1 00:00:15,476 --> 00:00:22,356 Speaker 1: Pushkin. John Oates is, of course, one half of one 2 00:00:22,396 --> 00:00:25,836 Speaker 1: of the best selling pop duos in history, Hollan Oates. 3 00:00:26,476 --> 00:00:29,156 Speaker 1: But before forming Hallan Notes and defining the late seventies 4 00:00:29,156 --> 00:00:31,996 Speaker 1: and eighties with their signature sound, John was steeped in 5 00:00:32,076 --> 00:00:35,316 Speaker 1: folk and delta blues, a sound he returns to on 6 00:00:35,396 --> 00:00:39,116 Speaker 1: his new self titled solo album. On today's episode, I 7 00:00:39,156 --> 00:00:41,276 Speaker 1: talked with John about the making of that new album, 8 00:00:41,516 --> 00:00:44,396 Speaker 1: including the songwriting skills he's honed over years of playing 9 00:00:44,396 --> 00:00:47,876 Speaker 1: with top Nashville musicians. He also shares a story of 10 00:00:47,916 --> 00:00:51,236 Speaker 1: how he wound up playing Mississippi John Hurt's acoustic guitar 11 00:00:51,356 --> 00:00:54,196 Speaker 1: on the first two Hall and Oates records, and the 12 00:00:54,236 --> 00:00:57,756 Speaker 1: moment backstage at the Apollo Theater in Harlem when he realized, 13 00:00:57,796 --> 00:01:00,516 Speaker 1: after performing with the Temptations that Hall of Oates had 14 00:01:00,556 --> 00:01:07,596 Speaker 1: truly come full circle. This is broken record, real musicians, 15 00:01:07,836 --> 00:01:16,156 Speaker 1: real conversation. Here's my conversation with John Oates. You can 16 00:01:16,196 --> 00:01:18,276 Speaker 1: see the full video of this interview at YouTube dot 17 00:01:18,316 --> 00:01:22,316 Speaker 1: com slash Broken Record Podcast. John Oates, thanks. 18 00:01:22,156 --> 00:01:24,036 Speaker 2: For being here, man, well, thank you, thanks for having me. 19 00:01:24,116 --> 00:01:28,076 Speaker 1: Real pleasure to have you here. Yeah, and you're you're 20 00:01:28,116 --> 00:01:30,316 Speaker 1: you have a bit of a cold. I do you 21 00:01:30,356 --> 00:01:33,116 Speaker 1: want a new guitar? But that's no excuse. No, you're 22 00:01:33,116 --> 00:01:33,956 Speaker 1: a professional. 23 00:01:34,116 --> 00:01:36,556 Speaker 2: I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna bring it. 24 00:01:38,036 --> 00:01:39,356 Speaker 1: So you're are you going to do? 25 00:01:39,596 --> 00:01:39,716 Speaker 3: Uh? 26 00:01:40,076 --> 00:01:41,436 Speaker 1: Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee. 27 00:01:41,516 --> 00:01:44,396 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well I'm really uh. I'm really thrilled that you 28 00:01:44,596 --> 00:01:46,996 Speaker 2: actually know, first of all, know that song, and second 29 00:01:46,996 --> 00:01:48,596 Speaker 2: of all that you requested it. Yeah, it's one of 30 00:01:48,676 --> 00:01:50,916 Speaker 2: my favorites. Can I tell you a little story about 31 00:01:50,916 --> 00:01:51,436 Speaker 2: it really quick? 32 00:01:51,476 --> 00:01:52,116 Speaker 1: Please? Please. 33 00:01:52,436 --> 00:01:54,836 Speaker 2: It was during the pandemic and I was out in 34 00:01:54,876 --> 00:01:57,956 Speaker 2: Colorado spending some time out there, and I ran into 35 00:01:58,076 --> 00:01:59,916 Speaker 2: a neighbor of mine that I'm known for over twenty 36 00:01:59,996 --> 00:02:03,556 Speaker 2: years out in Woody Creek and we started talking, you know, 37 00:02:03,596 --> 00:02:06,076 Speaker 2: because nothing was going on, you know, and nobody was recording. 38 00:02:06,316 --> 00:02:08,956 Speaker 2: And he's a great lyricist. He's written songs for John 39 00:02:09,156 --> 00:02:11,476 Speaker 2: and he even wrote a lyric for Frank Sinatra. 40 00:02:11,596 --> 00:02:11,796 Speaker 1: What. 41 00:02:12,276 --> 00:02:17,156 Speaker 2: Yeah, he's his name is Joe Henry and fantastic guy. 42 00:02:17,236 --> 00:02:19,156 Speaker 2: And he said, man, he goes, We've known each other 43 00:02:19,156 --> 00:02:21,156 Speaker 2: for twenty years, never wrote a song together. And I said, 44 00:02:21,356 --> 00:02:22,996 Speaker 2: I said, man, I got time on my hands, let's 45 00:02:22,996 --> 00:02:24,676 Speaker 2: do it. And so he came up to our little 46 00:02:24,676 --> 00:02:27,396 Speaker 2: cabin and we sat down, and you know, songwriters always, 47 00:02:27,716 --> 00:02:29,636 Speaker 2: you know, it's kind of hard to get started sometimes 48 00:02:29,636 --> 00:02:31,836 Speaker 2: you don't know where you're going to start, right, And 49 00:02:32,156 --> 00:02:34,836 Speaker 2: we start talking about the Blues because I was a fan, 50 00:02:34,916 --> 00:02:37,836 Speaker 2: and everything started talking about Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, 51 00:02:37,876 --> 00:02:41,116 Speaker 2: the great, the legendary blues duo. And he said, you know, 52 00:02:41,476 --> 00:02:43,316 Speaker 2: he said, you know, the story about what happened to 53 00:02:43,356 --> 00:02:45,436 Speaker 2: them as they got, you know, on in their career. 54 00:02:45,796 --> 00:02:50,156 Speaker 2: They really started to dislike each other. They had bad issues. Yeah, 55 00:02:50,236 --> 00:02:53,796 Speaker 2: and so but as time went on, one of them 56 00:02:53,836 --> 00:02:56,276 Speaker 2: lost his sight eyesight, and the other one lost this 57 00:02:56,356 --> 00:02:59,516 Speaker 2: ability to walk, and they literally needed each other to 58 00:02:59,556 --> 00:03:02,116 Speaker 2: get on stage, and it kind of brought them together 59 00:03:02,156 --> 00:03:02,476 Speaker 2: in a way. 60 00:03:02,516 --> 00:03:04,196 Speaker 1: And I thought, wow, what a story. 61 00:03:04,236 --> 00:03:06,996 Speaker 2: I said, you know, not only is that an amazing story, 62 00:03:06,996 --> 00:03:10,236 Speaker 2: but it's almost like a metaphor for or kindness and 63 00:03:10,396 --> 00:03:13,796 Speaker 2: lending a helping hand, you know what I mean. And uh, 64 00:03:14,356 --> 00:03:16,236 Speaker 2: I just thought, wow, what a great idea. And so 65 00:03:16,476 --> 00:03:18,516 Speaker 2: we started out to do it. The song kind of 66 00:03:18,556 --> 00:03:22,036 Speaker 2: about them, but it morphed into something greater than that, 67 00:03:22,356 --> 00:03:25,516 Speaker 2: you know, and they became the vehicle for it. 68 00:03:26,476 --> 00:03:28,836 Speaker 1: I have so many questions based on what you just said. 69 00:03:28,876 --> 00:03:31,276 Speaker 1: But if you played the song first time, I would 70 00:03:31,316 --> 00:03:32,036 Speaker 1: like to talk some more. 71 00:03:32,156 --> 00:03:33,836 Speaker 2: Sure you know, I get to try. Like I said, 72 00:03:33,836 --> 00:03:35,276 Speaker 2: I haven't played this in a little while, but I'll 73 00:03:35,276 --> 00:03:50,476 Speaker 2: give it a try, right, I'll you'd be there for me. 74 00:03:53,756 --> 00:03:55,276 Speaker 4: Well, I'll just pass it through. 75 00:03:57,356 --> 00:03:59,596 Speaker 2: Trying to be the best that can be. 76 00:04:01,876 --> 00:04:06,876 Speaker 4: I said, it has that's the funny that he's never 77 00:04:06,996 --> 00:04:16,076 Speaker 4: strong and just that nothing gets the sided by drawing 78 00:04:16,276 --> 00:04:23,716 Speaker 4: lines in the side. Talk about kid and you talk 79 00:04:23,756 --> 00:04:28,316 Speaker 4: about sticks and stones, the philosopher's and fools. It was 80 00:04:28,356 --> 00:04:33,996 Speaker 4: little dish with loaded barmable rubber to Roger to the gaping. 81 00:04:34,156 --> 00:04:41,996 Speaker 4: But when they're d it's selling its in different kitties. 82 00:04:43,796 --> 00:04:45,436 Speaker 4: He'll keep on drinking them. 83 00:04:45,436 --> 00:04:49,596 Speaker 5: About what a dicky Walter. 84 00:04:52,436 --> 00:04:58,636 Speaker 6: If you'll see it for me, sit selling it telling 85 00:05:02,476 --> 00:05:07,276 Speaker 6: key kind of suffect. 86 00:05:10,076 --> 00:05:15,676 Speaker 4: It's amazing leg stop saying that. 87 00:05:15,796 --> 00:05:16,796 Speaker 1: Can't had done not. 88 00:05:18,876 --> 00:05:24,316 Speaker 4: So I say him, yes it can. When you're stopping 89 00:05:24,356 --> 00:05:29,676 Speaker 4: moving through the darkness, we chat home. Poon up the 90 00:05:29,876 --> 00:05:37,876 Speaker 4: house that will bring us world begin and that's worth 91 00:05:37,956 --> 00:05:46,596 Speaker 4: striving for us. Wine this believing until the truth is gone. 92 00:05:47,316 --> 00:05:51,076 Speaker 6: He ain't learn loud again over his author carrying on 93 00:05:51,356 --> 00:05:55,756 Speaker 6: the long dark night, but we'll wake up to the 94 00:05:55,916 --> 00:05:56,876 Speaker 6: bright up dark. 95 00:05:58,556 --> 00:06:01,476 Speaker 4: Just keep on, he's saying. 96 00:06:01,276 --> 00:06:01,756 Speaker 7: Blue. 97 00:06:03,636 --> 00:06:07,156 Speaker 4: Keys, and keep on dreaming bad. 98 00:06:07,276 --> 00:06:07,836 Speaker 8: That could be. 99 00:06:10,356 --> 00:06:24,516 Speaker 9: Waf you'll see for me, said Sunny, brothers are getting. 100 00:06:33,196 --> 00:06:35,716 Speaker 4: I'll talk about to Reaven, talk about. 101 00:06:35,556 --> 00:06:38,956 Speaker 2: Sticks and stocks, philosopher's influence. 102 00:06:39,476 --> 00:06:42,476 Speaker 3: It was in Guys were loaded on Did a minute 103 00:06:42,716 --> 00:06:45,916 Speaker 3: Brother to brother get to the third birthday? 