10 Questions With John Oates

What’syour fave Hall & Oates song?
“She’s Gone.”


Settingasideyourgeneralsoulroots,amInutsoristhereaseriousandspecificHall&OatesvibeontheChi-Lites’“OhGirl”?
There is a connection with the soul tradition of Chicago that is very close to me personally. It has to do with the harmonies and chord changes. Plus, I was a huge Curtis Mayfield fan!

Whatwasthefirstrecordyoubought?
Probably “Wake Up, Little Suzie” by the Everly Brothers.

Didyouhavearock&rollepiphanyasakid?
Yes, in 1954, when my folks took me to a local Pennsylvania amusement park and I saw my first live show: Bill Haley and the Comets — especially when the bass player threw down his giant upright bass and rode it like a horse.

Whatmusicianwouldyoumostliketomeet,andwhatwouldyouaskthatperson?
Elvis, and I’d ask him for a Cadillac.

Whatrecordsareyoucurrentlylisteningto?
None — I’m in the writing mode.

HowdoyoufeelabouttheBee-Gees?Weretheyaninfluence?
We toured with them in the ’70s, and I think we were more of an influence on them than they were on us. Their disco-era hits were produced by Arif Mardin, who produced our first two albums.

Doyouhaveafavoritesongofalltime,byanyone?
Hard question! How about “People Get Ready” by the Impressions.

Greatestadviceforanovicesongwriter?
Listen to the people you admire and try to come up to their level.

Bestmistakeyouevermade?
Never practicing the accordion when I was 5, because I got a guitar instead!

Hall&OatesplaySunday,June26,attheGreekTheater.