Daryl Hall and John Oates made lots of albums. And had a strong run of early hit singles. "Wait For Me" "Sara Smile" "She’s Gone" "Rich Girl" What was the Hall & Oates heyday? The string of albums that they created at their career pop-rock apex? It came in the 1980's: Voices. Private Eyes. Big Bam Boom. Rock and Soul Part 1. Maybe even Live at the Apollo.
Were they great albums?
Early on, as artists tend to do, Hall & Oates had trouble clearly defining their sound, alternating among folk, soul, rock, and pop.
None of their early albums—Whole Oats, Abandoned Luncheonette, and War Babies—were big sellers. A single would hit but not album traction on the charts - meaning the LP's were not big sellers.
"She's Gone" off Abandoned Luncheonette was covered by Lou Rawls and Tavares, the latter version reached #1 on the R&B chart in 1974.
Their first album for RCA, Daryl Hall & John Oates contained "Sara Smile", which hit #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June 1976. Old label Atlantic then re-released "She's Gone", which reached #7 in October 1976. Abandoned Luncheonette hit #33 on the album charts on November 20, 1976, and stayed on for 38 weeks.
Bigger Than Both of Us (1976) had a second single, "Rich Girl", that became Hall and Oates' first #1 hit in March 1977.
A couple more top 20 singles. But it really wasn't the Hall and Oates we would know in the 1980's.
They ended up building a fantastically successful body of work and career. The biggest-selling duo in rock history. Radio singles. Lots of radio music.
But are there two albums and a half H&O albums that do really rock? Or pop-rock? Or are a 9 or 10 on the scale of "Is that a great album"?
I thought I knew - I always think I know. But maybe I was wrong.
We did some research and lots of listening to remind us of what it was. Take a podcast ride on the RockPopandRoll and Hall & Oates Philly Express soul/pop/R&B train and see what station - great albums or no - is the destination.
Email Rob at rockpopandrollpodcast@gmail.com
Website: www.rockpopandroll.com
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