104 00:06:50,636 --> 00:07:16,996 Speaker 10: This singing the book was in the key said Sunny try. 105 00:07:18,036 --> 00:07:20,356 Speaker 2: Amazing, thank you mans. I haven't played that in a 106 00:07:20,396 --> 00:07:20,916 Speaker 2: little while, so. 107 00:07:21,476 --> 00:07:25,556 Speaker 1: It was What I love about that is it's it's 108 00:07:25,796 --> 00:07:28,876 Speaker 1: the pandemics about when I discovered that song, because you 109 00:07:28,916 --> 00:07:30,556 Speaker 1: know it was it was around that time when everyone 110 00:07:30,676 --> 00:07:34,596 Speaker 1: was just clicking onto different live streams and had some 111 00:07:34,676 --> 00:07:37,236 Speaker 1: time on your hands, had some time and I don't 112 00:07:37,236 --> 00:07:39,396 Speaker 1: know what last stream was, but I remember watching you 113 00:07:39,596 --> 00:07:41,676 Speaker 1: play that. At some point I say, that's a really 114 00:07:41,756 --> 00:07:45,676 Speaker 1: cool video live in the studio, so so cool. And 115 00:07:46,276 --> 00:07:50,076 Speaker 1: it's when I realized you were like a I never 116 00:07:50,756 --> 00:07:54,156 Speaker 1: you know, with Holland Oates, with you and Daryl Hall. 117 00:07:54,316 --> 00:07:56,676 Speaker 1: You think of course soul music R and B. So 118 00:07:56,756 --> 00:07:59,476 Speaker 1: I know it's there, but never really pegged you as 119 00:07:59,716 --> 00:08:02,636 Speaker 1: either of you as like blues guys or or folk guys. 120 00:08:02,676 --> 00:08:05,556 Speaker 1: But you know, and that's a that's like a it's 121 00:08:05,596 --> 00:08:10,156 Speaker 1: a rootsy song but harmonically interesting, which not to say, 122 00:08:10,276 --> 00:08:12,956 Speaker 1: you know, the blues isn't really always I know, it's 123 00:08:12,996 --> 00:08:15,556 Speaker 1: so it's like that's a really cool blend of what 124 00:08:15,676 --> 00:08:18,796 Speaker 1: people know you for in your career and and then 125 00:08:18,876 --> 00:08:20,396 Speaker 1: this interesting part of you that I don't think a 126 00:08:20,436 --> 00:08:21,716 Speaker 1: lot of people know about. You know. 127 00:08:21,916 --> 00:08:25,036 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, you know, as a kid, that was my 128 00:08:25,196 --> 00:08:30,636 Speaker 2: sweet spot. Folk music, rural blues, Delta blues, roots, American 129 00:08:30,716 --> 00:08:33,436 Speaker 2: roots music. And that's kind of when I met Daryl Hall. 130 00:08:33,476 --> 00:08:35,836 Speaker 2: That's kind of what I brought to the table. I 131 00:08:36,036 --> 00:08:39,836 Speaker 2: was more of an acoustic guitar player. And then you know, Darryl, 132 00:08:40,036 --> 00:08:42,316 Speaker 2: you know, had a different set of influences and we 133 00:08:42,476 --> 00:08:45,036 Speaker 2: kind of combined things together. He learned from me, and 134 00:08:45,156 --> 00:08:49,316 Speaker 2: I learned from him, and you know, that became the collaboration, 135 00:08:49,556 --> 00:08:52,276 Speaker 2: became our sound and eventually, you know, was. 136 00:08:52,316 --> 00:08:54,596 Speaker 1: He was he into? Like were you both into what 137 00:08:54,676 --> 00:08:56,796 Speaker 1: each other had? Like in terms of was he into 138 00:08:56,836 --> 00:08:58,396 Speaker 1: listening to blues? And were you no? 139 00:08:58,716 --> 00:09:01,236 Speaker 2: No, no, no, he was into street corner doo wop singing, 140 00:09:01,316 --> 00:09:03,876 Speaker 2: and also he was classically trained. Yeah, he sang in 141 00:09:03,956 --> 00:09:05,756 Speaker 2: the church and that kind of thing. And he was 142 00:09:05,796 --> 00:09:08,516 Speaker 2: a piano player, and so I was, you know, I 143 00:09:08,596 --> 00:09:11,076 Speaker 2: was a prettyly acoustic guitar and I had all the 144 00:09:11,196 --> 00:09:14,556 Speaker 2: rootsy stuff happening, and so he picked up a mandolin 145 00:09:14,596 --> 00:09:16,156 Speaker 2: because he wanted to learn some of that stuff. So 146 00:09:16,276 --> 00:09:18,916 Speaker 2: we started playing bluegrass and things like that, and then 147 00:09:18,956 --> 00:09:22,836 Speaker 2: I learned some very more sophisticated chord voicings and stuff 148 00:09:22,876 --> 00:09:25,476 Speaker 2: from him because of his great piano playing. 149 00:09:25,716 --> 00:09:28,596 Speaker 1: Wow. I went on a journey after like discovering that song, 150 00:09:29,116 --> 00:09:31,836 Speaker 1: and I went back and I found an old recording 151 00:09:31,876 --> 00:09:35,636 Speaker 1: you guys did of Deep River Blues, which is Doc 152 00:09:35,716 --> 00:09:36,476 Speaker 1: Watson stuff. 153 00:09:36,596 --> 00:09:36,716 Speaker 3: Right. 154 00:10:04,556 --> 00:10:08,076 Speaker 1: Oh, man, is it true you learned that from Doc Watson? 155 00:10:08,356 --> 00:10:10,516 Speaker 2: Well, I learned it from his record initially, but I 156 00:10:10,556 --> 00:10:14,356 Speaker 2: actually met him and his son, Merle, and you know, 157 00:10:14,476 --> 00:10:17,676 Speaker 2: through I had a teacher, a guitar teacher in Philadelphia 158 00:10:17,996 --> 00:10:20,916 Speaker 2: who became started as a teacher, who became a mentor 159 00:10:21,116 --> 00:10:23,436 Speaker 2: friend and actually played on the first two Hole of 160 00:10:23,516 --> 00:10:27,876 Speaker 2: Notes albums as well. And he he worked at a 161 00:10:27,956 --> 00:10:31,116 Speaker 2: coffee house during the sixties when the Folk Revival was happening. 162 00:10:31,636 --> 00:10:34,596 Speaker 2: So when a lot of these are these original artists, 163 00:10:34,996 --> 00:10:38,076 Speaker 2: everyone from people like Doc and people like Mississippi John 164 00:10:38,116 --> 00:10:40,916 Speaker 2: Hurt and Sunny Terry and Brownie McGee, all these folks 165 00:10:40,996 --> 00:10:43,876 Speaker 2: were being rediscovered and brought up to the northern cities, 166 00:10:44,236 --> 00:10:47,476 Speaker 2: you know, during the folk Revival. He got to meet them, 167 00:10:47,556 --> 00:10:49,236 Speaker 2: and eventually, you know, they would stay at his house 168 00:10:49,276 --> 00:10:51,636 Speaker 2: because of course a lot of especially the blues guys, 169 00:10:51,676 --> 00:10:54,356 Speaker 2: come coming up from the Mississippi Delta. They had no money, 170 00:10:54,396 --> 00:10:56,316 Speaker 2: they didn't know even had to live in a city 171 00:10:56,436 --> 00:10:59,116 Speaker 2: or go to a hotel much less. Right, So I 172 00:10:59,196 --> 00:11:01,356 Speaker 2: would go over to take lessons and you know, Mississippi 173 00:11:01,436 --> 00:11:03,236 Speaker 2: John Hurt would be there sitting on his couch. And 174 00:11:03,716 --> 00:11:07,076 Speaker 2: so I learned from the originators of all this stuff, 175 00:11:07,276 --> 00:11:09,236 Speaker 2: and that's why I can do all this stuff. Of 176 00:11:09,276 --> 00:11:13,356 Speaker 2: people didn't realize that you met Mississippi John Hurt. Oh yeah, what, Yeah, 177 00:11:13,396 --> 00:11:15,756 Speaker 2: I have his guitar. What I have the guitar that 178 00:11:15,796 --> 00:11:17,796 Speaker 2: he played at Newport in nineteen sixty three when he 179 00:11:17,876 --> 00:11:20,156 Speaker 2: was discovered Get out of Yeah, how did you get that? 180 00:11:20,716 --> 00:11:20,836 Speaker 1: Oh? 181 00:11:21,036 --> 00:11:26,716 Speaker 2: Through a circuitous way, my guitar teacher Jerry Rix. After well, 182 00:11:26,756 --> 00:11:28,836 Speaker 2: when he took John Hurt around, he took him to 183 00:11:28,916 --> 00:11:31,956 Speaker 2: Newport Folk Festival, Philly Folk Festival, and he helped him out. 184 00:11:33,076 --> 00:11:35,836 Speaker 2: So when John Hurt died, the guitar that he was 185 00:11:35,916 --> 00:11:38,956 Speaker 2: given because when John Hurt was invited to Newport for 186 00:11:39,036 --> 00:11:40,836 Speaker 2: the first time, he did not even have a guitar. 187 00:11:41,036 --> 00:11:41,276 Speaker 1: Wow. 188 00:11:41,436 --> 00:11:43,276 Speaker 2: So they took him to New York and took him 189 00:11:43,276 --> 00:11:45,516 Speaker 2: to the Greenwich Village to a guitar shop and they 190 00:11:45,556 --> 00:11:48,836 Speaker 2: said pick something, and he picked this Guild guitar, Guild 191 00:11:48,956 --> 00:11:52,716 Speaker 2: F thirty and that was the guitar he played initially 192 00:11:52,796 --> 00:11:55,796 Speaker 2: at Newport. And then of course the Guild company gave 193 00:11:55,876 --> 00:11:59,516 Speaker 2: him a different guitar later on. So, but when John 194 00:11:59,596 --> 00:12:03,396 Speaker 2: Hurt died, that guitar was given to my teacher, Jerry Rix. 195 00:12:04,076 --> 00:12:07,796 Speaker 2: And Jerry went to Denver and he was working out 196 00:12:07,836 --> 00:12:10,356 Speaker 2: there before he kind of atriated to Europe and never 197 00:12:10,436 --> 00:12:12,836 Speaker 2: came back. And at the time he sold it to 198 00:12:12,916 --> 00:12:14,916 Speaker 2: a collector out there who kept it in his basement 199 00:12:14,996 --> 00:12:19,916 Speaker 2: for thirty five forty years and the guy died and 200 00:12:20,196 --> 00:12:24,956 Speaker 2: his daughter had read where I well, actually, I know 201 00:12:25,036 --> 00:12:27,636 Speaker 2: I'm going back a little bit backwards, back in seventy 202 00:12:27,676 --> 00:12:30,676 Speaker 2: two when Darryl and I were first signed to Atlantic Records, 203 00:12:31,276 --> 00:12:33,116 Speaker 2: going up to New York to make the first album, 204 00:12:33,276 --> 00:12:35,596 Speaker 2: and I wanted Jerry to play with me because we 205 00:12:35,676 --> 00:12:38,316 Speaker 2: played together so well, and he said, you want me 206 00:12:38,396 --> 00:12:40,196 Speaker 2: to bring to John Hurt guitar so you can play it. 207 00:12:40,316 --> 00:12:42,796 Speaker 2: So on the first two Hollow Notes albums, I'm playing 208 00:12:42,796 --> 00:12:44,436 Speaker 2: Misissippi John Hurt's acoustic guitar. 209 00:12:45,116 --> 00:12:46,396 Speaker 1: Yeah, we do you know what songs? 210 00:12:46,716 --> 00:12:46,876 Speaker 4: Yeah? 211 00:12:46,956 --> 00:12:49,156 Speaker 2: Had I known you better than on the Abandon Luncheonette, 212 00:12:49,316 --> 00:12:52,876 Speaker 2: all the songs on the whole Oats album, anything that 213 00:12:52,996 --> 00:12:56,396 Speaker 2: I'm playing acoustic guitar on, I'm playing that guitar. And 214 00:12:57,436 --> 00:13:01,796 Speaker 2: so then so it was in a collection and the 215 00:13:01,876 --> 00:13:04,836 Speaker 2: guy's daughter, I guess, just wanted to sell whatever he 216 00:13:04,996 --> 00:13:08,676 Speaker 2: had had read about the fact that I used that guitar, 217 00:13:09,836 --> 00:13:11,916 Speaker 2: reached out and then I bought it. 218 00:13:12,516 --> 00:13:14,636 Speaker 1: That's incredible. It's amazing that it landed to like it 219 00:13:14,756 --> 00:13:18,196 Speaker 1: was in your home stage. Yes, what's crazy, so convenient, 220 00:13:18,876 --> 00:13:22,356 Speaker 1: that's insane. I mean, you guys are like both of you, 221 00:13:22,516 --> 00:13:25,236 Speaker 1: you guys, you know by the way, I'm sure you do. 222 00:13:25,316 --> 00:13:28,756 Speaker 1: You hate at this point that you know, I keep 223 00:13:28,796 --> 00:13:32,156 Speaker 1: saying you but you know, you guys are tied by career. 224 00:13:32,436 --> 00:13:33,956 Speaker 2: Even we're tied by a lot of things. 225 00:13:34,076 --> 00:13:35,716 Speaker 1: The terms aren't so friendly these days. 226 00:13:35,756 --> 00:13:39,436 Speaker 2: But you know, hey, listen, people grow up, they grow up, 227 00:13:39,476 --> 00:13:44,076 Speaker 2: they grow apart. You know, Darryl and I we made 228 00:13:44,116 --> 00:13:46,996 Speaker 2: something very special. We made something that that you know, 229 00:13:47,556 --> 00:13:50,356 Speaker 2: I'm very proud of the music we made, the experiences 230 00:13:50,396 --> 00:13:53,396 Speaker 2: we had. It's a miracle that we stayed together for 231 00:13:53,476 --> 00:13:56,996 Speaker 2: fifty years. I mean, come on, most people, that's unheard of. Yeah, 232 00:13:57,916 --> 00:14:00,396 Speaker 2: and you know, I have great, great memory, and I'm 233 00:14:00,516 --> 00:14:03,236 Speaker 2: really really proud and honored to have been part of 234 00:14:03,316 --> 00:14:06,636 Speaker 2: this incredible collaboration, made some music. I think we'll stand 235 00:14:06,676 --> 00:14:09,356 Speaker 2: the test of time. But by the same tone, can 236 00:14:10,036 --> 00:14:12,276 Speaker 2: you know I can't stay. It's like going to a 237 00:14:12,356 --> 00:14:14,956 Speaker 2: great museum. You know, you're all excited about going to 238 00:14:14,996 --> 00:14:16,876 Speaker 2: the museum. You're walking there also on your feet, start 239 00:14:16,876 --> 00:14:19,236 Speaker 2: getting tired and said, damn, how many how many of these? 