Hall & Oates: John Oates Said This Scrapped Song Was 1 of His ‘Most Interesting’ Tracks
Hall & Oates gave the world some of the most famous songs of the 1970s and 1980s. During an interview, John Oates said the duo left one of the most interesting songs he ever wrote off of a hit album. He explained why the duo initially abandoned the track. Eventually, Hall & Oates released the song on a boxed set of their music.
Daryl Hall revealed why Hall & Oates put out a box set of their songs
In 2009, Hall & Oates released the box set Do What You Want, Be What You Are. In an interview with HuffPost, Daryl Hall explained why. “Why are people interested in our music and are being influenced by it?
“You know, you can’t explain that,” he added. “I think that’s the reason that it’s time for a box set, and it’s time to have a retrospective and a perspective of what it is that we’ve done over the years and why we’re here.”
John Oates revealed why the duo left the song ‘Don’t Go Out’ of the album ‘Private Eyes’ even though he liked it very much
Oates really liked one of the songs included on Hall & Oates’ Do What You Want, Be What You Are. “One of my favorites is the track ‘Don’t Go Out,'” he said. “It was an outtake from the Private Eyes album that didn’t make it because it didn’t sound like the rest of the record. But it’s one of the most interesting things I’ve ever done. I put a ton of production work into that song.”
Oates discussed the meaning of “Don’t Go Out.” “To me, it’s all about the paranoia of New York City in the ’80s when walking down the street was dangerous,” he said. “I tried to capture that sonically. I think it’s unique, and people will hear it and go ‘What is that?'”
The way the world reacted to Hall & Oates’ ‘Private Eyes’
Private Eyes became a hit album for Hall & Oates and its songs seemed to connect with audiences. The album peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, staying on the chart for 61 weeks. Private Eyes produced three singles: the title track, “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do),” and “Did It in a Minute.” “Private Eyes” and “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” both topped the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, “Did It in a Minute” peaked at No. 9.
Private Eyes became popular in the United Kingdom as well. The Official Charts Company reports the album reached No. 8 in the U.K. and lasted on the chart for weeks. “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” hit No. 8 in the U.K., while “Private Eyes” hit No. 32. On the other hand, “Did It in a Minute” did not chart in the U.K. Private Eyes included some of Hall & Oates’ most popular songs even if it didn’t include “Don’t Go Out.”
