Daryl Hall and John Oates Newcastle City Hall 1977
Hall and Oates were back in the UK for another tour less than a year after their first full trek around the country in 1976. They were now a little more well known although their biggest success in this country was yet to come. Hall and Oates were massively successful between the mid 70s and mid 80s. From their official website: “From the mid-’70s to the mid-’80s, Daryl and John 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” 
from their six consecutive multi-platinum albums—’76’s Bigger Than Both of Us, ’80’s Voices, ’81’s Private Eyes, ‘82’s H2O, ‘83’s Rock N Soul, Part I and ‘84’s Big Bam Boom. The era would also produce an additional 5 Top 10 singles, “Sara Smile,” “One on One,” “You Make My Dreams,” “Say It Isn’t So” and “Method of Modern Love.”” Although the previous paragraph refers to their success in the USA, Hall and Oates have also had over 20 UK chart entries. 
The facts that I find when I do a little research on acts for this blog often surprise me. I remember, of course, hits like “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)”, “Maneater” and “Family Man”, all of which reached the top 20, but I didn’t know that they had had so many hits in the UK. I enjoyed the two Hall and Oates concerts that I attended in 1976 and 1977, but haven’t seen them since those days. My friend John saw them more recently at on the Big Bam Boom tour in 85 at a concert in the Montreal Forum, and sent me a scan of the programme (see right). John says: “This was probably at the peak of their success, fueled by heavy rotation on MTV they became the best selling duo of all time with a succession of hit singles and albums. I actually liked them a lot and while I did not see them in the late 70’s I became a fan around that time with She’s Gone, Sara Smile and Rich Girl”
Archive for the ‘Hall and Oates’ Category
18 Mar
Daryl Hall and John Oates Newcastle City Hall 1977
17 Mar
Daryl Hall and John Oates Newcastle City Hall 1976
Daryl Hall and John Oates Newcastle City Hall 1976
I first heard of Daryl Hall and John Oates in 1976, when there single “She’s Gone” was released. They seemed to quickly become a very trendy band and those who were in “the know” told me how good this band were. Those who were into the disco movement, and frequented local clubs like Annabel’s, were raving about the blue-eyed soul of these guys. So when they toured and came to the City Hall, Marie and I went along to see what all the fuss was about. Hall and Oates were still relatively unknown to the general public and most concert-goers at the time, however they still managed to attract a reasonable crowd. Support came from the Chanter Sisters. Note the misspelling of “Oakes” rather than “Oates” on the ticket, another pointer to the fact that Hall and Oates were not that well known. 
Hall and Oates had played a well received UK debut concert at the New Victoria Theatre in London in 1975, but this was their first full UK tour. She’s gone rose to Number 7 in the UK chart and the band were starting to grow their own audience in the UK. My memories of this are of a great gig, with strong vocals by Daryl Hall. I didn’t know any of the material other than She’s Gone, so found it a little hard going at times, but overall I felt it was a good show. A DVD of the guys live from that period exists. They perform some of their greatest blue-eyed soul hits from their early hit albums “Bigger Than The Both Of Us”, “Abandoned Luncheonette” and “War Babies”. Track Listing: Rich Girl; Do What You Want, Be What You Are; Is It a Star; Abandoned Luncheonette; Ennui on the Mountain; Gino the Manager; Sara Smile; Room to Breathe; Johnny Gore and the C Eaters. I guess the set at the City Hall in 1976 will have consisted of some of those songs, although I am certain that they also plated She’s Gone. I hadn’t realised that Rich Girl was so early; I certainly hadn’t heard it at the time, but it looks like they may well have played it at the gig I attended in 1976.
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