Written by Daryl Hall

“I think that Along The Red Ledge was the best of the two albums I produced for Hall & Oates. It was more unique musically. I have great memories of Daryl and John and I really liked them both. Daryl was really an amazing musician, one funny thing is that he was trying to get me to think more ‘rock’ while I was pushing him to think more ‘funk.’ Then I went on to produce a rock icon like Alice Cooper and also The Tubes and he went on to release a string of soul/funk influenced albums. I guess we influenced each other more than we thought.”

 These are recollections from David Foster about his work with Hall & Oates. It’s also the perfect way to start the weekly review about “The Last Time.”

Included on Along The Red Ledge, “The Last Time” was written and sung by Daryl Hall. “The Last Time” was a catchy pop/rock song that had a strong flavor of the legendary Phil Spector’s (1939-2021) “Wall of Sound” that was huge in the sixties. The instrumental arrangement, lush orchestra, female backing vocals and big production really sounded like an homage to Spector’s artistry. The great George Harrison (1943-2001) appears on this number. Harrison played a delicious slide guitar solo that enhances the sixties feel to the max. Hall’s vocals were simply flawless and the overall track was a little-known masterpiece of Hall & Oates’ long and illustrious career.

As Foster said, Along The Red Ledge was a truly unique album with an eclectic mix of styles and great songs. Look in the archives for other goodies from the album including the gorgeous “August Day,” the Philly soul of “I Don’t Wanna Lose You” and the rocking hit single, “It’s A Laugh.”

Listen

• Lead, Backing Vocals & Keyboards: Daryl Hall
• Backing Vocals & Guitar: John Oates
• Keyboards: David Foster & David Kent
• Guitar: Caleb Quaye
• Slide Guitar Solo: George Harrison
• Bass: Kenny Passarelli
• Drums: Roger Pope

• Arranged by Daryl Hall, David Foster & John Oates
• Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

There was something about the way you left tonight
That really tore my heart
I remember the look in your eyes, it really ripped me apart
Oh the look
One last time
It can’t be the last time
I gave so much to make you mine
How can it be
It?s the second time around I’ve had this vision
And I don’t like it, no
When it all happened before, I knew I?d never come back
All the way
Oh the look one last time
It can’t be the last time
I took so much but I gave you mine
How can it be

“Do What You Want, Be What You Are” was a song by the legendary pop/soul duo Daryl Hall and John Oates and originally included on their 1976 album Bigger Than Both Of Us. A beautiful ballad, Do What You Want, Be What You Are went on to be the title of Hall & Oates’ 2009 box set release for Sony Legacy. The four disc set presented all the duo’s big hits, selected album tracks plus previously unreleased demo recordings and live performances.

Both Hall and Oates were quite involved in the realization of this project. They mined their golden songbook and resurfaced many lesser-known gems. Do What You Want, Be What You Are sold over 10,000 copies and reached #89 on Billboard’s Top 200 and #17 on the R&B charts. Although these were very good numbers,Do What You Want, Be What You Are eventually became the third best seller of 2009 behind two releases by The Beatles. Total ear candy from start to finish, Do What You Want, Be What You Areincluded some great tracks produced by none other than David Foster including “Wait For Me,” “It’s A Laugh” and “Time’s Up (Alone Tonight).” When the box set was released, Hall declared to the Huffington Post that “…the bulk of the selection are things that we thought were significant to explain us in a way that we’ve never really been explained before.” These words can be perfectly applied to “Have I Been Away Too Long,” a soulful ballad originally recorded for Along The Red Ledge, included on Do What You Want, Be What You Are and the Song of the Week.

Written in 1978 by Daryl Hall and produced by David Foster, “Have I Been Away Too Long” is a masterful number that showcases Hall’s amazing vocal skills while presenting the duo’s unique rock ‘n’ soul style under Foster’s catchy and refined production. The song’s intimate and delicate intro emerges into a soulful jam dominated by a rousing duel between Hall’s multi-faceted voice and Caleb Quaye’s superior guitar with Foster’s exquisite keyboard playing in the background. Here, Hall’s vocal performance is truly impressive and he proves his notorious range by soaring high on the falsetto. “Have I Been Away Too Long” is one of those precious diamonds that defines the term “blue-eyed soul.”

