Do What You Want, Be What You Are - The Music of Daryl Hall & John Oates (Remastered)

iTunes Review

While Hall & Oates became radio and TV superstars with a number of monstrous hit singles in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s — “You Make My Dreams,” “Private Eyes,” “Maneater” and “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” — the duo had a long and varied career before their superstar moments as guys raised on Philly Soul. From the onset, Daryl Hall was a top-notch blue-eyed soulman and his partner John Oates knew his way around a fretboard. The songs weren’t always as radio-ready but the duo built a strong cult following on tunes like “She’s Gone” and “Abandoned Luncheonette” (here in a previously unreleased live version). This boxed set includes the hits (“Sara Smile,” “Rich Girl,” “Kiss On My List”), early rarities (Hall as a member of the Temptones, Oates as part of the Masters), live cuts from a 1975 show in London, the occasional outtake and demo and well selected album cuts. Even into the ‘00s, the duo could crank up the lite-soul, as a 2003 live version of Billy Paul’s “Me and Mrs. Jones” proves beyond a doubt.