Song of the Week: The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
Bobby Vee
The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
If I was going to write a completely self-indulgent book* like This is Uncool detailing the greatest pop singles ever, I would definitely be including this tune.
I’ve loved ‘The Night Has A Thousand Eyes’ for as long as I can remember. It is 2 minutes and 32 seconds of joyous pop perfection, absolutely guaranteed to put a pep in your step and to stay on repeat in your head all day.
And to think its all about suspicion, distrust and jealousy.
‘The Night has a Thousand Eyes’, Bobby Vee, 1963
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* yes, in addition to completely a self-indulgent blog
Tags: song of the week
March 13th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Fabulous. A great ‘belt it out in the shower’ tune. Has the same lifting affect on me as ‘Runaway’ by Del Shannon, which sounds like it was recorded inside a fairground Waltzer.
March 13th, 2009 at 11:04 am
So good to hear it again. It’s unlikely you’ll remember this, (being to young) but during the seventies there was real swell of fifties revivalism IE
Bowie, The Sweet, Led Zep, Bolan covering rock n roll tunes for encores – bands like Showaddwaddy, The Rubettes, Darts – Lennon’s Rock and Roll covers album – films like American Graffiti, That’ll be The Day leading to Happy Days and Grease- reissues of fifties comps and Best Ofs Buddy Holly, Bill Hailey, Elvis 40 Greatest
The point of my ramble is – as part of this, one of my first girlfriend’s (we were 10 at the time) older brothers had a Bobby Vee’s greatest double album which he played over and over . Rubber Ball, Rain Until September, Eyes are all little gems – that take me straight back to seventies summers everytime they get a spin..
PS I always wondered if the title was taken from a 1940s Batman comic
“The Man with a Thousand Eyes!” the artwork is a night sky full of eyes
March 13th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
This is a great tune. Definitely makes me feel better this cold and dreary morning. Thanks for sharing it with us. Have a wonderful weekend. Cheers!
March 13th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
And ironically, ISBW, Runaway is just as miserable lyric-wise as The Night Has A Thousand Eyes.
PM, although I am yes, a bit too young to remember it at the time, I did suspect that there was a 50s revival going on in the 70s – there is no other way of explaining/justifying Grease and Showaddywaddy. It kind of gets in the way though of the fact that late 50s/early 60s pop like Bobby Vee, Ricky Nelson, Jan & Dean, Joe Meek etc. really was fresh and new. A bit of topic, but I have just been down to Spitalfields Market to try and give my money away to record dealers but there are none there – do you know when the music/record market is on – I thought it was monthly?
Keith, thanks for stopping by again and listening.
March 13th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
It used to be a certain Wednesday in the month – but a few stalls seem to be there all the time
March 13th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
I’ve only ever heard this blaring out of radio’s or as a snippet on TV. Cracking tune, there’s a sort of sneering tone to it, which I like. Oh, and a neat lyrical payoff at the end.
Garry Mulholand’s book is a bit good. perfect ‘dip in’ reading.
March 14th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Yeah, I don’t mind Garry Mulholand’s book – I own it! It does seem an almost old-fashioned concept now writing a book about the songs you like. The Pixies are great, ‘Ghost Town’ is a top song… yadda yadda yadda. It’s a million blogs in print!
March 14th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
There does seem to be an insane enthusiasm at work though.
March 18th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
It’s a great tune though, as you say, particularly creepy lyric-wise. A kind of jolly, uptempo Every Breath You Take…
March 18th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Didn’t think of that comparison Hoops! But I did actually think of you when I posted this – it has the same classic pop overtones as ‘It might as well rain until September’, albeit with quite possibly the absolute opposite in lyrical intent.