They had so many hits that you only hear a handful of them on radio, according to Sean Ross.
https://radioinsight.com/blogs/187495/lost-hits-of-the-80s-year-by-year/
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 13 August 2021 12:45 (two years ago) link
Like I said, I've never listened to them on purpose (for no particular reason), so I'm at a discussion disadvantage, but much of what I'm familiar with (and there are more songs of theirs I'm familiar with from the radio than some bands' entire catalogs) has long struck me as weirdly not slick. Like, not bad - they were hits, after all - but "Private Eyes," "I Can't Go For That," "One on One," stuff like that, felt strangely not just spare but even demo-like, practically lo-fi, compared to contemporaneous stuff by, say, Billy Joel. The production was more akin to a lot of crossover new wave music than '70s soul guys with big budgets and session dudes.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 13 August 2021 13:09 (two years ago) link
that's precisely what made them palatable to ILX in the early '00s
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 13 August 2021 13:10 (two years ago) link
Yeah, I dunno about what made them palatable to ILX 20 years ago, not that I believe you. I'm just surprised that's what the songs sounded like *then*, in the early '80s. Have they ever talked about it in interviews, why it ended up that way? "Boys of Summer," for example, started life as a demo, and supposedly much of the demo ended up in the final version because Don didn't like any other versions better. Same with Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" and Quiet Riot's "Cum On Feel the Noize." But the first two of those still sound pretty slick and full, finished and fleshed out. Did Hall & Oates go that spare, demo-like route on purpose, as an aesthetic?
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 13 August 2021 13:17 (two years ago) link
Don't get me wrong, the absence of glop is definitely what's helped the songs weather the years! But was that a happy accident?
(Not that I *don't* believe you, sorry!)
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 13 August 2021 13:22 (two years ago) link
Remember this? pic.twitter.com/7SdrokQNRl— Daryl Hall & John Oates (@halloates) July 28, 2020
They later had a tour presented by the Pontiac Fiero:
https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/224034924046_/Hall-and-Oates-Big-Bam-Boom-Tour-Pontiac.jpg
"For Up-To-The-Minute Tour Information See Your Local Pontiac Dealer"
― “Heroin” (ft. Bobby Gillespie) (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 13 August 2021 13:29 (two years ago) link
It's a Trans AmAnd it's gone too far Cause you know it don't matter anyway
― subpoena colada (Ye Mad Puffin), Friday, 13 August 2021 14:38 (two years ago) link
Dunno if this quite answers your question, JiC, but I've come to mentally lump them in with other 60s/70s veterans who were drawn to new wave at the turn of the 80s. I imagine that they (counting the whole band here) found the spareness and directness of the style appealing, recognizable even as a return to the old garage-band days, stripping back some of the glop and cobwebs... etc.
G.E. Smith and Mickey Curry (on guitar and drums respectively) are also a little younger than H&O - later Boomers, really the right age to just be into new wave as the hot new thing that was happening. But also seasoned enough from being, I think, studio players on disco records... Wiki tells me Curry is on Dan Hartman's "Instant Replay" for example, which sounds kinda like a thinner X-Static track with weaker vocals. Bassist T-Bone Wolk (hired between Voices and Private Eyes) is on "The Breaks" by Kurtis Blow! Wow.
Tbh, I also don't hear the demo-ness as much as you do, except on things that are clearly intended to be striking in their spareness, most obviously "I Can't Go For That." I guess there's something... metallic? about the sound on Hall's "Private Eyes" vocal...
― I honk along darkened Bobo-doors (Doctor Casino), Friday, 13 August 2021 15:17 (two years ago) link
Maybe it's just as simple as the primitive drum machine?
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 13 August 2021 15:27 (two years ago) link
"I Can't Go For That" is an essence a demo: Hall + Oates play everything except the sax.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 13 August 2021 15:31 (two years ago) link
Yeah, that's pretty much how it sounds to me - New Wave was clearly an influence on them. Throughout their career, they clearly listened to other music and really tried to learn from them. Unlike Billy Joel, they had a deeper and sincere curiosity about other sounds, so they weren't just doing pastiches. I think the results were really all over the place, and I'd say more times than not the experiments didn't work, but it did make their catalog a lot more interesting: just look at left turns like the Rundgren-produced War Babies or Hall's collaborations with Robert Fripp.
All I have now is a reference compilation of 40 tracks spanning their first album to Rock 'n' Soul "Part One" - even there I tend to skip quite a few tracks, but most of it's a pretty good listen. I can't call them a great group, but I wouldn't call them a bad one either.
― birdistheword, Friday, 13 August 2021 15:42 (two years ago) link
I guess the big '80 stuff, like Out of Touch, came much later. I wonder if any reviews circa the early '80s stuff mentioned how spare and stripped down, let alone "new wave," it was compared to their lusher '70s stuff? Pretty clearly between the sound and the advent of MTV they were suddenly attracting younger kids, but was there an older contingent of their fan base that sniffed at the new sound?
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 13 August 2021 15:44 (two years ago) link
I haven't heard any of the full albums from 1975 to 1979, and I'd like to hear the change in style they went through in that era. The other records I've heard all have interesting deep tracks. I like the non-singles on Voices more than the hits.
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 13 August 2021 15:50 (two years ago) link
A deeply transitional phase -- desperate, they played every style, experimented with producers. Along the Red Ledge is one of their more consistent albums.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 13 August 2021 15:52 (two years ago) link
The Lou Reed thread reminds me that, promoting War Babies, they opened for him on the Sally Can't Dance tour! Probably the two acts at their greatest stylistic proximity.
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 13 August 2021 16:05 (two years ago) link
I kind of assumed they worked with Rundgren because he was a fellow Philly guy.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 13 August 2021 16:15 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAWOboDuYkIThe prophet 5 rules
― calstars, Friday, 13 August 2021 16:33 (two years ago) link
it's probably redundant to the contents of this primary thread, but here's a somewhat neglected thread specifically on their wilderness period: OK, You ILXor Hall & Oates Lovin' Motherfuckers, Tell Me All About Their Relatively Obscure 1977-1979 Releases
― I Am Fribbulus (Xax) (Doctor Casino), Friday, 13 August 2021 16:43 (two years ago) link
also, forgot to note this when i watched it, but recent indie/stoner Groundhog Day-inspired comedy Palm Springs makes excellent use of "When the Morning Comes," off Abandoned Luncheonette.
― I Am Fribbulus (Xax) (Doctor Casino), Friday, 13 August 2021 16:47 (two years ago) link
I would put up Side 1 of Voices against any side of any new wave/power pop record anywhere.
― Captain Beefart (PBKR), Friday, 13 August 2021 17:00 (two years ago) link
And most of H&O.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 13 August 2021 17:04 (two years ago) link
My X-Static jam is a disco adult contemporary number called "Who Said the World Was Fair."
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 13 August 2021 17:06 (two years ago) link
Are they still the biggest-selling duo of all-time? I guess the '80s were a gold rush in selling records, but it's still surprising to me that they'd sell more records than, say, Simon & Garfunkel.
― birdistheword
I would have thought Daft Punk or Outkast would have outsold them but no.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 13 August 2021 19:32 (two years ago) link
“Out of Touch” is surely one of my top 20 songs of the 80’s, if I ever made such a list.― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Thursday, August 12, 2021 2:55 PM
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Thursday, August 12, 2021 2:55 PM
you're cool. can we be friends?
(i have an unofficial playlist in my head titled "put on any of these songs at any time and austin will dance like a foole" and 'out of touch' is on it. other selections include 'close to me' by the cure, 'spottieottiedopaliscious' by outkast, 'say it loud i'm black and i'm proud' by james brown, 'take five' by dave brubeck, and so and so forth. classic material and whatnot.)
― things repeat forever and there never is a remedy (Austin), Friday, 13 August 2021 21:08 (two years ago) link
I love all of those songs. We shall dance together as fools!
