Eye To Eye

Eye To Eye - Clean Slate - 2005 - 12th Street Records

I'm so glad that Eye to Eye is back. Love the new album (Deborah's voice is wonderful; one of those life's pleasures). Hope there's more to come!" - Randy N. (Shelton, CT)

"This is the best new, old music that I have heard in a long time...Just as all of the reviews that I have read reflect - Great Work!"- Jim O. (Shreveport, LA)

"Sometimes, when you haven't heard from someone in decades, you wonder 'what would they have to say today?' 'Scenes From A Wishing Well' is a pleasant answer to that question--You guys still have it."- George S. (Pasadena, CA)

A perfect collection of beautiful and inventive melodies, moving and imaginative lyrics, and impeccable and ingenious arrangements. "Blue Dragonfly" is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. "Last" has me bopping down the street--can't help singing along (with apologies to Deborah Berg's distinctive voice and exquisite phrasings)! I've listened to Eye to Eye from their beginnings - "Clean Slate" is their long-overdue masterpiece. Clean Slate ***** by & © SkeeMax © 2011 Apple Inc. All rights reserved http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=178785518

Clean Slate is another high-class effort embracing an improbably wide range of styles. - Coventry Evening Telegraph, August 2005

"...jazz-tinged, well-played, beautifully sung...full of old-fashioned session players..." - Record Collector, July 2005

"Imagine, if you will, Steely Dan with a female lead singer capable of playing at the very swishest of clubs." - MOJO Magazine, October 2005

UK's Swell Music says this about the new album: "Anglo American 80's duo Eye to Eye are releasing their long awaited, and highly overdue, third album. Their first two records in the 80's were met with massive critical acclaim for their clean, unblemished sound and quirky lyric craftsmanship. Now 20 years on, and with Rhett Davies (Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry) in the producer's chair, they have created an exquisite collection of musical tales embracing old school R&B, big band, rock/pop, folk and bossa nova. It is a sublime album."

The great record producer, Gary Katz will probably be mostly associated with many of Steely Dan's great recordings, especially the legendary "The Nightfly" album for Donald Fagen, but he has produced many great recordings for artists as diverse as Bobby Darin, Mamas & Papas, Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, 10 CC, & Joe Cocker. He is also a renowned A&R man/talent scout, and signed up artists like Jim Croce, Chaka Khan, Prince, Dire Straits, Christopher Cross and Rickie Lee Jones, mainly for Warner Bros. In the early 1980's, he was sent a recording of the American/British duo, Eye To Eye, was interested in their sound, and agreed to produce their great debut album which is full of quirky lyrics and catchy tunes. Gary assembled some of the best session musicians available, including ex-Steely Dan member Elliott Randall and sessionman Dean Parks to play on the album. Donald Fagen, himself played synth on "On The Mend". Donald also played keyboards on " Jabberwocky" on Eye To Eye's 1983 album "Shakespeare Stole My Baby" also produced by Gary Katz. Referring to "Clean Slate" Gary Katz said that "I love Eye to Eye music and have for 20 years...because it makes me smile." During the 80's Eye To Eye's music was described as heavily influenced Steely Dan "Basia-vein pop," and that is a good description. "Clean Slate" is produced by Rhett Davies (Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry), but retains much of the unusual song structures, quirky lyrics, and clever hooks that made their first two albums so appealing, and attractive. The album is HR by A.O.O.F.C. Eye To Eye's other two albums can be found on this blog. Buy Deborah Berg's great "Places Where I Dream" album. Read more about Eye To Eye @ http://eyetoeyemusic.com/secondary/theBand.html For music in the same genre, check out albums by Dave's True Story on this blog [Tracks @ 224-320 Kbps: File size = 72.7 Mb]

TRACKS

1 Scenes By A Wishing Well 5:17
2 Love Is Not Blind 4:47
3 Last 4:02
4 Blue Dragonfly 5:02
5 Shoes 4:58
6 Fly Now 3:50
7 Mother Of A Family 4:31
8 Only Ever Now 4:31
9 How Sweet It Was 3:17
10 One So Unsuspecting 5:07
11 Clean Slate 4:51

All songs composed by Deborah Berg & Julian Marshall

MUSICIANS

Deborah Berg - Vocals
John Putnam - Guitar
Ivan Bodley - Bass
Julian Marshall - Keyboards
Martin Ditcham - Drums
The Uptown Horns - Horns

