defend the indefensible: Hall and Oates

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."

I saw H&O open for Lou Reed at the Felt Forum in NYC in 75? Can't say they left much of an impression.
I was only 14. Anyone else there?
j

they were my first concert; the "ooh yeah" tour when i was 6

The case against Hall and Oates has to be related to their 80s ubiquity. I never lived through any of that and as I discovered their albums in my parents collection was completely psyched by all the great pop music I discovered full of awesome hooks, great singing and some killer synth sounds.

Really solid soul songwriting, too. Complete working knowledge of Philly and Memphis, it would seem.

I was around during their eighties ubiquity, and since I didn't have MTV I had to rely on the radio, and they fit in nicely with Duran Duran, Bonnie Tyler, Prince, and everyone else.

I saw H&O open for Lou Reed at the Felt Forum in NYC in 75? C

Jesus fucking Christ are you kidding? I'm not worthy. We're not worthy, folks.

My mom used to have the Voices album on cassette and occasionally blasted it in the car. At the time that album epitomized embarrassing music only your mom would want to play with the windows down - seemingly just to embarrass you. Didn't take me too long to realize that it was just another case of my mom having better taste than I ever would.

"Big Kids"!

Damn, from everything I know about my mom's music tastes she's like the Boomer-era female voice of the "Losing My Edge" narrator.

"I remember being friends with everyone in Love and digging Forever Changes...when I was 14."

"I was there when Randy Newman sold albums out of the trunk of his car, and we all thought he was this funny Jewish piano man..."

"I remember when Hall and Oates were uncool for awhile, and I still flew their flag."

I never thought Hall and Oates were uncool. It depends on what your reference point is. If all you listened to were headbanger records, I guess so.