240 00:14:19,316 --> 00:14:21,636 Speaker 2: How many these masterpieces gonna look at? I gotta get 241 00:14:21,636 --> 00:14:21,996 Speaker 2: out of here. 242 00:14:23,356 --> 00:14:28,396 Speaker 1: It's an incredible annalogy. It's weird, but there might be 243 00:14:28,436 --> 00:14:31,356 Speaker 1: a song in that one. Yeah, but you know, you guys, 244 00:14:31,436 --> 00:14:33,276 Speaker 1: and I'll just say, you know you guys are. 245 00:14:33,236 --> 00:14:36,996 Speaker 7: Like, you know, your career, you guys are like a millions, 246 00:14:37,076 --> 00:14:40,556 Speaker 7: you know, like there's this connection you have to these 247 00:14:40,636 --> 00:14:43,476 Speaker 7: blues grates, which I never did not know that that's 248 00:14:43,596 --> 00:14:44,196 Speaker 7: that's it's real. 249 00:14:45,196 --> 00:14:47,676 Speaker 1: And then you know, if you think about there was 250 00:14:47,756 --> 00:14:50,196 Speaker 1: like this very specific New York City scene that you 251 00:14:50,236 --> 00:14:53,276 Speaker 1: guys got to experience in this very specific LA scene 252 00:14:53,356 --> 00:14:55,596 Speaker 1: that you guys got to experience much less, you know, 253 00:14:55,716 --> 00:14:58,316 Speaker 1: going back to Philly. And so you guys just have 254 00:14:58,436 --> 00:15:03,796 Speaker 1: had these really unique like almost like uh you know, 255 00:15:03,996 --> 00:15:07,276 Speaker 1: like musical uh what do you call that? Like not Senghali's, 256 00:15:07,356 --> 00:15:10,356 Speaker 1: but you know, like that's at that far. You know, 257 00:15:10,636 --> 00:15:13,476 Speaker 1: you just happened to turn up at all these kind 258 00:15:13,516 --> 00:15:15,196 Speaker 1: of interesting we unctures. 259 00:15:15,356 --> 00:15:17,996 Speaker 2: We had a lot of, you know, our our individual 260 00:15:18,196 --> 00:15:23,716 Speaker 2: musical influences are when we were kids. Daryl lived about 261 00:15:23,716 --> 00:15:26,276 Speaker 2: twenty miles from where I grew up in Pennsylvania outside 262 00:15:26,276 --> 00:15:29,916 Speaker 2: of Philadelphia, in small towns, but we listened to the 263 00:15:29,956 --> 00:15:34,516 Speaker 2: same radio stations and so when we met, even though 264 00:15:34,556 --> 00:15:37,876 Speaker 2: we didn't know each other, we had this common musical 265 00:15:39,276 --> 00:15:42,796 Speaker 2: lexicon that we could draw from. We knew these same songs, 266 00:15:42,956 --> 00:15:45,676 Speaker 2: the same artists, the same we could draw from those 267 00:15:45,756 --> 00:15:48,596 Speaker 2: things as a common ground, common musical ground, even though 268 00:15:48,836 --> 00:15:50,676 Speaker 2: he was very different than me and I was very 269 00:15:50,716 --> 00:15:53,836 Speaker 2: different from him. And that's what we used to become 270 00:15:54,076 --> 00:15:57,036 Speaker 2: what we became. And then during that period of time, 271 00:15:57,116 --> 00:15:59,996 Speaker 2: you know, when you're part of a partnership, you you 272 00:16:00,116 --> 00:16:04,516 Speaker 2: subjugate a certain part of your not only your personality, 273 00:16:04,596 --> 00:16:07,956 Speaker 2: but your musical personality for the good of the whole, 274 00:16:08,116 --> 00:16:09,876 Speaker 2: you know, for the good of the the team, so 275 00:16:09,996 --> 00:16:15,356 Speaker 2: to speak. And so I set the folky rootsie stuff aside, 276 00:16:15,476 --> 00:16:17,516 Speaker 2: really and it was always there, you know, I'd sit 277 00:16:17,556 --> 00:16:19,236 Speaker 2: in the dressing room and I'd be playing this kind 278 00:16:19,276 --> 00:16:21,276 Speaker 2: of stuff all the time. But you know, it was 279 00:16:21,356 --> 00:16:24,156 Speaker 2: never featured in the in the music. 280 00:16:23,956 --> 00:16:26,476 Speaker 1: That we made. But you to your point, on those 281 00:16:26,516 --> 00:16:29,556 Speaker 1: first two albums, you can get it to a decrease. 282 00:16:29,636 --> 00:16:31,596 Speaker 2: We were trying to find ourselves. We didn't know who 283 00:16:31,676 --> 00:16:34,076 Speaker 2: we were we could be. And it really wasn't until 284 00:16:34,076 --> 00:16:37,076 Speaker 2: the Silver Album, which we recorded here in Los Angeles, 285 00:16:37,516 --> 00:16:40,636 Speaker 2: that a sound kind of began a coalesce. And then 286 00:16:40,676 --> 00:16:42,596 Speaker 2: of course it developed during the seventies and then in 287 00:16:42,636 --> 00:16:44,356 Speaker 2: the eighties it hit its stride. 288 00:16:44,716 --> 00:16:48,636 Speaker 1: Right right after this break. We'll be back with John Oates. 289 00:16:52,836 --> 00:16:56,156 Speaker 1: I always wondered, and you know it's mast Is first. 290 00:16:56,156 --> 00:16:58,996 Speaker 1: There so many things to ask With the Silver album, 291 00:16:59,796 --> 00:17:01,596 Speaker 1: you guys were, like, to your point, in search of 292 00:17:01,636 --> 00:17:04,636 Speaker 1: a sound not successful but not quite yet, kind of 293 00:17:04,756 --> 00:17:10,076 Speaker 1: over the edge. If Sarah Smile hadn't randomly become a single, 294 00:17:10,116 --> 00:17:13,276 Speaker 1: I mean, and it wasn't to say randomly randomly, It 295 00:17:13,316 --> 00:17:15,396 Speaker 1: wasn't even released as a single. Just radio picked it up. 296 00:17:15,436 --> 00:17:17,836 Speaker 1: That's right. People kept calling radio plays it some more. 297 00:17:17,956 --> 00:17:19,716 Speaker 1: I said, okay, we better put it out at the record. 298 00:17:19,516 --> 00:17:21,436 Speaker 2: Company finally said, hey, we've better release because we had 299 00:17:21,476 --> 00:17:23,116 Speaker 2: released two or three singles prior to that. 300 00:17:24,076 --> 00:17:26,316 Speaker 1: They did okay, good songs, but they didn't hit yeah, 301 00:17:27,276 --> 00:17:30,556 Speaker 1: or didn't hit quite, didn't hit like that. So would 302 00:17:30,596 --> 00:17:33,516 Speaker 1: you guys have kept searching at that point, I mean 303 00:17:33,596 --> 00:17:36,316 Speaker 1: not that you guys. Would you have continued to try 304 00:17:36,396 --> 00:17:40,436 Speaker 1: to find a sound that resonated with audiences. 305 00:17:40,756 --> 00:17:42,996 Speaker 2: I think we would have. I think we would have. Well, 306 00:17:43,076 --> 00:17:45,676 Speaker 2: let's put it this way. We we had made what 307 00:17:46,076 --> 00:17:48,036 Speaker 2: at that point when Sarah Smile hit. That was the 308 00:17:48,236 --> 00:17:51,876 Speaker 2: fourth album so three on Atlantic Records, three and a half. 309 00:17:51,916 --> 00:17:53,636 Speaker 2: Because they put out a kind of the greatest non 310 00:17:53,716 --> 00:17:56,876 Speaker 2: hits record called No Goodbyes. But the fact that Atlantic 311 00:17:56,956 --> 00:18:01,116 Speaker 2: stuck with us with no real success commercial success was real. 312 00:18:01,196 --> 00:18:03,076 Speaker 2: But what that was a that was a hallmark of 313 00:18:03,156 --> 00:18:05,996 Speaker 2: the time. You know, if a record company signed you 314 00:18:06,116 --> 00:18:08,996 Speaker 2: in those days, they they signed you because they thought 315 00:18:09,036 --> 00:18:11,516 Speaker 2: you could have a career, they thought you could do 316 00:18:11,836 --> 00:18:15,596 Speaker 2: you know, it wasn't just predicated on instant commercial success 317 00:18:15,716 --> 00:18:19,436 Speaker 2: like it is today. So very fortunate to have grown 318 00:18:19,516 --> 00:18:22,196 Speaker 2: up in that era, right. And then when Sarah Smile 319 00:18:22,316 --> 00:18:26,196 Speaker 2: hit that, we had already switched to RCAA Records, and 320 00:18:26,356 --> 00:18:29,116 Speaker 2: so then we began to really now, okay, now we 321 00:18:29,196 --> 00:18:30,756 Speaker 2: got something going here. And then of course we had 322 00:18:30,836 --> 00:18:33,556 Speaker 2: Rich Girl, and then they re released it She's Gone 323 00:18:33,596 --> 00:18:36,236 Speaker 2: for the third time, and that finally became a hit too. 324 00:18:36,356 --> 00:18:38,396 Speaker 1: So we had that run in the mid seventies, right, 325 00:18:38,556 --> 00:18:40,956 Speaker 1: and to that point of fostering talent over the long term, 326 00:18:41,516 --> 00:18:44,116 Speaker 1: She's Gone finally becomes a hit, and it's also seems 327 00:18:44,156 --> 00:18:46,796 Speaker 1: to be one of the most enduring of the entire 328 00:18:47,196 --> 00:18:51,996 Speaker 1: catalog some way, What what why? What preceded that switch 329 00:18:52,036 --> 00:18:55,276 Speaker 1: from Atlantic to RCA Because it always to the guys 330 00:18:55,316 --> 00:18:58,076 Speaker 1: were perfect for us, business, just purely business. 331 00:18:59,596 --> 00:19:02,036 Speaker 2: We had so we made you got to look at 332 00:19:02,036 --> 00:19:04,076 Speaker 2: it this way. We made the album called hol Looas, 333 00:19:04,116 --> 00:19:07,356 Speaker 2: which is very folky, very singer songwriter. It was it 334 00:19:07,476 --> 00:19:10,156 Speaker 2: was really just that some songs Daryl had, some songs 335 00:19:10,196 --> 00:19:12,556 Speaker 2: that I had, and we were just like, Okay, we've 336 00:19:12,556 --> 00:19:14,716 Speaker 2: got a record country, We've got to do something. We'll 337 00:19:14,716 --> 00:19:17,316 Speaker 2: play these because that's what we got. It really wasn't 338 00:19:17,356 --> 00:19:19,676 Speaker 2: until the abandoned Luncheon Net that we made an album 339 00:19:19,796 --> 00:19:23,516 Speaker 2: that really was coherent, you know, in terms of the vibe. 340 00:19:24,196 --> 00:19:26,516 Speaker 2: And so then we did those two albums, neither of 341 00:19:26,676 --> 00:19:30,356 Speaker 2: which were commercially successful. So we went and just did 342 00:19:30,396 --> 00:19:33,116 Speaker 2: a left turn and did a progressive rock album with 343 00:19:33,156 --> 00:19:34,116 Speaker 2: Todd Runggerns. 344 00:19:33,796 --> 00:19:34,516 Speaker 1: Both war babies. 