1. Background

2. Through His Eyes (single)

3. Track listing

4. Critical reception

5. References

Through His Eyes is the third studio album from American singer Marilyn Martin.^[1] It was originally recorded for a release in 1994, however the album was shelved and did not receive an official release.

Background

Following the commercial failure of Martin's second album This is Serious, Martin spent most of the 1990s decade providing some background vocals for various artists.^[2] In 1992, Martin recorded a duet with Charles Dumont, titled "No Regrets".^[3] After beginning to work on a third album, Doug Morris, the head of Atlantic Records, suggested that Martin record a country album, as a possible career revival move. In 1994, she recorded the country album Through His Eyes.^[4] Atlantic Records released the title track Through His Eyes as a promotional single, however the album itself was withdrawn from getting an official release and shelved.^[1] Martin would not sign with a major label again, and would not release any new material until 2012, when she released her fourth album independently Trust, Love, Pray.^[5] The album first surfaced in recent years when Martin made the album available to listen in its entirety on her official website.^[6] Following this, she has made signed CD copies of the album available on eBay.^[7]

In her official website biography, Martin stated "I was starting to work on a third album when Doug Morris called with an interesting proposition... a country album with Atlantic Records in Nashville. I loved the idea! I grew up with country music and it felt like something I could pour my heart into, so off we went. My husband and I sold our house in Los Angeles, put the dog in the car, and headed to Nashville. It was fantastic being close to my family in Kentucky again, and I loved singing country songs, but I realized very quickly that success in the world of country music just wasn't in God's plan."^[4] In an interview with Breathe Cast, Martin added: "After my second album my contract with my manager was up for renewal but I was feeling restless about a lot of things, mainly my musical direction. I hired a new manager who thought I should leave Atlantic Records and go to a different label so I turned down the option Atlantic offered to do a 3rd project. Big oops/God's will, either way you look at it I wasn't able to get signed to another major label. I was eventually signed to a minor label when midway through recording the head of Atlantic Records called with a crazy idea. He asked if I would be interested in making a country record."^[8]

Speaking of the album's shelving, she said: "Atlantic Nashville's protocol was to have a market research group listen to new recordings and give their opinions on whether it would be a success or not and, sadly, mine came back lukewarm. In order to determine whether to move ahead or heed the market research findings everyone at the label gathered around a conference table to discuss and deliberate. Rick Blackburn, the president, stood at a large tablet, pen in hand and said, "Let's talk about the pros and cons". Starting with the cons the top two strikes against me were #1) I had had a pop hit and #2) I'm a woman... not kidding. The 2 pros were #1) In their opinion I had a good voice and #2) They thought I was nice. Unfortunately, the decision was made to not release my album, which was sad because I really liked it. After the traumatic end to my affiliation with Atlantic Nashville I desperately needed to stop. It was the first time I felt confused about what I was supposed to be doing. The worst part was that I felt like I had meandered outside of God's will."^[8]

Through His Eyes (single)

The single release of "Through His Eyes" was licensed for promotion only, and sale of the single was prohibited. It aimed at gaining radio play only. The track was written by Nashville writers Jeff Pennig and Jess Brown.^[9] The production was handled by Don Potter, with additional production from Greg Droman, who is a music producer/engineer and the husband of Martin.^[4] "Through His Eyes" remains Martin's last single release to date.^[10]

A music video was created for the song, filmed on a country ranch, and was made by Think Pictures, dated October 1, 1995. It was directed by Martin Kahan, produced by Venetia Mayhew and edited by Scott Long.^[11] The video keeps the storyline of the song's lyrical message of a woman who finds a new man only to have her old lover return, wanting her back. The video mainly highlights footage of Martin performing the song, along with varying shots of her and the two men in her life on the ranch. In the end she seemingly stays with her new love. The opening scene features the ex-lover on an answer phone message stating "Hey, it's me. Look you've been seeing this guy just to prove a little point, right? Well, you've proved it, so how about being a good girl, and we'll forget about it, and we'll be like before okay? I'll see ya." Another voice message before the second verse states "Hey, it's me, look, you have to realize that he can't love you that much." Both messages were exclusive to the video and not included on the actual music track.^[11] In the Billboard magazine issue of 28 January 1995, the video was listed under the 'Billboard Video Monitor' section which revealed the most-played clips as monitored by broadcast data systems. The video for "Through His Eyes" was revealed to be one of the new adds on the Country Music Television (CMT) network.^[12]

In the Billboard magazine of 11 February 1995, the video was listed at #26 of forty top played videos on the CMT network, whilst it had also just been added to The Nashville Network (TNN).^[13] By 18 February it was at #39 on the CMT network,^[14] #46 by 25 February,^[15] #41 by 4 March^[16] and #46 by 11 March.^[17]

In November 2010, Stingray Music Group issued a karaoke version of the title track via The Karaoke Channel on the album The Karaoke Channel - The Best Of Country Vol. - 45. It was issued as a digital download.^[18]

Track listing

Critical reception

In a review of Martin's 2012 album Trust, Love, Pray, Breathe Cast writer Timothy Yap mentioned the album, stating "After her bubbly girlish pop image on "Possessive Love," her leather slick rock chick look on "Night Moves" or her girl-next-door country gal vulnerability on "Through His Eyes," what is the musical direction of this new record? She answers it in the title of one of her songs, "every way and always." Like a buffet of styles, there is much to enjoy here: from string-laden big balladry to jaunty soul-filled funk to straight ahead vintage pop."^[19]

References

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