ALBUM NOTE

20 years after releasing two critically acclaimed albums, the British-American duo Eye to Eye strides back onto the music scene with a third album, aptly titled "Clean Slate." American vocalist, Deborah Berg, and British keyboard player, Julian Marshall, present an album embracing musical styles from old school R&B to bossa nova, from folk to big band. Produced by Rhett Davies (Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry), the CD was rated #6 in MOJO's Top Ten Picks (October 2005). "Clean Slate" has been called "jazz-tinged, well-played, beautifully sung" (Record Collector). The eleven songs cover diverse themes: from full-bodied, mature love to the high-wire act of balancing motherhood and selfhood. The album starts with "Scenes By A Wishing Well," featuring The Uptown Horns (Rolling Stones, Robert Plant), a snapshot of a modern mom trying to gracefully ride the wave of daily life. The CD closes with the title track, an upbeat meditation on the redemptive renewal of nature and time. Eye to Eye was born in 1980 after a chance encounter between Julian Marshall and Deborah Berg at a dance performance in San Diego. Soon after, Deborah and Julian had a tape of demos and a record deal with Warner Brothers in the works. Eye to Eye’s first album, "Eye to Eye," was produced by Gary Katz (Steely Dan) and yielded the Billboard Top 40 single "Nice Girls." The album was well reviewed by the New York Times and sold over 80,000 copies in the U.S. After their second album, "Shakespeare Stole My Baby," Julian and Deborah put the band on hiatus while they both dedicated their time to family and other pursuits. They are thrilled to share their new album with you!

BIO

The duo Eye To Eye formed in 1979 after keyboardist Julian Marshall (formerly of Marshall-Hain) heard dancer/singer Deborah Berg sing at an improvisational dance performance in San Diego. Weeks later, Berg flew to London, where she and Marshall began writing together at his home. They quickly garnered a record deal with Automatic Records in the U.K., releasing the single "Am I Normal." In 1982, Eye To Eye released their self-titled debut album on Warner Bros. Records. Their debut, featuring the Top 40 hit "Nice Girl" and the follow-up release Shakespeare Stole My Baby, was produced by Gary Katz, known primarily for producing Steely Dan's albums. Like Steely Dan, Eye To Eye performed catchy and intelligent pop music with stellar musicianship and taut production. Unfortunately, lack of record company support did the duo in, after their second release. Adding to the misfortune, the record label never bothered to release Eye To Eye's two excellent albums on compact disc in the United States. © Tim Griggs, All Music Guide

EYE TO EYE HISTORY

Eye to Eye was born in 1980 after a chance encounter between Julian Marshall and Deborah Berg in San Diego, California. Julian and his wife, Arabella, attended a dance performance by the San Francisco-based dance collective Mostly Women Moving, with whom Deborah danced and sang. She had a knee injury, so she sang instead of danced that night, and her voice dazzled Julian. They exchanged phone numbers, and, upon his return to London, Julian invited Deborah to fly across the Atlantic and try writing together. Three weeks later, Deborah and Julian had a tape of demos and a record deal in the works. Their first single, 1980's "Am I Normal?," attracted the attention of Steely Dan producer Gary Katz in Los Angeles at a Warner Brothers Artist and Repertoire meeting. Soon, Julian and Deborah signed with Warner Brothers in the States and were recording in Los Angeles with some of the world's finest session players. Deborah and Julian recorded two albums for Warner Brothers, both produced by Gary Katz. Their self-titled debut came out in 1981 and eventually sold 80,000 copies in the United States. "Nice Girls," the album's single, scored them a Billboard Top 40 hit. Deborah and Julian undertook a successful East Coast tour in support of the album, and received a wonderful review from New York Times reporter Stephen Holden. Their second album "Shakespeare Stole my Baby" was released in 1982. To their disappointment, the album sank without much notice. It has, of course, been reissued to considerable critical acclaim. After their second album, Julian and Deborah put the band on hiatus while they both dedicated their time to family and other pursuits. In 2001, Julian flew to New York, fired up with enthusiasm to play and sing with Deborah again. He came with the idea of forming a jazz quintet with her, but after one listen to old Eye to Eye songs, they reawakened the band. Many trips across the Atlantic later (with enormous apologies to the environment) and armed with eleven new songs, Eye to Eye recorded again. Roxy Music producer Rhett Davies co-produced this album, and recording took place in both New York City and Devonshire. Eye to Eye's third album, 'Clean Slate,' was born on June 27, 2005, and is currently being promoted in the United Kingdom to great response. This vibrant duo's smooth sound and evocative lyrics herald a new chapter in Eye to Eye's fantastic story. © www.eyetoeyemusic.com/secondary/theBand.html

MORE ABOUT THE DUO [ Words © Adult Music In Japan]

"Eye To Eye" is the duo comprising of Julian Marshall, keyboard player coming from UK, and Deborah Berg, female vocalist coming from Seattle,USA. Julian Marshall had done another duo with female singer, "Marshall Hain" in late 70's, which released the album "Free Ride" in UK (same album released in USA was titled as "Dancing In The City". The reason why this unknown pop duo "Eye To Eye" was remarked was, as you guess, the works produced by Gary Katz known for his producing works with Steely Dan. It is said that "Eye To Eye" started its duo activity in 1979 by releasing their single record "Am I Normal ?" c/w "Tonight Insomnia" under Automatic Records UK. In 1982, they released 1st album "Eye To Eye" produced by Gary Katz and first single "Nice Girls" hit Billboard Top 40. Only one year later, they released their 2nd album "Shakespeare Stole My Baby" including the Billboard Top 100 single hit tune "Lucky". If I explain to their music style, "Eye To Eye" was "pop heavily influenced from Steely Dan."