345 00:19:34,596 --> 00:19:38,836 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you know, we had no mandate to keep 346 00:19:38,876 --> 00:19:41,316 Speaker 2: doing the same things. Well, if people don't like what 347 00:19:41,356 --> 00:19:43,996 Speaker 2: we're doing, was just do something else. And then you know, 348 00:19:44,156 --> 00:19:46,756 Speaker 2: then at that point, I think Atlantic had signed the 349 00:19:46,796 --> 00:19:49,956 Speaker 2: average White band and they kind of had that thing 350 00:19:50,036 --> 00:19:53,236 Speaker 2: that they wanted from us. And I love the I 351 00:19:53,316 --> 00:19:56,756 Speaker 2: love those guys, but it just seemed like we had 352 00:19:56,876 --> 00:19:59,516 Speaker 2: broken the mold there and I love Atlantic Records, and 353 00:19:59,516 --> 00:20:01,076 Speaker 2: I was really proud to be part of that and 354 00:20:01,516 --> 00:20:04,356 Speaker 2: be with a Reef Mardin, the great producer. But then 355 00:20:04,396 --> 00:20:06,076 Speaker 2: we you know, we got a better deal at RCA, 356 00:20:06,316 --> 00:20:08,396 Speaker 2: so we jumped ship and there you go. 357 00:20:08,836 --> 00:20:11,756 Speaker 1: Did you you hear from anyone at Atlantic when the 358 00:20:11,876 --> 00:20:13,796 Speaker 1: Silver album ended up doing what it did. 359 00:20:13,956 --> 00:20:16,516 Speaker 2: No, they just immediately released She's Gone Again. 360 00:20:17,596 --> 00:20:18,956 Speaker 1: So you know that there was a bit of them 361 00:20:19,036 --> 00:20:22,276 Speaker 1: that was, hey, you know what, I'm glad they did. Yeah, yeah, 362 00:20:22,556 --> 00:20:24,036 Speaker 1: I read at that time too, when you guys were 363 00:20:24,476 --> 00:20:27,276 Speaker 1: looking you leaving Atlantic, You're going to go somewhere else. 364 00:20:27,516 --> 00:20:31,356 Speaker 1: You guys met with Clive Davis. 365 00:20:32,476 --> 00:20:33,276 Speaker 2: That wasn't until later. 366 00:20:33,316 --> 00:20:35,236 Speaker 1: It wasn't untill later. Okay, you did meet with Clive 367 00:20:35,356 --> 00:20:35,636 Speaker 1: the time. 368 00:20:35,716 --> 00:20:38,476 Speaker 2: Timeline's a little off, Sorry, Okay, we met. We met 369 00:20:38,516 --> 00:20:42,796 Speaker 2: with him later on. Actually in the early early eighties, 370 00:20:43,116 --> 00:20:46,156 Speaker 2: when we started to have success on our commercial level, 371 00:20:46,996 --> 00:20:49,316 Speaker 2: it was it was really you know, that's I don't 372 00:20:49,316 --> 00:20:50,516 Speaker 2: even like to talk about it because it was a 373 00:20:50,756 --> 00:20:51,516 Speaker 2: total business thing. 374 00:20:51,556 --> 00:20:51,676 Speaker 3: You know. 375 00:20:51,676 --> 00:20:53,676 Speaker 2: It was our manager. It was our manager looking for 376 00:20:53,756 --> 00:20:54,156 Speaker 2: more money. 377 00:20:54,236 --> 00:20:56,796 Speaker 1: Basically, Okay, all right, let's get these. 378 00:20:56,636 --> 00:20:59,276 Speaker 2: Guys pre signed to another label, even before they can 379 00:20:59,356 --> 00:21:00,316 Speaker 2: leave the label they're own. 380 00:21:00,596 --> 00:21:02,396 Speaker 1: Got it, got it. I was just thinking about it 381 00:21:02,436 --> 00:21:05,036 Speaker 1: because you know an addition, I mean, obviously Atlantic feels 382 00:21:05,076 --> 00:21:06,396 Speaker 1: like it would have been a really good fit for 383 00:21:06,476 --> 00:21:08,316 Speaker 1: your sound, not that our say wasn't. Obviously you guys 384 00:21:08,356 --> 00:21:10,436 Speaker 1: did very well, But then I was also thinking like, 385 00:21:10,436 --> 00:21:12,476 Speaker 1: oh yeah, Clive would be would have been an interesting 386 00:21:12,476 --> 00:21:14,396 Speaker 1: place for you guys to land in away, because I'm sure. 387 00:21:14,396 --> 00:21:16,996 Speaker 2: It didn't work very well with Clive. Clive wanted to 388 00:21:17,236 --> 00:21:20,476 Speaker 2: micromanage the song selection and things like that, but that 389 00:21:20,916 --> 00:21:22,956 Speaker 2: that's what he does and he's very good at it, 390 00:21:22,996 --> 00:21:25,556 Speaker 2: and his track record speaks for itself, of course, but 391 00:21:25,676 --> 00:21:27,516 Speaker 2: with us, it wasn't. It wasn't a good fit. 392 00:21:27,676 --> 00:21:30,516 Speaker 1: Did you ever get that from RCA, that feel of 393 00:21:30,596 --> 00:21:31,076 Speaker 1: they want. 394 00:21:30,956 --> 00:21:33,436 Speaker 2: To We always were able to keep the record labels 395 00:21:33,436 --> 00:21:36,356 Speaker 2: at arm's length. On the creative side. We made the 396 00:21:36,396 --> 00:21:38,356 Speaker 2: albums we wanted to make in the way we wanted 397 00:21:38,396 --> 00:21:41,036 Speaker 2: to make them. We made our album covers, and then 398 00:21:41,076 --> 00:21:43,996 Speaker 2: we just said here, here's here it is, sell it, 399 00:21:44,116 --> 00:21:45,436 Speaker 2: go sell it, figure it out. 400 00:21:45,836 --> 00:21:49,396 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, so you can't do that anymore? Well, no, 401 00:21:49,716 --> 00:21:50,156 Speaker 1: not quite. 402 00:21:50,516 --> 00:21:53,276 Speaker 2: Record labels have their their a little their grubby little 403 00:21:53,316 --> 00:21:53,996 Speaker 2: paws and everything. 404 00:21:54,196 --> 00:21:56,476 Speaker 1: Not not quite. So I want to go back to 405 00:21:56,516 --> 00:21:58,996 Speaker 1: Sunny Terry and BROWNI McGee though, just talk about their 406 00:21:59,036 --> 00:22:02,196 Speaker 1: cue it is I want to go that song. What 407 00:22:02,436 --> 00:22:06,156 Speaker 1: was it like writing that song with Joe Henry, because 408 00:22:06,436 --> 00:22:09,396 Speaker 1: that's a it's not quite how you got You didn't 409 00:22:09,396 --> 00:22:11,916 Speaker 1: really co write you and Darryl so much, right, it 410 00:22:12,036 --> 00:22:13,196 Speaker 1: was more you did. 411 00:22:13,316 --> 00:22:15,836 Speaker 2: Certain certain songs we did and certain songs we didn't. 412 00:22:16,516 --> 00:22:19,156 Speaker 2: It was interesting with Joe Henry. We didn't really know 413 00:22:19,276 --> 00:22:23,436 Speaker 2: each other. He brought up this incredible idea, which immediately 414 00:22:23,596 --> 00:22:26,716 Speaker 2: I realized was not the idea. I realized that the 415 00:22:26,796 --> 00:22:30,356 Speaker 2: idea was a bigger idea then. I think his vision 416 00:22:30,516 --> 00:22:33,956 Speaker 2: was to write a song about them, and I My 417 00:22:34,116 --> 00:22:35,796 Speaker 2: vision was to write a song with them as the 418 00:22:35,916 --> 00:22:39,436 Speaker 2: vehicle for something else. And I don't think Joe actually 419 00:22:39,516 --> 00:22:43,516 Speaker 2: knew what we were writing about, because I knew exactly 420 00:22:43,596 --> 00:22:46,596 Speaker 2: what I wanted to write, and he was there. He's 421 00:22:46,636 --> 00:22:51,156 Speaker 2: a great lyricist, and he kept, you know, kept honing 422 00:22:51,316 --> 00:22:54,676 Speaker 2: and refining, and we'd come up with lines, and you know, 423 00:22:54,876 --> 00:22:58,476 Speaker 2: he was a really really detailed, great detailed guy because 424 00:22:58,476 --> 00:23:00,876 Speaker 2: he's not necessarily a musician. He didn't play an instrument. 425 00:23:01,916 --> 00:23:03,396 Speaker 2: But I knew the whole time that there was a 426 00:23:03,476 --> 00:23:06,956 Speaker 2: bigger idea behind them, and that Sunny Terry and Brownie 427 00:23:06,996 --> 00:23:08,716 Speaker 2: McGee were just the vehicle to get there. 428 00:23:09,636 --> 00:23:12,156 Speaker 1: You're sitting there with the guitar, and so he doesn't play, 429 00:23:12,236 --> 00:23:12,796 Speaker 1: so he's. 430 00:23:12,676 --> 00:23:15,396 Speaker 2: Just he's writing lyrics on a yellow legal pad. 431 00:23:15,236 --> 00:23:17,556 Speaker 1: And you're going through some changes and coming up with changes. 432 00:23:17,636 --> 00:23:20,636 Speaker 2: We're talking about stuff, and then we went away from 433 00:23:20,796 --> 00:23:22,996 Speaker 2: from each other for a while and I started to 434 00:23:23,156 --> 00:23:26,396 Speaker 2: really hone in on the story. And then I come 435 00:23:26,436 --> 00:23:27,796 Speaker 2: back and I play some stuff, and I say what 436 00:23:27,876 --> 00:23:31,836 Speaker 2: about this? You know, and and the lines like you know, 437 00:23:32,516 --> 00:23:36,036 Speaker 2: the stuff like uh, you know, talk about getting even 438 00:23:36,116 --> 00:23:37,636 Speaker 2: talk about sticks and stones. 439 00:23:38,116 --> 00:23:39,636 Speaker 4: Philosophers are full. 440 00:23:39,396 --> 00:23:44,276 Speaker 2: Of rolling dash with loaded bones rather too brother, too 441 00:23:44,476 --> 00:23:46,836 Speaker 2: gay when they're there. 442 00:23:47,796 --> 00:23:48,996 Speaker 1: Gee, I wonder what that's about? 443 00:23:50,396 --> 00:23:50,556 Speaker 2: Is it? 444 00:23:51,276 --> 00:23:52,036 Speaker 1: It's pretty obvious? 445 00:23:52,196 --> 00:23:58,596 Speaker 2: Okay, So I was blending my experience using this great 446 00:23:58,716 --> 00:24:02,076 Speaker 2: idea that Joe came up with to get somewhere else. 447 00:24:02,796 --> 00:24:05,876 Speaker 1: Did Joe not realize it's like, who I'm talking to 448 00:24:05,876 --> 00:24:08,036 Speaker 1: a guy who he realized that after the fact, Okay, 449 00:24:08,276 --> 00:24:10,836 Speaker 1: famous dua. Well he's smart, yeah, yeah, you know. 450 00:24:11,396 --> 00:24:13,876 Speaker 2: But it was just a thing that I It was 451 00:24:14,036 --> 00:24:18,036 Speaker 2: I realized there was this way of saying something without 452 00:24:18,476 --> 00:24:19,196 Speaker 2: being overt. 453 00:24:19,396 --> 00:24:22,876 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, and and to your point also, it's again 454 00:24:22,916 --> 00:24:27,156 Speaker 1: this time day and time where there's a feeling widely 455 00:24:27,676 --> 00:24:30,996 Speaker 1: of scarcity and everyone wanting to just you know, fight 456 00:24:31,116 --> 00:24:33,676 Speaker 1: for themselves and not it's like this this idea that no, 457 00:24:33,796 --> 00:24:37,076 Speaker 1: we're actually interdependent, you know, as as people. And so 458 00:24:37,276 --> 00:24:40,116 Speaker 1: there's also this larger, kind of beautiful message as well 459 00:24:40,116 --> 00:24:42,796 Speaker 1: as this kind of more personal thing. That's so it 460 00:24:42,956 --> 00:24:46,356 Speaker 1: just makes it this really and the changes and very 461 00:24:46,436 --> 00:24:47,956 Speaker 1: cool song so. 462 00:24:48,276 --> 00:24:50,636 Speaker 2: Folks, with some sophisticated, cored changes thrown in there. 