"Missed Opportunity" by Daryl Hall & John Oates

Song#:  3576

Date:  07/09/1988

Debut:  75

Peak:  29

Weeks:  11

Genre:  Pop, Blue-Eyed Soul

Pop Bits:  The duo's first album for Arista Records, Ooh Yeah!, didn't perform quite as well as their previous two studio efforts, but it was able to go platinum despite being their first LP to not make the Top 10 since 1980 (#24). It was boosted by the #3 Pop single "Everything Your Heart Desires." This follow-up tried to keep the momentum going, but it faltered after getting inside the Pop Top 30. It would do better at AC reaching #8 while making a #68 appearance at R&B. The duo's past five albums, including their 1983 compilation Rock 'n Soul Part 1, all generated at least two Top 10 singles. Their Arista debut would fail to keep that streak going and it signaled that perhaps their popularity was beginning to wane.

 

ReduxReview:  The soul-influenced sound of this track was typical for Hall & Oates. It grooved along just fine with a good chorus and hints of Marvin Gaye. However, it wasn't nearly as strong as the songs that H&O previously took to the Top 10. It sounded more like a fourth single rather than a follow-up to a Top 3 lead-off hit. On an album that didn't have a lot of highlights, this was one of them. However, that was not necessarily a good thing because if a weaker track like this one is one of the stronger ones on the album, then the LP is most likely in a bit of trouble. Indeed, critics were meh about the album and it only got to #24. It did go platinum, but that was based off of shipments, not actual sales. I have a feeling it actually sold quite a bit less with copies returned to the label or sent to cut out bins. It was easily the duo's weakest studio album of the decade.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  One song on the album, "I'm in Pieces," was co-written by Daryl Hall and Janna Allen. Hall and Janna's sister, Sara, had a relationship that lasted nearly 30 years. She was the inspiration for the duo's first Pop Top 10 hit, the 1976 #4 "Sara Smile." It was around that time that Sara began to co-write some songs with the duo. Then later in 1980, Janna began to work with them. Her first co-write with Daryl Hall became the duo's second #1 hit, 1981's "Kiss on My List." Three more of her co-writes would go Top 10 for Hall & Oates including the #1 "Private Eyes." Sadly, her contributions to Ooh Yeah! would be her last. Janna had leukemia and would pass away in 1993. Sara and Daryl would never marry and would end their relationship in 2001.

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