Method of modern love - Daryl Hall & John Oates

Back in 1985, Daryl Hall and John Oates were regulars on pre-MTV music channels Sky Channel and Music Box. Their colourful music video for 'Method of modern love' appeared regularly - so much so that I got to hate the video and the track in time. Too much of a good thing and all that.

And so here we are in 2019 - and I am buying that single. What helps is that I haven't heard the song in three decades and that the pop music of today has become so much worse in the mean time. And then there's the added bonus of a second single in this package, presenting live versions of earlier hits 'I can't go for that' and 'Maneater'. Not bad at all!

My collection: 7" single no. 6115
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 1, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Method of modern love' / 'Bank on your love' // 'I can't go for that (No can do) (live version)' / 'Maneater (live version)'

I can't go for that (no can do) - Daryl Hall & John Oates

Daryl Hall & John Oates wrote some very fine pop tunes in the early Eighties, and this is one of them. This single from their 1981 album 'Private eyes' was also released on a 12" single, which features an extended version of the track. This wasn't a standard practice back in those days, in fact I have a few 12" singles from 1981 which only feature the normal single version.

The funky beat of this track has been misused by many hiphop "artists" through the years, and you can also hear it in Simply Red's 2003 hit 'Sunrise'.

My collection: 12" single no. 163
Found: Record fair, 1993
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'I can't go for that (no can do)' / 'Unguarded minute'

Jingle bell rock - Daryl Hall & John Oates

Daryl Hall and John Oates usually recorded their songs together, but on this single, there is a separate side for each of them. 'Jingle bell rock' was recorded by Daryl Hall on one side, and John Oates on the other.

This promotional 7" single from 1985 was released in America in time for Christmas, although the song was actually first released two years before. The green vinyl adds a touch of collectability to an already quite surprising offering. I bought it back in the time when it was actually possible to get to the record fair in Utrecht.

My collection: 7" single no. 4779
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Jingle bell rock' (Daryl Hall) / 'Jingle bell rock' (John Oates)

Some things are better left unsaid - Daryl Hall and John Oates

'Some things are better left unsaid' was the third single from Daryl Hall & John Oates' 1984 album 'Big bam boom'. Although the first two singles from the album were top 5 hits in the USA, this single couldn't match that level of success, peaking at number 18 instead. In Europe, the single did not chart at all.

My copy of the single was made in Germany. It features a standard label with the text 'Ungeprüftes Muster' on it, meaning that this single was made for promotional purposes only.

My collection: 7" single no. 4778
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Some things are better left unsaid' / 'All American girl'

Adult education - Daryl Hall and John Oates

When Daryl Hall & John Oates released the compilation album 'Rock 'n Soul part 1' in 1984, 'Adult education' was a new track on that album, and released as a single to promote the compilation.

Someone thought it would be a good idea to do the same in 1991, when the compilation 'Looking back' was released. Of course, this single flopped.

My collection: 7" single no. 4742
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Adult education' / 'Rich girl'

Everything your heart desires - Daryl Hall and John Oates

Daryl Hall & John Oates had been away from the pop scene for three years when they released 'Everything your heart desires' in April 1988. It was the first single from their imaginatively titled 1988 album 'Ooh Yeah'.

The single reached number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 81 in he UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 717
Found: January 6, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Everything your heart desires' / 'Realove'

Out of touch - Daryl Hall and John Oates

'Out of touch' was the lead single from Daryl Hall & John Oates' 1984 album 'Big Bam Boom'. It was their last Billboard Hot 100 number one, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in December 1984. The single also reached number 33 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 48 in the UK singles chart.

John Oates wrote the refrain, 'You're out of touch, I'm out of time but I'm out of my head when you're not around.' He and Hall collaborated on the music and the rest of the lyrics.

My collection: 7" single no. 2890
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, October 29, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Out of touch' / 'Dance on your knees'

Family man - Daryl Hall and John Oates

Mike Oldfield recorded 'Family man' as a track on his 1982 album 'Five miles out'. He wrote all of the music for the chorus, and verses were written by the other writers: Tim Cross, Rick Fenn, Mike Frye, Morris Pert and Maggie Reilly. Tim Cross has also claimed to have written the majority of the lyrics for the song, and cited Rick Fenn as the inspiration of the 'family man' mentioned in the song.

