defend the indefensible: Hall and Oates

> H20, although with the exceptions of "Open All Night" and "Family Man" (the latter of which they didn't write) it's got no single song as awesome as "Your Imagination" or "I Can Go For That." <

What about "One On One" or "Maneater"? Maybe even "Italian Girls"!

My friends wonder why I call you all of the time
What can I say
I don't feel the need to give such secrets away
You think maybe I need help, no, I know that I'm right
I'm just better off not listening to friends' advice

When they insist on knowing my bliss
I tell them this
When they want to know what the reason is
I only smile when I lie, then I tell them why
(Because your kiss) your kiss is on my list
(Because your kiss) your kiss is on my list
Because your kiss is on my list of the best things in life

I'll defend the hell outta "Italian Girls" - it's silly, sure, but isn't much of the best pop? Plus John's vocal is oddly endearing.

The best schlock, too.

That is all.

I like "Some Things.." a lot too.

I got it from the public library yesterday, and I must say: they are so cool it hurts. "Say It Isn't So," "Maneater" and "I Can't Go for That" are especially good, particularly for early MTV.

However, the videos for "Maneater" and "Family Man" made me think of this thread: ilx.wh3rd.net/thread.php?msgid=1289994 . I think that the answer might be that they are both meatheads AND towers of strength.

"Adult Education" might be the best/worst video ever made, ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s22ufU-67iM&search=hall%20oates%20adult%20education

(Wasn't sure if I should post a YouTube thingy in here - is there some kind of ILX rule against that?)

Uh wha?

I actually kinda like the one for I Can't Go for That. The rest of them make me laugh.

My favorite part is in Say It Isn't So, when a swirling light makes Darryl Hall's face look like a totally fucked mask. That or the really, really long table.

How about bandongo.com? :)

All the ILM All-Stars pinch-hitting on this thread.

heard 'i can't go for that' out on friday night!

there is nothing "indefensible" about hall and oates. "i can't go for that" is a funky ass song.

-- fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, January 1, 2004 7:55 PM (3 years ago)

qft

wait he's a republican AND he thinks hall & oates suck? gtfowtbs

Thanks for reviving this Alfred, cause I would have done it myself pretty soon (or maybe that other thread that asks for a reevaluation of H&O). I honestly don't know why I've found myself so fascinated with these guys right now. I mean, throughout the 80's I didn't dislike them, but they were just kindof...there. I only bought like maybe three of their singles, tops.

I listened to the War Babies album earlier tonight but I only really like the first half. It just gets to heavy and proggy and concepty after awhile, stretches my patience. But that is probably Todd Rundgren's problem rather than theirs.

I heard "Family Man" for the first time since it came out tonight and I swear to god, I do not remember that song at all even though I know I heard it when it was a hit. It's so weird.

So I am going to seek out some of their 80's albums cause I really do want to hear more. And you were right, Alfred about those tracks you recommended from H20, they were quite nice.

In the case of "Family Man" I like Mike Oldfield's original version better. Hall & Oates had several great songs anyway though.

Oh so it's a cover then, that rather helps me. Thanks.

how's the live show these days? they're playing at palace of fine arts in sf, but the photo on the ad shows them in "acoustic sunrise" mode. worth it?

"out of touch" is so fucking gorgeous

anyone remember the Hall & Oates as council workers (or something) sketches on Big Train?

-- stevem (blueski),

I do - I especially like their canteen debrief with Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart - 'I mean, they, they can't even afford a new pair of shades...'.

Thanks to my wonderful friend who encouraged me to buy the new issue of Mojo (god where would I have been without him? I really needed the new issue of Mojo, just the shot in the arm I needed) I learned that Hall & Oates have a new live album out with some DVD accompaniment. Well I sortof stared at the review for awhile before I realized "wait a minute! LA live at the Troubadour! That's where I saw them last year! Holy shit!" I paid a buttload of money to go to that gig, too. Glad it's a live album now.

great album tracks on H2O.. "Crime Pays" "Guessing Games" and "Delayed Reaction" especially.

There is nothing indefensible about H&O

Alex in NYC OTM. It's been really interesting watching them recover their reputation over the last few years, but it's entirely deserved

I started picking up H&O here and there a few years ago, and used to describe it as a guilty pleasure. Now it's like, "If you don't get what's good about H&O, you don't know what th' heck you're talking about."