it's a dream song.' Hall & Oates also sang with The Temptations at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. I woke up in the morning and ran to the tape recorder and sang my dream into the tape recorder and got that. According to American Songwriter, Daryl Hall states: ''Looking for a Good Sign' was one of the few songs in my life that I actually dreamed.

The duo would eventually perform with classic Tempts vocalists David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick at Live Aid and on their Live at the Apollo album in 1985. The other charted songs from the Private Eyes album include the Top 40 hit 'Your Imagination', and 'Did It in a Minute', a top ten hit with a similar rhythm to 'Private Eyes' and 'Kiss on My List'.Īmong the other entries on the album is 'Looking for a Good Sign', which the duo (in the original liner notes) dedicates to the original lineup of The Temptations, a major influence on Hall and Oates. It remains one of the few songs by a white act to top both pop and R&B, and among the most heavily sampled songs in the history of hip hop (for a list of acts who've covered/quoted from it, see the entry for the song). While the 'Private Eyes' tune remains a rock-and-soul signature of the duo, its huge success was eclipsed by the second single from the Private Eyes album-'I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)', released in December 1981 before the start of the Christmas season. It was one of the duo's earliest hit videos on MTV. The handclap chorus and vocal/keyboard hooks of the recording were augmented by the promotional video, featuring the band wearing detective garb ( trench coats, fedoras, and suits). The title track of Private Eyes builds on the punchy sound of 'Kiss on My List'. The following singles were released from the album, with the highest charting positions listed. Determined to follow up on their success, the duo produced Private Eyes assisted by their co-producer Neil Kernon. The heavy airplay eventually led to the duo's first number-one single in four years, the Voices release, ' Kiss on My List' in early 1981.Īs the liner notes to the 2004 Private Eyes reissue indicate, it was while Daryl Hall & John Oates were recording the follow-up album in their adopted hometown of New York City, during the spring of 1981, that 'Kiss on My List' reached number one in three trade publications. This album had two songs “ She’s Gone” and “Everytime I Look at You” that I had heard before.Though Daryl Hall & John Oates had reached the upper reaches of the Billboard charts with ' She's Gone', ' Sara Smile', and ' Rich Girl', the duo did not return to major mainstream success until they released a cover version of the Righteous Brothers' ' You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'' on their 1980 album, Voices. I wanted to listen to them from their early years and this album helped me do that. From the mid-’70s to the mid-’80s, the duo would score six #1 singles, including “Rich Girl” (also #1 R&B), “Kiss on My List,” “Private Eyes,” “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) (also #1 R&B), “Maneater” and “Out of Touch”. HALL and OATES not only sold records they pit out hits. I found it posted in great blog called Diner Hotline Weblog To really understand the cover of “ Abandoned Luncheonette” I encourage you to read this article by Mike Morsch. Yet in the 1960’s and 1970’s that art work honor went to an album cover. Just look at any craft beer and you might see fantastic artwork. Today I often remark that beer bottles and cans have clever artwork. When you have turned out that many albums and records where do you start to listen to just one? Well for me I went to their second studio album released in 1973 titled “ Abandoned Luncheonette” That means for the 30 Day Album #Coach4aday Challenge we need to give them a listen. HALL and OATES in fact have sold more albums than any other duo in music history.

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.ĭaryl Hall & John Oates have sold a lot of records.

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