This article in the Oregonian made me smile; it’s like a Hall-and-Oates-flavored version of “Almost Famous.”

I was 9 years old when the H2O album came out, and a girl in my fifth grade class (I sure wish I could remember her name) introduced me to the album. I’d decided that I wanted to give them a try, too. It was the first cassette (yes, cassette) I bought at full price and with my own money. Definitely a risk, but as soon as I got it home and listened to it all the way through several times, I knew I was hooked.

20-some years later, I’m still a fan. I haven’t been to see them in concert in maybe five years, but I’ve seen them several times, beginning with their Ooh Yeah! tour in 1988 (I was 15, just like the author of the article in the Oregonian was when he saw his first H&O concert). They are wonderful performers, Hall is an incredible singer, they have had some of the most talented musicians accompany them (G.E. Smith, Charlie DeChant, Tom “T-Bone” Wolk, etc), and crowds just love them all.

And, like the author, my tastes have broadened considerably over the years, and although I have a more educated ear listening to music now than ever before, their music still impresses me. My songwriting has doubtlessly been shaped irreversibly by the craft of their lyrics and the hookiness of their melodies. And yes, they’re still my favorite act.

Oregon, Hall & Oates, and “Almost Famous”

10 thoughts on “Oregon, Hall & Oates, and “Almost Famous”

  • June 18, 2006 at 11:29 am
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    That a cute (and short) article. I have never seen H&O in concert but maybe I’ll get the chance one day.

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  • June 18, 2006 at 11:45 am
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    Hall and Oates was my first concert, actually. 🙂

    -J

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  • June 19, 2006 at 5:01 pm
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    Short? Did you click the page links after the first page?

    Anyway, I hope you do get to see them — they’re wonderful!

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  • June 19, 2006 at 5:02 pm
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    Really? Didn’t know that! How funny! What tour was it?

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  • June 19, 2006 at 5:11 pm
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    Yeah, three pages. It just seemed more personally reflective than anything else. Not that it wasn’t cute.

    I think the tour I was thinking of seeing them had all it’s dates changed when Darryl found out he had Lyme disease. I lost track when they rescheduled.

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  • June 21, 2006 at 11:12 am
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    Mind if I add you? You seem interesting — at least you’re interesting to read. 🙂

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  • June 21, 2006 at 8:22 pm
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    Don’t mind at all. Good to meet you.

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  • June 22, 2006 at 8:33 am
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    Thanks. You too!

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  • June 22, 2006 at 10:33 am
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    I think I was eleven or twelve, so it would have been 1981 or 1982. Possibly 1983.

    The thing I remember most about it was Daryl Hall getting so into one song that he did this long finish and then did a sort of a “stage death” and ended up flat on his back. My little friend and I thought this was the most hilarious thing we’d ever seen. 🙂

    -J

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  • June 22, 2006 at 10:44 am
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    That’s funny. He’s such a ham. He’s done one of those long finishes in every show I’ve seen. I know “Wait For Me” has traditionally been one he’d finish like that on, and it’s even recorded that way on the Rock & Soul Part 1 album.

    But I’ve never seen the stage death. 🙂

    Reply

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