Daryl Hall and John Oates: 40 Great Songs

Introduction

Disclaimer: This article is for entertainment purposes only to enjoy and promote the music of Daryl Hall and John Oates.

Daryl Hall and John Oates are one of the most successful music acts of all-time. In the US they've placed six songs at #1 and seven albums in the Top 20. In 2003 they were inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 and received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016.

The following is a passage from Wikipedia regarding their name:

"The duo never liked to be referred to as "Hall & Oates". In an interview with Esquire, Oates said, "There isn't one album that says Hall and Oates. It's always Daryl Hall and John Oates, from the very beginning. People never note that."

On this note for the sake of avoiding repetition and keeping to a shorter name I will refer to Daryl Hall and John Oates as Hall and Oates but I do recognize that their official name is Daryl Hall and John Oates.

On a personal level I found an interest in Hall and Oates from the first time I heard them in 1976 with the song "Sara Smile." But it wasn't until 1978, with the song, "It's a Laugh, that's when I began buying their records.

Rick Henry Christopher's favorite albums by Daryl Hall and John Oates: Along the Red Ledge, X-Static, and Voices

What are your favorite Hall and Oates albums?

Many fans and general music listeners regard Daryl Hall and John Oates as being underrated and overlooked. Many feel they deserve more recognition for their songwriting credits.

Bubbling Under the 40 Favorites

60. "Gotta Lotta Nerve (Perfect Perfect)" (1980) / 59. "Your Imagination" (1981) / 58. "Africa" (1980) / 57. "Running From Paradise" (1979) / 56. "And That's What Hurts" (1999) / 55. "Thank You For…" (1972) / 54. "Let Love Take Over" (2004) / 53. "Romeo is Bleeding" (1997) / 52. "Starting All Over Again" (1990) / 51. "The Woman Comes and Goes" (1979) /50. "Man on a Mission" (2002) / 49. "Possession Obsession" (1984) / 48. "Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song)"(1973) / 47. "Abandoned Luncheonette" (1973) / 46. "Going Thru the Motions" (1984) / 45. "Is It a Star" (1974) / 44. "I'm Sorry" (1972) / 43. "So Close" (1990) / 42."Heavy Rain" (1990) / 41. "I Don't Wanna Lose You" (1978)

40 Great Songs of Daryl Hall and John Oates

40. "Method of Modern Love" (1984)

Parent Album: Big Boom Bam

Written by Daryl and Janna Allen. Janna's sister was Hall's longtime girlfriend Sara Allen. This was Hall and Iates' last Top 40 hit in the UK and made it to #5 in the US.

39. "Talking All Night" (1988)

Parent Album: Ooh Yeah!

The fourth single from the album Ooh Yeah! The song failed to chart.

38. "Marigold Sky" (1997)

Parent Album: Marigold Sky

Written by Daryl Hall and John Oates. A missed opportunity for a potential single release. However five singles were released from its parent Album.

37. "Lady Rain" (1973)

Parent Album: Abandoned Luncheonette

With a hint of southern rock and a funk influence, "Lady Rain" is one of Hall and Oates' best deep cuts.

36. "All Our Love" (1972)

Parent Album: Whole Oates

Bill Keith's pedal steel guitar adds a slight country music feel to this smooth flowing song!!!

35."Do It For Love" (2002)

Parent Album: Do It For Love

Although this song did not make it into Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart it was their first song (of two) to make it to #1 on the US Adult Contemporary chart

34. "Adult Education" (1983)

Parent Album: Rock 'n Soul Part 1

This Top 10 hit was featured in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V.

33. "Miss DJ" (2002)

Parent Album: Do It For Love

This rock and soul song opens with a rhythmic acoustic guitar soon to be accompanied by a strong rhythm section and a funk filled bass. A real missed opportunity. Six songs from Do It For Love were released as a single and every time "Miss DJ" was passed up.

32. "Intravino" (1979)

Parent Album: X-Static

I loved it when Hall and Oates rocked out. This is a guitar lover's song with three guitars upfront: G.E. Smith provides a great lead guitar, and both Daryl and John on guitar. This post-punk gem is a treat and could have charted if released as a single.

31. "It's Uncanny" (1977)

Parent Album: No Goodbyes

This horn driven R&B song was recorded between 1972 to 1974 during Daryl Hall and John Oates time with Atlantic. It was finally released in 1977 on the compilation album No Goodbyes which is comprised of songs from their three Atlantic albums. "It's Uncanny" along with "I Want To Know You For A Long Time" and "Love You Like a Brother" were all previously unreleased tracks.

