These Eyes (song)
Encyclopedia
"These Eyes" is a 1968 song by the Canadian
rock
band The Guess Who
. The song was co-written by the group's lead guitarist Randy Bachman
and lead singer Burton Cummings
and originally included on the band's 1968 album Wheatfield Soul
. Bachman had the original piano chords with an original title of "These Arms". Cummings changed the title to "These Eyes" and added the middle eight. It was first released as a single (backed by "Lightfoot"), in their native Canada
, where its chart success (#7) helped land them a U.S. distribution deal with RCA Records
. It was then released in the U.S. in April 1969, and became a breakthrough success for the group, as it would be their first single to reach the top ten on the Billboard Pop Singles
chart, peaking at number six, and would eventually be certified gold by the RIAA for sales of over one million copies. While it was actually the 18th single released by the band, it was the first from the quartet of Cummings, Bachman, Jim Kale, and Garry Peterson
as produced by Jack Richardson
.
The song has been used in the films Now and Then (1995), Stay
(2005) and Superbad (2007).
, reaching number three on the R&B Singles Chart and number 16 on the Billboard Pop Singles
. The song was also covered by jacksoul
on their 2006 album mySOUL
.
Canadian hip-hop artist Maestro
sampled this song for his 1998 Canadian hit "Stick to Your Vision
" from the Built to Last
album. In addition, the chorus (of which the first part states "These eyes/Seen a lot of shame in the game/These eyes/Seen a lot of pain in the fame/These eyes/Seen a lot of highs and lows/But that's just the way life goes") uses Burton Cummings' vocals for the words "these eyes" in a call-and-response manner.
In 2008, Gregg Gillis, better known to the public as Girl Talk
, sampled the song for the track entitled "Set It Off" from his fourth album, Feed the Animals
.
Alton Ellis
' cover of this song is featured as Track 3 on his 1970 album Sunday Coming
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band The Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
. The song was co-written by the group's lead guitarist Randy Bachman
Randy Bachman
Randolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
and lead singer Burton Cummings
Burton Cummings
Burton L. Cummings, OC, OM is a Canadian musician and songwriter.He was the lead singer and frequent keyboardist for the Canadian rock band The Guess Who...
and originally included on the band's 1968 album Wheatfield Soul
Wheatfield Soul
Wheatfield Soul is an album released in 1968 by Canadian rock band The Guess Who. "Lightfoot" is a tribute to fellow Canadian Gordon Lightfoot, while "Friends of Mine" is performed in the style of The Doors.-About the album:...
. Bachman had the original piano chords with an original title of "These Arms". Cummings changed the title to "These Eyes" and added the middle eight. It was first released as a single (backed by "Lightfoot"), in their native Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where its chart success (#7) helped land them a U.S. distribution deal with RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. It was then released in the U.S. in April 1969, and became a breakthrough success for the group, as it would be their first single to reach the top ten on the Billboard Pop Singles
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, peaking at number six, and would eventually be certified gold by the RIAA for sales of over one million copies. While it was actually the 18th single released by the band, it was the first from the quartet of Cummings, Bachman, Jim Kale, and Garry Peterson
Garry Peterson
Garry Peterson is a Canadian drummer who has been a long-term member of the Canadian rock band The Guess Who. Along with Randy Bachman, he has also recorded and toured with another Canadian rock band, Bachman-Turner Overdrive.-Biography:...
as produced by Jack Richardson
Jack Richardson (record producer)
Jack Richardson, CM was a Juno Award-nominated Canadian record producer and Order of Canada recipient. He is perhaps best known for producing the biggest hit records from The Guess Who from 1969 to 1975...
.
The song has been used in the films Now and Then (1995), Stay
Stay (2005 film)
Stay is a 2005 American psychological thriller film directed by Marc Forster and written by David Benioff. It stars Ewan McGregor, Ryan Gosling, Bob Hoskins and Naomi Watts, with production by Regency and distribution by 20th Century Fox...
(2005) and Superbad (2007).
Covers
There have been a number of cover versions released over the years, perhaps most notably Junior Walker & the All-Stars' version. Released as a single in October 1969, this version was also a chart success in the U.S.United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, reaching number three on the R&B Singles Chart and number 16 on the Billboard Pop Singles
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The song was also covered by jacksoul
Jacksoul
jacksoul, sometimes stylized as jackSOUL, was a Canadian soul and R&B band. Based in Toronto, the band was fronted by singer Haydain Neale, and was best known for their hits "Can't Stop" and "Still Believe in Love"....
on their 2006 album mySOUL
MySOUL
mySOUL is the fourth album by Canadian R&B/soul band jacksoul, released in 2006. The album comprises mainly covers of rock, pop and soul songs, although it also includes one original song by jacksoul singer and songwriter Haydain Neale....
.
Canadian hip-hop artist Maestro
Maestro (rapper)
Wesley Williams , better known as Maestro and formerly Maestro Fresh-Wes, is a Canadian rapper, record producer, and actor. His pioneering status and outstanding achievements have led to him being referred to as the "Godfather of Canadian hip hop".In 1989 he became the first Canadian rapper to have...
sampled this song for his 1998 Canadian hit "Stick to Your Vision
Stick to Your Vision
"Stick to Your Vision" is the first single from Maestro's fifth album, Built to Last, released in 1998. Produced by 2 Rude, the song contains a sample of "These Eyes" by The Guess Who. It became his first song to appear on Canadian charts since "Conductin' Thangs" in 1991.-Music video:The music...
" from the Built to Last
Built to Last (Maestro album)
Built to Last is the fifth studio album by Canadian rapper Maestro, released December 9, 1998 on Attic Records. It was his first album released exclusively in Canada. Before its release, he shortened his alias Maestro Fresh-Wes to simply "Maestro". Singles from the album include "Stick to Your...
album. In addition, the chorus (of which the first part states "These eyes/Seen a lot of shame in the game/These eyes/Seen a lot of pain in the fame/These eyes/Seen a lot of highs and lows/But that's just the way life goes") uses Burton Cummings' vocals for the words "these eyes" in a call-and-response manner.
In 2008, Gregg Gillis, better known to the public as Girl Talk
Girl Talk (musician)
Gregg Michael Gillis , better known by his stage name Girl Talk, is an American musician specializing in mashups and digital sampling. Gillis has released five LPs on the record label Illegal Art and EPs on 333 and 12 Apostles....
, sampled the song for the track entitled "Set It Off" from his fourth album, Feed the Animals
Feed the Animals
Feed the Animals is the fourth album by Girl Talk , released on Illegal Art in 2008. It is composed almost entirely of samples taken from other artists' songs, plus minor original instrumentation by Girl Talk...
.
Alton Ellis
Alton Ellis
Alton Nehemiah Ellis, OD, was a Jamaican musician best known as one of the innovators of rocksteady music and was often referred to as the "Godfather of Rocksteady". In 2006, he was inducted into the International Reggae And World Music Awards Hall Of Fame.-Biography:Ellis was born in 1938 and...
' cover of this song is featured as Track 3 on his 1970 album Sunday Coming
Sunday Coming
Sunday Coming is an 1970 album by Jamaican rocksteady singer Alton Ellis. It was produced by Clement "Coxsone" Dodd and recorded at his Brentford Road studio...
.
Chart performance
| Chart (1969-1970) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 100 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
| Canadian RPM Singles Chart | 7 |