One of my first articles I wrote for AC was an article about Daryl Hall & John Oates’ top ten songs. I went back and reviewed that list and I still stand behind all of my song choices. Here is my original article that I wrote for AC. Here is another top ten list of songs that I left off my other list for reasons I’m not completely sure of. These top ten songs are in no particular order.
Let Love Take Control- This is the first song off of the Hall & Oates Our Kind of Soul CD (a wonderful review written by AC source, Faith Antonioni). This is only one of the three original songs that are on this album of cover songs. This is an upbeat song that you can’t help but crank the CD volume up high and move around to. This song is sung with such a passion and I just love it at the end when you hear an impromptu hand clapping.
Soul Violins- This is another original song off of the Our Kind of Soul CD. What I think is so cool about this song is that it was written about the “song” that you may hear in your head when you’re reunited with your loved one who you haven’t seen in a long time. I’ve always thought this was such a beautiful and original idea.
Home for Christmas- Sorry had to include a Christmas song because it’s just that good. I listen to this song constantly during the Christmas season. Home for Christmas is off of Daryl Hall & John Oates Home for Christmas CD released in 2006. This is an original Christmas song written by Daryl Hall. It’s just a beautiful song about coming home for the holidays and seeing your family and how special and important that is. He says, in the song, “It might be just for a day” but he treasures that short amount of time he spends with his family.
Kiss on My List- Most people are familiar with this 80s song off of Daryl Hall & John Oates’ first self-produced album, Voices. It was also a number one hit on the billboard charts. It’s just one of those breezy songs you can’t help but sing along with. Well, Daryl has being doing live web casts, Live from Daryl’s House, and he sang Kiss on My List with singer, songwriter K.T. Tunstall and gave it new life. I just love this new version with K.T.’s husky voice blending with Daryl’s sweet soulful voice.
She’s Gone- This is an oldie but goody. She’s Gone is off of Daryl Hall & John Oates’ 1973 Abandoned Luncheonette album. This was written after Daryl Hall’s break-up with his wife. Writing this song must have been very cathartic because Daryl really lays it out all out there for the world to hear. Initially, this song wasn’t a hit when it was first released. The group Tavares covered it in 1974 and then Hall & Oates re-released it in 1976 and it was a top ten hit for them.
Camellia- This is the first song on the self-titled Daryl Hall & John Oates album released in 1975. Camellia was a song that John Oates wrote about a “magical” one-night stand. He did change the name of the girl to Camellia because it was a more interesting name for the song.
Method of Modern Love- A great song, with a very 80s style video to go along. This is just a cool, funky song from the Big Bam Boom album which was released in 1984. The definite standout feature from this song is Daryl doing the rapping at the end. Also, Method of Modern love was the inspiration for the Wu-Tang Clan’s song “Method Man”, a single from their debut album.
Say it isn’t So- First single released off their 1983 greatest hits album Rock ‘n Soul Part I album. A little trivia about this song. It was filmed on location in New York City and shows the World Trade Center at the end of the video. Also, Say it Isn’t So actually battled for six weeks for the number one spot with the song Say, Say, Say by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. Say it isn’t So never hit the number one spot, but remained at number two for four weeks, which is still very impressive.
Adult Education- This was the second song released off the Rock ‘n Soul Part I album. This was a song that was popular across the board, getting airplay on both the pop and urban contemporary radio stations. The video that was shot to go along with Adult Education was described by John Oates as a video that resembled the Survivor TV show on acid. Here’s a link to check it out for yourself.
Family Man- This was a remake of a Mike Oldfield song and released in 1983 off of the H20 album. I’ve always just assumed this song was about a man in a committed relationship who was being “propositioned” and he’s trying to remain faithful, but is having a hard time with that. He’s tempted by this lady and eventually he gives in. However, we learn from the song, “He waited much too long but by the time he got his courage up she was gone!”
Sources:
Personal knowledge (been a fan for 20 plus years!)
wikipedia.com
