Daryl Hall. John Oates. Two men, one aircraft carrier full of hit songs. Their 1983 greatest hits package Rock ‘N Soul Part 1 was a summation of their chart dominance to that point, with five songs that had previously hit Billboard #1. Still and all, is this an album for the iPod, or one that deserves its dusty corner of the collection?
THUMBS UP: Hall & Oates practically define the term guilty pleasure: catchy hooks, mindless lyrics, songs that take you back in time. They owned the airwaves in the early 80’s to the tune of 6 Billboard #1s, earned entry into the songwriters hall of fame, and sold enough records that the Recording Industry Association of America named them the most successful duo in the history of recorded music. And believe it or not, they’ve been sampled by hip-hoppers as diverse as Kanye West and De La Soul – proving that you don’t have to be a square to dig Hall & Oates.
THUMBS DOWN: If the entire recorded works of Daryl Hall and John Oates suddenly disappeared into some kind of music wormhole, would anyone even notice? Rock ‘N Soul Part 1 just might be the sound of one hand clapping – while the other hand rings the cash register as quickly as possible. I like some of their stuff very much, but high chart position doesn’t make tunes like ‘Rich Girl’ ‘Maneater’ or ‘Adult Education’ any more enduring or enjoyable. As of 1983, the Hall & Oates fan club could be reached at (800) 626-9000. Operators are standing by.
[Enquiring minds would like to know what you think of Hall & Oates' Rock & Soul Part 1...]
Album info:
Release date
Fall, 1983
Producers
Various
Label
RCA
Side One
Say It Isn’t So
Sara Smile
She’s Gone
Rich Girl
Kiss On My List
You Make My Dreams
Private Eyes
Side Two
Adult Education
I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)
Maneater
One On One
Wait For Me [live]
Tags: Hall & Oates, Rock 'N Soul Part 1
18 May 2008 at 4:57 pm |
Oh, Christ. Call Billy Joel and let’s go sailing.
18 May 2008 at 6:13 pm |
How to ruin a beautiful Sunday: force your partner to listen to H+O for an eternity under the guise of “research”. Can’t go for that can’t go for that can’t go for that, no can do.
18 May 2008 at 10:24 pm |
now you’ve done it dk…I’ve been reading your crap for over a year and I’ve finally seen it…
…you’re starting to review the true classics! I’ve seen enough of “ooh Jimmy Hendrix is so smart” or “Nick Drake was such a tormented soul”. Puhleeze. Give me good ol’ fashioned ‘Sara Smile’ any day over that “art” (P’s just gotta love that track…deep down, I mean). I think RIAA was directionally correct in their assessment of the H&O genuis, but – as usual with them – they understated the case. I think that when the history of music is written 20-30 year from now Hall & Oates will be seen as influential as the Beatles or Bob Dylan.
18 May 2008 at 11:01 pm |
I can’t objectively answer the question of whether Hall & Oates’ music was influential B/c everytime I think of them I think of their haircuts. I can’t get back to objectivity from there.
http://www.rebuild-from-depression.com/pictures/Busters/HallandOats.jpg
19 May 2008 at 12:47 am |
bWg votes for the “music wormhole!”
19 May 2008 at 1:46 am |
God! I’ve had it with the pompous windbags telling what music they think is cool and worthwhile and what is shite. Who died and made you blowhard fuckers king. “Oooohhh, if you happen to like a H&O song you’re a no taste, pop music loving, past-living, douchebaggy, douchebag.”
Maybe I don’t spend my days dwelling on what music historians 400 years from now will remember them more for, their lyrics or for their Ace and Garyesque “friend of friends” stage personas. WHO CARES! All I know is that most of the songs on this album remind me of…(cue flashback music and black and white footage) supple, leggy, virginal, perky, childless, cellulite/wrinkle-free, 16 year-old girl in my U.S. history class. God. Damn.
For the love of all that is pure and jiggly, can’t an aging gen x-er access a few pleasant mental images while floating away on the smoothiness of John and Daryl’s music without worrying about being enlightened?
19 May 2008 at 7:33 am |
Easy there Pete. A few things to keep in mind here:
1) As far as I can tell, nobody called you a douchebag. Although with that kind of entrance, you’re not exactly inviting hugs…
2) It’s ok to like Hall & Oates. It is.
3) This album takes me back in time too. I’m trying to figure out if there’s more here than just that.
4) The goal here is NOT to make fun of anybody’s taste in music. This particular column is meant to spark a discussion of the merits (or lack thereof) of certain albums. In fact…
5) Passionate music fans of all tastes are welcome here, and your fiery defense of H&O will undoubtedly win you some fans. However…
6) Knowing my peeps, somebody is bound to make fun of you now. Let me apologize in advance for that.
19 May 2008 at 8:16 am |
I would like to commend Mr. Pricklee for his sly reference to The Ambiguously Gay Duo. Was this an intentional metaphor for Hall & Oates, or are you just a comedy savant?
19 May 2008 at 8:36 am |
Who put the “prick” in Pricklee Pete? Day-um.
It IS okay to like Hall and Oates. How can you not? The huge pompdour. The cheesy crustache. The freaking JAGUAR in their “Maneater” video, fer chrissakes. All pure fucking ’80s gold.
