In total, the duo had 34 singles chart hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, seven RIAA platinum albums, and six RIAA gold albums. Because of that chart success, Billboard Magazine named them the most successful duo of the rock era, surpassing even The Everly Brothers. In 2003, they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. They were also placed #15 on the Billboard Magazine list of the 100 greatest artists of all time and the #1 duo, while VH1 placed the duo as #99 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.
From their first hit in 1974 onwards, Daryl Hall and John Oates' smooth, catchy take on Philly soul brought them commercial success— including six number one singles and six platinum albums as referred to before. Hall & Oates' music was well-constructed and produced; at their best, their songs were filled with strong hooks and melodies that adhered to soul traditions without being a slave to them by incorporating elements of arena rock and new wave.
Daryl Hall, born on October 11, 1946, began performing professionally while he was a student at Temple University. In 1966, he recorded a single with Kenny Gamble and the Romeos; the group featured Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell, who would all become the architects of Philly soul. During this time, Hall frequently appeared on sessions for Gamble and Huff. In 1967, Hall met John Oates, a fellow Temple University student. Oates was leading his own soul band at the time. The two students realized they had similar tastes and began performing together in an array of R&B and doo wop groups. By 1968, the duo had parted ways, as Oates transferred schools and Hall formed the soft rock band Gulliver; the group released one album on Elektra in the late '60s before disbanding.
After Gulliver's breakup, Hall concentrated on session work again, appearing as a backup vocalist for The Stylistics, The Delfonics, and The Intruders, among others. Oates returned to Philadelphia in 1969, and he and Hall began writing folk-oriented songs and performing together. Eventually they came to the attention of Tommy Mottola, who quickly became their manager, securing the duo a contract with Atlantic Records. On their first records — Whole Oates (1972), Abandoned Luncheonette (1973), War Babies (1974) — the duo were establishing their sound, working with producers like Arif Mardin and Todd Rundgren and removing much of their folk influences. At the beginning of 1974, the duo relocated from Philadelphia to New York. During this period, they only managed one hit — the number 60 "She's Gone" in the spring of 1974.
After they moved to RCA in 1975, the duo landed on its successful mixture of soul, pop, and rock, scoring a Top Ten single with "Sara Smile." The success of "Sara Smile" prompted the re-release of "She's Gone," which rocketed into the Top Ten as well. Released in the summer of 1976, Bigger than the Both of Us was only moderately successful upon its release. The record took off in early 1977, when "Rich Girl" became the duo's first number one single.
Although they had several minor hits between 1977 and 1980, the albums Hall & Oates released at the end of the decade were not as successful as their mid-'70s records. Nevertheless, they were more adventurous, incorporating more rock elements into their blue-eyed soul. The combination would finally pay off in late 1980, when the duo released the self-produced Voices, the album that marked the beginning of Hall & Oates' greatest commercial and artistic success. The first single from Voices, a cover of Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," reached number 12, yet it was the second single, "Kiss on My List" that confirmed their commercial potential by becoming the duo's second number one single; its follow-up, "You Make My Dreams" hit number five. They quickly released Private Eyes in the summer of 1981; the record featured two number one hits, "Private Eyes" and "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)," as well as the Top Ten hit "Did It in a Minute." "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" also spent a week at the top of the R&B charts — a rare accomplishment for a white act. H20 followed in 1982 and it proved more successful than their two previous albums, selling over two million copies and launching their biggest hit single, "Maneater," as well as the Top Ten hits "One on One" and "Family Man." The following year, the duo released a greatest-hits compilation, Rock 'N Soul, Pt. 1, that featured two new Top Ten hits — the number two "Say It Isn't So" and "Adult Education."
In April of 1984, the Recording Industry Association of America announced that Hall & Oates had surpassed Everly Brothers as the most successful duo in rock history, earning a total of 19 gold and platinum awards. Released in October of 1984, Big Bam Boom expanded their number of gold and platinum awards, selling over two million copies and launching four Top 40 singles, including the number one "Out of Touch." Following their contract-fulfilling gold album Live at the Apollo with David Ruffin & Eddie Kendrick, Hall & Oates went on hiatus. After the lukewarm reception for Daryl Hall's 1986 solo album, Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine, the duo regrouped to release 1988's Ooh Yeah!, their first record for Arista. The first single, "Everything Your Heart Desires," went to number three and helped propel the album to platinum status.
