The Last Time
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No, no....not that. But, maybe some of you are thinking, "Hall & Oates? Can't you find some serious music??" Well now, lemmee tell ya, prior to them finding that big glossy pop sound that had a majority of housewives across the continent mirror-dancing, these guys made some real decent records.
The girls in college were real big on that silver album that had "Sara Smile" on it, and when something is sinking in at make-out parties like that it tends to get under your skin. Then came the re-release and chart scaling antics of "She's Gone", a song that rather defied FM sensibility at the time and was a breath of fresh air between all the Pat Benatar and Eddie Money - that was hook #2.
The final landing for me was the War Babies album - a rather over-ambitious electric-pop attempt that had it's moments, thanks in no small part to the fact that Todd Rundgren produced and most of his Utopia band provided the instrumentation.
So, to close out the 70s, the duo called in all their bets and recorded Along the Red Ledge, a minor hit with "It's a Laugh", but a disc brimming with guest stars. Back was Rundgren, as well Toto's Steve Porcaro and Steve Lukather, King Crimson founder Robert Fripp, Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, and the dark horse himself - Hall and Oates' distinctive pitch-perfect harmonies combined with George Harrison's weeping guitar makes "The Last TIme" a near perfect pop song.
footnote:I see this was just re-released last year, with the note that it went platinum not too long after release. Kind of a surprise to me...sorry boys.
Comments (9)
Cool. We always love H&O and anything from vinyl, even if it's been obviously played 1000s of times! All the better! Lo-Fi is HIP!
for some reason these guys always did it for me
I actually got to see them in the early 80's. They were on a double bill with ELO, and actually (don't tell anyone I said this) kind of stole the show. There were actually some folks that left before ELO came on.
The eighties messed with the sound of a lot of folks, I think. I got no axe to grind with these fellows. I do have an axe to grind with the 80's though, MTV especially.
"......I got no axe to grind with these fellows. I do have an axe to grind with the 80's though, MTV especially."
Amen & Amen.
Scotty, I gotta say....I never paid much attention to H&O......willfully, I might add. I haven't changed my mind either, though this song is pleasant enough.
deadman: I couldn't have said it better myself- about both them and this song.
Well put.
Yes, Apraxia, the headphones do reveal a seriously hip crackle and pop, don't they? Pretty sure this was a flea market re-aquisition.
Rawk, I, too, like a lot of things that aren't neccessarily good for me :)
Pretty sure I saw them a few years before that too Konk, the college girlfriend demanded it. However, the opener for my ELO show was Be Bop Deluxe - that was some double-bill!
Like The Bugles said, Cody...that's prolly what I miss most about the 70's!
That's cool Jeff, just relax and let George's strings soothe ya for a mo'...
yep, Fasted, it ain't hall of fame material, but it's no walk of shame either!
Hey, I like it. Sue me.
I was unaware of the Utopia connection to War Babies. Don't own it, and would love to hear some. ??????????
litigation aside, I love a request Mark. Gots it at home, so it'll be a p.m. feature then :)