Private Eyes (Hall & Oates album)

Private Eyes

Studio album by Hall & Oates

Released

September 1, 1981

Recorded

1980–81

Studio

Electric Lady Studios
(New York City)

Genre

Length

47:47 (Original 1981 release)

Label

RCA

Producer

Daryl Hall
John Oates
Neil Kernon

Hall & Oates chronology

Voices
(1980)

Private Eyes
(1981)

H₂O
(1982)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Rolling Stone

Private Eyes is the tenth studio album by Hall & Oates, released in 1981. The album includes two #1 hits—the title track, "Private Eyes" and "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)", as well as the top ten hit "Did It in a Minute". "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" also spent a week at the top of the R&B charts—a rare accomplishment for a white band.

Though the act had hit the upper reaches of the Billboard charts with "She's Gone", "Sara Smile", and "Rich Girl", the group didn't return to major mainstream success until it released a cover version of The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" on its 1980 album, Voices. The heavy airplay eventually led to the duo's first No. 1 hit in four years, the Voices release, "Kiss on My List" in early 1981.

As the liner notes to the 2004 Private Eyes reissue indicate, it was while Daryl Hall and John Oates were recording the follow-up album in their adopted hometown of New York City, during the spring of 1981, that "Kiss on My List" went to number one in three trade publications. Determined to follow up on their success, the duo produced Private Eyes assisted by their co-producer Neil Kernon.

The following singles were released from the album, with the highest charting positions listed.

The title track of Private Eyes builds on the punchy sound of "Kiss on My List". The handclap chorus and vocal/keyboard hooks of the recording were augmented by the promotional video, featuring the band wearing detective garb (trench coats, fedoras, and suits). It was one of the duo's earliest hit videos on MTV.

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Wikipedia