Walls Have Eyes is the fourth solo album by British singer Robin Gibb. It was released in November 1985 on EMI America Records in the US and Polydor Records throughout the rest of the world, and was produced by Maurice Gibb and Tom Dowd. The two singles from the album, "Like a Fool" and "Toys", did not chart in the US or UK. Gibb did not release another solo album for eighteen years until 2003 with Magnet. Unlike Secret Agent which contains dance numbers, this album contains mostly ballads.
Contents
Background and recording
Barry Gibb co-wrote eight of the ten songs and contributed a part lead vocal to "Toys". The credits for the songs are precisely stated as R. B. & M. Gibb in most cases, and B. R. & M. Gibb in others. Although the songs all have Robin's signature simplicity of form, Barry's hand is evident in the improved melody lines, especially in the verses.
Like Robin's prior album, Secret Agent, Walls Have Eyes was recorded in Criteria Studios rather than the Middle Ear Studio, which was owned by the Bee Gees. The only regulars from previous Gibb recordings were George Terry on guitar with Steve Farris of Mr. Mister. Session musician Phil Chen was credited as the bass player on the song "Gone with the Wind".
The album was produced by Atlantic Records engineer and producer Tom Dowd. The copyright registrations on the songs span only between 28 August to 16 September 1985, and a period of just a few weeks keys in with what Dowd recalled a tight budget. On the sessions, there was one outtake, "Modern Girls"; Gibb later said that this "did not fit".
Release
The album, as well as the lead single "Like a Fool", failed to chart in the US and UK. However, "Like a Fool" was a hit in Brazil and the single "Toys" did reach No. 27 on the Canada Adult Contemporary chart. Promo videos were also made for "Like a Fool" and "Toys". Walls Have Eyes is rare on compact disc giving its distinction as the last solo album recorded by any of the Gibb brothers issued on vinyl until Barry's In the Now in 2016. Polydor copies of the album which were converted onto CD were found, but because of low sales, it was not later reissued on CD internationally. Barry later stated that Robin did not receive the feedback he wanted and it was a rough period for all of the Gibb brothers.
A remixed version of "Toys" is included on the 1990 box set Tales from the Brothers Gibb.
Track listing
All songs written by Robin, Barry, and Maurice Gibb, except where noted.
Personnel
Robin Gibb – lead vocals, backing vocals
Maurice Gibb – keyboards, bass (1–6, 8–10), backing vocals
Mitchell Froom – keyboards
Duane Hitchings – keyboards
Scott Glasel – MIDI programming, sampling
Steve Farris – guitars
George Terry – guitars
Phil Chen – bass (7)
Sandy Gennaro – drums
Ed Calle – horns
Alto Reed – horns
Barry Gibb – lead vocals (5)
Production
Tom Dowd – producer
Maurice Gibb – producer
Dennis Hetzendorfer – recording
Leslie Shapiro – recording assistant
Bill Schnee – mixing at Studio 55 (Los Angeles, California)
Glen Holguin – mix assistant
John Moran – digital editing at Digital Services (Houston, Texas)
Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California)
Dick Ashby, Eddie Choran, Ken Graydon, Tom Kennedy, Neal Kent, Bob Koske and Ivy Skoff – project coordination
Maximilian S.W. Kirsten – art direction
The Cream Group – design
Tim O'Sullivan – photography