Do It for Love

by Daryl Hall & John Oates

Overview

Daryl Hall and John Oates launched a comeback effort in 1997 with Marigold Sky, but few paid attention -- partially because the time wasn't right, partially because it wasn't the right album for a comeback. Six years later, the duo tried it again with Do It for Love and, remarkably, it all clicked. First of all, the climate was ripe for a Hall & Oates reunion, not just because the group was subjected to a flattering episode of VH1's Behind the Music, but because their longtime fans and '80s nostalgiaics alike were warm to the duo's hooky, sophisticated, effortlessly enjoyable blue-eyed soul. Then, there's the fact that Do It for Love is their best album in 20 years, even if it has very little to do with the sharply modern new wave-soul of Private Eyes and H2O. Although it sounds like neither, this hearkens back to the sensibility of both Abandoned Luncheonette and 1975's eponymous debut for RCA, where the emphasis was on the songwriting and the productions understatedly served the song. The big difference between Do It for Love and those records is that, musically, it isn't particularly adventurous; it is firmly settled in the blue-eyed soul tradition, sometimes blurring the line between that and adult contemporary. However, it shares with those records a strong sense of songcraft and consistently enjoyable songs and performances. It's true that nothing here will erase memories of their biggest hits, yet nearly all of these 14 songs hold their own against many of the album tracks and lesser-known hits from their golden period while also having a unified sense of sound and purpose, adding up to a thoroughly satisfying record, the kind that will please the faithful while winning back those listeners who haven't really listened to the duo since the '80s. A really fine, surprising comeback effort. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	09/30/2022
Label:	Bmg
UPC:	4050538807882
Rank:	81967

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Daryl Hall & John Oates   Primary Artist
Daryl Hall   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background),Vocals,Keyboards,Guitar (Electric)
John Oates   Primary Artist,Vocals,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Sheppard   Bass,Guitar,Strings,Sequencing,Guitar (Acoustic)
Shep Goodman   Strings,Keyboards,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Ken Gioia   Drums,Strings,Keyboards,Percussion,Sequencing
Billy Mann   Guitar (Acoustic)
Jack Daly   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Jeff Catania   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Greg Bieck   Sequencing,Guitar (Bass)
David Sancious   Keyboards
Robin Smith   Sequencing
Paul Pesco   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Audrey Martells   Vocals (Background)
Peter Moshay   Sequencing
Mickey Curry   Drums
Paul Livant   Guitar
Steven Wolf   Drums
T-Bone Wolk   Organ,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Mike Shimshack   Guitar (Electric)
Todd Rundgren   Vocals,Featured Artist,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Greg Fitzgerald   Guitar,Keyboards,Sequencing,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Mark Taylor   Sequencing

Technical Credits

Tom Nichols   Composer
Sheppard   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Programming
Dorothy Low   Photography
Arthur Burrows   Design,Concept,Photography,Digital Imaging
Debra Holland   Composer
Tom Farragher   Composer
Shep Goodman   Engineer,Producer
Sheppard Gioia   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Koz Koda   Engineer
Ken Gioia   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Programming
Billy Mann   Composer
Chris Davis   Guitar Technician
Greg Bieck   Programming
Janna Allen   Composer
Gregg Alexander   Composer
Robin Smith   Programming
Sara Allen   Composer
Peter Moshay   Mixing,Engineer,Programming
Paul Barry   Composer
Paul Pesco   Composer
Steve Torch   Arranger,Composer
Bob Ludwig   Engineer,Mastering
Arthur Baker   Composer
Brian Rawling   Producer
Danielle Brisebois   Composer
David Bellochio   Composer,Producer
Gary Haase   Composer
T-Bone Wolk   Producer
Barry Mann   Composer
John Oates   Composer,Producer
Warren Pash   Composer
Daryl Hall   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Greg Fitzgerald   Composer,Producer,Programming
Mark Taylor   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Programming
Kenny Gioia   Mixing,Engineer,Producer