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.
Delayed Reaction
Hall & Oates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You fight a dirty fight
Right to the heart
You're putting me away
Time was movin' slow
But I was in control
There were so many things
But couldn't think of one word
Delayed reaction, oh yeah
First I was ashamed
Then I was inflamed
I wanted to hurt you
Saidthat delayed reaction, oh no
First I was alright
And then I had to fight
I wanted to hurt you
I wanted to hurt you so
It was a backlash
No, I couldn't let it pass
I was so mad, I couldn't keep it down
I made it real tough
Ooh, I had to blow you off
I couldn't stand it having you around
I couldn't stand the sound, no
Delayed reaction, oh yeah
First I was ashamed
And then I was inflamed
I wanted to hurt you
Say that delayed reaction, oh no
First I was alright
And then I had to fight with you
I wanted to hurt you
I wanted to hurt you so
But if the rage is right
Oh, you would better be wrong
'Cause if I force a fight
Well, then I'm twice a fool
Ooh, I could've listened more
Was that what you were waiting for?
I can't imagine why, I can't imagine why
I can't imagine why you'd wanna let it go
I didn't wanna blow but
Delayed reaction, oh yeah
At first I was ashamed
And then I was inflamed
I wanted to hurt you
Say that delayed reaction, oh no
At first I was alright
And then I had to fight with you
I wanted to hurt you so
(Delayed reaction, oh yeah)
Ooh, I had to fight, fight, fight you
(Delayed reaction, oh no)
Just let the love blow
You've had a dirty fight
(Delayed reaction, oh yeah)
What good is saying
I lost my head, I didn't mean it, girl
(Delayed reaction, oh no)
Ooh baby, ooh baby
I can't imagine why
You wanna let it go
(Delayed reaction, oh yeah)
Ooh and the boy's so fine
And I'm twice the fool
(Delayed reaction, oh no)
I can't imagine why
The song "Delayed Reaction" by Hall & Oates is a reflection on miscommunication and regret in a romantic relationship. The lyrics describe a scenario where one person has felt hurt and taken advantage of by the other. The first verse sets the scene for the hurt by saying "You strike a low blow, You fight a dirty fight, Right to the heart You're putting me away." Despite feeling hurt, the singer says that time seemed to move slowly but they felt they were in control, and despite wanting to speak up, they were unable to find the words. The chorus brings up the titular "Delayed Reaction" which implies that the person had a realization or regret at a later time. Later the song escalates as the singer becomes more and more angry until they finally explode, saying "I couldn't keep it down, I made it real tough, Ooh, I had to blow you off."
The verses are filled with juxtaposing emotions that lead to a delayed reaction: "First I was ashamed then I was inflamed." As the song progresses the lyrics describe the singer trying to hurt the other person as badly as they feel they have been hurt. The line "But if the rage is right, Oh, you would better be wrong" sets the tone of the song and how feelings of hurt can lead to revenge. The refrain "delayed reaction" is a theme that runs throughout the song, with the delayed reaction referring to a realization much later than what would have been helpful, and after the rage has subsided. Overall, the song is a cautionary tale about the importance of communication in relationships, while also acknowledging how difficult it is to find the right moment and words to express oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
You strike a low blow
You intentionally attacked a vulnerable part of me
You fight a dirty fight
You don't follow honorable or fair practices while fighting me
Right to the heart
You aimed for the most sensitive part of me
You're putting me away
You're defeating me completely and pushing me away
Time was movin' slow
I was experiencing time in a slow, deliberate manner
But I was in control
I had control over the situation initially
There were so many things
There were numerous things that bothered me
I should've said
I regret not expressing my innermost emotions and thoughts
But couldn't think of one word
I was unable to articulate my feelings
Delayed reaction, oh yeah
My emotional response was not immediate, but rather delayed
First I was ashamed
Initially, I felt embarrassed by not being able to effectively react
Then I was inflamed
Subsequently, I was provoked and irritated by what happened
I wanted to hurt you
I had a strong desire to return the pain and hurt inflicted on me
Say that delayed reaction, oh no
My delayed response was regrettable, and I was unhappy about it
First I was alright
Initially, I was okay with not reacting to the situation
And then I had to fight
Subsequently, I had to engage in a battle
I wanted to hurt you
I desired to make you feel the same pain or even more
It was a backlash
It was a response to something that has occurred
No, I couldn't let it pass
I couldn't ignore or overlook what has happened
I was so mad, I couldn't keep it down
I was extremely angry and couldn't control it
I made it real tough
I made it difficult for you to deal with the situation
Ooh, I had to blow you off
I gave you a stern warning by verbally or physically attacking you
I couldn't stand it having you around
I felt uncomfortable or even angry for being near you
I couldn't stand the sound, no
I couldn't handle hearing your side of the story
But if the rage is right
If my anger is justified
Oh, you would better be wrong
You better not be in the right or on the correct side of the story
Cause if I force a fight
If I end up instigating a confrontation
Well, then I'm twice a fool
Then I would be foolish twice - once for not reacting immediately and once for instigating the fight
Ooh, I could've listened more
Perhaps if I had listened more, this situation could have been avoided or handled better
Was that what you were waiting for?
Did you want me to listen more?
I can't imagine why, I can't imagine why
I can't comprehend why you didn't communicate with me more
I can't imagine why you'd wanna let it go
I don't understand why you would want to ignore or overlook something that has happened between us
Just let the love blow
Let us try to overcome the obstacles and difficulties our relationship is facing
What good is saying
What's the point of talking or expressing anything if our relationship is suffering from the aftermath of something that has happened?
I lost my head, I didn't mean it, girl
I made a mistake. I didn't want to hurt you unnecessarily
Ooh baby, ooh baby
I'm sorry. I want to make it right.
Ooh and the boy's so fine
I'm a great lover
And I'm twice the fool
I'm foolish twice - once for not reacting in time and once for making a mistake later
I can't imagine why
I don't know why it turned out this way
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DARYL HALL, JOHN OATES, SARA ALLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind