From X-STATIC
Written by Daryl Hall & John Oates
X-Static is the second record that David Foster produced for Hall & Oates. The first one, “Along The Red Ledge” wasn’t a huge seller but it was an artistic success with quite a few memorable songs. Its follow-up, “X-Static”, is an adventurous record, it’s an eclectic mix of new wave and funky/disco sounds, heavy guitars and smooth vocals. David Foster helped the duo organizing this interesting work arranging with them the material and adding his keyboard magic to the final result.
This is the album of “Wait For Me”, one of Hall & Oates’ most loved ballads and a good hit single, it reached #18 on Billboard, even though it should have been a #1, given it’s a true masterpiece.
When the record has been re-released on compact disc, two songs have been added as bonus tracks and we have picked one of those, “Time’s Up (Alone Tonight)”, for our weekly review.
This magnificent pop song would have been perfect for a single release, it has a huge commercial appeal with its strong guitar sounds, Foster’s piano playing punctuating it and on top of it all, Hall and Oates’ creamy vocals. This song makes us wonder about how many great songs don’t make the final cut of a record, thank god some of them resurface as bonus tracks on CD releases of the original records. Hall & Oates are still making great music, check out Hall’s solo, “Can’t Stop Dreaming” or their last work, “Do It For Love”, they are the best “blue eyed soul” duo of all times, check ‘em out.
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/times_up.mp3|titles=Time’s up|artists=Hall & Oates]
Lead & Backing Vocals: Daryl Hall & John Oates
Keyboards & Synths: David Foster & Daryl Hall
Guitars: John Oates, G.E. Smith & Jay Graydon
Bass: John Siegler, Neil Jason & Kenny Passarelli
Drums: Jerry Marotta & Yogi Horton
Percussion: Jimmy Maelen
Synths programming: Larry Fast, Steve Porcaro & George Bitzer
Produced by David Foster
Lyrics
Time’s up !
‘Cause I’d rather be alone tonight
Time’s up !
I want to go home tonight
Time’s up !
‘Cause I need to be alone tonight
Time’s up !
All mad, you sat in your room
And the clock kept ticking on (The clock kept ticking on)
I had nothing to say with a smile (I had nothing to say)
And if once, twice, let me think of myself
All I ever do is think of you (All ever do is think of you)
Stand back and let me breathe for a while (Stand back)
And let me think
Time’s up !
Back on the shelf
And the time reminds me things ain’t going right
(I think I know the time’s up)
So, I want to go home, ’cause I’d rather be alone tonight
Time’s up for us and I tell myself
That things aren’t going right, no
(I’d better be leaving tonight)
I want to go home, ’cause I’d rather be alone tonight
Well, looking so soft (So soft), stay strong (Stay strong)
Because I’m tied to you mentally
But on the bad nights, the mood’s a miss by a mile
(Mood’s a miss)
So, it’s left (Left), right (Right), got a woman in and out of your life
(In and out of your life)
Step back and let me breathe for a while (Stand back)
And let me breathe
Time’s up !
Back on the shelf
And the time reminds me things ain’t going right
(I think I know the time’s up)
So, I want to go home, ’cause I’d rather be alone tonight
Time’s up for us and I tell myself
That things aren’t going right, no
(I’d better be leaving tonight)
I want to go home, ’cause I’d rather be alone tonight
Ah, gotta go home tonight !
Time’s up !
‘Cause I’d rather be alone tonight
Time’s up !
I want to go home tonight
Time’s up !
‘Cause I need to be alone tonight
Time’s up !
Back on the shelf
And the time reminds me things ain’t going right
(I think I know the time’s up)
So, I want to go home, ’cause I’d rather be alone tonight
Time’s up for us and I tell myself
That things aren’t going right, no
(I’d better be leaving tonight)
I want to go home, ’cause I’d rather be alone tonight