Customer Reviews

Private Eyes

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3 star:		(1)
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If you are looking to get this album, don't spend the extra money on this import. It is identical to the US remaster and bonus tracks. The remaster credits in the liner notes are the same as the US remaster. The only difference here is that you get a Japanese mini booklet with a translation and some liner notes in Japanese. If you speak Japanese, go right ahead.

The BMG 2004 reissue of "Private Eyes" brings out the sharpness in what is already one of Hall and Oates' most important albums. There's not a clunker in any of the 11 original songs and two remixes, from the title track to the 12-inch version of "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)."

The sound reproduction, cleaner than either the original RCA CD or 1996 BMG reissue, also lets listeners hear how the duo tried to balance technology and sound effects with live instrumentation, never letting one take over the other. Even when the song is almost all computer and synth -- "I Can't Go For That" -- it's done with such balance that it still sounds perfect a quarter century later. You can hear Daryl and John coming into their own as songwriters and producers.

The reissue also gives the band's fans a chance to hear lost gems sounding better than ever -- especially "Looking For a Good Sign" and "Unguarded Minute." They can also debate the merits of the original "Your Imagination" version vs. its 12-inch remix. While the pounding, heavily-electronic remix was the basis for the single and MTV versions of the song, the album mix (with its acoustic drums and cymbals) wins out on sheer quality.

Also dig Ken Sharp's liner notes, which give listeners an interesting window into the duo's working dynamic, especially from Neil Kernon, their co-producer here and on "H2O."

It's hard to improve on a classic, but BMG does so here.

Another toppest album from Hall and Oates' golden years. Has the hard to find classics: "Friday Let Me Down", "Ungaurded Minute", "Head Above Water", and the song that gets me every time "Did it in a Minute".

If you haven't heard those songs, you are missing out.

This album just pips Voices to the top spot of my fav Hall & Oates' albums. Why? It sounds more consistent overall although Voices has some superior individual songs.

Side One of the original LP (till Did It In A Minute) consists of the stronger hit material while Side Two has the more experimental tunes. Still, the quality never drops and in Unguarded Minute and Your Imagination, the duo has a couple of excellent overlooked gems. The original album when it first came out challenged me to accept a different Hall & Oates, notably in I Can't Go For That, with its weird mix of soul, rock and Indian vocal stylings (No-oh-oh)! But it grew on me and has now become my favourite Hall & Oates song of all time!

The bonus tracks on this CD are interesting to listen to (altho' not essential) and together with the liner notes and remastered sound, makes this purchase a no-brainer. Now if only BMG would consider releasing Rock 'N Soul Part 1 with the extended versions of Say It Isn't So and Adult Education!

If you like Hall and Oates at all, then this is a must have. It has two versions of I Can't Go For That. It is one of the greatest pop songs of all time.

This is the re-issue of 1981's "Private Eyes" that spawned two number one singles with the title track and "I Can't Go For That(No Can Do)". "Did It In A Minute" was also a top five smash.

Plenty of songs here could have been singles in their own right such as "Looking For A Good Sign" and "Head Above Water".

The liner notes are well-written with recent interviews with Daryl & John. (We finally find out why this album was named "Private Eyes" instead of "Head Above Water").

The bonus tracks are extended versions of "Your Imagination" and "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)", but I would recommend getting the "12-Inch Collection" Volumes I and II which also have these remixes as well as many others by Hall & Oates.

Also see the re-issue of "H2O" w/bonus tracks.

Track Listing:

1. Private Eyes
2. Looking for a Good Sign
3. I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)
4. Mano a Mano
5. Did It in a Minute
6. Head Above Water
7. Tell Me What You Want
8. Friday Let Me Down
9. Unguarded Minute
10. Your Imagination
11. Some Men

Bonus Tracks:
12. Your Imagination [12" Version]
13. I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) [12" Version]

PRIVATE EYES, I CAN'T GO FOR THAT (NO CAN DO), MANO O MANO, DID IT IN A MINUTE, HEAD ABOVE WATER, AT TENSION, are some of the best songs written by Hall and Oates and they are all on this one album. This is the second of three break-thru albums by H&O. I love all of the songs on this album and feel that it is a MUST-HAVE for any REAL fan of Daryl Hall and John Oates.

I won't waste anybody's time by reviewing this H&O album (OK.....cd) because I would just be repeating countless other reviewers thoughts. What I will say is that I just LOVE THIS ALBUM.....hands down their best ever! Every song could have been released as a single somewhere in the world (a la THRILLER: homage to the late great Michael Jackson). The two remixes are excellent: Imagination remix is better than the original studio cut plus the I Can't Go For That one is damn good, too. I was in NYC at the time when I first heard this album, and just wore the cassette out. (Yes, Lady Ga-Ga lovers, these actually existed before iPODS.) In 2010, I must have played it over like 10 times at a Wayne's Worldish volume 11 on my truck's Pioneer system (w./ 12" subwoofer). In 1981: MTV ruled by actually playing music videos, and one of the featured artist were H&O. (Yeah, I got a little age to me.) PRIVATE EYES brings back the memories of a simpler and innocent time for me, when music had soul. I suspect in 2020, I will crank this album up to an 11 (again!).....with the help of a hearing aid.

This is one of Hall and Oates best recordings. Sound quality on this CD is wonderful!

This album is one of H&O's best, with smooth Motown harmonies and lots of bracing G.E. Smith guitar licks. The (long-overdue) remastering job makes the sound sparkle. Though the bonus tracks (12" remixes) are forgettable and dispensible, "Private Eyes" is the duo's best album.