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.
How Does It Feel to Be Back
Hall & Oates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too much time has elapsed, unreality, memory erases
And the rules and the rights and the wrongs don't apply
Far apart, so together is destiny weeded to fate
Now, I write the script, you direct my dreams
We're along on the beach for the passionate scene
And it's a drag to wake up with you, saying to me
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
I'm bored and alone and it's weakening me
One night out and I'm looking for trouble and finding it's easy
You know we all make mistakes and we all need the touch of a hand
In the right kind of place, in a time of need
I could pick up the phone, but the talk ain't cheap
I pick up on the thoughts that you're sending to me
And I wait for the day I hear you saying to me
I say baby, how does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
And in my dreams I hear you saying to me
Saying baby, how does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
The song "How Does It Feel to Be Back" by Hall & Oates tells the story of two lovers who have been apart for too long, and now that they're back together, they're wondering how it feels to be reunited. The lyrics convey the idea that even though time has passed, the memories of their love have not faded away. The longing for each other is clear from the opening line, "Please return, come back, I've been saving your place." The song reflects on the reality that sometimes it takes being apart to realize the depth of one's feelings for another person.
The line "Now, I write the script, you direct my dreams" shows how the two lovers have become intertwined in each other's lives, and their relationship has become a part of their subconscious. The imagery of being "along on the beach for the passionate scene" highlights the intense emotions that they share. The lyrics also suggest that the separation between the two was not a pleasant one: "And it's a drag to wake up with you, saying to me."
Overall, "How Does It Feel to Be Back" is a powerful ballad that captures the complexity of the emotional landscape of rekindled love. The lyrics explore the themes of longing, reminiscence, and desire, as well as the bittersweet nature of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Please return, come back, I've been saving your place
I've been waiting for you and keeping a place for you in my life
Too much time has elapsed, unreality, memory erases
It's been so long that it doesn't feel real and memories are fading away
And the rules and the rights and the wrongs don't apply
The usual way of doing things doesn't matter since we're meant to be together
Far apart, so together is destiny weeded to fate
Despite being physically distant, our destiny and fate are intertwined
Now, I write the script, you direct my dreams
I imagine a future with you and let you guide me towards it
We're along on the beach for the passionate scene
In my imagination, we have a romantic moment on the beach
And it's a drag to wake up with you, saying to me
It's disappointing to wake up to reality and realize you're not actually there
How does it feel to be back?
I want to know how it feels for you to be back in my life
I'm bored and alone and it's weakening me
Being without you is making me feel restless and weak
One night out and I'm looking for trouble and finding it's easy
I'm tempted to do things I shouldn't because I'm lonely
You know we all make mistakes and we all need the touch of a hand
We're all human and make mistakes, but we all need love and support
In the right kind of place, in a time of need
If we're in the right place and time, we can give each other what we need
I could pick up the phone, but the talk ain't cheap
I could call you, but I know it won't be an easy conversation
I pick up on the thoughts that you're sending to me
I sense that you're thinking about me and sending me thoughts
And I wait for the day I hear you saying to me
I'm eagerly waiting for you to tell me how it feels to be back
I say baby, how does it feel to be back?
I ask you how it feels to be back in my life
And in my dreams I hear you saying to me
In my dreams, you express how happy you are to be back with me
Saying baby, how does it feel to be back?
You ask me how it feels to have you back in my life
How does it feel to be back?
We both want to know how it feels to be reunited
How does it feel?
We're both curious and excited to find out
How does it feel to be back?
We're eager to explore what it means to be back together
How does it feel?
We're enthusiastic about discovering the answer
How does it feel to be back?
We're both eager to find out what it's like to be back together
How does it feel?
We're both curious and excited to experience it
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN OATES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MarcysBulsara
LYRICS
Please return, come back, I've been saving your place
Too much time has elapsed, unreality, memory erases
And the rules and the rights and the wrongs don't apply
Far apart, so together is destiny weeded to fate
Now, I write the script, you direct my dreams
We're along on the beach for the passionate scene
And it's a drag to wake up with you, saying to me
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
I'm bored and alone and it's weakening me
One night out and I'm looking for trouble and finding it's easy
You know we all make mistakes and we all need the touch of a hand
In the right kind of place, in a time of need
I could pick up the phone, but the talk ain't cheap
I pick up on the thoughts that you're sending to me
And I wait for the day I hear you saying to me
I say baby, how does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
And in my dreams I hear you saying to me
Saying baby, how does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
@rhiancabasag8187
Please return, come back, I've been saving your place
Too much time has elapsed, unreality, memory erases
And the rules and the rights and the wrongs don't apply
Far apart, so together is destiny weeded to fate
Now, I write the script, you direct my dreams
We're along on the beach for the passionate scene
And it's a drag to wake up with you, saying to me
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
I'm bored and alone and it's weakening me
One night out and I'm looking for trouble and finding it's easy
You know we all make mistakes and we all need the touch of a hand
In the right kind of place, in a time of need
I could pick up the phone, but the talk ain't cheap
I pick up on the thoughts that you're sending to me
And I wait for the day I hear you saying to me
I say baby, how does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
And in my dreams I hear you saying to me
Saying baby, how does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
How does it feel to be back in my arms again?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be back?
How does it feel?
@vaiman9153
John Oates is a great vocalist. He has done a lot of stuff. His writing and talent is a serious force behind Hall and Oates music.
@tonibruno3637
Love John Oates voice, he is so underrated.
@mariamatthews1403
Totally agree.
@dashlandb6493
you are SO RIGHT!!
@leahcimolrac1477
And the perm and mustache… both legendary
@ElvarMasson
By whom ?
@luisferreiro
COMPLETELY legendary.......LOL@@leahcimolrac1477
@scottfranco9209
This should have been a bigger hit. Love this song.
@neilcampbell9740
One of my favourite Hall & Oates songs!
@owjaysmom
Its amazing that I haven't heard this song in 30 years, but all the words are still in my brain!