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 13 August 2021 22:35 (two years ago) link
"M.E.T.H.O.D.O.F.L.O.V.E. ..." I've had this stuck in my head for decades.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 13 August 2021 22:38 (two years ago) link
both of those songs totally rule
― brimstead, Friday, 13 August 2021 23:48 (two years ago) link
The senior with the junior missI wonder what the junior wishes That she could graduate to adultKisses
― covidsbundlertanze op. 6 (Jon not Jon), Saturday, 14 August 2021 00:08 (two years ago) link
some outlets get hall, others get oates: https://www.gq.com/story/john-oates-hall-and-oates-interview
― mookieproof, Saturday, 14 August 2021 00:22 (two years ago) link
Norris and Dell’Abate
― calstars, Saturday, 14 August 2021 01:13 (two years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/3xlXvds.pngWith Joey ramone, 1983
― calstars, Saturday, 14 August 2021 01:14 (two years ago) link
Here's how I'd do it.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 14 August 2021 01:50 (two years ago) link
came in to wonder if along the red ledge didn't get its permission from nite flights -- tho if so the timing is very tite tight (walker bros release is july 78, H&O is aug)
― mark s, Saturday, 14 August 2021 10:38 (two years ago) link
xxpost lol
So, "Maneater" was 1982, "Tell Her About It" was 1983, "Part Time Lover" was ... 1985? Three very similar but very different takes on the same sort of Motown groove. Looks like Phil's "fuck it, let's just record the song again" "Can't Hurry Love" was released as a single less than a month after "Maneater." (FWIW, "Big Chill" soundtrack was released almost exactly a year after "Maneater.") Early '80s was Motown crazy.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 14 August 2021 13:45 (two years ago) link
Boomers getting moist-eyed for the LBJ years.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 14 August 2021 13:46 (two years ago) link
I suppose "Modern Love" can get slotted in there somewhere too.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 14 August 2021 13:48 (two years ago) link
"Modern Love" doesn't sound Motown-indebted to my ears. Adjacent maybe? And it's far from nostalgic.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 14 August 2021 13:50 (two years ago) link
Yeah, it's too ... modern.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 14 August 2021 14:00 (two years ago) link
"Town Called Malice" by the Jam was earlier than all of these other pastiches.
― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 14 August 2021 14:28 (two years ago) link
Yeah, earlier the same year, right? 1982? But of course the Jam like a lot of UK acts were directly keyed in to the Northern Soul/mod stuff, so it's very on-brand. And of course "Get Happy!" was riffing on that world a few years before *that*. Either way, to my ears both less overtly nostalgic than the Motown worship stuff to come.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 14 August 2021 15:07 (two years ago) link
I thought British or blue-eyed soul was an ongoing tradition, like further back than even Dusty in Memphis and passing through popular albums like Bowie's Young Americans?
― birdistheword, Saturday, 14 August 2021 16:20 (two years ago) link
Although neither Dusty in Memphis and Young Americans were exactly retro, they were playing in/with contemporary Black styles.
― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 14 August 2021 17:21 (two years ago) link
...and Daryl doesn't like you using the term "blue-eyed soul", better watch out.
― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 14 August 2021 17:23 (two years ago) link
I know _Sacred Songs_, that is a nice one. I always wished Fripp released an all-Hall _Exposure_ as he originally planned, but he did do a great job of turning a drawback into an advantage with the new vocalists he recruited.
― Naive Teen Idol, Saturday, 11 December 2021 14:07 (two years ago) link
When and why did they add the "Daryl" and "John" to their bandname? Egotism? A silly decision if you ask me: "Hall And Oates" rolls off the tongue so much more easily. (But at least "Daryl Hall And John Oates" is still much better in every way than "England Dan and John Ford Coley"!)― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, July 26, 2004 2:15 AM
― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, July 26, 2004 2:15 AM
https://i.ibb.co/hM66tcd/Screenshot-20220218-110244-120.png
― enochroot, Friday, 18 February 2022 16:13 (two years ago) link
.@realdarylhall and @JohnOates would like this legend to know that he has been seen. 🕵🏼🕵🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/1x9pf0Czcr— Daryl Hall & John Oates (@halloates) July 18, 2022
― mark s, Monday, 18 July 2022 18:02 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaJT1_-Fyac
― Spottie, Thursday, 15 September 2022 05:51 (one year ago) link
That excellent video reminds me that when I interviewed Daryl 20 years ago and asked him if H&O had any wild times with drugs BITD, he replied "Man, have you seen my haircuts and the clothes I wore in the 80s??"
― politics is about vibes and the vibes are off (stevie), Thursday, 15 September 2022 08:52 (one year ago) link
LOL. Yeah, he almost has a "Coked Up Werewolf" look going there.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 15 September 2022 14:38 (one year ago) link