463 00:24:50,716 --> 00:24:53,476 Speaker 1: That's right. Yeah, there was a period of time, I mean, 464 00:24:53,516 --> 00:24:55,996 Speaker 1: your first solo album. You have a new one coming 465 00:24:56,036 --> 00:25:00,676 Speaker 1: out oats in just a couple of days, you know, 466 00:25:01,156 --> 00:25:03,116 Speaker 1: as we're taping this, it'll be out by the time 467 00:25:03,196 --> 00:25:06,036 Speaker 1: this this we we this airs and I want to 468 00:25:06,036 --> 00:25:09,556 Speaker 1: talk about that. But you know, your soul, you didn't 469 00:25:09,556 --> 00:25:12,676 Speaker 1: really make a solo album until two thousand and one. 470 00:25:13,476 --> 00:25:13,796 Speaker 1: That's right. 471 00:25:14,116 --> 00:25:15,556 Speaker 2: Started in two thousand, came out in one. 472 00:25:16,876 --> 00:25:19,756 Speaker 1: Was what happened in an intervening time between well, you know. 473 00:25:21,156 --> 00:25:23,316 Speaker 2: At the end of the eighties with Daryl and I 474 00:25:23,876 --> 00:25:28,156 Speaker 2: were burned out after we finished the Apollo Theater show 475 00:25:28,196 --> 00:25:31,996 Speaker 2: with Eddie Kendrick and David Ruffin from Temptations got about that. Yeah, 476 00:25:32,396 --> 00:25:34,716 Speaker 2: that was a high point. I think it was a 477 00:25:34,876 --> 00:25:38,916 Speaker 2: full circle moment for both Darryl and myself. We bonded 478 00:25:38,996 --> 00:25:42,756 Speaker 2: early on as teenagers over our love of The Temptations. 479 00:25:43,316 --> 00:25:46,116 Speaker 2: Darryl actually was in a group called the temp Tones 480 00:25:46,196 --> 00:25:49,676 Speaker 2: that was kind of sponsored by, not really sponsored by, 481 00:25:49,756 --> 00:25:52,356 Speaker 2: but he was friends with those guys the original group. 482 00:25:52,756 --> 00:25:56,876 Speaker 1: And wait, really the Temptones was loosely connected junior varsity 483 00:25:57,036 --> 00:25:59,916 Speaker 1: version of yeah, Yeah, yeah what and Sure. 484 00:26:00,036 --> 00:26:01,796 Speaker 2: In fact, one of the first things Darryl and I 485 00:26:01,916 --> 00:26:04,116 Speaker 2: did together we went to the Apollo Theater in New York, 486 00:26:04,396 --> 00:26:06,996 Speaker 2: went backstage, hung out with The Temptations in the dressing room, 487 00:26:07,436 --> 00:26:10,316 Speaker 2: and then sat in the front row watched their show, 488 00:26:10,356 --> 00:26:12,196 Speaker 2: which I've of course seen seen them before in the 489 00:26:12,316 --> 00:26:16,996 Speaker 2: original group. Then flash forward to the eighty five eighty six, 490 00:26:17,756 --> 00:26:22,956 Speaker 2: we're opening reopening the Apollo after the renovation, and we 491 00:26:23,036 --> 00:26:25,916 Speaker 2: did a special show for the NAACP and we wanted 492 00:26:25,956 --> 00:26:28,676 Speaker 2: to do something special, so we found Eddie. Eddie was 493 00:26:28,716 --> 00:26:32,756 Speaker 2: singing holiday inns down in Alabama. David was in Detroit somewhere. 494 00:26:32,756 --> 00:26:35,276 Speaker 2: I don't know what he was doing. Nothing and we 495 00:26:35,356 --> 00:26:39,036 Speaker 2: asked them to come and reprise the Temptations metally, and 496 00:26:39,156 --> 00:26:42,356 Speaker 2: we did that on the on the Apollo Show. After 497 00:26:42,476 --> 00:26:44,956 Speaker 2: we did that, I remember after that show, Darryl and I, 498 00:26:45,996 --> 00:26:47,796 Speaker 2: you know, it was a big hubbub backstays, a lot 499 00:26:47,876 --> 00:26:50,836 Speaker 2: of press and a lot of friends, and I remember 500 00:26:50,956 --> 00:26:53,556 Speaker 2: us sitting quietly in a corner and it was almost 501 00:26:53,636 --> 00:26:56,516 Speaker 2: like we realized that it was done, that we had 502 00:26:57,236 --> 00:27:01,636 Speaker 2: we had completed the circle, you know, and there wasn't 503 00:27:01,716 --> 00:27:03,956 Speaker 2: much to be said, but I know we both knew it, 504 00:27:05,196 --> 00:27:10,556 Speaker 2: and I was you know, you have to remember, we 505 00:27:10,716 --> 00:27:13,956 Speaker 2: made our first album in seventy two, so now go 506 00:27:14,036 --> 00:27:18,196 Speaker 2: to eighty six. We made an album every year from 507 00:27:18,276 --> 00:27:21,396 Speaker 2: seventy two to eighty six, and sometimes more than one 508 00:27:21,836 --> 00:27:24,396 Speaker 2: because the greatest hits albums and live albums and things 509 00:27:24,436 --> 00:27:27,636 Speaker 2: like that. And we toured in between every album and 510 00:27:27,756 --> 00:27:31,796 Speaker 2: never ever stopped. So you're talking about, you know what, 511 00:27:32,316 --> 00:27:36,276 Speaker 2: fifteen years straight of touring without ever stopping, not once, 512 00:27:37,436 --> 00:27:40,316 Speaker 2: And it was like, I knew there was something missing 513 00:27:40,356 --> 00:27:42,156 Speaker 2: in my life person, and then I'm just talking to 514 00:27:42,196 --> 00:27:45,876 Speaker 2: my own point of view, and I just wanted to stop. 515 00:27:46,076 --> 00:27:48,396 Speaker 2: And so that's what we did in the end, of 516 00:27:48,436 --> 00:27:51,476 Speaker 2: the eighties, which was commercially, from a career point of view, 517 00:27:51,596 --> 00:27:53,716 Speaker 2: probably the worst thing you could possibly have done. When 518 00:27:53,796 --> 00:27:55,836 Speaker 2: we were riding on top of the world, guys are. 519 00:27:55,836 --> 00:27:56,396 Speaker 1: Like killing it. 520 00:27:56,516 --> 00:27:58,396 Speaker 2: I mean, we were on top of the pop world, right, 521 00:27:59,116 --> 00:28:03,316 Speaker 2: but we basically just stopped. And it was then I 522 00:28:03,436 --> 00:28:07,956 Speaker 2: began to rethink certain things like personal life and stuff 523 00:28:07,996 --> 00:28:11,076 Speaker 2: like that. So we ended up making another record, made 524 00:28:11,116 --> 00:28:13,716 Speaker 2: a record called Ooh Yeah in like eighty eight. I 525 00:28:13,796 --> 00:28:16,236 Speaker 2: want to say, it wasn't much. It had like a 526 00:28:16,436 --> 00:28:19,916 Speaker 2: semi hit single, my heart wasn't in it. And then 527 00:28:19,916 --> 00:28:22,116 Speaker 2: we made an album called Change of Season. And that 528 00:28:22,276 --> 00:28:27,116 Speaker 2: album just the title alone can tell you about the 529 00:28:27,236 --> 00:28:29,196 Speaker 2: kind of where, at least from my point of view, 530 00:28:29,236 --> 00:28:31,436 Speaker 2: where I was coming from. And I was ready to 531 00:28:31,596 --> 00:28:34,836 Speaker 2: for something else. I didn't have a life, you know. 532 00:28:35,236 --> 00:28:37,796 Speaker 2: I had a professional a great professional life, but I 533 00:28:37,916 --> 00:28:40,636 Speaker 2: had burned a lot of bridges, you know, you know 534 00:28:40,796 --> 00:28:46,116 Speaker 2: in the process, and I got divorced. Our manager left. 535 00:28:46,556 --> 00:28:49,076 Speaker 2: Tommy Mottola, who was our manager, went to Sony Music 536 00:28:49,156 --> 00:28:51,996 Speaker 2: or to CBS at the time, became the president of CBS. 537 00:28:52,796 --> 00:28:55,996 Speaker 2: He took off on other other other paths with Mariah 538 00:28:56,036 --> 00:28:59,636 Speaker 2: et cetera, and there was. It was like a rudderless ship, 539 00:29:00,676 --> 00:29:04,276 Speaker 2: and so I just checked out. I sold everything I 540 00:29:04,396 --> 00:29:08,596 Speaker 2: had left New York City, moved into my little condo 541 00:29:08,676 --> 00:29:13,196 Speaker 2: and askeding Colorado, and I met my future wife, build 542 00:29:13,196 --> 00:29:15,556 Speaker 2: a house, had a kid, and so for the entire 543 00:29:15,716 --> 00:29:19,436 Speaker 2: decade of the nineties, I went skiing, and I went 544 00:29:19,516 --> 00:29:23,076 Speaker 2: bike riding and hiking and backcountry skiing, and I lived 545 00:29:23,076 --> 00:29:26,636 Speaker 2: a different life. And I realized that music could be 546 00:29:26,716 --> 00:29:28,836 Speaker 2: part of my life, not just the only thing in 547 00:29:28,916 --> 00:29:31,516 Speaker 2: my life. So it was probably the most important thing 548 00:29:31,556 --> 00:29:34,076 Speaker 2: I ever did. And Colorado saved me because I don't 549 00:29:34,076 --> 00:29:35,396 Speaker 2: know what would have happened if I would have stayed 550 00:29:35,396 --> 00:29:37,756 Speaker 2: in New York. I think bad things would happen. Really, 551 00:29:37,836 --> 00:29:41,396 Speaker 2: I would have gone down some dark paths. Was there 552 00:29:41,436 --> 00:29:44,316 Speaker 2: a part of you when you're in Colorado five years 553 00:29:44,356 --> 00:29:49,356 Speaker 2: into this self imposed sabbatical exile from the industry, that 554 00:29:50,076 --> 00:29:54,836 Speaker 2: feels like no, done it? No, No, that's wonderful. The 555 00:29:54,996 --> 00:29:57,476 Speaker 2: best thing ever happened to me. I didn't even make 556 00:29:57,476 --> 00:30:00,396 Speaker 2: any music. We made one album in ninety six. Our 557 00:30:00,436 --> 00:30:02,636 Speaker 2: son had just been born. I wasn't into it. I 558 00:30:02,756 --> 00:30:05,316 Speaker 2: threw in a couple songs, and yeah, we did a 559 00:30:05,396 --> 00:30:08,756 Speaker 2: short tour. It was nothing, and then nothing happened until 560 00:30:08,756 --> 00:30:10,636 Speaker 2: the two thousands, and that's what I made my first 561 00:30:10,676 --> 00:30:13,956 Speaker 2: solo album. It's also when Daryl and I made made 562 00:30:13,996 --> 00:30:17,356 Speaker 2: an album, another album that did fairly well. But at 563 00:30:17,396 --> 00:30:20,836 Speaker 2: that point now I had realized that something needed to change, 564 00:30:21,356 --> 00:30:21,596 Speaker 2: and so. 565 00:30:21,996 --> 00:30:24,996 Speaker 1: The first solo album Functual Funk Shuay. 566 00:30:26,436 --> 00:30:29,156 Speaker 2: Hey, listen, listen. Let me tell you about that real quick. 567 00:30:29,516 --> 00:30:31,516 Speaker 2: I got to I remember getting a review on that album. 