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.
Ooh Child
Hall & Oates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Things are gonna get easier
Ooh child
Things'll get brighter
Some day, yeah
We'll get it together and we'll get it all done
Some day
Some day, yeah
We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Some day
When the world is much brighter
Ooh child
Things are gonna be easier
Ooh child
Things'll be brighter
Some day, yeah
We'll get it together and we'll get it all done
Some day
When your head is much lighter
Some day, yeah
We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Some day
When the world is much brighter
The song "Ooh Child" by Hall & Oates is a hopeful tune that reassures the listener that the tough times will pass and better days are on the horizon. The lyrics "ooh child, things are gonna get easier, ooh child, things'll get brighter" are repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the message of hope and encouragement. The lyrics suggest that there will be a day when everything will fall into place and we'll finally achieve our goals, a day when our heads will be lighter, and we'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun.
The song has a gentle melody that complements the reassuring lyrics, creating a sense of calmness and positivity. The repetition of the lyrics and the melody creates a soothing effect on the listener, allowing them to believe in the message of the song. The lyrics suggest that the hardships of life are temporary, and we should hold on to hope and faith that things will be better someday.
Overall, "Ooh Child" is a powerful song that offers a message of hope and optimism. The lyrics provide reassurance that even during the darkest times, we should have faith that things will get better. The song encourages listeners to keep pushing, keep believing, and keep hoping for a brighter tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh child
Hey, little one
Things are gonna get easier
Life will become less difficult
Ooh child
Hey, little one
Things'll get brighter
Life will become more joyful
Some day, yeah
One day
We'll get it together and we'll get it all done
We'll conquer our problems and tasks
Some day
One day
When your head is much lighter
When your mind is at ease
Some day, yeah
One day
We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
We'll bask in the beauty of a sunny day
Some day
One day
When the world is much brighter
When our surroundings are happier
Ooh child
Hey, little one
Things are gonna be easier
Life will become less difficult
Ooh child
Hey, little one
Things'll be brighter
Life will become more joyful
Some day, yeah
One day
We'll get it together and we'll get it all done
We'll conquer our problems and tasks
Some day
One day
When your head is much lighter
When your mind is at ease
Some day, yeah
One day
We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
We'll bask in the beauty of a sunny day
Some day
One day
When the world is much brighter
When our surroundings are happier
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stan Vincent
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Wagner
This is just beautiful music that is such a pleasure to listen to. A remake of a beautiful song done by truly experts of music.
lisamarie
Makes me cry because it says it all about what I want to tell my children as we live through this horrible time. Some day things will get easier, some day things will be brighter.
Deborah Gardner
You keep telling your children this ..but before you do tell them to look to that Great Name Above All Names Jesus Christ...put Him First and know that the SON will truly be brighter...and HE will make sure they are also...
Gloria Busana
💘💕🌹
MrTerry Posey
Great artists - Great musicians. Darryl and John are national treasures! Thanks for sharing.
dave herres
They are more than beyond this world in live concerts. Have seen 5 x each concert was better than last.
Joe Herald
I've always liked these guys and as the years roll by and acts come and go it seems their status rightly belongs among the best of our generation.
conrad ford
The greatest duo of all time. If you get a chance to see them. Do it because they are legendary.
BagdadBill
The one show I stiill have not seen but would love to. I've seen Tom Waits, Waiting to see these gys
Jacqueline Plattner
Love this song ❤️🙏🤗🎼😎✌️❣️🌞