It's kind of interesting: I didn't like Hall & Oates back in the 80's, yet now that I'm little older and numerous musical trends have come and gone, I still don't like them.

I like Hall and Oates, for what they were, a pretty darn good group. Also had a fun video or two back in the day.

I didn't like Hall & Oates.

And then my favourite house producers started sampling them en masse.

Now I like them.

Can someone tell me why Hall & Oates were so popular with black people? I always liked them, but I never understood how they crossed over so well.

nopokerface: Can someone tell me why Hall & Oates were so popular with black people? I always liked them, but I never understood how they crossed over so well.

two words.....White Funk!

I always liked them. And yes, I've always been super square.

I liked them, and I also respect that they quit before their stuff sounded like crap.

Actually, being cool isn't that cool anymore...in fact, it make you look pretty farkin' stupid nowadays.

70s H&O = very cool
80s H&O = pop yuckiness.

so there

Now, they sound dated and thin.

Then? Experimental with a pop sensibility.

Examples:

The Hallophone - a Chamberlin/Mellotron with nothing but loops of Hall's voice, demo'd on Midnight Special.

Along the Red Ledge - and album with these guitarists: George Harrison, Rick Neilsen, Todd Rundgren, and Robert Fripp

Despite their pop catchiness, they were a bit subversive. Loved them then. Now, guilty pleasure. Fave album still: Abandonded Luncheonette. Brilliant stuff, not sounding stuck in a time like Man Eater.

and, if you don't like them, Oates will KICK YOUR ASS

And then there's the ongoing
"Live From Daryl's House" with folks like K T Tunstall and Nick Lowe showing up.

And Hall's in his 60s? Rock on.

No, I'm Holland Oates. You're like, Peter Gabriel.

/obscure?

I see the Washington Post knows how to reach the target demographic of the dying media, hahahahhahahah!

One of the best concerts I have ever seen was Donnie Iris opening for Hall and Oates. Both bands were fanstatic.
Great memories.

I always thought it was weird that you can have brown eyes and be "blue-eyed soul".

To me, Hall & Oates were best when John Siegler was rocking the bass.

Hoopy Frood: I always thought it was weird that you can have brown eyes and be "blue-eyed soul".

People think calling it "Honky Soul" would be frowned upon.

actually a pretty darn good album.

taglius: 70s H&O = very cool
80s H&O = pop yuckiness.

so there

You're out of touch.

Midnight Rambler: taglius: 70s H&O = very cool
80s H&O = pop yuckiness.

so there

You're out of touch.

And as it so happens, I'm out of time. See ya.

Third_Uncle_Eno is right that Sacred Songs is good. What's more it's a trilogy, seriously.

Robert Fripp's "Exposure"
Hall's "Sacred Songs" &
Peter Gabriel's second album.

All produced by Fripp as a concept. Exposure includes "Urban Landscape" as does "Sacred Songs" and Fripp's has Gabriel's (definitive) "Here Comes the Flood"

Really an interesting period in music.

Not many haters here, which is good.

These guys wrote some damned find pop music and the three times I
saw them put on shows rivaling Springsteen for shear enjoyment (and I've seen Springsteen over 20 times).

Everyone can't sound like NIN or Metallica and thank goodness for that.

dmax
Third_Uncle_Eno is right that Sacred Songs is good. What's more it's a trilogy, seriously.

Robert Fripp's "Exposure"
Hall's "Sacred Songs" &
Peter Gabriel's second album.

All produced by Fripp as a concept. Exposure includes "Urban Landscape" as does "Sacred Songs" and Fripp's has Gabriel's (definitive) "Here Comes the Flood"

Really an interesting period in music.

Yup... i was going to mention that, but i forgot :-( lol
call me crazy, but I think that "Exposure" is the best of the lot, followed by "Sacred Songs". I'm not the biggest fan of "PG II" though... it has a few great songs [ie. "on the air", "DIY", "Exposure", "Flotsam and Jetsam" etc.] but the rest are kind of mediorcre. I much prefer PG I and PG III over that one.

Third_Uncle_Eno and dmax:


Good call! Not only is the trilogy a set of great albums and songs, but they definitively prove that Daryl Hall has a seriously amazing set of vocal chops (e.g. North Star).

Also, Sacred Songs was the first album ever to be recorded using Frippertronics.

And for real fun, read Fripp's liner notes ripping the music companies a new Fripphole.

//Fripp
//Fripp
//If you say it enough it stops sounding like a word

CommandHerTaco:

Also, Sacred Songs was the first album ever to be recorded using Frippertronics.

I never liked Hall & Oates, but, I never liked anything from Philly.

/except the cheesesteaks

CommandHerTaco:

Also, Sacred Songs was the first album ever to be recorded using Frippertronics

oy.
you're driving me backwards, mate! :-P lol.

"No Pussyfooting" and "Evening Star" by Fripp and Eno would like to have a word with you.

oh, and the following by Fripp: "Exposure" and "Under Heavy Manners" and "Let the Power Fall" too.
[yes, i know, "let the power fall" was after 1978... but just by a year or two... lol... but hey, it IS an album that consists entirely of Frippertronics.]

but seriously though,
you *are* half right. there *are* frippertronics on "sacred songs".