Search - Hall & Oates :: Rock N Soul Part 1 (Slip)

This is a Classic, if you are a fan of Hall and Oates

Jean Yates | United States | 08/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is interesting how the reviewers of this album seem to choose distinctly different favorites from this classic '80s album, at least as far down as I read. I have a total soft spot for Hall and Oates when they are singing their live version of "Wait for Me" on this album. That song is my absolute favorite. I prefer all their more romantic ballads in fact. However, because this song is live, it has an urgency and rhythmic energy which I think is part of what made them so popular. It is brought to the fore in this song. The response of the crowd and the guitar solo add to emotion of the song in a remarkable way. That is why I keep buying this album, in its various forms, from record to tape to CD. It strikes a really fine chord with me.



On the other hand, I do have some songs I am not crazy about. I skip right over "Maneater", for example, but I understand why people like it. It has a certain tempo and quality which actually pretty much sum up a lot of eighties songs. I mean I get it...It has a bop to it which is an eighties bop. I know--I was there. I just don't place it in my list of favorites from this excellent album. I don't like thinking of women as maneaters, either. Things have changed!

So ultimately, I would rather sway... give me the slow sweet songs that Hall and Oates deliver so well. Then give me my car, some privacy so that no one laughs at me as I sing along really loud, and let me listen to "Sara Smile", "One on One", and some of the other more sensuous songs the famous purveyors of blue-eyed soul served up back in the day. As Chef, in the cartoon South Park, once said, "Girls love Hall and Oates!"



And he's right. We do!"

All killer... no filler!!

Da Man | Pekin, IL | 04/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Rock N' Soul: Volume 1" was the first major Hall And Oates collection on the market upon it's release in Christmas 1983. They were at the pinnacle of fame at the time and were releasing hit after hit, and they were treated with two more big hits with "Say It Isn't So" and "Adult Education", which were recorded for this album.



While this set has been supplanted several times since by Essential/Ultimate/Very Best Of, to me, this set is the alpha and omega for H&O Greatest Hits. Which makes the remaster/reissue all the sweeter. With the exceptions of Did It In A Minute and Your Imagination, all of the essential hits from 1975-1983 are here. While "Out Of Touch" is missing and would've been a nice bonus track, this contains the truly classic period of H&O and contains the hits and only the hits. "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" and "Family Man" have been added as bonus tracks to sweeten the deal.



If you're a big fan of H&O, this is beneath you, you can find all these tracks elsewhere. However, if you're only a casual fan and want a collection with the classic hits from their classic period, without an abundance of latter tracks and lesser known songs, this is the package for you. This is a CD that you can put in from start to finish and love every song. With the exception of "Out Of Touch", Hall And Oates were never the same after this collection, so it was released at precisely the right time in my opinion."

Sounds and looks even better now

Edgar Olivares | New York City, NY USA | 04/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've had the original CD version of this title for over five years and it's good to see this album remastered and repackaged with bonus tracks as well as a different (but not new) cover. The sound quality is definitely better this time. This compilation covers 1976 through 1983 basically their most successful period. "Method Of Modern Love" & "Out Of Touch" were hits in late '84-early '85, after this album.



If you really want the ultimate collection then "The Essential Daryl Hall & John Oates" may be the way to go. But that doesn't render this album obsolete at all. Here you get the original version of "Adult Education" ,a live version of "Wait For Me" as well as edited versions of "She's Gone" and "I Can't Go For That". There are also liner notes from one of the band members.



If you're new to Hall & Oates then you found the perfect place to start. Even if you already have the original CD version of this album you should consider having this title with its new look and better sound. It puts that previous version to shame."