Timeless stuff!

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/have_i_been_away_too_long.mp3|titles=Have I Been Away Too Long|artists=Daryl Hall]

Lead, Backing Vocals & Keyboards: Daryl Hall
Backing Vocals & Guitar: John Oates
Keyboards: David Foster
Guitars: Caleb Quaye
Bass: Kenny Passarelli
Drums: Roger Pope

Lyrics

There’s a chance that I don’t know you
Maybe I won’t like you
It’s a long
It’s such a long
Lady it’s been a long time
We were lovers in a different story
Can you duplicate it
Can we make
Can we make up
Can we make up the same time girl
Or have I been away too long
Have I been away
I’m afraid to say that I’ve been away from you too long
You got a message that I’d be in town
I wish I hadn’t sent it
I’m a play
I am playing
Playing with disaster
You’re so close I almost feel you breathing
Making me twitchy, yeah
I want
I I wanna
I want to be wrong girl
Or have I been away too long
Have I been away
I’m afraid to say that I’ve been away from you too long

written by Daryl Hall & John Oates

December 1978 saw the release of “I Don’t Wanna Lose You,” the second single from Daryl Hall & John Oates’ album “Along The Red Ledge.” Produced by David Foster, “I Don’t Wanna Lose You” is an elegant mid-tempo, pop/soul song that was clearly inspired by the classic Philadelphia Sound and Philly Soul.

That music style was created in the Seventies by gifted producers/arrangers like Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Thom Bell and Dexter Wansel. They infused jazzy, refined arrangements enriched by lush strings and horns to their smooth soul/funk material. Among the most important names of this genre include Teddy Pendergrass, The O’Jays, The Stylistics and Billy Paul. Hall & Oates’ “I Don’t Wanna Lose You” had all the key elements of that kind of sound with its breezy, ear-candy melody, refined atmosphere and catchy refrain. On this number, Hall reaffirms himself as one of the best pop/soul singers of the modern era with a top notch vocal performance. The stellar instrumental back-up, arranged by Hall & Oates with Foster, was made even more special with Gene Page’s fantastic strings arrangement. Foster’s production shows the first seeds of his genius and the final result is an absolute joy to hear. “I Don’t Wanna Lose You” reached #42 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and was also a minor hit at #49 on the Adult Contemporary chart. “August Day,” a magnificent, rarefied ballad also from “Along The Red Ledge,” was the single’s b-side. You can read our review of “August Day” here.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/i_-don_t_wanna_lose_you.mp3|titles=I Don’t Wanna lose You|artists=Daryl Hall]

Lead Vocals: Daryl Hall
Guitars: Caleb Quaye & John Oates
Keyboards: David Foster & Daryl Hall
Drums: Roger Pope
Bass: Kenny Passarelli
Saxophone: Charlie De Chant
Backing Vocals: Daryl Hall & John Oates
Arranged by Daryl Hall, John Oates & David Foster
Strings Arranged by Gene Page
Produced by David Foster

Lyrics
You and I have separate lives girl
You and I go different ways on roads that cross
When love and loss is ruled by fate
People have a tragic habit
Of letting love get in the way
They tend to lose their overviews and overplay
Something I wanna say
Something I’ve got to do
Feels like you’re drifting away
And I don’t wanna lose you
I’ll try to find a way to encourage you
It’s easy to convince myself
Cause I can’t believe you’d wanna be with somebody else
People have a tragic habit
Of letting love get in the way
They tend to lose their overviews and overplay
Something I wanna say
Something I’ve got to do
Feels like you’re drifting away
And I don’t wanna lose you

written by  Daryl Hall

In 1978 Hall & Oates released their new album “Along The Red Ledge.” The production duties were given to David Foster who, around that time, was making the transition from top session player to songwriter/producer. Foster added a more polished sound to the duo’s typical Rock’N’Soul style. The album’s most refined and melodic moments are the seeds that will develop in full bloom a few years later on successful albums like “Voices” and “Private Eyes.”

