Timeless is a loaded word in pop music. When one wants to differentiate between throw-away top 40 trifles and what he or she value as important culture - "timeless" gets tossed around like a beach ball.
It is not a word your average Joe would use when describing Hall & Oates - who despite having hits that stretch back to the mid-70s did most of thier chart-topping in a breakneck stretch during the early 80s, and are as identified with the Regan era as much as the members only jacket.
But, if you divorce the most successful rock duo from their mullet-friendly image, and just concentrate on Daryl Hall's soaring tenor as it wriggles on some of the catchiest blue eyed soul ever committed to wax. "Rich Girl," "She's Gone" and "Say It Isn't So" are timeless pop classics and can hang right there with the Motown catalog. The pair's love of Motown was fully examined on 1985's "Live At The Apollo" album, on which Hall & Oates sang with vocalists David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks of The Temptations.
Of late, pop culture has been giving Hall & Oates their due. Modern acts like Death Cab for Cutie have sung their praises.They've appeared on Fox's animated sitcom: "The Cleveland Show". And last fall they released a mammoth box set entitled: "Do What You Want, Be Who You Are: The Music Of Darryl Hall & John Oates" which is what brings them to Pompano Beach Amphitheater this Sunday. You can expect all the hits. But be on the lookout - the maneaters will chew you up.
Darryl Hall is performing with Chromeo at Bonnaroo this year.
Posted by: Chris | 05/26/2010 at 06:06 PM
Loved H&O when I was younger, can't wait to hear what they have now.
Posted by: Bill Mayan | 05/26/2010 at 10:50 PM