Daryl Hall & John Oates recorded their cover version a year later on their album 'H2O'. The single reached number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 15 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3172
Found: London, January 18, 2000
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Family man' / 'Open all night'

Say it isn't so - Daryl Hall and John Oates

'Say it isn't so' was released as one of two new tracks on their greatest hits album 'Rock 'n' Soul part 1'. The song is about a love gone wrong and a fellow who asks his girl to "Say it isn't so".

When it was released as a single, it reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at the turn of the year 1983/1984. In the UK, it did considerably less well, peaking at number 69. In the Netherlands, where the single was played on the radio regularly, it didn't chart at all.

My collection: 7" single no. 2498
Found: London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Say it isn't so' / 'Did it in a minute'

Adult education - Daryl Hall and John Oates

Daryl Hall and John Oates recorded two new tracks for their 1984 compilation album 'Rock 'n' Soul Part 1'. One of the two tracks was 'Adult education'.

When 'Adult education' was released as a single, it had moderate success in most territories: it peaked at number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 63 in the UK singles chart. However, in the Netherlands it was their biggest hit overall, peaking at number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 1841
Found: Record fair, January 23, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Adult education' / 'I can't go for that (No can do)'

Private eyes - Daryl Hall and John Oates

According to Daryl Hall, 'Private eyes' is 'a real Janna Allen(co-writer and sister of Sara Allen) song. Janna, and I, and Warren Pash wrote that. Warren and Janna wrote most of the song, and I took it and changed it around-changed the chords. Sandy [Sara Allen] and I wrote the lyrics. It’s a real family song, the Allen sisters and me.'

The single carries a similar rhythm to the duo's number one hit from earlier that year, 'Kiss on my list', with the difference being a handclap chorus that has made the song an audience-participation favorite at live Hall and Oates shows. The single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 32 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2499
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Private eyes' / 'Tell me what you want'

Did it in a minute - Daryl Hall and John Oates

'Did it in a minute' is my bugspray single. I bought the single on the same day I was going on a holiday with my parents and my sister. I was only ten years old, of course, and we were leaving late one afternoon. When I came home with this single, my father had already sprayed my room, so I went up there and held my breath while I lay down the single on the desk in my room. I did it in a minute, by the way. Strange memories can last a lifetime.

The single was not the biggest success for Hall and Oates. While it peaked at number 9 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, it went by unnoticed by the rest of the world.

My collection: 7" single no. 128
Found: Rapsody, Den Haag, 1981
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Did it in a minute' / 'Head above water'

I can't go for that (No can do) - Daryl Hall and John Oates

Daryl Hall sketched out the basics of 'I can't go for that' one evening at a music studio in New York City in 1981 after a recording session for the album 'Private eyes'. Hall played a bassline on a Korg organ, then came up with a guitar riff - both were recorded by sound engineer Neil Kernon. The duo Hall & Oates took it from there the next day.

The single version of 'I can't go for that' is not an edit of the album verison, but an edit of the dance mix. It was released as a single in early 1982 and reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 195
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1983
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'I can't go for that (No can do)' / 'Unguarded minute'

Maneater - Daryl Hall and John Oates

John Oates originally wrote 'Maneater' as a reggae-oriented song. On the insistance of Daryl Hall, the track was changed into a 'Motown kind of groove'. According to John Oates the inspiration for this song was English model and actress Kelly LeBrock. The track was included on their 1982 album 'H2O' and released as a single.

'Maneater' reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40.

I actually have two different copies of this single: I bought the German pressing (pictured above) in 1995. Two years later, I saw the UK pressing and didn't recognise the sleeve. It's another example of how my photographic memory sometimes gets in the way...

My collection: 7" single no. 2469 / no. 2874
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 1995 / House of Rhythm, London, October 28
Cost: 1 guilder / 20p
Tracks: 'Maneater' / 'Delayed reaction'

Kiss on my list - Daryl Hall and John Oates

Daryl Hall and John Oates recorded 'Kiss on my list' in 1980 on their album 'Voices'. While two other songs from the album had returned the duo to chart activity, it was the success of 'Kiss on my list' that confirmed the start of the duo's sustained run as one of American pop's top-selling acts, a run that lasted until the end of the Eighties. In the USA, the single peaked at number 1, while in the UK, it reached number 33.

According to Daryl Hall, Eddie Van Halen copied the synth part of this song and used it for the song 'Jump' by Van Halen.

My collection: 7" single no. 977
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 29, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Kiss on my list' / 'Africa'