Hall & Oates: The Very Best Of (Colored Vinyl) Vinyl 2LP

I remember being a PA on an episode of Live From Daryl’s House many years ago, and the show was being taped at Mr. Hall’s rustic upstate home (a “restored Revolutionary War Georgian Colonial, museum quality” to be precise). John Oates was not a part of the recording, but the once-pompadoured/not-mustached half of the iconic ‘80s duo went through the hits——“Rich Girl,” “You’ve Lost That Loving’ Feeling,” “Maneater,” “One On One,” “Private Eyes,” and more——with his usual musical cohorts (including T-Bone Wolk (RIP) who played bass for H&O for 30-plus years). It was freakin’ awesome, and after taping, the groundskeeper offered fresh apple cider (I guess technically it was just fresh-pressed apple juice since no fermentation had occurred), which was also freakin’ awesome. This colored, limited-edition pressing captures many of the said hits, and let’s be real, Hall & Oates had the whole blue-eyed soul thing on lock for decades. Just wish “She’s Gone” was on this record, though…

• double blue / gray vinyl pressing
• gatefold sleeve
• music label: RCA 2016

reviewed by donut savage 09/2016