Hall & Oates--You Make My Dreams (1981)

     Am in the process of writing a review of Daryl Hall's new CD, and noticed that today is his birthday. First of all, I'd like to look him when I'm 65 years old (hell, I'd like to look like that now....). Secondly, his voice believe it or not sounds better now then it did in their heyday. The sharpness of the voice has mellowed out without losing any of the soulfullness....but well you have to wait to hear the review....

     Daryl Hall and John Oates have been friends since the day they met at the Adelphi Ballroom in Philadelphia in 1967. They were at a band competition when shots rang out between rival gangs. In an attempt to escape both men ducked into a service elevator. While waiting for things to calm down, they began talking and discovered that not only did they go to the same school (Temple University), but they had the same interests musically. They became roommates in school and by 1969 had formed a musical duo.

      They were signed by Atlantic Records and released their first album in 1972, a label change to RCA brought them initial success as, "Sara Smile", "She's Gone", and "Rich Girl" in 1975/76  all reached top 10 status. After that however, there was a period where they were continuing to refine their sound and go deeper into the R&B that both loved so well,  although they continued to reach the top 40 with singles.

     The real breakthrough came in mid-1980 with a cover of the Righteous Brothers, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling". This began a string of top 40 hits that stretched to 1990. You Make My Dreams is by far my favorite from that period. It reached #5 in the summer of 1981. For you fans that came this far in the post, I'm also including a bonus featuring one of my favorite 70's songs in a cover that will knock your socks off....