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Post by Jonel on Jan 29, 2003 8:34:26 GMT -5
 Blue Eyed Soul Meets Motown by skbreese at www.epinions.com/February 19, 2002 Daryl Hall and John Oates' music had been labeled as "Blue Eye Soul" in their heyday from the mid 1970's through the early 1980's. Known for their catchy hooks and melodies, they also combined elements of new wave and rock with silky smooth vocals. In the mid 80's, they teamed up with former members of the legendary 1960's soul group, The Temptations , David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick for a series of live shows. Some of the highlights of that tour are featured in the the 1985 recording Hall & Oates Live At The Apollo with David Ruffin & Eddie Kendrick. This CD blends the lush pop and soul harmonies of the Temptations' best music with Hall and Oates' crafty musicianship and brings out the showmanship of all of the performers. The singers are backed by a solid band including bassist T-Bone Wolk, drummer Micky Curry, lead guitarist G.E. Smith, and saxophonist/keyboardist Charlie Deschant and an additional horn section that enlivens this energetic recording. The Motown Sound The first track is a medley of some the Temptations' biggest hits, the rocker Get Ready, the soulful anthem Ain't Too Proud To Beg, the rock and roll classic, The Way You Do The Things You Do and the doo wop ballad My Girl. Ruffin and Kendrick provide inspired vocals on these numbers with crooning backing vocals from Hall and Oates. You can almost see the patented Motown synchronized dance steps and the swinging horns with a persistent beat and up tempo rhythm section and horn solos. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby highlights a Kendrick/Ruffin lead vocal with Daryl Hall providing alternating vocals. A searing lead guitar solo and blaring horns blend in with a semi- orchestral sound on this number. Blue-Eyed Soul Serenades A song that was a hit first for English singer Paul Young, Everytime You Go Away epitomizes the "Blue Eyed Soul" sound with Hall and Oates on lead vocals, and extended improvisational vocal inflections and Kendrick and Ruffin's doo wop accents. Hall and Oates original tune, I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) begins with a percussion and keyboard introduction. It is much more spirited and jazz oriented than the version on their Private Eyes CD. Flamboyant saxophone and horn solos and funky guitar licks adds spice to this number. From the H2O CD, One On One is a smooth vocal performance with Daryl Hall's, high pitched harmonies and Kendrick and Ruffin's equally harmonious background vocals. A sparkling saxophone solo solidified this piece. Possession Obsession features vocals by John Oates and great alternating Motown lead and background vocal designs. Jazz accents perk up this grooving tune. Adult Education is the closest to a new wave selection on the CD. Daryl Hall's rap like vocals and a mean lead guitar, leave little room for the Motown sound in this rocker. This is a clear departure from the "Blue eyed soul" and Motown sound. It is a fitting lead into the modern era of rhythm and blues. The collaboration of the "Blue Eyed Soul" masters Hall & Oates and Motown sound of the ex- Temptations members Ruffin and Kendrick would seem to be a dream combination for bankable tour and best selling album. However, the tour was short lived and the record sales never reached their expectations. Although the "Live At The Apollo" recording is well- produced, it's biggest weaknesses are the amount of chatter between songs and a little too much use of improvisational melodic vocal meandering. It is also obvious that Hall & Oates' music and dynamic performances dominate the second half of the recording. For those reasons, I only rate this as an average recording. It was a great concept that only partially lived up to it's potential. |
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Post by Aba21 on Jan 29, 2003 9:05:14 GMT -5
As usual....thanks Jonel. I have the lp and it is good. I have most all of Hall & Oates because I have always been a big fan of theirs. I saw them at the Meadowlands Arena during their hey day and they puton a great show. I was lucky as am emplyee of the meadowlamds to see THE BOSS, HALL & OATES, J-5 VICTORY TOUR, MARVIN GAYE, TINA TURNER and others at some great shows
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Post by kim on Jan 29, 2003 9:48:43 GMT -5
I saw Hall and Oates in concert back in 1983. I remember it as though it was yesterday because it was a school night and I didn't get home until 3:00 a.m. needless to say I was a wreck at school that day!  |
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Post by Aba21 on Jan 29, 2003 11:40:39 GMT -5
Oh you still made it to school? You don't have kid us, Kim. We know for a fact that :
YOU PLAYED HOOKEY FROM SCHOOL
AND YOU COULDN'T GO OUT TO PLAY
FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK IN YOUR ROOM YOU HAD TO STAY
JUST CAUSE YOU WENT TO A HALL AND OATES CONCERT
YOU SAT IN YOUR ROOM WITH YO' PO' LIL' FEELINGS HURT ;D ;D
OHHHH PUNISH THAT CHILD FOR RUNNIN' WILD.