568 00:30:31,836 --> 00:30:33,956 Speaker 2: The review was like, it's pretty good record with an 569 00:30:34,036 --> 00:30:38,196 Speaker 2: unfortunate title, you know how the and the title was 570 00:30:38,236 --> 00:30:40,876 Speaker 2: so stupid. Okay. I had a good friend of mine, 571 00:30:40,916 --> 00:30:43,636 Speaker 2: Jed Lieber, who's actually who I borrowed this guitar from. 572 00:30:43,916 --> 00:30:46,316 Speaker 2: He runs the studio at the Sunset Marquee and he's 573 00:30:46,396 --> 00:30:49,396 Speaker 2: he's a fantastic musician. And he and I were doing 574 00:30:49,436 --> 00:30:52,036 Speaker 2: that album together and we were on a plane going 575 00:30:52,316 --> 00:30:54,796 Speaker 2: to New York to finish it, mix it, and we 576 00:30:54,876 --> 00:30:58,156 Speaker 2: had no title for it. And Jed was sitting he 577 00:30:58,236 --> 00:31:00,996 Speaker 2: happened to be sitting next to this Asian gal and 578 00:31:01,116 --> 00:31:03,236 Speaker 2: I was sitting, you know, a few a few rows away, 579 00:31:04,396 --> 00:31:06,476 Speaker 2: and I guess he was talking to her and she said, well, 580 00:31:06,556 --> 00:31:08,356 Speaker 2: what do you what do you you know, what are 581 00:31:08,356 --> 00:31:09,796 Speaker 2: you doing? He goes, oh, I made a record, and 582 00:31:10,356 --> 00:31:12,276 Speaker 2: he goes and she said, what kind of record? He goes, well, 583 00:31:12,276 --> 00:31:14,556 Speaker 2: it's kind of got some funk in it, and she went, oh, 584 00:31:14,756 --> 00:31:18,396 Speaker 2: like funk shway, and I swear to God and he 585 00:31:18,516 --> 00:31:20,396 Speaker 2: comes running up the aisle and he taps you show. 586 00:31:20,436 --> 00:31:23,356 Speaker 2: He goes, I got the title. I went, really, And 587 00:31:23,476 --> 00:31:25,596 Speaker 2: I was stupid enough to believe him, you know, to 588 00:31:26,196 --> 00:31:27,396 Speaker 2: do it. But I thought it was funny. 589 00:31:27,436 --> 00:31:28,956 Speaker 1: So it's kind of cooler way of it is it is. 590 00:31:29,196 --> 00:31:31,036 Speaker 1: It's not is that a super self serious you know? 591 00:31:31,236 --> 00:31:33,996 Speaker 2: It's good anyway. So that album was and here again, 592 00:31:34,476 --> 00:31:36,436 Speaker 2: that album is just a way of getting started because 593 00:31:36,676 --> 00:31:38,516 Speaker 2: it was just a collection of stuff I had. It 594 00:31:38,596 --> 00:31:41,756 Speaker 2: wasn't coherent. It really wasn't until I made the next album, 595 00:31:41,756 --> 00:31:44,276 Speaker 2: One Thousand Miles of Life in Nashville, that I began 596 00:31:44,396 --> 00:31:46,916 Speaker 2: to really hone in on what I was going to 597 00:31:46,956 --> 00:31:48,236 Speaker 2: be as a solo artist. 598 00:31:48,876 --> 00:31:51,356 Speaker 1: Had you moved to Nashville at that point, No, I. 599 00:31:51,436 --> 00:31:53,356 Speaker 2: Was spending a lot of time there. I started going 600 00:31:53,356 --> 00:31:54,596 Speaker 2: to Nashville in the late nineties. 601 00:31:54,676 --> 00:31:55,636 Speaker 1: Okay, tell me about that. 602 00:31:55,836 --> 00:31:58,116 Speaker 2: Well, I had I produced an album for a guy 603 00:31:58,196 --> 00:32:02,676 Speaker 2: named Jerry Lynn Williams, an amazing artist who lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 604 00:32:03,076 --> 00:32:06,476 Speaker 2: but he had his business and his publishing and based 605 00:32:06,516 --> 00:32:09,596 Speaker 2: in Nashville. Through working with him, I met some Nashville 606 00:32:09,596 --> 00:32:14,516 Speaker 2: folks and somebody, you know, said, Hey, you gotta come, 607 00:32:14,956 --> 00:32:17,756 Speaker 2: you gotta come to music City. You gotta. I think 608 00:32:17,756 --> 00:32:18,396 Speaker 2: you're gonna like it. 609 00:32:18,596 --> 00:32:18,996 Speaker 11: You like it. 610 00:32:19,116 --> 00:32:21,036 Speaker 2: And when I went there for the first time in 611 00:32:21,076 --> 00:32:24,676 Speaker 2: the late nineties, I did a couple demo sessions and 612 00:32:24,916 --> 00:32:28,316 Speaker 2: the players were just so good, and it was a 613 00:32:28,396 --> 00:32:30,676 Speaker 2: whole different thing because you know, up to that time, 614 00:32:31,116 --> 00:32:33,556 Speaker 2: early seventies, I had never played in any other band. 615 00:32:33,636 --> 00:32:36,036 Speaker 2: I was in the Whole Notes band, so all I 616 00:32:36,156 --> 00:32:39,676 Speaker 2: did was that and it was great, but and with 617 00:32:39,796 --> 00:32:41,996 Speaker 2: great musicians, of course, But all of a sudden I 618 00:32:42,156 --> 00:32:44,596 Speaker 2: was walked into a completely new environment, and all of 619 00:32:44,636 --> 00:32:47,596 Speaker 2: a sudden I realized that the players I was playing 620 00:32:47,636 --> 00:32:50,876 Speaker 2: with had a lot of the same roots and influences 621 00:32:51,076 --> 00:32:55,116 Speaker 2: as my early folk stuff. So it kind of it 622 00:32:55,236 --> 00:32:58,116 Speaker 2: took that side of me that I had set aside 623 00:32:58,636 --> 00:33:01,236 Speaker 2: for all those years, and I started bringing it out. 624 00:33:01,796 --> 00:33:03,596 Speaker 2: And because then I would sit down, you know, with 625 00:33:03,756 --> 00:33:05,116 Speaker 2: some of these guys and I played like a dog 626 00:33:05,156 --> 00:33:06,876 Speaker 2: watch and they go, I know you could do that. 627 00:33:07,276 --> 00:33:08,316 Speaker 1: I said, well, yeah, I can. 628 00:33:09,116 --> 00:33:11,156 Speaker 2: I kind of forgot about it, but I want to remember. 629 00:33:11,556 --> 00:33:12,916 Speaker 1: So it was the shock to everyone else too in 630 00:33:13,116 --> 00:33:13,516 Speaker 1: some ways. 631 00:33:14,436 --> 00:33:16,996 Speaker 2: And so but one of the first things I realized 632 00:33:17,156 --> 00:33:20,676 Speaker 2: in Nashville was my name and reputation might get me 633 00:33:20,756 --> 00:33:23,436 Speaker 2: in the door, but in order to stay at the party, 634 00:33:23,516 --> 00:33:26,756 Speaker 2: I better be able to bring it. Because you're talking 635 00:33:26,756 --> 00:33:29,516 Speaker 2: about a level of musicianship on a whole other level. 636 00:33:30,236 --> 00:33:34,996 Speaker 2: And I was complacent. I could play the whole Notes 637 00:33:35,036 --> 00:33:39,316 Speaker 2: show in my sleep, wasn't doing anything but that. And 638 00:33:39,516 --> 00:33:41,676 Speaker 2: I needed a challenge, and I was all of a sudden, 639 00:33:41,716 --> 00:33:45,756 Speaker 2: I was thrust into rooms with superlative players Jerry Douglas, 640 00:33:45,996 --> 00:33:48,796 Speaker 2: Sam Bush By La Fleck, you know, people you know, 641 00:33:48,916 --> 00:33:51,796 Speaker 2: and the great studio musicians. You know, got three trapped 642 00:33:51,796 --> 00:33:55,236 Speaker 2: people who could really play. And so I started wood shedding. 643 00:33:55,276 --> 00:33:58,596 Speaker 2: I started practicing again, and I started bringing back that 644 00:33:59,036 --> 00:34:02,916 Speaker 2: folk stuff, the early influences, and I realized, wait a minute, 645 00:34:03,596 --> 00:34:06,356 Speaker 2: the key that was the key that unlocked who I 646 00:34:06,476 --> 00:34:08,956 Speaker 2: could be as a solo artist, because I didn't know 647 00:34:09,196 --> 00:34:12,196 Speaker 2: it could be because my entire musical personality was wrapped 648 00:34:12,276 --> 00:34:14,516 Speaker 2: up in my collaboration with Right. 649 00:34:14,636 --> 00:34:18,636 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, did did that then affect the way that 650 00:34:18,716 --> 00:34:22,316 Speaker 1: you approached going back and playing on Hollan Oates tours? Yeah? 651 00:34:22,476 --> 00:34:25,476 Speaker 2: I didn't want to do it, Okay, I did it 652 00:34:25,596 --> 00:34:27,716 Speaker 2: because you know, the money was great and there was 653 00:34:27,756 --> 00:34:28,476 Speaker 2: a demand. 654 00:34:28,236 --> 00:34:30,836 Speaker 1: For it, people and people. Of course, I took my 655 00:34:30,956 --> 00:34:32,956 Speaker 1: daughter to see you guys, hey listen first her first 656 00:34:32,956 --> 00:34:36,916 Speaker 1: show and Aspen Jazz Fest like in seventeen. 657 00:34:37,116 --> 00:34:39,156 Speaker 2: I remember we played that. Yeah, yeah, well, you know what. 658 00:34:39,836 --> 00:34:42,796 Speaker 2: It was great, But I've really felt like I was 659 00:34:42,876 --> 00:34:46,476 Speaker 2: treading water. I mean, we had we had the most 660 00:34:46,596 --> 00:34:48,956 Speaker 2: unbelievable problem. We had too many hits. 661 00:34:49,756 --> 00:34:50,796 Speaker 1: Wow is that a problem? 662 00:34:51,396 --> 00:34:54,316 Speaker 2: Because that's all people wanted to hear. They didn't want 663 00:34:54,356 --> 00:34:56,676 Speaker 2: to hear anything else. So even though we had a 664 00:34:56,756 --> 00:35:00,916 Speaker 2: tremendously deep catalog, and I'll speak for Darryl on this too, 665 00:35:01,396 --> 00:35:04,196 Speaker 2: he had unbelievable songs that he was dying to play, 666 00:35:04,556 --> 00:35:07,876 Speaker 2: we couldn't play him every show. We'd chewhorn one song 667 00:35:07,996 --> 00:35:11,516 Speaker 2: in one song, you know, some obscure Oats song, and 668 00:35:11,596 --> 00:35:14,556 Speaker 2: then we do one of his obscure you know, solo 669 00:35:14,676 --> 00:35:17,756 Speaker 2: songs or whatever. And I'm sure it was just as 670 00:35:17,796 --> 00:35:20,156 Speaker 2: frustrating for him as it was for me. But as 671 00:35:20,236 --> 00:35:23,916 Speaker 2: time went on and I began to be excited about 672 00:35:23,956 --> 00:35:26,756 Speaker 2: what I could do in Nashville with the players, and 673 00:35:27,196 --> 00:35:31,436 Speaker 2: you know, the opportunity that might started presenting themselves, I 674 00:35:31,756 --> 00:35:32,796 Speaker 2: just couldn't do it anymore. 675 00:35:34,076 --> 00:35:36,516 Speaker 1: After this last break, we'll be back with John Oates. 676 00:35:40,956 --> 00:35:43,796 Speaker 1: Do you think there's a world if the audience, the 677 00:35:43,876 --> 00:35:48,116 Speaker 1: Hollan Oats audience had been more accepting of what you 678 00:35:48,236 --> 00:35:51,476 Speaker 1: guys wanted to present, do you think it would have 679 00:35:51,756 --> 00:35:52,516 Speaker 1: interesting question? 680 00:35:53,796 --> 00:35:56,476 Speaker 2: You know, the hardcore holl of Oats fans would have 681 00:35:56,596 --> 00:35:59,756 Speaker 2: been but we weren't playing only to hardcore. We were 682 00:35:59,796 --> 00:36:02,316 Speaker 2: playing to the general public, and a lot of them. 683 00:36:02,676 --> 00:36:06,956 Speaker 2: When you're playing an arena, a big Giants show, fifteen 684 00:36:07,036 --> 00:36:11,716 Speaker 2: eighteen thousand people, they're not all hardcore fans. There's a 685 00:36:11,756 --> 00:36:14,196 Speaker 2: hardcore group, and they would have been open to anything. 686 00:36:14,436 --> 00:36:16,676 Speaker 2: I always found the the true hall Odes fans were 687 00:36:16,876 --> 00:36:20,396 Speaker 2: very open minded. But we we were more than that. 688 00:36:20,556 --> 00:36:23,276 Speaker 2: We yeah, you know, bigger than both of us. Yes, 689 00:36:23,996 --> 00:36:27,076 Speaker 2: there's the title of an album. There's a great, great 690 00:36:27,116 --> 00:36:29,636 Speaker 2: ale and it and it says a lot. 691 00:36:29,836 --> 00:36:31,636 Speaker 1: What's opening track on that? That's a great song too, 692 00:36:31,716 --> 00:36:32,236 Speaker 1: and that was that. 693 00:36:32,316 --> 00:36:35,676 Speaker 2: Was bigger than both of us. Was a single, was it? 694 00:36:35,756 --> 00:36:38,356 Speaker 1: The first track was uh yeah, back together of course, 695 00:36:38,396 --> 00:36:39,476 Speaker 1: back together again, back together. 