Private Eyes (song)

"Private Eyes" is a 1981 single by Daryl Hall & John Oates and the title track from their album of that year. The song was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for two weeks, from November 7 through November 20, 1981. This single was the band's third of six number one hits (the first two being "Rich Girl" and "Kiss on My List"), and their second number one hit of the 1980s. It was succeeded in the number one position by Olivia Newton-John's "Physical," which was coincidentally succeeded by another single from Hall & Oates, "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)".

"Private Eyes"
Side-A label of the US 7-inch vinyl single
Single by Daryl Hall & John Oates
from the album Private Eyes
B-side
  • "Tell Me What You Want" (US, Canada, UK, South Africa, Spain)
  • "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" (Italy, Bolivia)
  • "Head Above Water" (Italy promo single)
ReleasedAugust 29, 1981
StudioElectric Lady Studios (New York City)
GenrePop rock
Length3:29 (album version)
3:09 (UK Mix)
LabelRCA Records
Songwriter(s)Warren Pash, Sara Allen, Janna Allen, and Daryl Hall.
Producer(s)Daryl Hall, John Oates, Neil Kernon
Daryl Hall & John Oates singles chronology
"You Make My Dreams"
(1981)		 "Private Eyes"
(1981)		 "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)"
(1981)
Music video
"Private Eyes" on YouTube

Background and writing

The tune for Private Eyes was written by Warren Pash[1] and Janna Allen, with arrangement and chords by Daryl Hall. In an interview with American Songwriter, Daryl Hall states: "That's a real Janna Allen [co-writer and sister of Sara Allen] song. Janna, and I, and Warren Pash wrote that. Warren and Janna wrote most of the song, and I took it and changed it around – changed the chords. Sandy [Sara Allen] and I wrote the lyrics. It's a real family song, the Allen sisters and me."[2]

The single carries a similar rhythm to the duo's number one hit from earlier that year, "Kiss On My List," with the difference being a handclap chorus that has made the song an audience-participation favorite at live Hall and Oates shows. It was one of the duo's first songs to appear in heavy rotation on MTV.

Music video

The music video features the band dressed as stereotypical film-noir style, trenchcoat-wearing private detectives.

It was the first to feature the backup band of guitarist G. E. Smith, bassist Tom "T-Bone" Wolk, drummer Mickey Curry, and saxophonist/keyboardist Charles DeChant.

Personnel

Covers

The song was covered by The Bird and the Bee on the 2010 album Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates.[3]

In 2016, Dear Rouge covered the song. This cover is used as the opening theme for the television series Private Eyes.

Also in 2016, Lenachka covered the song.

In media

The song is performed by Ken Marino, portraying private investigator Vinnie Van Lowe, in the Veronica Mars episode "Kanes and Abel's."

Disney Channel ran a DTV music video of the song, set mostly to clips from the Goofy cartoon short How to Be a Detective.

A video of the song featuring puppets was made for Captain Kangaroo.

It was made available to download on January 10, 2012, for play in Rock Band 3.

American author Andrew Harmon used the song as the basis for his 2014 short story "Room 401".

A cover of the song by Dear Rouge is used as the opening theme to the Canadian television series Private Eyes.

The song was used in American Horror Story: 1984.

Chart performance

See also
  • List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1981

References
  1. "SOCAN Awards Gala: A Night To Remember". FYI Music News, June 23, 2015
  2. Sharp, Ken (2009-01-23). "HALL AND OATES: Soul Survivors « American Songwriter". Americansongwriter.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
  3. Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates at AllMusic
  4. "Charts.nz – Daryl Hall & John Oates – Private Eyes". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  5. "Daryl Hall & John Oates: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  6. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  7. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  8. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  9. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.4689&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062
  10. "Top 100 Hits of 1982/Top 100 Songs of 1982". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
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