It will include their hits in complete versions (the extended, atmospheric beauty of "She's Gone," their Temptations medley with Eddie Kendricks & David Ruffin) their last RCA & Arista hits ("Your Imagination," "So Close," "Everything Your Heart Desires") their should-have-beens ("Do What You Want, Be What You Are," "Back Together Again," "Don't Change" from 1977's "Beauty On A Back Street") and even Daryl Hall's solo hits like "Dreamtime" and "In a Philly Mood."

It could easily cover two discs and complete the unique "art & soul" picture of a sound this prolific duo created and used so well the first, most memorable years of the 1980s. For now, this is at least the most complete, if not best, Hall & Oates hits set.

"The Best of Hall & Oates" covers nearly all the duo's RCA chart hits including their impressive 1980-84 string matching soulful harmony and backbeat to frosty, stomping new wave rock ("Private Eyes," "Family Man," Fall 1984's still thrilling "Out Of Touch.") The set also restores David Foster's studio-produced version of "Wait For Me" (heard live on 1983's earlier "Rock n' Soul Vol. I") and adds 1978's poignant Top 20 "It's A Laugh."

Michael Hill's instructive essay accompanying the CD quotes Hall as comparing his and Oates' personalities to Lennon-McCartney's, calling his duo "the eighties Beatles." The comparison is not simply ego or wishful thinking; while "Did It In A Minute" and "Rich Girl" are not songs the whole world sang, they infused great pop melody and simple, sometimes sweet lyrics with foreboding and even danger. Hall often pointed out that "Kiss On My List" meant yours was only ON the list, not necessarily topping it. Like Philly contemporary and one-time producer Todd Rundgren, Hall & Oates filtered art-rock lyrics and folk-soul harmony through Motownphilly R&B they worshipped as children and young musicians.

"The Best of Hall & Oates" will do for casual fans needing a quick early-80s fix. But longtime fans should reach for Rhino's "The Atlantic Collection," the scarce "No Goodbyes," or early, cohesive LPs like "Abandoned Lunchonette" and the superb "Bigger Than Both of Us." These, plus this recommended set, should give an excellent picture of Hall & Oates underrated, near-30 year career.

26 of 27 found the following review helpful:


Good, but not complete! Get the Australian import instead!  Jul 23, 2001 By S. Fennell "pianistcritic"
Okay, RCA tried, (and failed once again), to release a definitive Hall and Oates "Best of" collection. I'll keep this review short: if you want the best compilation currently available, skip this one and look up the double-disc Australian import, "Starting all Over Again; Best of Hall and Oates", with a generous 36 songs, total. It contains 17 of the 18 tracks on this CD, ("Wait For Me" is missing, but who really cares?), but also features the full-length 5 minute version of "She's Gone", plus tracks from their Arista releases and a couple of songs from Daryl Hall's solo "3 Hearts" album. It's a much better buy than the CD you're looking at right now.

20 of 22 found the following review helpful:


Blue eyed soul....Revisited  Jan 31, 2001 By Jeffrey Harris
Fresh for the new millenium is this greatest hits package from one of the most successful duos of the 70's and 80's. Covering the years 1976 to 1985 nearly all of Hall and Oates top 40 hits are here including the #1's "Rich Girl", "Kiss On My List", "Private Eyes", "I Can't Go For That", "Maneater", and "Out of Touch". Just about all of the tracks are the full length album versions except "It's A Laugh", and "Out of Touch" which are the single versions, "Adult Education" is the promo 12" mix(remixed by Bob Clearmountain & Nile Rodgers), and though the timing on the back of the CD lists "I Can't Go For That" as the edited version from "Rock N' Soul part 1" it is actually the album version. Because this package only includes their hits on RCA, other Hall & Oates hits like "She's Gone", "Everything Your Heart Desires", and "So Close" aren't included. But with this disc clocking in at 75 minutes, it's hard to complain too much. A strong compilation and worth picking up.

19 of 23 found the following review helpful:


A way excellent Hall & Oates collection!  Apr 21, 2002 By Jason Ross
Forget my review on the previous brief CD I did of 1983's Rock 'N' Soul Part One Greatest Hits. This is even much better it adds seven songs with all eleven favorites not counting for the missing "She's Gone" which it isn't on here but includes Daryl Hall and John Oates doing a sixties cover ballad classic version of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" by the Righteous Brothers. Also from the Big Bam Boom album is "Out Of Touch" with "Method Of Modern Love" plus "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid". There's also "Did It A Minute" a studio not it's live version but the original "Wait For Me" and "Family Man". I really enjoy listening to the rest of the tunes that were very popular like "Maneater", "Sara Smile", "Rich Girl", "Private Eyes" & "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)". So in my own opinion for the improvement and expanded digitally remastered eighteen tracks from it's RCA record label that they did is a pretty good job here. I would give it "Thumbs Up!". Let's see if these two guys I think should release and put out another compilation volume of more song highlights they recorded together from their 70's and 80's albums someday soon!

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