Say It Isn't So (Hall & Oates song)

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"Say It Isn't So"
Say It Isn't So.jpg
Single by Daryl Hall & John Oates
from the album Rock 'n Soul Part 1
B-side "Kiss on My List"
ReleasedOctober 1983 (1983-10)
RecordedSeptember 1983 at Electric Lady Studios in New York City [1]
Genre Pop rock, blue-eyed soul
Length4:17(album version)
3:56 (7" version)
6:45 (special extended dance mix)
5:15 (video version)
Label RCA Records
Songwriter(s) Daryl Hall
Producer(s) Daryl Hall, John Oates, Bob Clearmountain [1]
Daryl Hall & John Oates singles chronology
"Jingle Bell Rock"
(1983)
"Say It Isn't So"
(1983)
"Adult Education"
(1984)
Music video
"Say It Isn't So" on YouTube

"Say It Isn't So" is a song performed by American pop rock duo Daryl Hall & John Oates, and written by Daryl Hall. It was released by RCA Records in October 1983 as the first of two new singles from their compilation album Rock 'n Soul Part 1 , released that same year (see 1983 in music). The song was remixed as a "special extended dance mix" by John "Jellybean" Benitez, which topped Billboard magazine's Hot Dance Club Play chart. [2] The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, behind coincidentally "Say Say Say" by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson.

Contents

Composition and recording

"Say It Isn't So" was written by Daryl Hall during the duo's supporting tour for H2O . It was the first of two new songs recorded during the sessions for Rock 'n Soul Part 1. The sessions took place in September 1983 at Electric Lady Studio A in New York City. The song was produced by Daryl Hall and John Oates, with recording by Bob Clearmountain, who co-produced the recordings. The backing musicians on the song were bassist Tom "T-Bone" Wolk, saxophonist Charles DeChant, guitarist G. E. Smith, drummer Mickey Curry, and percussionist Jimmy Bralower. The song's arrangement was developed in the studio with backing vocals inspired by the Flamingos' version of "I Only Have Eyes for You" and a problem with a break in the song solved by Jimmy Bralower. [1]

Reception

Cash Box called it "a derivative and decidedly Motown-inflected outing" that is "more vital than nostalgic." [3]

Music videos

There were two versions of the video. The first version was once aired on MTV as part of the duo's special titled The Greatest & The Latest. The second version, which was on heavy rotation during the channel's heyday, was filmed on location in New York City.

Chart performance

Track listings

7" 45 RPM

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Say It Isn't So" Daryl Hall 3:56
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Kiss on My List"Hall, Janna Allen 3:48

12" 33⅓ RPM

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Say It Isn't So" (Special Extended Dance Mix)Hall6:45
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Say It Isn't So" (Dub version)Hall4:47
2."Kiss on My List"Hall, Allen4:24

See also

Related Research Articles

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Daryl Hall and John Oates, commonly known as Hall & Oates, are an American pop rock duo formed in Philadelphia in 1970. Daryl Hall was generally the lead vocalist; John Oates primarily played the electric guitar and provided backing vocals. The two wrote most of the songs they performed, either separately or in collaboration. They achieved their greatest fame from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s with a fusion of rock and roll, soul music, and rhythm and blues.

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References

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  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 116. ISBN   978-0-89820-156-7.
  3. "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 22, 1983. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
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  7. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  8. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  9. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  10. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  11. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  12. "Hall + Oates".
  13. "Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. December 22, 1984. p. TA-19.