One on One (in court): Oates claims Hall's kiss is no longer on his list

He had a cold!

 

As mentioned above, I am as thoroughly 80s Hall & Oates as it gets given that they were my first "crush". The songs I like are songs I like as much as any songs from that era.

However, 1970s Hall & Oates is pretty awesome. Different music style. They were unique with the blue-eyed soul thing mixed with some elements of singer-songwriter on their early albums. Nothing like their 80s stuff, so if you're not into that style, 70s Hall & Oates is not for you. If you are? Equally good if not better.

Singles-wise? I think it's a wash. I will say that some of their 70s singles that weren't big hits, like "Do What You Want, Be What You Are" are superior to H&O's lesser 80s singles like "Adult Education". On the other hand, H&O's peak singles from "Voices" to "H2O" are about as good a run of singles as any band has ever had.

Albums-wise? Let's be honest. Few of us have listened to Hall & Oates on an album level. I'm not going to pretend like I have.

 

This is very fair. I wish I'd gotten more into the H&O albums, but I was 10 when "Rock & Soul Part I" was one of the first two tapes I ever bought ("Footloose" soundtrack was the other) and at age 10, what the fuck else do you need but hit after hit after hit? I got their next few albums on tape but only really dug the singles. I guess I've got time now to re-listen to them!

That said, the two-disc greatest hits that came out in the early '00s emphasizes the pre-superstar stuff and is TERRIFIC. And to follow up on YMCA's point, there's a point bridging the discs where the songs become almost ethereal. This is just an unreal sequence:

How Does It Feel To Be Back
You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling (superior to the original)
Kiss On My List
You Make My Dreams Come True
Everytime You Go Away (H&O should have covered "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down")
Private Eyes
I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)
Did It In A Minute
Your Imagination
Maneater
One On One
Family Man
Say It Isn't So

That's just a fucking perfect sequence of songs. They tailed off after that, but their last hit, "So Close," was an incredible song. At 77 and 75, I didn't have any more realistic expectations of seeing them tour, but it'd be nice if they made up to ensure things don't end like this. (Oates' Dad is 100, so hopefully they've got plenty of time to do their own things without the specter of this ugliness looming)

 

That two-disc set is fantastic. One of the best of those "definitive" double-disc greatest hits that were being put out on CD in the 2000s. Surpassed only by the similar Isley Brothers double-disc.

Sadly, it's never been out on vinyl that I know of, which is a real shame, because their vinyl sets are too narrow ("Rock And Soul" is great, but is basics only) in scope. I would buy that greatest hits in a heartbeat on wax, even if it was a triple-album.

Also, "Your Imagination" is a great, great song. It went top 20, but it never gets played on 80s nostalgia stations. Like a cross between "Scary Monsters" David Bowie and, well, Hall & Oates.

Hall & Oates: 1980-83 is just hard to top. A great run that ended with "Say It Isn't So", not "H2O" as I wrote in the previous post. They were uneven after that, but still had it at times. I am a fan of Daryl Hall's solo "Dreamtime" ... great stuff.

"Private Eyes" is probably the one 80s H&O album to own. Some of the lesser tracks have definitely not dated well (cough ... John Oates and "Mano A Mano"), but some, like "Head Above Water", are pretty great. CBS used to use it (and probably every other H&O song) as bumper music on their NBA broadcasts.

 

Some things are better left unsaid.

But they have plenty of missed opportunities to solve this.

Hall asked Oates that he can have “everything your heart desires”.

Oates replied to “wait for me” as he ponders an answer.

Yet their legal bills revealed the truth. This was bigger than both of us.

Perhaps they’ll end up back together again.

 

“Wait For Me”, great tune. Flies under the hit radar.

 

The funny thing is… everyone thought we were forever.

 

Was just going to write something similar.

 

I’ve seen them a few times in concert over the years. Oates is a potted plant but Hall has, at worst, the second best blue eyed soul voice of all time (with Michael McDonald).

 

I bought a three-disc HO box set (Australian, I believe) off eBay 22 years ago.

Kept that on for months as I was feeding my oldest when he was a newborn. Just perfect.

 

The only reason I hate some H&O songs is because they got overplayed (especially "Kiss On My List" and "Maneater"). That doesn't make them bad songs at all.

 

That's how I feel about Rich Girl and Sara Smile.