| Drivers Eyes | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Ian McDonald |
| Cover: | Drivers eyes cover.jpg |
| Released: | 1999 |
| Studio: | Clinton Recording Studios, NY Pie Studios, Glen Cove, NY Pilot Recording Studios, New York RPM Studios, New York, NY |
| Genre: | Hard rock, progressive rock |
| Length: | 45:44 |
| Label: | Camino Records |
| Producer: | Ian McDonald |
| Prev Year: | 1970 |
| Next Year: | 2002 |
Drivers Eyes is the first and only solo album by former King Crimson and Foreigner member Ian McDonald. It features contributions from Peter Frampton, Ian Lloyd, Gary Brooker, Steve Hackett and Hugh McCracken and King Crimson alumni, Michael Giles and John Wetton.
The album appears nearly 20 years after his double-platinum days with Foreigner and practically 30 years to the day after his debut with King Crimson. The record contains the influences of both bands, which isn't surprising since McDonald was a central creative force in both. McDonald is backed by most of the people that he had been a sideman for and also been sidemen and band members with.
The album features McDonald on guitars, keyboards, synthesizers and woodwinds on various tracks. He also sings lead vocals on 3 of the 11 tracks with 3 tracks being instrumental and the other 5 tracks being handled by various singers Including John Wetton, Gary Brooker and former Foreigner bandmate, Lou Gramm. The album's overall sound benefitted from guest singers as "his vocals lack some range and power, probably more ideally suited to backing vocals than lead singing." His instrumental ability on synthesizers and saxophone is well complemented by various guitarists including former Saturday Night Live guitarist, G. E. Smith (who is also based in New York) and ex-Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett (who McDonald had performed with as a sideman with on his live album The Tokyo Tapes and Genesis Revisited project). The final track was co-written by his former writing partner in King Crimson, Peter Sinfield.
per AllMusic and Discogs