Edward Doty Schatz | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | 02/05/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Rock n' roll with rocking soul
Dave Mock | Rockville Centre, New York United States | 01/12/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
I can go for this!
Namely | Jersey, NJ | 01/13/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Slammin'
T. Weeks | Bellingham WA | 10/04/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."