When “Family Man” was a hit in the spring of 1983, I was 6. Even then, I knew enough about emotions to glean that Daryl Hall was tortured about something, although at the time I probably didn’t know the meaning of the word “tortured”. Three and a half decades later, with a much more complicated… Read More “Family Man” by Daryl Hall & John Oates (1982)
Paul Young’s biggest U.S. hit was a cover. Actually, almost all of Paul’s hits have been covers. Not all of them have been great, though. As someone who listened to a lot of top 40 radio in the early ’90s, I have a deep dislike for his versions of “Oh Girl” and “What Becomes Of… Read More “Every Time You Go Away” by Paul Young (1985)
Hall & Oates were the singles act of the early ’80s. For a solid four year stretch-from 1981’s “Kiss On My List” through 1985’s “Method Of Modern Love”, they were a constant presence in the top 10. And they were dropping bangers, too. I’m mentally cataloguing every one of their top 40 records from that… Read More “Everything Your Heart Desires” by Daryl Hall & John Oates (1988)
“Electric Blue” is a song that I didn’t fully appreciate until fairly recently. I certainly remembered it as a hit in the summer of ‘88 (although maybe less of a hit than it might have appeared in non-urban parts of the country. I think most of my exposure to it was via weekly listens to… Read More “Electric Blue” by Icehouse (1987)
Do you think that Daryl Hall masturbates to the sound of his own voice? I’m half-kidding, and I maybe shouldn’t single Daryl out, because almost all great vocalists can get show-offy from time to time. Aretha and Luther did it. Patti and Chaka (maybe not so much Chaka) does. “Do What You Want…”, as good… Read More “Do What You Want, Be What You Are” by Daryl Hall & John Oates (1976)
“Crazy Eyes” is kind of a weird addition for two reasons: it’s a Hall & Oates album track, and it’s an Oates-led song. Although Daryl & John are the most successful duo of the rock era, the brunt of their success was on the singles chart. I don’t know that they have a definitive album-length… Read More “Crazy Eyes” by Daryl Hall & John Oates (1976)
