This week forty years ago, on December 8, 1984, a new song went to Number One, and became the penultimate chart topper of the year. That new Number One was ”Out of Touch” (video above) by American duo Daryl Hall & John Oates (generally known colloquially as “Hall and Oates”, though the duo preferred the long name). The song—the duo’s last Number One in the USA—was the lead single from their twelfth studio album, Big Bam Boom. The song, which would stay at the top of the Billboard “Hot 100” for two weeks, was also the duo’s fourteenth consecutive Top 40 hit in the since 1980.
This song was, of course, played on the radio a lot back in the day, so I know it well enough. However, I don’t think I ever bought any of their music directly, just on compilation CDs. There’s no particular reason for that, except that in the mid-1980s, money was often tight, and so, I only bought music that I loved, and while I liked their most of their hits well enough, it’s probably fair to say that I didn’t love their music, or, at least, not enough to buy any when I had to prioritise my purchases.
I only vaguely remembered the music video for “Out of Touch”. Maybe it was edited for TV? It’s a perfectly solid music video for the time, and one of the sort that people can merely listen to rather than watch. As so many were in those days.
Clearly, I wasn’t exactly a super-fan of the group, but neither did I hate their music. I quite liked some of their songs, wasn’t keen on others, and was indifferent to other songs. Not for the first time. Even so, I was kind of sad to find out that the two had a huge falling out last year when Oates sued Hall over selling publishing rights. They both announced that they’d never perform together again, and I’ve read that they won’t even speak to each other. Still, they’re not the first pop music act to fall apart spectacularly, and they’re unlikely to be the last.
”Out of Touch” reached Number 11 in Australia, 4 in Canada (Gold), 27 in New Zealand, 48 in the UK (Silver), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and their “Dance Club Songs” charts, and was also Number 3 on Cash Box. It didn’t receive any certification in the USA.
The album Big Bam Boom reached Number 20 in Australia, 12 in Canada (2x Platinum), 12 in New Zealand, 28 in the UK (Silver), and 5 on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. It was Certified 2x Platinum in the USA.
The post on the final Number One of 1984 will be published on December 22, though there’s likely to be a finale post a day or two later.
Previously in the “Weekend Diversion – 1984” series:
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 1 – January 21, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 2 – February 4, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 3 – February 25, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 4 – March 31, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 5 – April 21, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 6 – May 12, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 7 – May 26, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 8 – June 9, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 9 – June 23, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 10 – July 7, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 11 – August 11, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 12 – September 1, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 13 – September 22, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 14 – September 29, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 15 – October 13, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 16 – November 3, 2024
Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 17 – November 17, 2024
2 comments:
Apparemntly, Simon and Garfunkel made nice this year after decades of acrimony. Art accepted most of the blame.
I totally get why people who once worked very closely together, especially musicians, as well as even good friends, can have a falling out. I just think it's really sad when people like musicians who have worked together to create lots of stuff don't reconcile. Life's too short to carry grudges, but sometimes they just don't end.
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