WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - I've Got Aux: "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" by Hall & Oates

Episode Date: February 26, 2024

Bella is on Aux this week and chose "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" by Hall & Oates. We chat about the drama between the duo and what sounds constitute the 80's vibe.

Right, well now this is a first, never done this before, but how exciting is this on the internet? Okay, there you go. To find someone who hasn't heard a Hall Note song would be an impossible challenge. With hits like You Make My Dreams Come True, Man-Eater, Private Eyes, She's Gone and Rich Girl, their songs have undoubtedly become classics. Their popularity is no surprise, as their discography perfectly encapsulates the sound of and subsequent transition between the 70s and 80s. From the Carefree 70s sound of the 1973 album Abandoned Luncheonette to the distinct 80s pop sound of their 1980 album, Private Eyes, they truly saw their success through objectively the best era of music. Daryl Hall and John Oates met at Temple University in 1967, where they both had their own separate musical endeavors.

They only performed together for one year before Oates transferred and Hall formed his own band, Gulliver, which disbanded in the late 60s, leading him to return to being a session musician. The duo reconnected in Philadelphia in 19th. and quickly secured a contract with Atlantic Records. After relocating in New York and seeing some success throughout the 70s, their big break came with the new decade, with albums Voices, which was self-produced and privatized, from which today's song, I Can't Go for That,

which hit the top of R&B charts around the world came from. And they haven't stopped yet, garnering 19 million monthly listeners on Spotify and releasing Mary Gold Sky only two years ago in 2022. One of America's most successful duos with six number one hits, multiple platinum and gold albums, and a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, their soul pop sound helped to define an era of music

coming out of the 70s and into the 80s. You're listening to I've Got Ox, I'm Radio Free Hillsdale, 101.7 FM. Here's I Can't Go for That, No Can Do, by Daryl Hall and John Oates. Welcome back to I've Got Oaks, I'm Radio Free Hillsdale, 101.7. That was, I Can't Go for That, No Can Do by Darrell Hall and John Oates. And so I chose that song.

Today I'm, I'm on OX and Ali. Who are you? Oh, Bella. And Ali was the blind listener and Gavin's heard the song because I play it for him. So thoughts, first impressions by Ali. Go. Oh, I loved it. I mean, literally from the first three seconds.

But I love Holo notes. I always have. And then immediately the first thing I did was look on my phone what year it was because I was like, man, this sounds so 80s. And then it was like 1989. Exactly. Exactly.

There it is. It was so funky. Sometimes songs that are that repetitive, you get annoying. But this, I was grooving, start to finish. Also, it's five minutes long. I didn't even notice. I didn't feel five minutes. I know.

So there's, I liked that. I thought it was just super fun. Like most hollow note songs to me are that. They're very pure. Yes, exactly. And we're recording us on Valentine's Day. True.

So it's kind of cute. So you could say we're romantic. A lot of people might say that actually about us. Is this a Valentine's Day song? No. The vibes are. The message might not be. Yeah, the vibes definitely are.

But I definitely, I had like a little bit of a hard time choosing a song because I knew I wanted to do a whole note song because I'm having a bit of a phase. But I wasn't really sure. But I thought, I mean, this song, like you said, it's very 80s. but like it's 80s like in the best way, you know? It's simple, it's fun to listen to, it's groovy, you're like grooving it the whole time.

But it hasn't, I feel like there's like a category of 80 songs that just kind of like aren't much. Like you know what I mean? And it hasn't like gotten there yet. So that's why I chose this because I think, I mean like, like I said, I had a really hard time choosing because I love a lot of their earlier stuff like from the 70s. And I was like, well, maybe this will just be a 70s episode. but I really think because they made so much music, they're like a really great, their whole discography is a really great way

to like see how. It's like a timeline. Music changed in that time and which was like I said, arguably like the best time for music, like the 70s and into the 80s. So yeah, that's why I chose the song. I think Hall and Oates are awesome and I'll have some stuff to say later about

Holland Oates as a band because there's some controversy. And I think it's kind of like some scandal that I don't know if you guys know, but they don't like each other anymore. Oh boy. Which is crazy and terrible. But there's also some controversy about Holland Oates has a name. Anyways, Gavin. I really liked it.

And after the intro when you were talking about how it's a transition from 70s to 80s, I forget that they have like, I think of them as two different bands in that way. Like I think of like abandoned luncheonette, whatever it's called. Yeah. And like when the morning comes like that song. Super different. So 70s, so very, you know, all the harmonies and stuff. And then I think of like, you know, dreams come true or, you know, that kind of stuff. Which is why this song is awesome because they both, like, their vocals are so good.

It's so good. And later on, like, I mean, obviously they're still singing in their later songs. But this song is like, it's 80s, but like they're still singing and they're doing those cool harmonies and stuff. And before the episode, Allie and I were talking, well, I was mentioning how I almost just Sarah Smile for the song, which she also loves. And that song is like because I almost chose that one because it's also like a perfect example of like oh my gosh their voices are so good and they're so good together like what a duo and they're actually I think I said in the intro like they're one of the most successful but I found like a couple sources saying that they are literally the most successful duo in America of all time and it does say like in their Spotify thing like it was a big deal when they surpassed the Everly Brothers as the the most successful duo ever. Is that like the 60s duop by-bye love? Yeah, yeah, exactly. But so, yeah.

I had more to say, though, about that. Sorry. Transition period because this is 81, right? Yes. This is very early 80s, obviously, one year in. But I was listening, there's a lot of 70s stuff in there. Yeah. But there's a very, a lot of 80s markers that it's 80s music.

So for one is the drum machine. That's not real drums. So that was definitely coming into popularity in the 80s. and they're also using a prophet five, which is like one of the most popular synths, like synth pianos. Do you just know this listening to it? No, no, I knew it was fake strings.

That's actually a prophet five. Yeah. I was like, oh, okay, yeah. No, it's kind of like, there are certain hallmarks in today's production that you just like notice. Yeah. But there are the ones from the 80s,

and some of those would be drum machines and synthesizers. And so one of the most popular ones was, the prophet five and they're using like a string sound, which strings is a pretty 70s thing. Yeah, that's true. But it's interesting that they're using an 80s method to get that product. Yeah.

Which is a synthesizer. But the majority of the meat of the chords in the verses are being played by a, what is it called? Like a Rhodes. It's like which is a very 70s like instrument. So it's interesting. This marriage of 70s and 80s. Yeah.

Which is just an instrumentation. Yeah. So. Well, for those of you just tuning in, we're talking about I can't go for that. No Can Do by Darrell Hall and John Oates. I really like this one because typically I don't like 80s music that much. It's just not my, I just love 70s so much. And 80s to me feels just very flashy.

And I think that this song is a good example of like there was the potential to not be flashy. And just many people did not follow that. And I think what draws people a lot to Hall and Oates is this like, genuine nature of playfulness. Like all of their songs, even if they have a deeper, you know, love connection or even like a deeper emotive state to them, their vocal harmonies and just how the music is presented is so fun and enjoyable that I think naturally people just have like almost an innate gravitation towards it, which is probably why they're the most popular duo to have ever existed. Um, I think also there's with the joyfulness, there's, there's a genuine sense of positivity.

Whereas like I'm trying to think if there was ever a duo or there was ever a group that was just the only thing that's coming to my mind right now is the Smiths. And that's they're not the same. But what I'm saying is like when you're known for being melancholic or you're known for being poetic, I think that that can only go so far. I think to be so commercially successful as hollow notes and to have such like a discography that follows so many different decades. Yeah. You kind of have to be digestible. Yeah. To a certain degree.

And I think they are. Yeah, the only other duo I can think of like that as like Simon and Garfunkel. And they're so sad. That's a perfect. Yes, that's perfect, Gavin. I mean, they didn't make it into the 80s, I think just because they broke up. Right. But like their solo stuff in the 80s, it's like, you know, call me owl or whatever that song. Wait, that's a great. That's, okay, yeah, that's a perfect example of like, a duo on the opposite side of the spectrum. And not to say that one is better than the other,

that's an entirely different argument. But it is interesting to be like, to be known for a certain a mode of state that you give your listeners. And I think hollow notes are genuinely, like, enjoyable and fun. And even if their songs have a deeper meaning, they're sleek. And they seem, like, their voices just play so well together. That's the, like, when you, there, that is something that when I've, like, first started getting into whole notes, it's like, it's so rare, I guess, to, like, you can hear the chemistry between them, honestly.

Like, and that one of the other songs that I really wanted to do is called Las Vegas Turner around. Have you heard that one? Love it. I love like the beach noise. Like you know the noise in the beginning. It's like, oh, this is awesome. Like, I feel like I'm like in a tropical paradise. And then they start singing together and you're like, oh my gosh. Yeah. Like, are you kidding me? It's like, am I. Margaritaville? Like, I don't know, animal crossing. Like, and that's my life. Like, I want my, I want my whole life to sound like that. That's what I want my mental state to be. Exactly. And it never is, but I can try. Are you kidding me?

Like, are you kidding me? This makes me feel like I have a button down shirt that's unbuttoned to the middle of my chest. And that's what I want. I have a little chain. I'm drinking a rummer. I'm drinking a corona. Exactly. Like, or I'm, like, I'm an animal crossing.

I don't know. Like, I am a little bug. Exactly. I'm a bug. I'm a bug on a freaking palm tree. And that's when I want to feel like. And like, no song has literally really really made me feel like that. It's just so warm.

It's so warm. And like, their chemistry, like, like, oh my gosh, they sound so good. And actually, cool little tidbit. So Sarah is Daryl Hull's girlfriend. And she wrote a lot of their songs with them. Like on the Voices album, she wrote three of the songs, I think. And she helped with a lot of them.

And her younger sister also helped write a lot of the songs. And I'm like, okay, so that's awesome. So she needs more credit. And it's like, it kind of reminded, well, I don't know if that's a fair thing to say. But I don't know. It's just kind of awesome. like genuine inspiration, I guess. Like, and he writes a couple songs about her, like Sarah's smile and this song, like Sarah's

often and turn around, blah, blah, blah. And like some of the songs, I encourage anyone who's, can I encourage? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Can I suggest? Can I suggest? Um, anyone who's listening to go and listen to like their whole album, um, what's it called?

I can't remember right now. It's not voices. I'll have to look at it. Give me a second. But there's something like, like, there's a lot of these songs that they wrote like with this girl and like you know when sometimes you can listen to something

there's a feminine touch there's a feminine touch you know you just know you just know and you and it's also privatized is this the one no no no no no it's called it has us in it like I don't know I'm forgetting right now but it's just kind of awesome of them yes yes and he tells Darrell tells this Darrell like I want Mr. Hall

wait a second it tells this story about like going to Sarah's little sister's apartment or whatever and they were all there and she has this like electric keyboard or something in the apartment and then they were just standing in there and they started like writing one of these songs and you're like that's awesome like there's two girls and there's two girls in holoots guys i'm telling you right now behind every haul and oat there are two girls they also have an older album or song that's called whole oats which i think is funny but okay another another interesting thing that led me to want to talk about them is them and their dynamics

Scandal. So there's a little bit of a scandal. There's actually some lawsuits going on right now. Currently? 2023? Yes, as in 2020. And they, yeah, so they don't like each other anymore. Which is kind of sad and terrible because, and like I was reading, I was reading some stuff about some of their older interviews. And you can kind of tell that there's a little bit of animosity. There's just like some contention.

Yeah. In fact, there's this one thing I'm pretty sure Daryl said. I don't, sorry Daryl, if you're listening, don't want to like misquote you. but he basically was mad because people, he was like, Hallett Oates, like, isn't a thing. Like, Hall & Oates isn't a thing, guys. Like, that's kind of how I imagined him saying this. He's like, it's Daryl Hall and John Oat. There's only one album that says hauled oats on it. Like, ah, shut up.

Please. Are you kidding me? And he's like, it's two of us. Like, we're not like a two-headed snake. Like he said that. Oh. Wait, wait, wait, way. He's not mad that.

Okay, but let me get into the lawsuit. So that was just in the past. He had said that. He doesn't like being associated as like a duo. It's Daryl Hall and John Oates, which is kind of sucks because, hello, you guys are good. And you are a duo. Like, let's not pretend this is Daryl is. Who knows who Daryl is?

Come on. Daryl and John? Come on. But yeah, so he. Two dudes. This is two dudes. Ben there done that. Yeah, and it didn't work.

So Hall and Oates, you should try it because it's working actually. But anyways, I thought that was interesting because what the heck. He doesn't like, they don't, I don't know about John. He seems to be the. quieter with two. These are two people I would love to like sit down and be like so what is it? Work it out and write more music. Exactly.

Because Darrell seems is more than the media being like, this guy. So he said, and I quote, Hall, who's now 77, or I guess 78 and Oates is 76, Hall said, oh wait, I guess this is, no, that is Joe, sorry. Hall said that Oates had become quote, adversial and aggressive towards him and had raised a series of business disagreements through a

quote, revolving cast of lawyers. So what's basically happening is that Oates is suing Hall because Hall like sold some part of their like business, I guess that's what he calls up. I'm like that business. Like that's a little suss.

I don't really know. It says, it says Oates asked to dissolve the duo's touring entity and the business partnership that oversees their music publishing leading them this past summer to enter mediation. Hmm. So that's,

that sucks. But I definitely, I want to know, there's actually not like a whole lot of stuff out there about exactly what's going on. But, um, it's interesting. Just to watch how their music can progress, but so does their personal relationship.

Exactly. And it's dissolving. And those two things can be entirely separate. Yeah. Yeah. And that you can still make good music. Well, you know, when you're, yeah. And I think I, a lot of people say like, you know, their relationship has been bad for, little bit. So it's interesting. They made some really great music and they fought.

Reminds me the Gallagher brothers. Yeah, literally. Grow up. Put on your big boy. Team Noel. Team Noel. Make some more beach bug music. Yeah, literally. Oh my gosh. All right. Thanks so much for listening. Yeah. Thank you. You've been listening to I've got ox. I'm radio free 101 point radio free hills down 101.7 and yeah. We'll see you next week. See you. Bye. Bye.