30. "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts" (1977)

Parent Album: Beauty on a Back Street

Written by Daryl Hall and his longtime girlfriend Sara Allen. Sara is mentioned by name in the 1973 song "Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song)." At that time Sara was a stewardess. She's also mentioned in another song in which we'll examine a little further down this list.

29. "Art of Heartbreak" (1982)

Parent Album: H²O

The song opens with the electrifying taps and slaps of bass player Tom "T-Bone" Wolk. Written by Daryl Hall and sisters Sara Allen and Janna Allen.

28. "Crime Pays" (1982)

Parent Album: H²O

A non-single track released about a woman breaking hearts of her lovers and playing them, but never experiencing the same fate. Written by Daryl Hall, John Oates, and Sara Allen. Hall performed the lead vocals.

27. "Family Man" (1982)

Parent Album: H²O

Co-written by Mike Oldfield, Tim Cross, Rick Fenn, Mike Frye, Morris Pert, and singer Maggie Reilly. The song was a semi-hit for Oldfield with Maggie Reilly in 1982. Hall and Oates took the song in 1983 and took it to the Top 10 in the US and #15 in the UK and Ireland.

26."Pleasure Beach" (1978)

Parent Album: Along the Red Ledge

John Oates aptly sings the lead vocal on this fun upbeat rocker. He also wrote the song. Although different from Hall and Oates' classic style this song could have fared well as a single.

25. "Bebop/Drop (1979)

Parent Album: X-Static

Another hard rocker, the album X-Static was filled with them. John Oates performed the lead vocal with a great sense of attitude and edgy dynamics. Daryl added accent vocals. The electric bass parts really make the song groove. Daryl, John, and G.E. Smith rock the guitars. Written solely by John Oates.

24. "Alley Katz" (1978)

Parent Album: Along the Red Ledge

Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen shreds in this song which sounds like it could be an early Cheap Trick tune.

23. "United State" (1980)

Parent Album: Voices

Daryl Hall and John Oates were great with Pop-punk tunes. John Oates generally did the lead vocals on their harder punk-ish songs. But this time Daryl Hall did the lead.

22. "Did It In a Minute" (1981)

Parent Album: Private Eyes

Eric Carmen (lead singer of the Raspberries who had eight Top 40 solo hits) was touring with Hall and Oates in 1982 when "Did It In a Minute" was a hit. The song was inspired by Eric Carmen's 1977 hit "She Did It." While Carmen's "She Did It" was inspired by the Beach Boys' 1968 hit "Do It Again."Did It In a Minute" was a Top 10 hit in both the US and Canada.

21. "Say It Isn't So" (1983)

Parent Album: Rock 'n Soul Part 1

"Say It Isn't So" was a #1 hit on the US Dance charts for four weeks. But missed the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 placing at #2 for four weeks behind Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson's "Say, Say, Say."

20. "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid" (1984)

Parent Album: Big Boom Bam

Written by Daryl Hall this catchy tune made it to #18 in the US and #23 in Canada.

19. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" (1980)

Parent Album: Voices

A cover of The Righteous Brother's 1964 classic. Hall and Oates added a new wave rhythm to it and some catchy handclaps. Their rendition made it to #12 in the US.

Note from Rick Henry Christopher: As much as I love the classic 1964 rendition by the Righteous Brothers my favorite version is Hall and Oates' cover. Human League did an interesting rendition in 1979.

18. "How Does It Feel To Be Back" (1980)

Parent Album: Voices

Written by John Oates who also did the lead vocal. This song was the first single from the album Voices and made it to #30 in the US and #48 in Australia. This song has a Tom Petty vibe about it.

17. "Portable Radio" (1979)

Parent Album: X-Static

This energetic disco-rock song is a fan favorite of which many feel was ahead of its time.

16. "It's A Laugh" (1978)

Parent Album: Along the Red Ledge

This break-up song written by Daryl Hall looks at his former relationship as insignificant and even a joke, "it's a laugh."

15. "Diddy Doo Wop (I Hear the Voices)" (1980)

Parent Album: Voices

This ode to Doo Wop was written by Daryl Hall and John Oates with the lead vocal provided by Daryl Hall. One of the most interesting features in the song are the flourishes of doo wop style guitar chord progressions. This gives the song a bit of that 1950s flavor while maintaining its 1980 energy with electric guitars and synthesizers. Some of the vocals include Doo Wop harmonies. The song is very much a product of the early 1980s with its new wave leanings.

