Eyes of a Stranger (song)

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"Eyes of a Stranger"
Single by Queensrÿche
from the album Operation: Mindcrime
Released1988
Recorded1987–1988
StudioKajem/Victory Studios in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, USA
GenreProgressive metal[1]
Length6:38
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Peter Collins
Queensrÿche singles chronology
"Breaking the Silence"
(1988)
"Eyes of a Stranger"
(1988)
"Revolution Calling"
(1988)
Audio sample
"Eyes of a Stranger"

"Eyes of a Stranger" is a song by progressive metal band Queensrÿche appearing on their 1988 album Operation: Mindcrime. It is the last song on Operation Mindcrime, summarizing the story in the album. It has also been featured on two of their compilations, Greatest Hits and Sign of the Times: The Best of Queensrÿche. It was the band's first single to chart on the US Mainstream Rock chart, where it reached number 35.

Known as a fan favorite, the group has played the song often live, doing so over a thousand times as of April 2016, and the track is the band's number one most played song in its setlist history.[2]

Critical reception[edit]

Members of the Scottish pop band Win reviewed the song for the May 13, 1989 issue of British music newspaper Record Mirror. Emmanuel Shoniwa and Davy Henderson both found the beginning intro of the track "seriously good" and even "brilliant". But continuation of it brought disappointment to them. Shoniwa supposed that Queensrÿche simply "frightened themselves" and Henderson said that the band were faced with an identity crisis.[3]

Track listing[edit]

American cassette single
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Eyes of a Stranger" (Radio Edit)Chris DeGarmo, Geoff Tate5:12
2."The Mission"DeGarmo5:45
UK CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Eyes of a Stranger" (Radio Edit)DeGarmo, Tate5:15
2."Take Hold of the Flame"DeGarmo, Tate4:58
3."Queen of the Reich"DeGarmo4:22
4."Prophecy"DeGarmo3:59
European maxi single
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Eyes of a Stranger" (Album Version)DeGarmo, Tate6:36
2."Walk in the Shadows"DeGarmo, Tate, Michael Wilton3:34
3."Take Hold of the Flame"DeGarmo, Tate4:56
4."Queen of the Reich"DeGarmo4:20

Charts[edit]

Chart (1988) Peak
position
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[4] 35
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 59

Personnel[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Huey, Steve. "Operation: Mindcrime - Queensrÿche". AllMusic. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  2. ^ "Queensrÿche Tour statistics - songs played total". setlist.fm. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  3. ^ Henderson, Davy; Shoniwa, Emmanuel (13 May 1989). "Review: Queensrÿche — Eyes of a Stranger" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 29. ISSN 0144-5804. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via World Radio History.
  4. ^ "Queensrÿche Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  5. ^ "Queensryche: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2016.

External links[edit]