Maybe all H+O is a time-and-place guilty pleasure. They certainly take me back to slumber parties, passing notes, and going to the 7th grade dance in my Jordache jeans. I wouldn’t go so far to call them as influential as Dylan or the Beatles, but the bottom line is, every time they come on the radio, I turn that shit up, sing at the top of my lungs, and remember my YOOGE crush on Cody Blake. Any music that can instantly transport me back in time AND that makes me wanna sing it loud ‘n proud is great music in my book.
19 May 2008 at 8:38 am |
which one is hall and which one is oats again….???
i can never remember that shit….
19 May 2008 at 9:17 am |
Hall is Gary and Oates is Ace…
19 May 2008 at 9:27 am |
Hall and moustache…
or is it oats and mustache?
19 May 2008 at 9:31 am |
Hall and Oates is one of those bands to which I felt indifferent until my adult years, like Supertramp and Journey. Sara Smile and No Can Do were always there, in the background, to sing along to when I needed them. Then I met my husband who LOVES these dudes. I’ve often accused him of having The Most Eclectic iPod Ever, but I can honestly say that I’m a better H&O fan having been married to him.
19 May 2008 at 10:14 am |
Thumbs up…
But only because “Sara Smile” has soothed my eardrums (and nerves) through a number of uncomfortable dental treatments…
19 May 2008 at 11:37 am |
when are you going to do a post on Slayer….???
19 May 2008 at 12:18 pm |
Please see ‘In A Metal Mood: A Dozen Albums That Will Melt Your Face” for a bit on Slayer. But what I think you’re really asking for is more head bangin’… fair enough… stay tuned.
19 May 2008 at 12:32 pm |
if you’re taking requests, can you work Duran Duran into the mix? They’re the only band that gets me going more than Hall & Oates.
thanks!
19 May 2008 at 12:46 pm |
Oh, Duran Duran is coming soon to a fencepost near you, Foo.
As long as the request line is open, does anybody else have one??
19 May 2008 at 12:52 pm |
I really don’t have time to discuss this shit with you fucktards.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go back to my triple vente decaf latte and talking loudly on my cell phone in public places.
19 May 2008 at 1:35 pm |
i dunno. i kinda think they’re groovy.
19 May 2008 at 6:02 pm |
gotta say DK that you seem to be touching raw nerves with some artists that i would have never predicted had such strong followings. ‘fraid i need to side with the P on this one though. These guys just never struck a nerve.
19 May 2008 at 6:18 pm |
Everybody has a special skill, and mine seems to be putting people on the defensive about 80’s bands.
I probably ought to feel bad about pissing off the Bobs and Petes of the world, but honestly I’m just too damned busy laughing right now…
19 May 2008 at 8:17 pm |
I used to lip synch to Private Eyes (*clap* they’re watching you *clap, clap*) using my hair brush as a microphone.
I now use a whisk. You know, now that I’s all growed up.
19 May 2008 at 8:46 pm |
Wow! You can do that fancy scarecrow dance with a whisk in your hand?
20 May 2008 at 6:39 am |
When I get home after work, I’ll admit that I like to slip on a toe ring, fire up a passion fruit daiquiri and crank up some H & O…
20 May 2008 at 6:44 am |
after some headbanging can we please get some fucking loverboy for the love of god!!!
air supply?
heh….
20 May 2008 at 3:19 pm |
since we all agree that H&O is the best band ever, maybe we can debate which of their songs is the best song ever made. my vote is for “Sara Smile”. Anyone else have an opinion?
20 May 2008 at 3:45 pm |
I can only imagine the vitriol that would accompany a discussion of Styx, dk. But if you’re too gun shy, I’m happy to defend the likes of Berlin. Or the Hooters.
21 May 2008 at 7:09 am |
wait a second here!!!
Styx was actually a very good and hard rocking band pre “come sail away” era……!!!!!!!!!!!
21 May 2008 at 8:10 am |
On deck = Peter Frampton.
22 May 2008 at 1:03 pm |
are we talking post humble pie pete frampton here…???
22 May 2008 at 4:08 pm |
Yep. Frampton Comes Alive.
22 May 2008 at 6:21 pm |
oi vey…
24 May 2008 at 11:40 am |
Anybody bother to dial the H&O fan club number?
You’re in for a funny surprise…
25 May 2008 at 5:53 pm |
i’ve been away. all the witty banter’s been taken, and i even predicted the peter frampton joke.
still, i would vote thumbs down because rock ‘n’ soul only represents the tip of the h+o iceberg. i recommend the import 2-cd set imported by virgin. no doubt, all you h+o haters will be mining the internet for that long-lost goodie.
3 February 2009 at 5:33 am |
Hall and Oates are more important than the Beatles and they are more talented than them too.
3 February 2009 at 5:54 am |
For Ever For You, I agree! I can’t tell you how tired I am of hearing how great a song A Day in the Life by the Beatles is, for instance. Compare that to Hall and Oates’ Maneater and there is no contest. Maneater wins hands down. Day in the Life sounds like a kid plinking a toy piano in comparison.
7 February 2009 at 1:50 am |
I don’t appreciate the comments about John Oates having a cheesey mustache and someone else’s sly comparison of Hall and Oates to the Ambiguously Gay Duo. Hall and Oates are hugely popular and very talented musicians who deserve loads of respect from everyone and I’m here to make sure Hall and Oates gets their due respect.
Sorry about the rant – it’s just my mommy voice coming out.
If I need to go stand in the corner, I will, just let me know.
7 February 2009 at 9:03 am |
Nah, that’s ok. What good is a blog if one can’t rant??