The lyric oddly references two deranged murderers. The line "Charlie liked the Beatles" alludes to Charles Manson who was obsessed with The Beatles' White Album. Manson felt the songs on the album were a call for a violent race war, most prominently the songs: "Black Bird," "Piggies," and "Helter Skelter." The next line in the song says "Sam, he liked Rich Girl." David Berkowitz, known as the Son of Sam, pumped himself up by listening to the Hall and Oates song "Rich Girl" before going on his killing sprees.

14. "Everytime You Go Away" (1980)

Parent Album: Voices

Because of the extreme popularity of this song I often think Hall and Oates released it as a single, but they didn't. The song was destined to remain an obscure album cut falling into the "missed opportunity" category. Then in 1985 British singer, Paul Young, released the song and took it to #1 in the US and Canada, as well as #2 in Ireland and Norway, and #4 in the UK.

13. "Mano a Mano" (1981)

Parent Album: Private Eyes

One of Hall and Oates' most underrated songs falls into that category of 'should have been a single.' Although the Private Eyes album was filled solid with top notch material you can forgive them for passing this one up. Written and sung by John Oates. Oates gives a great lead vocal with exceptional vocal timing.

Rick Henry Christopher's Note: I am just as much a fan of John Oates singing as I am of Daryl Hall's. Johngives a great vocal performance here.

12. "No Brain No Pain" (1979)

Parent Album: B-Side of "Wait For Me"

Why oh why did this song not make it onto X-Static? This song would have fit perfectly on the album. It even has echoes of "Hallofon." The song was relegated to B-Side status backing "Wait For Me." Then added as a bonus track in a 2000 CD reissue.

Note from Rick Henry Christopher: My lifelong friend Sandy has named this as a favorite song.

11. "Wait For Me" (1979)

Parent Album: X-Static

A huge fan favorite. In retrospect many fans consider this to be their favorite Hall and Oates song. One of Daryl Hall's best vocal performances as he sings with an emotional intensity that cuts through the soul.

10.She's Gone (1973)(reissued 1976)

Parent Album: Abandoned Luncheonette

This soulful power ballad was Hall and Oates' first charting single. It was a minor hit in 1973/74 reaching #60 in the US and #63 in Australia. Two and a half years later, after "Sara Smile" was a Top Ten hit on the RCA label, Atlantic records seized the opportunity and reissued the single in July 1976. This time around the Daryl Hall and John Oates penned song became a big hit reaching #7 in both the US and Canada.

9. "One on One" (1982)

Parent Album: H²O

One of Hall and Oates' best known classics. The song features one of Daryl Hall's most soulful lead vocals and a sizzling soul inducing saxophone solo by Charlie DeChant. The song made it to #7 in the US and #6 in the UK. The song was a huge Adult Contemporary hit reaching #4 in the US and #2 in the UK. Finally the song was a big hit on the US R&B charts making it to #8. Hall and Oates placed eight songs in the Top 40 of the R&B charts.

8. "Sara Smile" (1975)

Parent Album: Daryl Hall and John Oates

"Sara Smile" was Hall and Oates' breakthrough single. It happened more than three years after their first single and album were released. It's easy to say that they were not an overnight success. The single was released near the end of 1975 and charted in the first quarter of 1976. It reached #22 in both Canada and New Zealand. In the US the song was a mega-hit reaching #4. It was also Hall and Oates' first hit on the US R&B charts reaching #23.

Written by Daryl Hall and John Oates about Hall's then-girlfriend, stewardess Sara Allen. They were together for nearly 30 years before breaking up in 2001.

7. "Out of Touch" (1984)

Parent Album: Big Boom Bam

One of Hall and Oates' catchiest hooks and was one of their biggest hits worldwide. It was their last #1 hit and was their fourteenth consecutive Top 40 hits. They scored with seven more consecutive Top 40s afterward bringing their total to 21 consecutive Top 40 hits. 1988's non-charting "Talking All Night" broke that string.

"Out of Touch" reached #1 in the US on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart and the US Dance charts. It was also #8 on the US Adult Contemporary chart, #18 on the US Mainstream Rock chart, and #24 on the US R&B chart. The song reached #5 in Canada and was a Top 40 hit in Australia, Belgium, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden. In the UK it just missed the Top 40 topping out at #48.