696 00:36:39,716 --> 00:36:40,676 Speaker 2: You want to hear a story about that? 697 00:36:40,796 --> 00:36:41,116 Speaker 1: Please? 698 00:36:41,276 --> 00:36:44,556 Speaker 2: Everybody thinks back together again, back together again? Probably talking 699 00:36:44,556 --> 00:36:46,436 Speaker 2: about me and Daryl or something like that, huhuh, not 700 00:36:46,516 --> 00:36:49,756 Speaker 2: even clothes. I was on a flight. I was sitting 701 00:36:49,756 --> 00:36:52,676 Speaker 2: in first class coming back from New Orleans from a festival, 702 00:36:52,716 --> 00:36:58,076 Speaker 2: I think, and I was sitting next to Frankie Valley, amazing, 703 00:36:58,996 --> 00:37:01,156 Speaker 2: and he and I talked a whole way on the flight, 704 00:37:01,196 --> 00:37:03,596 Speaker 2: and he told me the whole story, you know, the 705 00:37:03,716 --> 00:37:06,276 Speaker 2: Jersey Boards story about you know, the problem with his 706 00:37:06,676 --> 00:37:09,716 Speaker 2: you know, his daughter and the band and this and 707 00:37:09,836 --> 00:37:13,436 Speaker 2: that and how he you know, he wanted to step 708 00:37:13,516 --> 00:37:17,196 Speaker 2: away in anyone. And that's what it's about. It's about 709 00:37:17,316 --> 00:37:21,836 Speaker 2: back together again, singing the same old story, back together again. 710 00:37:22,236 --> 00:37:24,236 Speaker 2: The old songs never end, but it will give me 711 00:37:24,356 --> 00:37:27,076 Speaker 2: something to believe in. And I wrote the whole song 712 00:37:27,116 --> 00:37:30,276 Speaker 2: about him, about what he told me on that flight. 713 00:37:30,516 --> 00:37:32,596 Speaker 1: That's wild, yeah, I mean, is that a song you 714 00:37:32,676 --> 00:37:33,556 Speaker 1: guys would play live? 715 00:37:33,716 --> 00:37:35,876 Speaker 2: We we actually used to open the show with it, 716 00:37:36,516 --> 00:37:39,796 Speaker 2: especially in the mid seventies. Yeah, yeah, and we played 717 00:37:39,836 --> 00:37:42,996 Speaker 2: it even as early as maybe three four years ago 718 00:37:43,596 --> 00:37:44,836 Speaker 2: or latest three four years ago. 719 00:37:45,356 --> 00:37:51,116 Speaker 1: Is there a world naively? No, No, not even doing 720 00:37:51,156 --> 00:37:52,236 Speaker 1: that deep No. 721 00:37:53,436 --> 00:37:56,316 Speaker 2: As Darre Hall so aptly said on an interview, that 722 00:37:56,476 --> 00:37:59,916 Speaker 2: ship has sailed. In fact, he said, and I quote, 723 00:38:00,676 --> 00:38:02,396 Speaker 2: not only has that ship has sailed, it's sunk to 724 00:38:02,436 --> 00:38:06,316 Speaker 2: the bottom of the ocean looking up. I didn't say it, 725 00:38:06,396 --> 00:38:06,636 Speaker 2: he did. 726 00:38:06,836 --> 00:38:08,996 Speaker 1: Does that? What end do you feel? Is that you 727 00:38:09,196 --> 00:38:10,076 Speaker 1: hear that? You think? Yeah? 728 00:38:10,116 --> 00:38:15,356 Speaker 2: Same, I'm free yea, yeah, I'm very very I'm very optimistic. Look, 729 00:38:16,236 --> 00:38:19,316 Speaker 2: anyone's creative life has a timestamp. That's the way I 730 00:38:19,396 --> 00:38:22,316 Speaker 2: look at it. I see I see our contemporaries, my 731 00:38:22,436 --> 00:38:25,876 Speaker 2: contemporaries falling by the wayside, whether it's through passing away 732 00:38:26,196 --> 00:38:28,796 Speaker 2: or just not being able to do it anymore for 733 00:38:28,916 --> 00:38:32,676 Speaker 2: any number of reasons, sickness, bad luck, misfortune. 734 00:38:32,796 --> 00:38:33,036 Speaker 1: Whatever. 735 00:38:33,556 --> 00:38:36,156 Speaker 2: I can still play, I can still sing, I can travel, 736 00:38:36,396 --> 00:38:40,476 Speaker 2: I'm still healthy. I don't want to lose this opportunity 737 00:38:40,756 --> 00:38:44,636 Speaker 2: to do as much as I can because they're but 738 00:38:44,796 --> 00:38:45,676 Speaker 2: for fortune. 739 00:38:45,356 --> 00:38:46,116 Speaker 1: Go you or I? Right? 740 00:38:46,236 --> 00:38:48,636 Speaker 2: Yeah, And it could change, could change right now. I 741 00:38:48,676 --> 00:38:51,196 Speaker 2: could walk out this door and fall down the elevator, 742 00:38:51,236 --> 00:38:55,196 Speaker 2: shift and see you later by So I don't have 743 00:38:55,316 --> 00:38:57,556 Speaker 2: much time left. I want to make the most of it. 744 00:38:57,596 --> 00:38:59,796 Speaker 1: It's amazing in a way. It's like you're back in Colorado, 745 00:38:59,876 --> 00:39:02,076 Speaker 1: but you're able to do it with your own music. 746 00:39:02,396 --> 00:39:04,796 Speaker 1: So you're doing music on your own terms, and that's beautiful. 747 00:39:05,356 --> 00:39:07,716 Speaker 1: Can you play something from your from your new album Oates? 748 00:39:07,836 --> 00:39:08,116 Speaker 2: Sure? 749 00:39:09,596 --> 00:39:11,556 Speaker 1: Whatever your favorite. I'm curious what your favorite might be. 750 00:39:11,716 --> 00:39:14,996 Speaker 2: Oh, okay, yeah, I do have a favorite. I've got 751 00:39:14,996 --> 00:39:16,956 Speaker 2: a lot of favorites. Because I'm really proud of this record. 752 00:39:19,596 --> 00:39:22,276 Speaker 2: I'm gonna play a song that I co wrote with 753 00:39:22,436 --> 00:39:26,836 Speaker 2: a really a great talented guy named Jed Hughes. Jed 754 00:39:26,996 --> 00:39:30,836 Speaker 2: is one of the go to top Nashville session guitarists. 755 00:39:31,636 --> 00:39:34,676 Speaker 2: He plays on tons of people's records if he's from Australia, 756 00:39:34,756 --> 00:39:37,596 Speaker 2: but he plays predominantly on country music. But he's also 757 00:39:37,596 --> 00:39:39,876 Speaker 2: a great songwriter in his own He and I. I 758 00:39:40,036 --> 00:39:42,076 Speaker 2: was really impressed with him and I, you know, we 759 00:39:42,156 --> 00:39:44,996 Speaker 2: talked about getting together and his schedule and my schedule 760 00:39:45,036 --> 00:39:47,756 Speaker 2: were so busy we couldn't find a time to get together. 761 00:39:48,236 --> 00:39:50,676 Speaker 2: And we kept we kept picking a date and he'd say, oh, 762 00:39:50,716 --> 00:39:52,916 Speaker 2: I can't do that one. And I hear he picked 763 00:39:52,956 --> 00:39:54,556 Speaker 2: and I said, well, no, I'm out of town, and 764 00:39:54,636 --> 00:39:57,836 Speaker 2: blah blah blah. So eventually we just said, look, we're 765 00:39:57,876 --> 00:39:59,676 Speaker 2: never gonna be able to get together unless we picked 766 00:39:59,756 --> 00:40:02,796 Speaker 2: some date that's a ways away from you know, And 767 00:40:02,876 --> 00:40:05,756 Speaker 2: I went aways away and I said to him on 768 00:40:05,796 --> 00:40:08,236 Speaker 2: the phone, I said, that's a freaking great title. And 769 00:40:08,356 --> 00:40:10,636 Speaker 2: he went, yeah, that's that's cool. I said, So when 770 00:40:10,676 --> 00:40:13,236 Speaker 2: we finally do get together, that's a song we're gonna write. 771 00:40:13,236 --> 00:40:14,116 Speaker 2: I don't know what it's gonna be. 772 00:40:14,676 --> 00:40:17,396 Speaker 1: That's the song. So you earmarked it and you came 773 00:40:17,476 --> 00:40:17,836 Speaker 1: back there. 774 00:40:17,996 --> 00:40:22,076 Speaker 2: Yeah, oh yeah, all right, just goes a little. I'm 775 00:40:22,116 --> 00:40:23,796 Speaker 2: gonna try. It's a tough song to sing, but I'm 776 00:40:23,796 --> 00:40:24,436 Speaker 2: gonna do my best. 777 00:40:24,476 --> 00:40:24,596 Speaker 1: Here. 778 00:40:38,236 --> 00:40:42,316 Speaker 4: You say it's hard to stay, it's enough to me 779 00:40:44,396 --> 00:40:51,676 Speaker 4: to talk. Don't talking about Anything's used to be those 780 00:40:51,796 --> 00:40:58,796 Speaker 4: heavy moment and it's just skip common we call sleep 781 00:40:58,836 --> 00:41:05,036 Speaker 4: and finished. We just kN hear the words. 782 00:41:07,236 --> 00:41:08,396 Speaker 2: I can't even think. 783 00:41:08,356 --> 00:41:14,716 Speaker 5: You'll see if you aren't any why did we could 784 00:41:14,796 --> 00:41:15,756 Speaker 5: get one playing? 785 00:41:16,556 --> 00:41:21,596 Speaker 4: Because it's not black or blood. It's just a good shade. 786 00:41:21,636 --> 00:41:23,556 Speaker 4: It's a great and raise. 787 00:41:23,476 --> 00:41:32,996 Speaker 12: A ways awaken just the way, it's just the way 788 00:41:33,036 --> 00:41:36,476 Speaker 12: it is, just the way it is. You're a raise 789 00:41:36,556 --> 00:41:44,716 Speaker 12: a home, he's always. 790 00:41:45,556 --> 00:41:46,076 Speaker 7: Just the way. 791 00:41:50,396 --> 00:41:57,636 Speaker 13: Let's bring it back into the room. Let's break it 792 00:41:57,756 --> 00:42:00,956 Speaker 13: down and put us back here to. 793 00:42:01,116 --> 00:42:07,236 Speaker 4: The sweet man. Everything is keeping. 794 00:42:09,916 --> 00:42:14,756 Speaker 8: Well, boss a finnishly whether they just keep you better? 795 00:42:16,516 --> 00:42:20,676 Speaker 8: Were the time the time wins. 796 00:42:23,076 --> 00:42:27,516 Speaker 5: Can't imagine that I could be able to keep anything 797 00:42:28,716 --> 00:42:31,316 Speaker 5: because it's not the black or lad. 798 00:42:31,476 --> 00:42:36,916 Speaker 4: It's just a d in shades break ways already. 799 00:42:41,756 --> 00:42:45,356 Speaker 12: Raise a wedding just the ways of just the ways 800 00:42:45,636 --> 00:42:46,956 Speaker 12: or just the way. 801 00:42:46,956 --> 00:42:49,236 Speaker 4: Is a bread were raising. 802 00:42:54,716 --> 00:42:58,436 Speaker 12: Ways a wedding is the rais uh just the way. 803 00:43:13,756 --> 00:43:26,276 Speaker 4: You wisl never thought it keeping man got any say 804 00:43:28,356 --> 00:43:31,636 Speaker 4: just the way he's just the way his h just 805 00:43:31,756 --> 00:43:35,836 Speaker 4: the way he is. Way sweet man, really is keep 806 00:43:35,956 --> 00:43:47,836 Speaker 4: coming sweet escape come yeah you wasel. 807 00:43:56,156 --> 00:43:58,116 Speaker 1: I love the way you play man. Oh thanks, I 808 00:43:58,236 --> 00:44:03,236 Speaker 1: really do think you those kinds of chords, Yeah, people 809 00:44:03,276 --> 00:44:04,876 Speaker 1: don't really, I don't not wht of people play like 810 00:44:04,916 --> 00:44:06,156 Speaker 1: that anymore. Where do you get those what do you 811 00:44:06,156 --> 00:44:07,076 Speaker 1: get those kinds of quality? 812 00:44:07,156 --> 00:44:07,316 Speaker 11: You know what? 813 00:44:07,356 --> 00:44:09,716 Speaker 2: I gotta give Daryl Hall some some props here because 814 00:44:09,836 --> 00:44:11,836 Speaker 2: when I, you know, here, I was a folky player. 