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.
Love Tko
Hall & Oates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess I shedded some tears
I told myself time and time again
This time I'm gonna win
But another fight things ain't right,
I'ma losing again
Take a fool to lose twice
I think I'd better let it go
It looks like another love TKO
Think I'd better let it go (What you mind about it, girl)
Let it go, baby (Oh Yeah)
Looks like another love TKO
Tried to take control of love,
Love took control of me
Because you lose all thoughts, sense of time
And have a change of mind
Takin' the bumps and the bruises
Of all the things of a two-time loser
Tryin' to hold on, faith is gone
It's just another sad song
"Love TKO" is a classic soulful ballad by Hall & Oates about the painful experience of love, infidelity, and heartbreak. The lyrics have a reflective tone, with the singer looking back over their past experiences in love and recognizing that they have shed tears and suffered through heartache, yet they have not been able to break free of the cycle of disappointment. Despite telling themselves that they would win this time, they find themselves losing once again, with love controlling them instead of the other way around.
The song discusses the struggle to maintain faith and hope in love despite the repeated heartbreaks that come with it. It is a poignant reminder that love can be both beautiful and painful, and that even the strongest and most resilient individuals may struggle to let go when faced with the prospect of another love TKO. The repeating refrain of "Think I'd better let it go/Let it go, baby/Looks like another love TKO" underscores the sense of resignation and frustration that comes with knowing that despite one's best efforts, some battles may simply be unwinnable.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking back over my years
Reflecting on my life experiences
I guess I shedded some tears
I cried often during my past relationships
I told myself time and time again
I promised myself repeatedly
This time I'm gonna win
I will be successful this time around
But another fight things ain't right, I'ma losing again
Despite my efforts, things aren't working out in my current relationship and I am losing again
Take a fool to lose twice And start all over again
Only a foolish person would continue to lose in their relationships and try again and again
I think I'd better let it go
It is best to move on
It looks like another love TKO
This feeling of heartbreak is similar to one experienced before
Think I'd better let it go (What you mind about it, girl)
I believe it is time to move on (Why do you care, girl?)
Let it go, baby (Oh Yeah)
It is time to accept the defeat and move on
Tried to take control of love, Love took control of me
I tried to be in control of my relationships but ultimately the emotions took over
Because you lose all thoughts, sense of time, And have a change of mind
When caught up in love, one may not be thinking rationally and may change their mind frequently
Takin' the bumps and the bruises, Of all the things of a two-time loser
I have experienced the pain and suffering of being a two-time loser in relationships
Tryin' to hold on, faith is gone, It's just another sad song
I am trying to hold on to something that is no longer there and it is just causing sadness and disappointment
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cecil Womack, Gip Edward, Jr. Noble, Linda Womack
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Edgardo Gonzalez Rojas
Two true musical geniuses who have transcended the passage of time and maintain that quality and feeling unchanged in their performances !!!
LPATWILLFILM
THE GREATEST BLUE EYED SOUL SINGER OF ALL TIME!!! THAT'S RIGHT... DARYL HALL! EXCELLENT COVER OF THE GREAT TEDDY PENDERGRASS SONG! TEDDY WOULD BE PROUD!
Cordes Josch
Teddy is smiling from above....great song!
Shizzlacher
There's actually a live version of this from Darryl's web series that they performed in Jamaica that's downright awesome.
Wildpony98
Yes with Toots and the Maytals or at the jazz fest.
Gypsylady Laura
This is one of my favourite cd's--play it frequently. H&O have always been on my list...
MARCUS REEVES 2
REAL MUSIC ALWAYS WORKS FOR ME
cr 95
They have a live version on You Tube. It's very good. Better than the studio cut.
Jason's Kittie
I just can't believe the soul I'm hearing....(awesome!)
Get Pretty Fit
They did the song justice.