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Sunday, September 25, 2016

"Adult Education" by Daryl Hall & John Oates

Top 10 Alert!
Song#:  1799
Date:  02/18/1984
Debut:  43
Peak:  8
Weeks:  17
Genre:  Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop



Pop Bits:  The duo's hit compilation Rock 'n Soul, Part One featured two new song that were issued as singles to help promote the album. The first single, "Say It Isn't So," was a major hit saying in the #2 spot for four weeks. This second single wouldn't do quite as well, but it did hit the Top 10. In doing so it became their tenth consecutive Pop Top 10 and thirteenth overall. Like the previous single, it was also a multi-format hit reaching #21 Dance, #23 Rock, and #50 R&B.

ReduxReview:  I remember being disappointed when this came out. I didn't think it was a good single and I still don't. It's not bad for an album track, but it is not one of their best compositions. I think it made the Top 10 based on their popularity at the time. It wasn't like they could release anything and it would be a hit. This one was just good enough to play well on radio and keep their Top 10 streak going. On a list of their best-to-worst charting songs, I'd probably put this one in the lower half.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  The duo's first charting Pop song was not initially a hit for them. From their second album Abandoned Luncheonette, their song "She's Gone" first hit the chart in 1973, but it stalled at a low #80. Then, the R&B group Tavares recorded their own version of the song for their 1974 album Hard Core Poetry. Released as a single, it was a big hit at R&B reaching #1. It would crossover to Pop for a few weeks getting to #50. After Hall & Oats got their first Top 10 hit with 1976's "Sara Smile," their former label, Atlantic, reissued "She's Gone" and it ended up getting to #7.

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2 comments:

  1. Surprising sometimes what a band can get away with when they're on a hot streak!

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    Replies
    1. So true. Although I can't be too mad at this song as it is a good track. It just can't hold a candle to their other major hits.

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