 |  | A Classic in Blue-Eyed Soul. |  |
Long before they dominated the 1980s Top 40 charts with Number 1 hits like "Rich Girl," "Kiss on My List," "Private Eyes," "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)," "Maneater," and "Out of Touch," Hall & Oates released their masterpiece of blue-eyed soul, Abandoned Luncheonette (1973). Produced by Arif Mardin (known for his work with The Bee Gees, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Chaka Khan, Phil Collins, and Norah Jones), Abandoned Luncheonette was their second album, resulting in two singles, "She's Gone" and "Las Vegas Turnaround" (a song about Hall's stewardess girlfriend, Sara Allen--yes, the very same object of the 1975 ballad, "Sara Smile"). Daryl Hall calls "She's Gone" the best song he and John Oates wrote together, and I consider it to be one of the greatest breakup songs ever. ("She's Gone Oh I, Oh I'd pay the devil to replace her/ She's Gone - what went wrong?") Abandoned Luncheonette is Hall and Oates at their best. The complete album tracklist includes:
1. When the Morning Comes 3:12
2. Had I Known You Better Then 3:22
3. Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song) 2:57
4. She's Gone 5:15
5. I'm Just a Kid (Don't Make Me Feel Like a Man) 3:20
6. Abandoned Luncheonette 3:55
7. Lady Rain 4:26
8. Laughing Boy 3:20
9. Everytime I Look at You 7:04
G. Merritt
June 19, 2008| | | If Only More People Knew About this Album.... | |
"Abandoned Luncheonette" is one of the greatly underrated, most-missed albums of the seventies. Like Robert Palmer's "Some People Can Do What They Like", this album previews selections of a great talent. The title track, awash in nostalgia and poetry, still moves me to tears. I taught this as a piece of poetry as a young English teacher, and it instantly electrified young students who could have cared less about poetry. "Las Vegas Turnaround" similarly haunts the listener - who was the mysterious Sara, and what was she to the musicians? Each song is a showcase for the beautifully blended voices of Hall and Oates, and the deliciousness of listening to these two mega-talents on a summer night cannot be overrated.
Do yourself a favor and buy this disc. Then venture into other Hall and Oates recordings, then try Robert Palmer, then Steeley Dan...The seventies were a great era for rock and roll, Philly soul, and R & B. Even (God forbid!) disco.
May 12, 2008Side one of this album is a blue-eyed soul classic, with the first four songs a must for any musical tribute to Hall and Oates. I never get tired of listening to these tunes. Side two is fine but its the reverse that should make Abandoned Luncheontte a given for any Hall and Oates collection.
November 26, 2007| | | The prior reviews are right on | |
I bought this based on the prior reviews and love it. The reviews were right in recommending to any Hall & Oates fan. Other than "She's Gone" I didn't know any of the songs but now I can't stop singing them in my head. Great.
October 11, 2007Daryl Hall and John Oates' second album remains, even after thirty-plus years, their masterpiece. Working together with the great Arif Mardin they created a masterpiece of blue-eyed soul which captured a sense of innocence, wistfulness and nostalgia. Sure they had albums which sold more or which had bigger hit singles or which got more airplay, but none of their other albums quite captures the originality of this one. The stand-out track has to be She's Gone; one of the best songs ever written and a showcase for Hall's wonderful voice. Yes, you've probably heard it hundreds of times but every time it's fresh and new. Another fabulous track is the title track, Abandoned Luncheonette, a four minute elegy to the diners of their youth. Beautifully sung and orchestrated, if this song doesn't make you feel sad for the loss of innocence then you've a hard heart. When The Morning Comes is a perfect start to the day (and the album) while Everytime I Look At You is seven minutes of pure soul pop and a perfect finish to the album. If you like Hall and Oates but haven't got this album buy it now - you won't regret it.
April 11, 2007More reviews at Amazon.com ...
