The Philadelphia Years

Hall & Oates

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2006)
• Original Release Date: August 1, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B000GFRJ3U
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #155,680 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great collection of early recordings, not "demos.", August 17, 2006

By	Timothy D. Hufnagle (Bowling Green, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a terrific collection of rare early recordings (NOT demos) of Daryl and John before they were signed to Atlantic Records for their first LP, *Whole Oats.* All of the tracks on this CD were recorded between 1968 and 1971 in Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios and Cameo/Parkway. Several of them were released previously on Chelsea's 1977-issued LP, *Past Times Behind,* some were never available before at all, and a number have been only availabe on various bootleg LPs, cassettes, 8-tracks, and CDs.

Despite what many fans persistently believe, these are NOT "demos." I worked on the discography for this collection, and one of the first things I was told by the executives at Varese Sarabande and John Madara were that these were not demos (even though I, along with many other fans, previously read otherwise in published sources). I was told these were actual recordings that were made by Daryl, John, and other session musicians. So, for now, until I get some other accounts, I will side with the folks who own these recordings, and trust their knowledge (since one of them was there when the songs were recorded!). :-)

The only track that vastly differs from the rest is the final song, a Leon Huff composition originally recorded by Bunny Sigler: "Girl Don't Make Me Wait." This track, performed by a solo Daryl Hall, was literally salvaged from disappearing forever, and was restored and added to the track list a couple of weeks before the CD was pressed. It is not the folk-oriented sound that most of what Daryl and John recorded during this time. This track actually demonstrates much of Daryl's soulful vocal range that only a Philly song could demonstrate. In some ways, this last song could serve as that elusive "missing link" in the Hall and Oates Philly soul/R&B sound.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive Demos from Daryl Hall and John Oates, August 4, 2006

By	TomAzon (United States) - See all my reviews

"The Philadelphia Years" is by far the best-sounding album of Hall & Oates demos to ever come out. That's essentially because they came from the original master tapes provided by the original producer John Madara and aren't bootlegs as every other "demo" album that's come out since 1977 is.

The sound is much clearer than even the Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs disc that came out a while back. No over-processing here, just good, clean sound from the genesis of the best duo of the rock era.

The songs themselves are very simple productions, usually nothing more than drums, pianos, guitars, vocals and backgrounds. It's mainly on the folk-side than the rock side of things, musically.

As far as the tracks themselves go, I'm surprised "The Provider", "The Reason Why", "Dry In The Sun", "I'm Tired of Wearing Buckskin", "Sally", "All Our Love" and "Months, Weeks and Days" didn't make it.... Looks like die-hard fans will have to get some of the bootlegs anyway. Also, songs included like ""Back In Love Again", "Gotta Be Stronger", "I Ain't Afraid of The Cold", and "You Don't Know" are listed as 'Previously Unreleased' but I found them, along with "Sally" and "All Our Love" on a demo vinyl album called "All Our Love".

The bonus tracks feature songs from the Parralax single "Vicky-Vicky" b/w "A Lonely Girl". Typical late '60's rock. The CD concludes with Daryl's version of "Girl, Don't Make Me Wait", written by Leon Huff.

The liner notes are fairly accurate except for John Oates' birth year (1948) and the author Bill Dahl unfortunately chose to use that derogatory 'blue-eyed soul' term to describe their music. Plus somebody misspelled the "Whole Oats" album. It's the most misspelled album title on record.

The liner notes also make mention of John Oates' single performed with The Masters - "I Need Your Love" b/w "Not My Baby" on the Crimson label.

I would love to see a part two of this disc to hear those also.

If you like history, pick up this collection along with "The Temptones" CD with early Daryl Hall that pre-dates even these songs.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Daryl & John Early On, January 21, 2007

By	J. Osborne (Sheffield, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a fantastic album. It shows really how Hall & Oates started in Philly. The early stuff is some of the best because it lays the ground work for all the later hits. Fantastic album. I recommend you buy if you are a fan, and if you're not a fan, why not??