Behind the Eyes (Amy Grant album)
Behind the Eyes is the twelfth studio album by Christian music and pop music singer Amy Grant, released in 1997.
Behind the Eyes
September 9, 1997
1996–1997
- The Bennett House, Franklin, Tennessee
- The Village Recorder, Los Angeles
- Secret Sound, Nashville, Tennessee
- October Studio, Nashville, Tennessee
- The Beanstalk, Brentwood, Tennessee
- The Battery, Nashville, Tennessee
- Dark Horse Recording Studio, Franklin, Tennessee
- Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles
49:35
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. Upon its release, it went to No. 2 on Billboard's Christian albums chart and No. 8 on the Billboard 200. Meanwhile, the first single from the album, "Takes a Little Time", was a Top Five Adult Contemporary hit and a Top Thirty pop chart single. "Like I Love You" and "I Will Be Your Friend" also reached the Adult Contemporary chart, at No. 10 and No. 27, respectively. The album was also released in a limited two-CD version (with the second CD titled, More Music From Behind the Eyes) with two additional songs.
The album was listed at No. 44 in the 2001 book, CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music[2] and was Grant's highest-placed non-Christmas album, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard 200, compared with Heart in Motion (1991), which reached No. 10, and How Mercy Looks from Here (2013), which reached No. 12.[3]
In 2007, Behind the Eyes was reissued and digitally remastered by Grant's new record label, EMI/Sparrow Records, along with her 13 other albums. The remastered edition is labeled with a "Digitally Remastered" logo in the 'gutter' on the CD front.[4] Because of Grant's deal with her previous label, Word Records, the remastered editions of Behind the Eyes and A Christmas to Remember were not sold in Christian music retailers such as Family Christian Stores or Lifeway Christian Resources until 2009. Until that time, Word Records continued to distribute those titles to Christian retailers in the original, non-remastered editions while EMI distributed the remastered editions to most major retailers. The 12 remaining remastered editions are distributed by EMI to all US retailers, both Christian and secular.[5]
In 2022, in celebration of the album's 25th anniversary, it was reissued on September 9, 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.[6]