Voices
View on Discogs
Album Summary
Cut and pressed on RCA Records in 1980, 'Voices' stands as one of the most soulful and fully realized records Daryl Hall and John Oates ever put their names on. The duo took the production reins themselves alongside Christopher Bond, and what they cooked up was something that felt alive — a record sitting right at that beautiful crossroads where blue-eyed soul met the crisp, angular energy of the new wave era just beginning to roll in. This was Hall & Oates stepping into their full power, trusting their instincts, and delivering an album that sounded like nothing else on the radio in 1980. It was the kind of record that reminded you why these two cats from Philadelphia were something genuinely special.
Reception
- The album climbed to #17 on the Billboard 200, a solid commercial landing that proved the duo's audience was growing and deeply loyal.
- 'Kiss On My List' emerged as the breakout single from the album, earning massive radio airplay and becoming one of the most recognizable songs in the Hall & Oates catalog.
- The album was certified Platinum in the United States, a testament to its wide appeal and the staying power of its grooves.
Significance
- 'Voices' represents the moment Hall & Oates fully crystallized their signature sound — that warm, soulful blend of R&B feeling wrapped in polished, radio-ready pop that would define the early 1980s as surely as any record made during that era.
- The album sits at a rare and beautiful intersection of late disco sophistication and early new wave sharpness, demonstrating the duo's rare gift for absorbing everything around them and making it entirely their own.
- With 'Voices,' Hall & Oates laid down a blueprint for blue-eyed soul that echoed through the decade and cemented their legacy as one of the most commercially successful and musically credible duos in the history of American pop music.
Samples
- "Kiss On My List" — sampled and interpolated across multiple productions over the decades, with its melodic hook proving irresistible to producers mining the early 1980s pop-soul era for source material.
- "You Make My Dreams" — one of the most recognizable and frequently sampled tracks on the album, its buoyant groove and horn-driven energy have made it a favorite source for hip-hop and pop producers seeking an infectious lift.
- "Everytime You Go Away" — the emotional weight and melodic richness of this track made it a touchstone not only for later artists who covered it but also for those who drew from its arrangement and sonic palette.
Tracklist
-
A1 How Does It Feel To Be Back —
4:35
-
A2 Big Kids —
3:38
-
A3 United State —
3:09
-
A4 Hard To Be In Love With You —
3:38
-
A5 Kiss On My List —
4:24
-
A6 Gotta Lotta Nerve (Perfect Perfect) —
3:34
-
B1 You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling —
4:36
-
B2 You Make My Dreams —
3:10
-
B3 Everytime You Go Away —
5:22
-
B4 Africa —
3:38
-
B5 Diddy Doo Wop (I Hear The Voices) —
3:43
Artist Details
Daryl Hall and John Oates are an American musical duo who met at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1967 and began recording together in the early 1970s. Their sound blends rock and roll with rhythm and blues, soul, and pop, creating a signature style often referred to as blue-eyed soul that set them apart from their contemporaries. The duo became one of the best-selling music acts of all time, achieving massive commercial success throughout the late 1970s and 1980s with a string of chart-topping hits including Rich Girl, Kiss on My List, Private Eyes, Maneater, and Out of Touch. Their ability to seamlessly fuse white rock sensibilities with Black musical traditions helped bridge audiences and contributed to the mainstream popularization of soul-influenced pop during the MTV era. Hall and Oates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, cementing their legacy as pioneering figures in American popular music whose influence can be heard in countless artists that followed.