SHE HAD TO GO BACK HOME WHERE SHE BELONGED
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Post by kim on Jan 29, 2003 14:46:08 GMT -5
 LOL!!! ABA that was cute! No I didn't play hookie I went to school the next day and I've got to tell you the whole day was a complete blur. |
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Post by Aba21 on Jan 29, 2003 22:32:25 GMT -5
What happened to youth will prevail!!! I could go two three days with no sleep back then and did. But I really did like them though. MISSED OPPORTUNITY, ONE ON ONE, SARA SMILE AND I CAN GO FOR THAT!
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Post by sukkafu on Jan 30, 2003 4:34:59 GMT -5
you're out of touch, i'm out of time, but i'm out of my head when you're not around...
private eyes, they're watching you, they see your every move...
because your kiss your kiss is on my list...
you're a rich girl and you've gone too far but you know it doesn't matter anyway....
m-e-t-h-o-d o-f -l-o-v-e it's a method of modern love
what we need is adult education -oh yeah oh yeah
one on one i wanna play that game tonight...
carbon and monoxide choke my thoughts away(she's gone)
oh oh here she comes, she's a maneater...
and he said leave me alone i'm a family man if you push me too far i just might....
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Post by kim on Jan 30, 2003 9:53:28 GMT -5
Sukka I like all of those songs that you mentioned. But by far my favorite song by Hall and Oates is "I Can't Go For That" and the long or album version of that song is the version I prefer. The 45 version takes out some of the best parts of the song.
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Post by sukkafu on Jan 30, 2003 13:06:27 GMT -5
i agree! i like the full version of songs-even the 20 minute versions back in the 70's.
easy ready willing overtime,
where does it stop where do you dare me to draw the line......
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Post by kim on Jan 30, 2003 14:52:33 GMT -5
You got the body now you want my soul! Don't even think about it say no go!  |
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Post by CammieCam on Jan 30, 2003 17:09:55 GMT -5
you're out of touch, i'm out of time, but i'm out of my head when you're not around... private eyes, they're watching you, they see your every move... because your kiss your kiss is on my list... you're a rich girl and you've gone too far but you know it doesn't matter anyway.... m-e-t-h-o-d o-f -l-o-v-e it's a method of modern love what we need is adult education -oh yeah oh yeah one on one i wanna play that game tonight... carbon and monoxide choke my thoughts away(she's gone) oh oh here she comes, she's a maneater... and he said leave me alone i'm a family man if you push me too far i just might.... OH!! Hall and Oates!! You know what?? Alot of those songs I like and know all the words to but had NO idea who sang them! Thanks Sukka! You just put a light bulb right over my head! (Forgive me.. I'm a young'un  ) Oh, and while I am confessing, I have something else to say..... I didn't know it was Dennis Edwards who sang Don't Look Any Further until after I saw the movie, and heard a DJ announce the song on the radio a few months later. |
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Post by kim on Jan 30, 2003 17:18:41 GMT -5
Don't feel bad about that Cammie. We know you were a youngin back in those days! |
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Post by sukkafu on Jan 30, 2003 18:05:14 GMT -5
my pleasure cammie cam! ;D
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Post by MikeNYC on Feb 7, 2003 18:30:37 GMT -5
Cammie Cam,you weren't the only one who didn't know !  |
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Post by sukkafu on Feb 8, 2003 3:26:26 GMT -5
kim- now, i, i'd do anything that you want me too...
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