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 successβ 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 β Whole Oates (1972), Abandoned Luncheonette (1973), War Babies (1974) β 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 β 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 β 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 β 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 β 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.
Adult Education
Hall & Oates Lyrics
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Adult
Education
Afternoon in the homeroom, they're about to let you go
And the locker slams on the plans you had tonight
You've been messing around with your boyfriend, maybe better left alone
There's a wise guy that you know who could put you right
In the lot, the boy that's idling by doesn't rev your heart
'Cause it's only lonely spots he shares with you
And the long halls and the gray walls are gonna split apart
Believe it or not there's life after high school
And that's why
The student body's got a bad reputation (oh yeah, oh yeah)
What they need is adult education
You go back to school, it's a bad situation (oh yeah, oh yeah)
What you want is an adult
Education
Oh yeah
The teacher don't know about how to deal with the student body
And the underclassmen are flashing hot and cool
All your girlfriends care about the watch you wear and talkin' about it
Believe it or not there's life after high school
That's why
The student body's got a bad reputation (oh yeah, oh yeah)
What they need is adult education
You go back to school, is a bad situation (oh yeah, oh yeah)
What you want is an adult
Education
Oh yeah
They're calling it a preparation
You're waiting for a separation
You're nothing but another odd number
Memories that you won't remember
So you got a little education
And a lot of dedication
But you want a little night school
Maybe some of it will rub off on you
The boys are busy in the mirrors
Trying to imitate their heroes
You make it with a false surrender
More memories you won't remember
The senior with the junior Miss
I wonder what the junior wishes
That she could graduate to adult
That she could graduate to adult kisses
Adult education
Adult education
Adult education it's a bad situation
Adult education
Adult, adult, educate, educate, education
Adult, adult, adult, educate, educate, education
Adult, adult
The lyrics of Hall & Oates's song "Adult Education" describe the challenges of high school and the desire for a way out. The song begins with the end of a school day and the realization that plans for the evening have been thwarted. The singer is struggling with a boyfriend who may not be the best choice, and the song suggests that there is someone else who could help her make the right decision. However, he is not the person waiting outside in the parking lot. The song speaks to the feeling of confinement that comes with high school, evoking a sense of claustrophobia with lines such as "it's only lonely spots he shares with you", and "the long halls and the gray walls are gonna split apart".
The chorus of the song offers a solution: adult education. The students in the school have a "bad reputation", but the song suggests that what they really need is maturity and guidance. The song describes the "preparation" that high school is meant to offer, but notes that it often feels like waiting for a "separation" - a way out. Ultimately, the singer wants a little "night school" to help make sense of it all.
"Adult Education" critiques the superficial nature of high school culture, with "the underclassmen are flashing hot and cool" and "all your girlfriends care about is the watch you wear and talkin' about it". The song suggests that there is more to life than high school, and encourages listeners to pursue something more meaningful.
Line by Line Meaning
Afternoon in the homeroom, they're about to let you go
The school day is ending
And the locker slams on the plans you had tonight
Your plans were cancelled because there's no time to get ready
You've been messing around with your boyfriend, maybe better left alone
You had a romantic relationship, but it's complicated
There's a wise guy that you know who could put you right
There's someone with advice to help you out
In the lot, the boy that's idling by doesn't rev your heart
The boy in the parking lot isn't your type
'Cause it's only lonely spots he shares with you
He only wants to hang out in isolated places
And the long halls and the gray walls are gonna split apart
Life after high school will be different from this environment
Believe it or not there's life after high school
Don't worry, high school is not your forever
And that's why
This is the reason why
The student body's got a bad reputation (oh yeah, oh yeah)
The school is known for student misbehavior
What they need is adult education
The students need more mature guidance
You go back to school, it's a bad situation (oh yeah, oh yeah)
If you return to high school, it will not be a good experience
What you want is an adult
You need more mature guidance
Education
Higher level of learning
The teacher don't know about how to deal with the student body
The teacher doesn't understand how to handle the students
And the underclassmen are flashing hot and cool
The younger students are trying to be cool
All your girlfriends care about the watch you wear and talkin' about it
Your friends are focused on material possessions
They're calling it a preparation
High school is designed to prepare you for life
You're waiting for a separation
You can't wait to move on from high school
You're nothing but another odd number
In high school, you feel like you're just a number in the system
Memories that you won't remember
You'll forget most of the experiences in high school
So you got a little education
You learned some things in high school
And a lot of dedication
You worked hard in high school
But you want a little night school
You want to continue learning after hours
Maybe some of it will rub off on you
You hope to learn something new
The boys are busy in the mirrors
The boys are concerned about their appearance
Trying to imitate their heroes
They want to be like their idols
You make it with a false surrender
You give in to something that you don't really want
More memories you won't remember
You'll forget even more experiences in high school
The senior with the junior Miss
An older male student with a younger female student
I wonder what the junior wishes
What does the younger student want
That she could graduate to adult
She wants to mature and graduate from high school
That she could graduate to adult kisses
She wants to have more mature romantic relationships
Adult education
Higher level of learning for mature individuals
Adult education it's a bad situation
It's a bad situation to continue in immature learning environments
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DARYL HALL, JOHN OATES, SARA ALLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind