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A re-release of a holiday album that saw limited availability last year, (Daryl) Hall & (John) Oates present Home for Christmas, a fascinating seasonal offering that is successful on many levels. Hall & Oates were originally primarily known for "Philly soul," a blend of rock 'n roll and R&B. When I picked up Home for Christmas for the first time, the black-and-white cover graphics (and the simple country scene they portray) had me thinking that perhaps this was a scaled-down acoustic presentation of Christmas fare, but this is not the case. From the very first bars of the opening track (Overture/The First Noel), the lush production values and string orchestration turned me in an entirely different direction. This is adult contemporary music--smoothly delivered soft rock with some R&B stylings and vocals that sometimes deliver distinctly country flavors. This quirky blend provides something for everyone--this album could well appeal to a broad audience.

Although most tracks are well familiar, there are two originals, and even the holiday chestnuts receive wholly-new clothing here. For example, I really enjoyed the Hall & Oates interpretation of It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, delivered with an unmistakable country twang, lovely acoustic guitars, and "midnight clear" as a cool choral refrain. Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday is a great R&B anthem, pumped up with blue-eyed soul. Topping everything, however, is the gospelicious Children Go Where I Send Thee, which hops with power percussion and absolutely rockin' vocals; this cut alone is worth the price of admission. The heavily orchestrated close (Oh Holy Night) brings the album full circle stylistically, bringing back the full strings treatment of the first track.

I am not certain how die-hard fans of Hall & Oates' R&B stylings will receive Home for Christmas, which certainly strays into the unexpected. In many respects, the seasonal release plays as an adult contemporary/country offering, and it does have some terrific highlights. Those attracted to this idiosyncratic album should head over to Amazon.com to sample a few tracks. Enjoy!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2007)

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From the liner notes:

Musicians:
Dary Hall: Lead & Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards
John Oates: Lead & Backing Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars
T. Bone Wolk: Bass, Acoustic & Electric Guitars
Greg Bieck: Programming & Keyboards
Rob Mathes: Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards
Shawn Pelton: Drums
David Sancious: Additional Backing Vocals, Organ, Piano
Charlie DeChant: Sax
Michael Payne: Additional Drums
Klyde Jones: Additional Backing Vocals

Strings performed by the London Session Orchestra


From the Website:

Call it a masterpiece, a labor of love, or the beginning of a new tradition, Daryl Hall & John Oates re-released "Home for Christmas" on September 25th, a beautifully recorded and heartfelt Holiday album. The album has been re-released on their own U-Watch/DKE Records, and distributed by ICON Music Entertainment Services. The album, which was part of an exclusive arrangement with Trans World Entertainment, will now be available at all music retailers nationwide, as well as online, for the first time.

"We are so pleased that Home for Christmas can now be bought by our fans at all retail outlets," said Daryl Hall. "This assures that everyone who wants one will have access to purchasing it."

Produced by Daryl Hall and longtime collaborator T-Bone Wolk and Greg Bieck, Home for Christmas, with special cover art designed by Michael McCurdy, features the world's best-selling musical duo giving new and original life to traditional holiday anthems such as "The First Noel," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "The Christmas Song," "Mary Had a Baby," "O Holy Night" and a re-recording of "Jingle Bell Rock," a promo-only single that was a hit for the duo for many years. Daryl and John each wrote one original song for the collection, the title track "Home For Christmas and "No Child Should Ever Cry on Christmas."

Daryl Hall and John Oates started working together in the early 1970's and went on to become the most successful duo in rock history. Meeting in a freight elevator while escaping a riot at the Aldephi Ballroom during the club's legendary Battle of the Bands, Daryl and John would join forces to become the pioneers of Rock & Soul. With over 60 million albums sold, DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES' rich repertoire has garnered a total of 8 #1 hit singles along with dozens of hits throughout the 70's, 80's, 90's, including 2002's "Do It For Love,". Other top singles include: "Rich Girl," "Kiss On My List," "Maneater," "Private Eyes," "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do), "Sara Smile," "She's Gone," and "One On One,". Their trademark sound of rock 'n' soul can be heard in the harmonies of today's young pop stars, in the return to radio of sophisticated R & B, even in the black/white demographics of hip-hop and rap-rock fusion.

In 1997, realizing the direction that the music industry was headed, Daryl and John released Marigold Sky on their own label. Taking a break to work on solo projects, the duo would not record and release new material until 2002's critically acclaimed Do It for Love.

Daryl and John Oates Hall

Home for Christmas

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Track List