Hall & Oates

Songwriter: John Oates George Bitzer

Producer: David Foster

To play to get rich
And die baroque is wrong
If you write a song for god
Will he sing along
While rows of robot symphonies read on
Is that the way you wanted it played
Manuscripted memories
Sound with no electricity
Concentration line on the face of serious music
Manuscripted memories
Sound but no electricity
Concentration lines on the face of serious music
You brought a bit of jazz to the concert hall
But you won't hear violins at the darkies' ball
Your rhapsody in blue will outlive us all
I wish I was there the night you played it
Manuscripted memories
Sound with no electricity
Concentration line on the face of serious music
Manuscripted memories
Sound but no electricity
Concentration lines on the face of serious music

Hall & Oates released the first of their 18 albums in 1972 on Atlantic Records. They would go on to sell 13 million albums and 6 million singles primarily during the 70’s and 80’s when they recorded their most prolific and profound music. They blended rock, jazz, soul, and pop create a genre they titled rock and soul.

While their technical musicianship, innovative songwriting styles, and popular live performances were praised, they also had a fruitful partnership with their manager Tommy Mottola, who was helped Hall & Oates break into music videos before they were popular and made profitable financial deals by helping them get on the ground level of and corporate sponsorship of tours. Hall & Oates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

more tracks from the album

Along the Red Ledge

From the album

Along the Red Ledge (1978)

Hall & Oates popular songs

Serious MusicHall & Oates

Hall & Oates

Along the Red Ledge