Daryl Hall Solo!
Aside from being the best selling duo of the 80’s, Hall & Oates have been critcally re-evaluated in the past few years, so their brilliance is being recognized by old fans and new.
Daryl Hall has also undergone a career renaissance, launching a terrific webcast called “Live At Daryl’s House”, which has become a hit syndicated TV show – a great mix of conversation, cooking and classic music.
Among his guests so far have been Grace Potter, Cee-Lo, Train, John Oates of course, and my favorite, Todd Rundgren, who has been on twice, once at Todd’s Hawaii house, where they play Todd’s hit “Bang On The Drum” around a fire pit…
Sacred Songs Indeed!
I wanted to highlight some great solo music from Daryl Hall, beginning with his criminally overlooked – and at one point locked away – debut solo album!
What you see above is the VERY ironic back cover, as Hall was, indeed, muzzled…”Sacred Songs” was produced by guitarist Robert Fripp, who also played on the album. If you know Fripp, you know he is eclectic, and the album was full of unique sounds…unfortunately, too much for his label’s taste…
The album was recorded in 1977 but Hall’s label, RCA, did not release it for three years. According to Nick Tosches, who wrote Dangerous Dances, the authorized biography of Hall & Oates, “RCA refused to release Sacred Songs on the grounds that it wasn’t commercial.”
Once released, it was considered Hall’s masterpiece. The closest thing to a single was the gorgeous ballad “Without Tears”…
“Babs & Babs”
but one of the album’s most unique tracks was actually performed on “Daryl’s House” in 2011, featuring the band Guster from Boston. I love this song, which is NOT about Barbra Streisand and her twin…
Three Hearts In The Happy-Ending Machine
Hall’s second solo album was from the mid-80’s, has a very unique title, and is full of great songs, including this one, which was included on the duo’s 4-CD retrospective…
“Someone Like You”
This great clip is from the David Letterman Show in 1986 – the song is performed live. Watch the great performance and then see Daryl sit with David and try to explain the title of the album that the song came from….
I love the lyrics of the song:
Now you’re gone away
and I’m left to carry on
Ain’t nobody else gonna bear up
To comparison
And if I can’t have the real thing
Then I got to find someone
Someone Like you
Live From Daryl’s House – Song Title Change Alert!
When Daryl Hall started the webcast-now-turned-TV-series “Live From Daryl’s House”, it immediately drew musicians eager to play his songs and hang out with a icon. Ultimately, “Someone Like You” was performed, but with an interesting twist: it is now being called “Somebody Like You.” But as you can see, when released as a 45 single in the 80’s, it was originally called “Someone Like You.”
Hey, I’m not trying to get a conspiracy theory going, it’s just interesting…and it’s a beautiful song…
Here is the song performed on “LFDH”, and for real Daryl fans, note that the song begins with a dedication to “Janna Allen, wherever she is…”
Laughing Down Crying!
This year, Hall released his latest solo CD, a great collection of mid-tempo tunes and ballads…
Talking To You (is Like Talking To Myself)
And before you leave, check out this gorgeous song from the same cd..it starts out a bit “crunchy rock”, but then settles into a beautiful mid-tempo rock ballad…
“Get Out Of The Way”
Congratulations to Daryl Hall for another collection of great music, great solo work, and of course for Hall & Oates! Make sure you check out the latest episode of “Live From Daryl’s House”…
Categories: Awards, Books / Media, documentary films, Music, Politics, Talent/Celebrities, Technology, TV Show, Uncategorized
johnrieber 
I have been Looking for eff’n evvverrrr and evvverrry eff’n where for Laughing Down Crying. Was supposed to be available only at Target, way back 2 years ago??…They looked at me as if i were an alien, I then checked with Best Buy..again…the alien look. Someone recommended I try looking online. Hey I’m no freakin’ Bill Gates but THIS is the very !st time I’ve found it. I feel like I should perhaps buy a lottery ticket..Thank YOU, Mr. Rieber!!! Rock on…:
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