Search - Hall & Oates :: Do What You Want, Be What You Are:The Music of Daryl Hall & John Oates

Not perfect, but really well-done, regardless...

Larry Davis | NYC/Long Island, NY | 10/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I would say this set is almost a definitive career overview of H&O's 40-years plus in music. It covers every era, has most of the hits, choice rarities, fan faves, H&O faves, live tracks from over the years, and great commentary by H&O themselves, their producers and peers in music, old and new, from Smokey and David Foster, Rick Neilsen from Cheap Trick & Todd Rundgren, to Ben Gibbard from Death Cab For Cutie and Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy. The notes are well-written and the remastering is top notch, with release and label details.



The fact that not every chart single is here doesn't matter...for that, buy "The Essential 3.0"...sometimes, the liver versions are better. BUT certain albums and eras are not represented at all...no mention or tracks from Daryl's pre H&O group Gulliver, but there are Temptones and Masters rare singles...and nothing from "Beauty On A Back Street" or "Marigold Sky" or "Livetime" (no pics of those albums in the booklet either), no rare 12" versions or certain soundtrack cuts or Daryl's solo work...although Dave Stewart commented on his fun with Daryl producing that album. I am happy that a fave track "Head Above Water" from "Private Eyes" got its due tho.



All in all, well-done, but if you were to include everything, even with a DVD, it had to be 5 or 6 CDs, but for 4 full discs and the price, you can't beat the value and quality...well-manufactured too. Thumbs up from me, a longtime fan for 30+ years."

Yeah, I can't NOT review this one.

Matthew David Ritchey | Hollywood, CA USA | 10/26/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a full-out Hall and Oates geek for years, but also a big music and entertainment fan and professional, I call this set a "10." But here's where the question arises: why a box set? To whom is this directed?



Well, there are a few answers and the track listings successfully cover all the bases.



First, there are the fans crazy enough to fork over another lump of money for songs they have three copies of already (that would be me). For our effort and long-time support, we're treated with a number of rare live tracks ("Lady Rain" and the first concert series is AMAZING) and some unreleased and REALLY cool tracks ("Don't Go Out" is bizarre and awesome, "All The Way From Philadelphia" has been a fave since I got a copy in the early 00s, and "Storm Warning," which I've obsessed over hearing since I heard it was recorded and dropped from the 1990 album, is better than most of the album on which it was supposed to be included!). Now, the crazy fans are pointing out things like "No tracks from 1977's 'Beauty On A Backstreet' or 'Marigold Sky' or Daryl Hall's solo stuff..." Yeah. Hall and Oates decided what was going to make this box set and they famously have disassociated themselves with "Beauty On A Backstreet" - a lackluster album at best. "Marigold Sky" was released as an independent album and - while I do think it's one of their best albums - this box is only material that Sony owns. And finally re: Hall's solo work: IT'S CALLED THE MUSIC OF DARYL HALL AND JOHN OATES!!!! TOGETHER!!!



Next, the "newbies." Much has been written recently about some younger groups loving the work of Hall and Oates: Death Cab For Cutie, Travis McCoy, anybody who watched "1000 Days Of Summer" etc etc etc. For anybody not afraid to drop their "I'm too cool for Hall and Oates" or those too young to know that they're SUPPOSED to be "too cool for Hall and Oates," this is a great box. ALL of the big hits, album tracks that SHOULD have been singles (I still can't figure out why "I'm In Pieces" isn't on this box), and live versions that outshine the original recordings.



Finally, to the press and rock critics - who Daryl Hall has long complained have not taken him seriously. ("Complained" is being kind...... from the liner notes, his sizable ego takes up much space and while he doesn't whine as much in the notes, his other printed interviews online show how bitter he really is.) That being said, and while I have long since stopped caring what other people think about my choice of music or film, I still think these guys HAVE been overlooked. With this set, the long-cliched phrase "most successful duo in history" comes into better focus - they were successful because they're great songwriters and musicians. They're adaptable, savvy, and incredibly talented. I remember starting a petition in junior high to get these guys onto the Walk of Fame....... X number of years later, they're still not in the RNR Hall of Fame. That's just somebody being stupid. This box acts almost as a resume and list of chart numbers and awards goading and daring critics and press to ignore it. Admittedly, it comes in the midst of a few years where Hall and Oates HAVE been getting recognized by getting the star on the Walk of Fame, inducted into the Songwriting Hall of Fame, BMI Awards, etc.



So really, while I'm not a big collector of box sets, I know what I like and I've read a number of critical reviews online where most people seem to tout this as one of the best box sets ever. I don't disagree. There's something for the casual fan, crazed fanatic, music historian, and, of course, the dance floor.



Plus, an end to my confusion about one of my favorite lines from "Adult Education": "The high point of low school is getting outta there; the low point of high school's the WATCH and wear.""

Hall & Oates Box Set

Yvonne Brage-Rice | Edinburgh, UK | 10/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think this box set is the "Essential" Hall & Oates collection as the tracks were handpicked by them and not the record company. Some people are disappointed at some exclusions, but how can you put a 40 year music career on one box set?



Marigold Sky will be remixed and re-released next year (according to Daryl) and I can't wait to hear the end result as it is one of the most underrated Hall & Oates CDs, but at least I have the original until that happens.



As a fan, I feel privileged to be able to still follow Hall & Oates, through CDs and going to concerts and they never disappoint me, but living in the UK you are a bit out of it. I did buy the Box Set through Amazon UK, but the bonus disc was not included as it with the QVC US release, so had to order one from there as well, although the duty on ordering from the US is rather crippling.



Still, all worth it in them end!



DarylHall4Ever"