Iconic pop-rock duo Hall and Oates ruled the airwaves in the 1980s, selling 80 million albums worldwide and clocking up numerous number-one singles along the way, including Kiss on My List, Maneater and Out of Touch, to name but a few.
Now, one half of the duo, John Oates, is releasing his latest solo album, Reunion, on May 17. The album features a selection of songs about love, loss and personal rediscovery framed in a sonic palette of lush acoustic production.
“Every song on this album is very personal and with an intention,” Oates told me.
“There is nothing random about the selection of songs.
“It’s definitely very emblematic of where I am right now and the things I’ve been going through with various business challenges and things like that.”
In recent times, Oates has reflected upon his musical legacy and life.
“I’ve been on the road since 1972 with very few breaks,” he said.
“Though during the decade of the ’90s, when Daryl and I weren’t working that often, I did have some time.
“But the pandemic really brought home a re-evaluation, a chance for me to reflect where I am now as a man, as a husband, as a father and as a musician and how I wanted life to be moving forward.”
Recalling his Hall and Oates days and approach to writing all those now classic hits, Oates explained it differed from song to song.
“It changed per song, and to be honest, there were very few 50/50 collaborations,” he said.
“Not many at all, like Maneater, Out of Touch, She’s Gone and a few others, but most of the ones were songs that either Daryl or I initiated and then brought the other person in to either complete or be an editor on it.
“A lot of our collaborations were on the lyrics than they were on the music where one of us would take the lead on the musical side, and then get together and collaborate on the lyrics.”
Oates, ever the road warrior, has continued to tour in the USA, performing the new album’s material in a streamlined setting.
“I’ve been on the road playing the songs from the album for almost a year now,” he said.
“The show I’m doing is in an acoustic quartet format.
“I’m on acoustic guitar, along with a cello player, a percussionist and a guy who plays a little bit of electric guitar and pedal steel.
“It’s a really cool acoustic-y singer/songwriter show where I also tell a lot of stories about the songs.
“It’s very organic, real and authentic.
“There is no artifice involved, no backdrops, or video walls, just four guys lined up on stage playing music, and it’s very refreshing.”
For further info, go to: www.johnoates.com
Music news
Swedish pop-rockers Roxette have announced an Australian tour for March 2025. The group last toured Australia in 2015.
Last weekend, Madonna performed to 1.6 million music-loving fans on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and in turn, set a new world record for the biggest audience ever for a live concert by any artist in music history.
With the recent resurgence in vinyl sales, a new chart was released recently listing the top-selling vinyl albums of the 21st century that were originally released in the 20th century. Topping the list was Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 album Rumours, in second place was Pink Floyd’s 1972 album Dark Side of The Moon, and in third place was Nirvana’s 1991 album Nevermind.
Rumours abound that Linkin Park are about to announce a reunion that will feature a new female singer to take the place of Chester Bennington, the group’s former frontman who tragically passed away in 2017.
Scottish alt-rockers The Jesus and Mary Chain, who have been regular visitors to our shores, will be here again this year for another tour in July and August.
The view from here
With my new book, Louder Than Words: Beyond The Backstage Pass, which was released last week, I was asked during an interview how I reconciled being a journalist with being a musician. To those on the outside, it may seem like they make strange bedfellows. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. To me, they are both a natural extension of each other. While writing allows you to express myriad observations on life, an array of different emotions or the sharing of stories, music is exactly the same. After all, songwriting is another form of writing; the only difference is that instead of writing for the page, you are writing for sound. Writing, just like music, plays an important role in society.
Jon Bon Jovi recently summed it up succinctly in an interview when he stated that songwriting was very much a form of journalism, where the songwriter was putting their observations on everyday life to music. Exactly what the journalist does when they’re reporting on everyday matters. Many of us keep diaries or journals and find them a valuable and life-affirming outlet. Writing has been proven to improve creativity, critical thinking skills and confidence and encourage greater self-clarity. It’s a perfect tool and outlet in today’s highly stressed world. It provides the same feel-good benefits that music brings to the listener.
This week’s global music charts
*TAYLOR SWIFT SETS RECORD*: 14 tracks from Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, have taken the top 14 spots on the US Billboard Hot 200 chart this week. She becomes the only artist ever to hold the top 14 spots on the Billboard chart!
USA: Billboard Hot 100 No.1: Fortnight — Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone
UK: Top 100 Singles No.1: Espresso — Sabrina Carpenter
Australia: ARIA Top 50 No.1: Fortnight — Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone
Fun fact
Did you know that The Beatles’ 1965 song Yesterday is one of the most covered songs in history, with more than 2000 cover versions having been recorded? Artists from Elvis Presley to Marvin Gaye and Boyz II Men to Leo Sayer, to name but a few, have all put their own stamp on the song.
Joe Matera is a local singer/songwriter, recording artist, guitarist and music journalist providing readers with all the latest music news.