Behind the Eyes is the twelfth studio album by Christian singer - songwriter Amy Grant, released on September 9, 1997 by Myrrh and A&M Records.
Issued near the end of Grant's marriage to Christian singer - songwriter Gary Chapman, many of the songs on Behind the Eyes reflect Grant's struggles in her marriage and all relate to a theme of optimism. The album peaked at number 2 on the Top Christian Albums and number 8 on the Top 200 Albums charts in Billboard magazine. And on the Top 200 Albums, it was Grant's highest-placed non-Christmas album, compared to 1991's Heart in Motion (No. 10) and 2013's How Mercy Looks From Here (No. 12). The album was listed at number 44 in the 2001 book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music by CCM Magazine.
The first single and music video "Takes a Little Time" was a Top 5 hit on the Billboard AC chart and climbed to the Top 40 on both the Hot 100 Airplay and Adult Top 40 charts. The song was released as a CD Maxi-Single but only to the Christian retail market, thus the reason why it was not commercially released to the mainstream market and not qualified on the Hot 100 chart at the time. The maxi-single contains two Behind the Eyes tracks "Takes a Little Time" and "Somewhere Down the Road" and a new recording of her Age to Age track "El Shaddai."
The album was certified Gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for half a million copies sold in the United States and in 1998 Grant won a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for Behind the Eyes.
Track listing
1. Nobody Home (Glen Ballard, Siedah Garrett) -3:37
2. I Will Be Your Friend (Dane DeViller, Sean Hosein, Michelle Lewis) -4:00
3. Like I Love You (Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Keith Thomas) -4:31
4. Takes a Little Time (Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick) -4:32
5. Cry a River (Amy Grant, Wayne kirkpatrick) -4:39
6. Turn This World Around (Amy Grant, Beverly Darnall, Keith Thomas) -3:40
7. Curious Thing (Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick) -4:05
8. Every Road (Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick) -4:31
9. Leave it All Behind (Amy Grant, Will Owsley, Tommy Sims) -3:22
10. Missing You (Amy Grant) -4:28
11. The Feeling I Had (Amy Grant) -2:55
12. Somewhere Down the Road (Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick) -5:09
Production credits
Keith Thomas -producer (tracks 1–4, 6, 9 and 11)
Wayne Kirkpatrick -producer (tracks 5, 7, 8, 10 and 12)
Gold certified in 1997.
Accolades
Dove Award -Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (Behind the Eyes)
Radio singles
1997 "Takes a Little Time" -#21 Billboard Hot 100 Airplay, #4 Billboard AC, #9 Christian CHR, #9 Christian AC
1997 "Somewhere Down the Road" -#2 Christian AC
1998 "Like I Love You" -#10 Billboard AC
1998 "Turn This World Around" -#13 Christian AC
1998 "I Will Be Your Friend" -#27 Billboard AC, #10 Christian AC
In 2022, in celebration of the album's 25th anniversary, it was reissued on September 9th, exactly 25 years to the day of the original album's release. The expanded reissue includes the original 12-song album, previously unreleased songs and demos from the original album's sessions, b-sides, bonus tracks and re-recordings of previously released songs, released on 2 CDs, a 3 LP vinyl set and digitally on music purchasing and streaming platforms. Four of those bonus tracks and unreleased songs have been heard on subsequent releases; "Come Be With Me" (featuring Keb' Mo') was previously released on her 2004 compilation album Greatest Hits 1986-2004, the original recording of "Carry You" was featured on the 1997 various artists compilation album WOW 1998. The tracks "What is the Chance of That" and "Come Into My World" were both on her 2010 album Somewhere Down the Road. All tracks were produced by Wayne Kirkpatrick, except for the 2022 versions of "Turn This World Around" and "I Will Be Your Friend" produced by Keith Thomas.
Track listing for the 25th Anniversary Expanded Edition on digital platforms
13. Turn This World Around (2022 Version) -3:29
14. I Will Be Your Friend (2022 Version) -3:43
15. Carry You (Amy Grant) (previously released on WOW 1998) -4:52
16. Walk on Water (Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick) -5:14
17. I Feel Fine (Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick) -4:18
18. 5 Different Kisses (Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick) -4:19
19. What Kind of Love (Amy Grant, Chris Eaton) -3:49
20. Come Be with Me (Beth Neilsen Chapman, Jimmy Scott) -4:11
21. What is the Chance of That (Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick) (previously released on Somewhere Down the Road) -3:27
22. I Wanna Love You (Amy Grant) -3:04
23. Takes a Little Time (Wayne Kirkpatrick Version) -4:48
24. I've Got You (Amy Grant) -3:27
25. Watching the Waves (Demo) (Amy Grant) -3:46
26. Say (Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Will Owsley) -2:43
27. How Do You Manger That? (Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick) -3:11
28. Come Into My World (Studio Version) (Amy Grant) (previously released on
Somewhere Down the Road) -3:48
29. Crowded in Here (Demo) (Amy Grant) -3:49
30. Come Be with Me (featuring Keb' Mo') (Beth Neilsen Chapman, Jimmy Scott) (previously released on Greatest Hits 1986-2004)-4:18
Previous release: House of Love (1994)
Next release: A Christmas to Remember (1999)
Watch the music video of "Takes a Little Time" here:
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