6. "You Make My Dreams" (1980)

Parent Album: Voices

Described as a happy and joyful tune it was written in collaboration between Daryl, John, and Daryl's then girlfriend Sara (Sara Smile) Allen. Daryl Hall considers this piano driven tune to be one of his five favorite Hall and Oates songs. John Oates has said the song's charm lies in its simplicity and directness.

5. "Rich Girl" (1976)

Parent Album: Bigger Than Both of Us

Their first song of six to reach #1 in the US. It also charted at #5 in Canada, #6 in Australia, #9 in France, #15 in The Netherlands, and #33 in New Zealand.

The original lyric was "He's a rich boy." The song was written about Sara Allen's ex-boyfriend, Victor Walker, a spoiled heir to a fast food chain. Daryl changed the lyric to Rich Girl since he was the one that would be singing the song.

4. "Maneater" (1982)

Parent Album: H²O

"Maneater" is Hall and Oates' most popular song worldwide. It was #1 in the US, Canada, and Spain, #2 in Switzerland and South Africa, #5 in Belgium and Sweden, #6 in the UK and Norway, #7 France, #8 Poland and Ireland, #15 Germany, #16 Brazil

Billboard Magazine described it as a "moody midtempo piece which has the percolating bass line of a mid-60's Supremes record and the atmospheric sweep of a Giorgio Moroder film score."

Sidenote: "Maneater" is Hall and Oates' biggest hit in the UK.

3. "Private Eyes" (1981)

Parent Album: Private Eyes

"Private Eyes" reached #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles in November 1981. The song was displaced by Olivia Newton John's "Physical" which stayed at #1 for 10 weeks, and was succeeded by another single from Hall & Oates, "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)".

The song has become an in concert audience participation favorite due to the handclap chorus.

Note from Rick Henry Christopher: I love the music video where the guys are dressed in their private eye suits and John Oates is humorously lurking behind Daryl Hall.

2. "Kiss on My List" (1980)

Parent Album: Voices

The chorus, "(Because your kiss) your kiss is on my list. (Because your kiss) your kiss I can't resist," is one of the best known in music history. The hook stays with you after hearing it.

From Wikipedia:

The song was written with the intention of Janna Allen, sister of Hall's longtime girlfriend Sara Allen, singing it, as she was interested in starting a music career. Hall cut a demo version as a guide for her, but later when his manager found the tape lying around the studio, he insisted that Hall and Oates cut the song themselves.

1. "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" (1981)

Parent Album: Private Eyes

This catchy tune accomplished a few rare feats. Let's start with the fact that the song topped the US R&B charts for one week. This is an accomplishment because in the 1980s it was not common for a white act to top the R&B charts. Back in the 1950s and even into the 1960s white acts such as Elvis Presley, Bill Haley and the Comets and even Bing Crosby topped the R&B charts. But by the time the 1970s rolled around the R&B charts were owned by black recording artists. Multiracial acts such as KC and the Sunshine Band and wild cherry topped the R&B charts in the 1970s, in 1983 Paul McCartney topped the R&B charts in a duet with Michael Jackson, and in 1987 Herb Alpert talked the R&B charts when he accompanied Janet Jackson on the song "Diamonds."Hall & Oates were only one of two white acts that topped the R&B chart. The other was George Michael in 1988 with the song "One More Try."

The song was not only #1 on the R&B charts but also topped the US Dance chart. "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" is one of those rare songs that has topped three different Billboard charts. The song was also #1 for one week on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

From Wikipedia:

"Speaking about the meaning of the lyrics, John Oates has stated that while many listeners may assume the lyrics are about a relationship, in reality, the song, "is about the music business. That song is really about not being pushed around by big labels, managers, and agents and being told what to do, and being true to yourself creatively." This was done intentionally, he explained, to universalize the topic of the song into something everyone could relate to and ascribe personal meaning to in their own way. Naming "Maneater" as another example, he revealed that this was a common theme for the group's songs."

Michael Jackson said the bass line was an influence for "Billie Jean." Several artists including De La Soul and Puff Daddy. Simply Red used the actual entire instrumental track and rewrote the verses using some of Hall and Oates' original lyrics.

Five Most Popular Hall and Oates Songs Worldwide

5. Private Eyes / 4. Rich Girl / 3. Kiss On My List / 2. I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) / 1. Maneater

Thank you for reading!!!

Love, RHC