Laughing Down Crying

Daryl Hall | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 27, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Verve Forecast
• ASIN: B005DEVH50
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #348 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #70 in Music > Classic Rock > Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)

Editorial Reviews

2011 album from the Rock n' Soul vocalist, best known for his work with musical co-hort John Oates. Laughing Down Crying is Hall's fifth solo album. It combines his soulful vocals with a great batch of new songs.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Daryl Hall is Back...But He's Never Been Gone! September 27, 2011

By Martin M. Ruminski

Format:MP3 Music

This is a refreshing mix of many styles. Obviously Daryl has picked up and absorbed a lot of music in his live Daryls House web show from new acts and the act of playing a lot of live music on the fly. He is more fluid, more LIVE, more natural on this group of songs than on any I have heard before and I have listened to EVERYTHING he has done way back to Sacred Songs and of course the Hall and Oates stuff before that. I would stay that Can't Stop Dreaming is probably still the BEST solo CD he has recorded. But this rates up there with it and is probably better than Soul Alone and Two Hearts. It's much more of a rock and soul mixture...which is not strange for Daryl but he delved much more into the SOUL part than the ROCK part in his previous solo albums. One can hear funk, gospel, rock, techno, pop and much more on this disk. There are a few very catchy tunes...most notably Talking to You (is like talking to myself) and Lifetime of Love. One of those is a single. He uses some female back up singers, which is always welcome given Hall and Oates dogged stubborness against using female back up singers when it seemed obvious and natural to do so over the years. Get Out of the Way is a strange song, I dont hear much of a bass line in it. Whatever it is is mixed way back. Daryls vocals seem to be mixed in a wide room, ambient manner...not up front and center but somewhere on the sides of the room. That can be frustrating when you want to hear those golden cords gleaming still in his 60's. The power of the voice is undeniable still. I am hoping Daryl plays these songs on a special Live From Daryls House to create a live video of performing them. Also I hope some guest artists ask to share singing a few of these new tunes to celebrate a new era of Daryl Hall...which we are very lucky to be able say exists at all.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT A VOICE!!!!!! January 1, 2012

By Pamela A. Poddany VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

I've been a long-time forever Hall & Oates fan since day one. My kids grew up listening to them belting out hits on our old turntable when once upon a time there were albums, 45's, and cassette tapes. How much fun was it to watch my then two year old daughter dance around shaking her little bootie to MANEATER? It was fun! Now, living in the modern world, these favorites sound one hundred percent better. Who would have thought that could happen? They sounded great back in the day but are even better now.

Daryl's voice can melt butter. It's smooth, full of heart and soul and romance. His voice is vibrant and rich and I still love listening to him after all of these years.

LAUGHING DOWN CRYING is a great CD. What a bunch of awesome songs. My favorite is EYES FOR YOU (Ain't No Doubt About It). The entire gang does a fantastic job, blending all of their talents to create this wonderful group of songs. The music in each song is beautiful and the singing -- ahhh, the singing. That voice. That voice --

I've seen Hall & Oates in concert three times now. Each time was better and more fun than the previous time. To think that someone can be in the business of making music this long and still be fresh and new, still have a great voice, still have the gift and magic of words marrying music to create such good vibrations -- it's inspiring! Daryl Hall can belt them out with what appears to be little or no effort; his voice is so good and golden it sends shivers down my back bone. Today while I had the CD playing my husband said, "WOW. IS THAT DARYL HALL? HE CAN REALLY REALLY SING. NOW THAT I'M OLDER I CAN REALLY APPRECIATE HIS VOICE." How true! Well, also, what took him so long?!!!! (My hubby I mean!!)

LAUGHING DOWN CRYING relates some of Daryl's life journey he has made along the way. The good and bad, the happy and sad. Life is what it is, but it's what you do with what life throws your way that counts. Daryl Hall takes advantage of his experiences and shares them with us through music.

The man can sing there is no doubt about it. I hope he continues to sing for a long, long time. It's also a joy to see Live From Daryl's House and enjoy musical friends spending time together jamming and having a great time and including us in their good times.

This is a CD you will want to purchase and enjoy! I'm glad Santa brought it to me!

Thank you.

Pam

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Daryl Hall's Finest Work To Date - Master Class December 29, 2011

By Deborah Barone

Format:Audio CD

Very few artists actually put out a project with so many great songs. There is absolutely no need for me to go on and on. What Daryl has done is completely energized his fan base and created a new generation of fans without a doubt. I get it completely and the songs are not like anything Daryl has done before. Is it any wonder when your listening to Pandora with Daryl Hall radio, the best songs just keep coming from all over the place. I rarely ever hit thumbs down which I cannot say about any other artist. I really love Live From Daryl's House and I really feel I understand and know a little about the man. This album is a must buy!