Atlantic Collection, The [Import]

Hall & Oates, Daryl Hall & John Oates | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 10, 2010)
• Original Release Date: January 23, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Wea International
• ASIN: B0000033OI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,344 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Before they tore up the charts, February 4, 2002

By 

topographicOcean (land of confusion) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Atlantic Collection, The (Audio CD)

I'd say about 90% of those who disregard Daryl Hall & John Oates disregard them for reasons that have nothing at all to do with their music. If the two would have went by a different name (let's face it - just hearing 'Hall and OATES' is enough to crack one up), and if they would not have made any videos at the dawn of the MTV-era (which, being a new art-form at the time, absolutely NO director knew how to make without making an ass out of the artist<s> involved), they would not exactly be looked at as Simon and Garfunkel (who could?), but they would definitely be recieving more credibility today from the public in general; many more would lend an ear to them. But to heck with those who don't judge a musical act strictly for THE MUSIC ITSELF. For the true, open-minded music-listener out there, giving Hall and Oates - 'The Atlantic Collection' a listen is a good idea. This compilation disc, that contains tracks from the duo's first 3 (Atlantic) albums, and a few tracks that didn't make the cut, displays the formation of what would become their melody-making formula that would in later years end up making them the best-selling music duo of all-time. But let's start from the beginnning. The first 5 tracks on this compilation are from their '72 debut, 'Whole Oats'. "Goodnight And Goodmorning", "Past Times Behind" (track #6, which didn't make the album), and the lyrically synical, semi-Band-inspired "Fall In Philadelphia" demonstrate their rather folkish beginnings. However, the eight-note "I'm Sorry" already foreshadows a more Top-40-friendly sound to come while "Lilly (Are You Happy)" sneaks in the duo's Philly R&B/soul roots. And then there's the beautiful piano ballad, "Waterwheel", which showcases Hall's falsetto range. The next 8 tracks in this collection are from Hall & Oates' 1973 sophmore effort, 'Abandoned Luncheonette'. Hall's "When the Morning Comes" and Oates' "Had I Known You Better" shows that the duo were still in their folkish period, but this 2nd album of theirs would also have them pointing even more to R&B as shown on this compilation's best-known track, "She's Gone" (originally released as a single by Atlantic in '73, but not a hit-single until RCA would re-release it almost 3 years later). Daryl Hall's longtime girlfriend, Sara Allen ('Sara Smile') is actually first introduced (by John Oates) in "Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song)" while another Oates-composition off 'Abandoned', "I'm Just A Kid (Don't Make Me Feel Like A Man)" has the 24-year-old lead-singer feeling out of place at a concert full of teenagers; one of them teens being the lucky girl who he 'puts the moves' on (sly devil). While 'Luncheonette's title-track is a moody character-based, Broadway-like storyteller, both "Lady Rain" and "Laughing Boy" display a darker side to the duo (perhaps inviting Todd Rundgren for future service); the latter being a song that Daryl Hall in the CD's liner notes claims "wasn't about anyone in particular" though the listener would likely beg to differ due to its hauntingly emotional feel. Bridging the gap between the tracks off of 'Abandoned' and this compilation's remaining tracks, are the very pop-ish "It's Uncanny" and the very soulful "I Want To Know You For A Long Time" These 2 H&O tracks, the last 2 that they recorded for Atlantic, would end up appearing on a 'best-of' package ('No Goodbyes') that the company wouldn't release until 1977. Now to the 5 remaining tracks off 'The Atlantic Collection' - all 5 from the Todd Rundgren-produced NYC cult-classic (100,000 copies sold there at the time), 'War Babies'. Rundgren's stamp is all over this 1974 LP; especially on quasi-psychadelic tracks such as "Can't Stop The Music (He Played It Much Too Long)" and "Is It A Star". Originally funky, is "Beanie G. And The Rose Tattoo" while, despite this album's experimental/anti-Top-40 feel, "You're Much Too Soon" contains a sleek, popish guitar riff that definitely prophesizes the duo's late-70s/early-80s style to come (ex. "Wait For Me", "Private Eyes"). The lyrically gloomy "70's Scenario" is the final track off this 21-song-compilation that, again, showcases the down-to-earth, humble beginnings of these hit-makers-to-be. It's real refreshing. Whether you're only familiar with the duo's ultra-popular early-80s material, or better yet if you're not familiar with them at all, I highly recommend this CD. It has quite a bit of detailed liner notes inside as well.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars What's wrong here??, March 13, 2005

By 

Bill Janowski (Elmhurst, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Atlantic Collection, The (Audio CD)

What was intended to be a substitute for 'No Goodbyes' is disappointing - not because of the music, but with the omission of the 'rare' track 'Love You Like A Brother,' which should have been included.

And do we really NEED 8 of the 9 'Abandoned Luncheonette' tracks here when you'd be better off with that CD in its entirety??

If you can't buy this used, find the Japanese import of 'No Goodbyes' or the original Atlantic LP. The 'less is more' rule would apply here, especially taking into account H&O's later overload of RCA compilations, which they probably have no control over.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for fans unfamiliar with H & O's early recordings, March 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Atlantic Collection, The (Audio CD)

"Atlantic Collection" is absolutely essential for fans who only discovered H & O during their halcyon years with RCA. For sure,
they hit pay dirt with a consecutive run of hits on RCA starting with "Sara Smile", but not before having experimented with
different musical styles which appealed to them individually while they were signed to Atlantic. The smooth synthesised soul sound we have come to associate with H & O is a fusion of folk, rock & r & b styles that first found expression in the grooves of their four Atlantic albums. Rhino has culled the best cuts for this superb collection which shows more sides to the duo than we shall ever know from listening to their radio hits. With insightful liner notes, excellent track selection and a thoughtful product design that respects chronology, what more can fans ask for ? "She's Gone" - pure magic and their most sublime recording ever - alone is worth the price of the album....but there're lots more hidden gems. The critics didn't think much of H & O's Atlantic albums when they first hit the market. They may have lacked the spark that was to fire their subsequent and commercially more successful work with RCA but H & O's was never able to replicate the freshness, variety and innocence so evident in their earlier recordings with Atlantic once they became a hit factory. The best things in here are from "Abandoned Luncheonette", the weaker ones from "Whole Oates". The "War Babies" tracks have improved with time. Savaged by critics for Todd's Rundgren's heavy handed production values at the time, listening to them today, I must say they have never sounded better. "Atlantic Collection" is a must buy for all H & O fans. For newer fans, there is much to discover here.