Ep. 49: Hall and Oates - How Many Albums Were Actually Great?

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