“Along The Red Ledge” reached #27 on Billboard’s top 200, was certified gold and spawned a couple of good hit singles, “It’s A Laugh” and “I Don’t Wanna Lose You.”

“It’s A Laugh,” backed up by the new rock sounds of Oates’ “Serious Music,” became a top twenty hit on Billboard’s Hot 100. The tune is an enormously catchy, soft/rock  number with rich vocals by Hall and tight instrumental background with sax, guitars and keyboards clearly in the vein of future Hall & Oates hits like “Kiss On My List” and “Private Eyes.” The second single, “I Don’t Wanna Lose You,” bordered the Top Forty at #42 with its Philly inspired, up-tempo sound again sporting a great vocal by Hall. Those songs and the whole “Along The Red Ledge” album still sounds amazing today thanks to the duo’s superior songwriting talent, but also thanks to Foster’s inventive, fresh production work and help with the arrangements.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/It_s_a_laugh.mp3|titles=It’s a laugh|artists=Daryl Hall
]

Lead Vocals: Daryl Hall
Drums: Roger Pope
Bass: Kenny Passarelli & Les Thompson
Keyboards: David Foster, Daryl Hall etc.
Guitars: Steve Lukather, Caleb Quaye, John Oates, Dick Wagner etc.
Saxophone: Charles DeChant
Percussion: Steve Foreman

Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

You must be thinking something
But you ain’t saying nothing
You remember me, I used to be your boyfriend
There ain’t no point in reason
It only gets defensive
And why should we ruin the
purity of the moment
It’s a Laugh

What a laugh
It’s so stupid I gotta laugh
And the funny thing is that

everyone thought we were
special
Maybe I should feel guilty
Is that the American way
But I just look at myself
As if I were above me
You must be thinking something
But you ain’t saying nothing
You remember me, I have been here always
I am here forever

Daryl Hall & John Oates are among the most successful duos in the history of popular music. Their sophisticated mix of pop/rock and soul dominated the charts in the eighties. During their chart-topping years, Hall & Oates scored 28 Top 40 hits including six number ones. Their songbook includes gems like “Kiss On My List,” “Private Eyes,” “Sara Smile” and “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do).” The superior level of their songwriting was enhanced by Hall’s trademark tenor voice and the craft of the arrangements and production. David Foster, at an early stage of his career, worked with Hall & Oates on two albums, “Along The Red Ledge” and “X-Static.” Both records showcase the developing talents of the duo as they were setting the musical foundations of their future, successful style. There are many good songs on those records, but probably the most important is the great ballad, “Wait For Me.” Written by Hall, “Wait For Me” was a trendsetter for Hall & Oates’ future hits and a major hit itself, reaching the Top 20 on Billboard’s Hot 100.

“Wait For Me” is a creamy, up-tempo ballad with a memorable guitar intro and an irresistible refrain. Foster’s production is pristine and his acoustic piano finely supports Hall’s superb singing. “Wait For Me” can be found on “The Ultimate Hall + Oates” along with all the duo’s most loved hits. Released in 2004, “The Ultimate Hall + Oates” is a double cd compilation that takes a wonderful trip through some of the best pop music ever recorded.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/wait_for_me.mp3|titles=Wait for me|artists=Daryl Hall & John 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

Midnight hour almost over
Time is running out for the magic pair
I know you gave the best that you have
But one more chance
couldnt be all that hard to bear.

Wait for me please
Wait for me
Alright, I guess
thats more than I should ask
Wait for me please
Wait for me
Although I know the light is fading fast.

You could go either way
Is it easier to stay
I wonder what youll do
when your chance rolls around
But you gotta know how much I want to keep you
When Im away Im afraid it will all fall down.

Love is what it does and ours is doing nothing
But all the time we spent
It must be good for something
Please forgive all the disturbance Im creating
But you gotta lot to learn if you think that Im not
waiting for you