Album of the Day #175: BIGGER THAN BOTH OF US - Daryl Hall & John Oates

Artist: Daryl Hall & John Oates

Title: Bigger Than Both Of Us

Year: 1976

Label: RCA

Songs: Back Together Again*/Rich Girl**/Crazy Eyes*/Do What You Want, Be What You Are+/Kerry++/London, Luck & Love ^/Room To Breathe^/You'll Never Learn+/Falling**

Written by: *John Oates, **Daryl Hall, +Daryl Hall & John Oates, ++Daryl Hall & Sam Dees and ^Sara Allen, Daryl Hall & John Oates

Produced by: Christopher Bonds

Thoughts: Bigger Than Both Of Us is a good record, showing Hall & Oates at the height of their mid-70s creativity. During this period, they got three hit singles, "She's Gone", "Sara Smile" and "Rich Girl", before languishing at the bottom of the charts, only to come back in the early '80s.

This album might feel a little empty - it's just nine songs and runs barely 35 minutes - but it's got some great material. Aside from "Rich Girl", side one is pretty bland, with the really cheese-ball "Do What You Want, Be What You Are" and John's terrible '60s tribute opener "Back Together Again". It does end with "Kerry", which is a lot better than the side two opener, "London, Luck & Love". The rest of side two actually features a string of great songs. Daryl's rocker "Room To Breathe" and John's really cool "You'll Never Learn" are great. Daryl's extended closer, "Falling", is pretty interesting. It's kind of like "Everytime I Look At You" on Abandoned Luncheonette except with synthesizers.

There's really not much to say about this record other than it's a cool one and if you like Hall & Oates, you should have no problem enjoying this one.