The week of November 24, 1984, saw a number of repeats atop the Billboard Hot 100. In order, they were Wham!’s ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,’ Prince’s ‘Purple Rain,’ and Chaka Khan’s ‘I Feel For You.’
In the fourth spot, on its way to a two-week stint at #1 in December, was Daryl Hall & John Oates’ ‘Out of Touch.’ This was the duo’s sixth number one hit, and their last. ‘Method of Modern Love,’ from the same album, peaked at #5.
The week of January 7, 1984, saw Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Say Say Say,’ the pair’s second hit collaboration (following ‘The Girl is Mine’).
In second place is another “say” song by another duo: ‘Say It Isn’t So’ by Daryl Hall and John Oates. This song was the first single (and one of two new songs) on a greatest hits compilation released in October of 1993. It peaked at #2 for four weeks, kept from the top spot by McCartney and Jackson.
Continuing my look at the albums of 1975…
During this installment of Decades, I’ve had the pleasure of diving into the back catalogs of some bands I know but don’t know well. I hoped that would be the case again for Daryl Hall & John Oates and their self-titled fourth studio album. Unfortunately, my predominant reaction to this one was a shrug.
The album starts strong with today’s SOTD, ‘Camellia,’ a single that didn’t catch on but deserved a bigger audience. Then comes ‘Sara Smile,’ a great song with one of the most baffling first lines in pop history (I mean, “Baby hair, with a woman’s eyes,” what?!). And third track ‘Alone Too Long’ is right in the duo’s sweet spot.
Daryl Hall & John Oates’ ‘Adult Education’ was released in 1984 as one of two new songs appearing on a greatest hits collection titled Rock ‘n Soul Part 1. The other new track was ‘Say It Isn’t So.’ ‘Say It Isn’t So’ made it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, while today’s SOTD peaked at #8.
Calling that collection a “greatest hits” was the opposite of false advertising. Every song on that record was a smash of one degree or another, with four tracks making it to #1. When even the two bonus tracks on your compilation become top ten hits, you know you’re on a roll.
Our next inductee from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2014 class is Hall & Oates, or as the pair insists they be called, Daryl Hall & John Oates.
Hall & Oates were first eligible for the Hall in 1998, and went un-nominated until their 2014 inclusion. That’s a pretty long wait for an act as successful as this duo. They released eight Platinum and six Gold albums, and had six singles reach #1. An additional ten singles made it to the Top Ten.
Meet Me In Montauk 