Hall & Oates - War Babies

Digipak edition of the beloved pop duo's 1974 album for Atlantic that Todd Rundgren produced, engineered and provided guitar & backing vocals. Features the original cover art & liner notes. 10 tracks, including 'Can't Stop The Music' and 'Is It A Star'. 1998 Atlantic Records release. Album Description

Nice Cover

To me the term psychedelic is simply a drug connotation, meaning you'll truly enjoy this album if you're on medication. That said, the first 4 tracks are genuinely good, but the bridge to 'Is It A Star' is not for the sober. I did find the final track 'Johnny Gore & the C eaters' fun to listen to. May 27, 2008

The 70's pearl

I am already a great Hall & Oates fan, but I have to confess I got surprised when I bought this CD. The songs are more mature, they are really good. You can feel the harmony coming from the compositions, between Daryl and John.
"Screaming through December" is a surprise from the beginning to the end, it'a mixture of feelings. "Can't stop the music" has the unique soul touch that only John can give. "Beane G and the rose tattoo" and "You're much too soon" have a great vocal work from Daryl. The whole album is great. One of my favorites, for sure. War Babies is the introduction for the best Hall & Oates could create.War Babies January 20, 2008

This album is so awesome that I'd recommend it today, immediately

What an amazing find. This album is probably their all-time best, from what I've heard, and I'm familiar with most of their output. If you enjoy progressive music at all, you'll dig this; it was produced (and performed) by Todd Rundgren. Even though Utopia played most of the music, I'd say that it sounds very "Hall and Oates," given some of their later, more rock oriented albums such as "Beauty on a Back Street" and "Along the Red Ledge." Don't skip this-get it today. January 18, 2008

5 stars from a Hall & Oates fan

This CD is getting 5 stars from the Todd Rundgren fans here. This Daryl Hall John Oates likewise gives this fun, imaginative, pure pop LP the five-star treatment.

This most certainly is not a blue-eyed soul record. In a lot of ways, it is a precursor to the Daryl Hall solo records "Sacred Songs" and, perhaps more so, the under-rated and under-appreciated "Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine." It's fun, inventive, catchy and not the least bit self-conscious.

The biggest contrast between this and what the dynamic duo were later doing in the 70's can be found by comparing the leadoff track on this record, "Can't Stop the Music (He Played It Much Too Long," with "Back Together Again," which leads off "Bigger Than Both of Us," the quintessential Hall & Oates LP of the 70s. Both mine the same territory, about an aging rocker playing for his audience. "Back Together Again" is reverent, a celebration of an aging rocker who still has "it." It is polished to mid 70s pop perfection, with just a glint of Gamble & Huff type Philadelphia International soul. Not so the rolicking good time fun of "Can't Stop the Music." It's irreverent, with just the right touch of "young punk" posturing. A great way to start this record.

The sublime "70s Scenario" is more traditional Daryl Hall John Oates Philly soul/rock. "War Babies," the title track, may be one of the best pure rockers they've done. Lots of good stuff on this one.
July 15, 2007

War Babies

I owned this album on plastic when it first came out, and lost it. I looked in stores for years and was convinced it was no longer available, until now.This is is vintage Hall and Oates from the early seventies. This album followed their classic "Abandoned Luncheonette" and was produced by Todd Rundgren, who contributes to the futuristic, spacey, sound that the duo took on at the time. The title track is my favorite, with a haunting melody and the trade mark harmonies that make Hall and Oates possibly the best duo ever. There's a ballad called "Im Watching You" with Daryl singing lead that has enough soul for the entire cd. If you are a Hall and Oates fan, this is mandatory for your collection. The songs are raw, with basic instrumentation, but the genius is there.
You have to hear it!


January 10, 2007

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