However, none of the album's other singles broke the Top 20, indicating that the era of chart dominance had ended. Change of Season, released in 1990, confirmed that fact. Although the record went gold, it only featured one Top 40 hit — the number 11 single, "So Close." The duo mounted a comeback in 1997 with Marigold Sky, but it was only partially successful; far better was 2003's Do It for Love and the following year soul covers record Our Kind of Soul.
Àfrica
Hall & Oates Lyrics
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Uhh
My baby went to Africa
With the dirty lens photographer
My baby land in jungle land
With a US body and a real light tan
(US body and a real light tan)
My baby went to Africa
My baby went to Africa
Sing
(Uhh)
Sing
(Uhh)
My baby went to Africa
With a make-up man and a love-sick lover
She get a couple o' grand and a two-piece suit
Let the folks back home see the native beauty
(Folks back home see the native beauty)
My baby went to Africa
My baby went to Africa, baby went to Africa
I packed my bags and gotta get to her
Before the lions and tigers try to jump on her bones
And the boys sing
(Uhh)
Africa, Africa
(Uhh)
And the girls sing
(Uhh, uhh)
My baby went to Africa
I packed my bags and I'll get to her
Before the lions and tigers try to jump on her bones
Sing
Baby went to Africa
(Africa, Africa)
Baby went to Africa
(Africa, Africa)
Baby went to Africa
(Lions and tigers try to jump on her bones)
Baby went to Africa, baby went to Africa, baby went to Africa
(Let the folks back home see the native beauty)
Baby went to Africa, baby went to Africa, baby went to Africa
(I'm on my way)
Baby went to Africa, baby went to Africa
The song Africa by Hall & Oates talks about the journey of the singer's girlfriend to Africa. She travels with a dirty lens photographer, a make-up man, and a love-sick lover. The lyrics express the concern of the singer that his girlfriend might be in danger in the jungle as he sings, "Before the lions and tigers try to jump on her bones." There is also a hint of sarcasm in the song as they mention letting the folks back home see the native beauty with the two-piece suit, as if suggesting that the portrayal of native people is fabricated for Western consumption. The song seems to be a commentary on the Western perspective of Africa and how it is often portrayed as exotic and dangerous.
Hall & Oates are known for their ability to blend genres, and this song mixes elements of pop, rock, and African influences. The song was released in 1982 as part of their album titled "H2O," and it became a hit, reaching #33 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was written by Daryl Hall, John Oates, and their songwriting partner Sara Allen. It is also worth noting that despite the title "Africa," the song does not actually mention the continent in its lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
My baby went to Africa
The person's significant other went on a trip to Africa
With the dirty lens photographer
Accompanied by a poor quality photographer
My baby land in jungle land
The person arrived in the jungle
With a US body and a real light tan
Despite being American, this person has a tan
My baby went to Africa
Reiteration that the person's loved one traveled to Africa
With a make-up man and a love-sick lover
Traveling with a makeup artist and a lovestruck companion
She get a couple o' grand and a two-piece suit
Received some money and clothing
Let the folks back home see the native beauty
The two-piece suit is meant to showcase African fashion to those back home
My baby went to Africa, baby went to Africa
Repetition for emphasis
I packed my bags and gotta get to her
The person is eager to join their loved one in Africa
Before the lions and tigers try to jump on her bones
Worried about the dangers that come with traveling in wild environments
Africa, Africa
Celebrating the beauty and allure of Africa
And the girls sing
Women also join in on the celebration
Baby went to Africa
Referring to the person's loved one once again
Let the folks back home see the native beauty
Reiterating the purpose of the two-piece suit
I'm on my way
The person is en route to their loved one in Africa
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN OATES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind