Daryl Hall And John Oates - Beauty On a Back Street (1977)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

Following "Bigger Than Both Of Us" (which oddly didn't include a track of that name but this does).  This opens with the poppy "Why Do Lovers Break Each Others Hearts?" but moves through the mix of soul and rock that perhaps defines them (their 80's retrospective is called "Rock n Soul Part 1").  An excellent album but tracks of note are "Winged Bull" - which sound like Hall has been influenced by Bowie/Eno Berlin period - taking them into new less traditional territory; "Bad Habits And Infections" a glorious rocker with two style alternating as the track moves on - wonderful stuff.  Probably one of their low key albums - not issued on CD until 1996.  I also recommend "The Girl Who Used To Be" the closing track, a tender John Oates song with a simple arrangement


LP: PL12300 - RCA UK Issue (international AFL1- 2300)

Daryl Hall And John Oates - Bigger Than Both Of Us (1976)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

The duo are, perhaps, best known for their albums in the eighties and the classic "I Can't Go For That" but earlier in their career they had worked with Arif Mardin, Tod Rungren and other top notch producers and had a run of fantastic albums.  The reason:- good songs.  You can have all the production you like but if the base song ain't there then you're way behind.  These two are talented in the van load.  This is a classic album with the well known track "Rich Girl" included but the album is a real set in it's own right with "Kerry" and "Back Together Again", "Crazy Eyes", and "Falling" all favourites.  The tour in supporting this in '76 was well worth the ticket.  They had a very tight band and put on an excellent show.  I got to work on the reissue of some of their albums on CD later when I was at RCA - when you're a fan - what could be better?

This was produced by the duo with long term collaborator Christopher Bond.

LP: NL 83866 (RCA mid price reissue c. 1985)
CD: PD 83866 European CD issue.