. I went gaga for it because I was a huge Miami Sound Machine fan at the time. I played it nonstop (along with my other MSM albums) for most of my senior year in high school until I got so sick of it, I couldn't listen anymore.

Then last night, out of nowhere, one of the songs off of "Eyes" started playing in my head. I couldn't help it. "Do You Want to Dance?" (the cutest and most fun on an album that is already cute and fun) wouldn't leave me alone.

So I popped on here at Amazon and downloaded it and then I downloaded "OK" (the sweetest little thing ever!) and soon found myself smiling at all the sappy memories.

I remember how Gloria Estefan used to be compared to Karen Carpenter from time to time during her "Words Get in the Way" days and never quite understood that...but here on "Eyes of Innocence" (especially the title track!) she does sound a little bit like Carpenter, though certainly not as flawless or "in the room with you" way the late singer had.

The entire sound of "Eyes of Innocence", in fact, is a throwback to the whole Carpenters experience where innocence wins the day...and even though a few of the songs here are so naive ("Orange Express") you almost can't take it, most of the tracks are just too much fun to ignore. "Dr. Beat," the most well-known of the bunch, still knows how to party!

All in all this is a great trip down memory lane, though I think I'll leave "Prisoner of Love" behind...it sounded pretty hip and new at the time it first came out, but now it just sounds....weird...and not the good kind of weird. Still, I had a wonderful time last night listening and downloading my favorite songs.

Thanks to Amazon for making the mp3 experience so easy!!

This is a great CD for fans and collectors to buy,the sound quality is excellent also.

1. "Dr. Beat" 10/10
2. "Prisoner of Love" 10/10
3. "Okay" 10/10
4. "Love Me" 10/10
5. "Orange Express" 8/10
6. "I Need a Man" 9.5/10
7. "Eyes of Innocence" 8/10
8. "When Someone Comes Into Your Life" 10/10
9. "I Need Your Love" 10/10
10. "Do You Wanna Dance?" 8/10

Gloria and the Miami Sound Machines' debut album is a good, solid album Dance-Pop and Adult Contemporary/Soft Rock ballads. The album shows some hints of what was to come musically. I thought overall the album is good and features Gloria's beautiful, expressive vocals. But hey, nine outta ten ain't bad. The lyrics are also good. Gloria is an excellent songwriter! A good album of catchy Dance-Pop such as "Dr. Beat" & "Prisoner of Love" and romantic love songs such as "Okay", "When Someone Comes Into Your Life" and "I Need Your Love". My favourite songs here are "Prisoner of Love", "Dr. Beat", "I Need a Man", "Okay", "Love Me", all of the tracks, excluding track 5, "Orange Express." Overall rating: 4.5 Stars. Recommended to any Dance-Pop fan.

What is there to say about Gloria Estefan? I can tell you one thing, and that is that I am a huge fan of hers. She made her debut when she came out as a member of Miami Sound Machine back in 1984. I wasn't born until 1985 and since 1985, I have been one of Gloria's loyal fans. Gloria joined Miami Sound Machine as the lead vocalist when she married bandmate, Emilio Estefan, in 1978. They recorded and released their first album, Eyes Of Innocence, in 1984. This album did not get them the recognition they were hoping for.

DR. BEAT
The first single from the album. I don't know for show, but it seems like this song is the only single from the album. This is a great song. It's not a song I could listen to constantly, but if it were to be played on the radio, I would not turn it off. If I were to just listen to the song from this album, I would not turn it off.

PRISONER OF LOVE
If this was not released as a single, then it would have been perfect to release it as a single, because this is an incredible song.

OK
Not bad.

LOVE ME
Not bad.

ORANGE EXPRESS
Okay.

I NEED A MAN
Not bad.

EYES OF INNOCENCE
Okay.

WHEN SOMEONE COMES INTO YOUR LIFE
Okay.

I NEED YOUR LOVE
Not bad.

DO YOU WANT TO DANCE?
Not bad.

This album really isn't all that bad, but I wish it could have been better.

Eyes of Innocence Miami sound machine's album before their 1985 smash is by far the greatest album featuring the glorious Gloria Estefan. Dr. Beat is a awesome dance hit that will get you moving. The other tracks are funky and rocking too. From the rocking Prisoner of Love to the fun Orange Express this album will be a place in MSM history Enjoy
GLORIA ESTEFAN'S #1 FAN REGIS