Hall & Oates – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts
Hall Biography
The American pop-rock duo Hall & Oates was founded in Philadelphia in 1970 by Daryl Hall and John Oates. John Oates mostly plays electric guitar and sings backup to Daryl Hall, who usually sings the lead vocals. Most of the songs they sang were written by the two, either individually or together. From the middle of the 1970s to the end of the 1980s, they enjoyed their greatest popularity thanks to a mix of rock and roll, soul music, and rhythm and blues.
John William Oates, born in New York City on April 7, 1948, and Daryl Franklin Hohl, born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, on October 11, 1946, initially met at the Adelphi Ballroom in Philadelphia in 1967. Both Hall and Oates were leading their respective bands at the time they first met, The Temptones for Hall and The Masters for Oates. Gunfire broke out between two rival gangs when they were there for a band competition, and in an attempt to flee, they both sprinted for the same service elevator. They began hanging together regularly after learning more about each other’s musical tastes and that they were both students at Temple University in Philadelphia. Eventually, they shared a number of apartments in the city. They lived together in an apartment with a mailbox that read “Hall & Oates,” which eventually became their nick moniker. They needed another two years to come together as a pair, and it took them another three to sign with Atlantic Records and put out their first record. After Oates returned after a lengthy sojourn in Europe, the two didn’t begin seriously collaborating until 1970.
Although they are frequently referred to as Hall & Oates, Hall has been adamant that the group’s official name should be Daryl Hall & John Oates. On all of their US albums, they have been listed as Daryl Hall & John Oates (or Daryl Hall John Oates). Between 1974 and 1991, 29 of the duo’s 33 tracks that charted on Billboard’s Hot 100 helped them reach the US Top 40. Six of these reached their highest point at number one: “Rich Girl” (1977), “Kiss on My List” (1980), “Private Eyes,” “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do),” “Maneater” (1982), and “Out of Touch” (1984). “She’s Gone,” “Sara Smile,” “You Make My Dreams,” “Family Man,” “Say It Isn’t So,” and “Method of Modern Love” are among their total of 16 US Top Ten singles. They have had seven platinum and six gold RIAA-certified records. With two Top Ten albums and six Top 40 singles, two of which—”I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” and “Maneater”—reached the Top Ten in the UK, they have found success there. Both the UK Top 75 albums chart and the UK Top 75 singles list have seen the duo for a total of 120 weeks each.
They did have a long working relationship with specific musicians who performed on many of their works and have toured with them even though they used a wide range of session musicians on their records. They are multi-instrumentalist Charles DeChant, bassist Tom “T-Bone” Wolk, and guitarist G.E. Smith. Additionally, they worked together on songwriting and composition with the Allen sisters, Sara and Janna.
Hall & Oates was honored by the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003. The duo was placed 18 in a list of the greatest Hot 100 artists of all time and six in a list of the greatest Hot 100 duos/groups in August 2018, as Billboard’s Hot 100 celebrated its 60th anniversary. They continue to be the most popular duo of all time, surpassing Simon & Garfunkel, the Carpenters, and the Everly Brothers. The group was ranked 99th on VH1’s list of the 100 greatest performers of all time in September 2010. They received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 2, 2016, and they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April 2014 as well.
Hall & Oates Discography
| Private Eyes | |
| Voices | |
| X-Static | |
| Along the Red Ledge | |
| Beauty on a Back Street | |
| Bigger Than Both of Us | |
| Daryl Hall & John Oates | |
| War Babies | |
| Abandoned Luncheonette | |
| Whole Oats |
Top Videos
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many #1 Hits Did Hall And Oates Have?
Hall and Oates had a total of six number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. These songs include “Rich Girl” (1977), “Kiss on My List” (1981), “Private Eyes” (1981), “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” (1982), “Maneater” (1982), and “Out of Touch” (1984). The duo also had two number one hits on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart with “Sara Smile” (1976) and “You Make My Dreams” (1981).
What Is The Most Popular Hall & Oates Song?
The most popular Hall & Oates song is “Rich Girl.” Released in 1977, the song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was written by Daryl Hall and John Oates and was produced by Arif Mardin.
How Many Records Have Hall And Oates Sold?
Hall and Oates have sold over 80 million records.
Most Searched For Hall & Oates Songs
| You Make My Dreams (Come True) | |
| Maneater | |
| Rich Girl | |
| Sara Smile | |
| She’s Gone | |
| I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do) | |
| Private Eyes | |
| Out of Touch | |
| Kiss on My List | |
| Jingle Bell Rock – Daryl’s Version |