WAR BABIES IN THE ABANDONED LUNCHEONETTE

Nelly Furtado's talent-free music continues to be played over the course of this summer. Usually, it's the track "Promiscuous," but I've also been unfortunate enough to encounter another of her tracks, "Maneater." As more than a few writers have pointed out, this may be intended as a direct reference to the Hall & Oates track of the same name. I don't hear it. In fact, I'd say that any similarity or connection of Furtado's "Maneater" to the concept of music is purely coincidental.

I think to myself that mentioning Furtado and Hall & Oates in the same sentence is ludicrous. On second refelction, it only becomes more so. H&O obviously wrote tons of great pop that still holds up very well (in revisionist hipster circles, H&O holds up even better than that). I'd say that H&O wrote more good songs in the single "I Can't Go For That" than Furtado has in her career.

OK, enough snarkiness. What I want to play are some earlier H&O tracks. Of particular interest is their 1974 album, War Babies, produced by Todd Rundgren. It's their first rock album, after a few somewhat tentative stabs at folk-soul type material. And it's a piece of work. The amount of cocaine that must have been in the studio is palpable but so is the group's sense of adventure and willingness to let rip some funky ideas. Frankly, it doesn't all work, but it's fun to see them try it out. The album, still stands as some of their most interesting, if not most pop-perfect material.

Hall & Oates -- Is It A Star?
The basic chords are almost identical to Steely Dan's "Pretzel Logic." H&O add their own great, Philly-style harmonies but the kicker is the weird rhythm break and guitar solo that comes in at around 1:40. It's like prog rock, soul, blues, jazz-rock fusion.

Hall & Oates -- Beanie G & The Rose Tattoo
What was I saying before about mounds of cocaine in the studio?

Hall & Oates -- Screaming Through December
"Quasar! Quasar! Were the first words I heard from Faustus all day." Say what? Not exactly a great track, per se, but it shows Hall & Oates going a little "out there." Strong vocals from Daryl and a bizarre, prog rock/fusion middle section starting at around 3:30. "70s Scenario," elsewhere on War Babies, is a better song about a certain kind of disillusionment. But this one might be more unusual and (melo)dramatic and still packs all the mid-70s malaise you could ask for.

Hall & Oates -- Had I Known You Better
Great track from their second album, Abandoned Luncheonette, from 1973. This one is actually by the relatively infrequently heard John Oates and is one of the best examples of the soul-folk that these guys were coming from. It reminds me a little of "Everybody's Talkin'" and could be a decent secondary song in a movie soundtrack.