815 00:44:11,876 --> 00:44:13,556 Speaker 2: You know, I'm doing all these cowboy chords, you know, 816 00:44:18,916 --> 00:44:20,996 Speaker 2: and uh, you know, he was a great piano player. 817 00:44:21,116 --> 00:44:23,596 Speaker 2: He is a great piano player, and he played some 818 00:44:23,756 --> 00:44:26,796 Speaker 2: unusual inversions. He would always do substitutions and stuff. And 819 00:44:26,876 --> 00:44:28,916 Speaker 2: I had to figure that out on the guitar and 820 00:44:28,996 --> 00:44:31,076 Speaker 2: adapt to my guitar playing style. In fact, when I 821 00:44:31,116 --> 00:44:32,916 Speaker 2: first got to Nashville, a lot of a lot of 822 00:44:33,116 --> 00:44:34,676 Speaker 2: people said, oh, well, you kind of play like a 823 00:44:34,716 --> 00:44:37,156 Speaker 2: piano player. And I was like, well, yeah, it's kind 824 00:44:37,156 --> 00:44:40,116 Speaker 2: of reason for that. So yeah, full props there. But 825 00:44:41,076 --> 00:44:43,956 Speaker 2: and over the time, I've adapted and you know, changed 826 00:44:44,036 --> 00:44:48,156 Speaker 2: my style. Uh and I just I do a lot 827 00:44:48,196 --> 00:44:50,796 Speaker 2: of more sophisticated voicings and stuff like that. 828 00:44:51,316 --> 00:44:53,556 Speaker 1: Even back. So would you say your your style has 829 00:44:53,676 --> 00:44:54,596 Speaker 1: changed from even. 830 00:44:55,156 --> 00:44:57,516 Speaker 2: Well, it's gotten it's definitely gotten more sophisticated now. 831 00:44:58,076 --> 00:44:58,316 Speaker 1: Yeah. 832 00:44:59,596 --> 00:45:01,756 Speaker 2: Also, as I said, I began to woodshed when I 833 00:45:01,796 --> 00:45:04,836 Speaker 2: got to Nashville, playing practice like a madman, just to 834 00:45:04,956 --> 00:45:05,956 Speaker 2: keep up with those cats. 835 00:45:06,076 --> 00:45:08,996 Speaker 1: Yeah and yeah, so what does woodshedding look like for you? 836 00:45:09,196 --> 00:45:09,236 Speaker 7: You? 837 00:45:09,716 --> 00:45:11,956 Speaker 2: Uh, practicing playing every day pretty much. 838 00:45:12,196 --> 00:45:14,436 Speaker 11: What you just listened listening to records and playing or no, 839 00:45:14,996 --> 00:45:19,276 Speaker 11: just you know, just exercises for the fingers, you know, 840 00:45:21,236 --> 00:45:27,196 Speaker 11: you know, all kinds of weird exercises, you know, stuff 841 00:45:27,276 --> 00:45:29,596 Speaker 11: like that, just stuff that keeps you know, as I said, 842 00:45:29,676 --> 00:45:30,596 Speaker 11: you know, I'm getting older. 843 00:45:30,676 --> 00:45:32,556 Speaker 2: You know, I want to make sure my fingers still work. 844 00:45:32,636 --> 00:45:33,996 Speaker 1: And so you know, I do that. 845 00:45:34,396 --> 00:45:38,956 Speaker 2: And really, my my practicing really is more songwriting, you know, 846 00:45:39,236 --> 00:45:44,356 Speaker 2: I'm I'm I start writing stuff, you know, Like there's 847 00:45:44,396 --> 00:45:47,196 Speaker 2: a song that I collaborated on the record with Lawrence 848 00:45:47,316 --> 00:45:49,276 Speaker 2: the band. I don't know if you know Lawrence. They're 849 00:45:49,316 --> 00:45:52,916 Speaker 2: so great. And I challenged myself to write a song 850 00:45:52,956 --> 00:45:55,156 Speaker 2: that sounded like them because I was inspired by their music. 851 00:45:55,316 --> 00:45:57,516 Speaker 2: I was listening to their albums and really digging the 852 00:45:57,556 --> 00:45:59,596 Speaker 2: fact that they had so much energy and joy and 853 00:46:00,076 --> 00:46:02,036 Speaker 2: and I really and I said, so I was sitting around, 854 00:46:02,036 --> 00:46:03,356 Speaker 2: I'm going to see if I can write a song 855 00:46:03,396 --> 00:46:05,156 Speaker 2: of sounds. And then when I wrote the song, it 856 00:46:05,276 --> 00:46:07,916 Speaker 2: sounded so much like them. I actually took some of 857 00:46:07,956 --> 00:46:09,836 Speaker 2: their lyrics from one of their songs, put it in 858 00:46:09,956 --> 00:46:13,676 Speaker 2: my song and send it to them. And and I said, hey, 859 00:46:13,716 --> 00:46:15,036 Speaker 2: I just want to let you know I'm not trying 860 00:46:15,036 --> 00:46:17,556 Speaker 2: to rip you off. I want I want to collaborate 861 00:46:17,636 --> 00:46:19,396 Speaker 2: with you, and they liked the idea and we did 862 00:46:19,436 --> 00:46:19,836 Speaker 2: it together. 863 00:46:19,916 --> 00:46:22,156 Speaker 1: So it's great. So that's so cool. That's great feedback, 864 00:46:22,196 --> 00:46:24,636 Speaker 1: fro it could be kind of dice. Yeah, well I 865 00:46:24,676 --> 00:46:26,516 Speaker 1: took a chance, you know, I took a shot. Yeah. 866 00:46:27,196 --> 00:46:29,236 Speaker 2: I figured they send me an email and say, yeah, 867 00:46:29,276 --> 00:46:30,636 Speaker 2: you know, yeah, it's a pretty good song. But we 868 00:46:30,636 --> 00:46:32,196 Speaker 2: don't really feel like doing a song with someone as 869 00:46:32,276 --> 00:46:33,116 Speaker 2: old as our grandfather. 870 00:46:33,716 --> 00:46:36,156 Speaker 1: So listen, man, what's your John Oates? 871 00:46:36,236 --> 00:46:39,516 Speaker 2: Come on, Clyde and Gracie Lawrence are they are fantastic. 872 00:46:39,796 --> 00:46:42,076 Speaker 2: They're fantastic people and amazing artists. 873 00:46:42,396 --> 00:46:44,956 Speaker 1: That's so cool, man. I want to get back to Nashville, 874 00:46:45,236 --> 00:46:47,076 Speaker 1: But I kind of preview it earlier. I mean, you guys, 875 00:46:47,116 --> 00:46:50,796 Speaker 1: have you Let's say, you got to experience some really 876 00:46:50,916 --> 00:46:55,916 Speaker 1: unique scenes throughout over the years, one of them being 877 00:46:57,996 --> 00:47:00,356 Speaker 1: a really changing New York scene. You guys made war 878 00:47:00,436 --> 00:47:05,076 Speaker 1: Babies in New York when CBGB was with Todd Runger 879 00:47:05,236 --> 00:47:08,356 Speaker 1: with Todd Runggren, Like when like, you know, television's playing 880 00:47:08,356 --> 00:47:10,636 Speaker 1: every night, and I used to go to all those 881 00:47:10,676 --> 00:47:12,996 Speaker 1: places and you would see that, you'd see all those groups, right, sure, 882 00:47:13,436 --> 00:47:15,996 Speaker 1: what I mean, did you have a favorite was were 883 00:47:16,036 --> 00:47:17,676 Speaker 1: you turned off by the music? What was I was? 884 00:47:18,076 --> 00:47:21,636 Speaker 2: I was excited by a new wave and that kind 885 00:47:21,676 --> 00:47:25,276 Speaker 2: of proto punk movement, only because it was new, not 886 00:47:25,476 --> 00:47:28,956 Speaker 2: because I related to it on a musical level. I 887 00:47:29,036 --> 00:47:31,836 Speaker 2: thought it was, you know, fairly simplistic and kind of 888 00:47:31,996 --> 00:47:35,756 Speaker 2: like although I always like television, I like the guitar parts. 889 00:47:35,796 --> 00:47:39,036 Speaker 2: They were really interesting. But you know, Patti Smith and 890 00:47:39,356 --> 00:47:42,116 Speaker 2: and all that stuff that was going on. It was 891 00:47:43,076 --> 00:47:47,796 Speaker 2: it was you know, it was like non melodic but 892 00:47:48,356 --> 00:47:52,356 Speaker 2: exciting because it was it was new and fresh, so 893 00:47:52,836 --> 00:47:56,956 Speaker 2: that was the cool part. I mean, I tried to 894 00:47:57,916 --> 00:48:01,396 Speaker 2: I try to use the here again the inspiration for 895 00:48:01,556 --> 00:48:04,116 Speaker 2: the energy of what they were doing, but not try 896 00:48:04,156 --> 00:48:06,796 Speaker 2: to ape what they were actually doing, because I didn't 897 00:48:06,796 --> 00:48:08,836 Speaker 2: want to, like try to be something I wasn't, you know. 898 00:48:10,436 --> 00:48:12,156 Speaker 2: I wrote a song like I was a big fan 899 00:48:12,236 --> 00:48:15,676 Speaker 2: of the Psychedelic First and I still am good friends 900 00:48:15,716 --> 00:48:19,756 Speaker 2: with Richard Butler and uh and uh. I love them, 901 00:48:19,796 --> 00:48:21,636 Speaker 2: and I try to write a song it sounded like 902 00:48:21,636 --> 00:48:23,676 Speaker 2: I remember a song called Friday let Me Down Tonight, 903 00:48:24,356 --> 00:48:27,396 Speaker 2: which well, it's it's to me. It sounds like Psychedelic First. 904 00:48:27,636 --> 00:48:30,596 Speaker 2: Richard Butler probably doesn't think so, but you know, that 905 00:48:30,756 --> 00:48:32,556 Speaker 2: was just one of those things where I, you know, 906 00:48:32,716 --> 00:48:35,116 Speaker 2: try to try to capture that kind of spirit. But 907 00:48:35,356 --> 00:48:37,316 Speaker 2: uh no, I think you got to stay true to 908 00:48:37,356 --> 00:48:39,236 Speaker 2: the school, to your school, you know what I mean. Yeah, 909 00:48:40,596 --> 00:48:42,716 Speaker 2: you know, it's it's one thing to try things, but 910 00:48:42,796 --> 00:48:44,996 Speaker 2: at the same time, you got to know where where 911 00:48:45,036 --> 00:48:45,916 Speaker 2: your sweet spots are. 912 00:48:46,196 --> 00:48:50,956 Speaker 1: Yeah, so energetically you but energetically that's energetically a fan. Yeah, 913 00:48:51,076 --> 00:48:54,036 Speaker 1: a fan. You go like right from there to your 914 00:48:54,156 --> 00:48:56,196 Speaker 1: to your point earlier where you come to La to 915 00:48:56,676 --> 00:48:59,116 Speaker 1: record the silver album. You go like to almost like 916 00:48:59,196 --> 00:49:03,476 Speaker 1: the diametrically opposing vibe in the sense, and and it's 917 00:49:03,556 --> 00:49:05,676 Speaker 1: like but then you're hanging out with weird people, like 918 00:49:06,036 --> 00:49:07,796 Speaker 1: not weird people, but like people you might not expect 919 00:49:07,836 --> 00:49:10,756 Speaker 1: what's like like Frank Zapp, but you know, you're like, like, 920 00:49:10,956 --> 00:49:11,716 Speaker 1: what the world? 921 00:49:12,356 --> 00:49:14,796 Speaker 2: You know, it's really funny Frank Zappa. We were sitting 922 00:49:14,836 --> 00:49:18,956 Speaker 2: at the Roxy with Frank Zappa and John Mayle, right 923 00:49:19,196 --> 00:49:21,756 Speaker 2: or something that John Mayle and all those people. You know, 924 00:49:21,796 --> 00:49:24,436 Speaker 2: it's the seventies, you know. I remember we sat at 925 00:49:24,476 --> 00:49:26,356 Speaker 2: a booth. Me and Daryl were sitting at a booth 926 00:49:26,436 --> 00:49:31,036 Speaker 2: with Frank Zappa, after a show, and Frank Zappa said, 927 00:49:31,276 --> 00:49:33,316 Speaker 2: I remember never forgetting he said, he said, you know, 928 00:49:33,436 --> 00:49:37,396 Speaker 2: you guys, you guys should should stop making records and 929 00:49:38,876 --> 00:49:41,956 Speaker 2: have a television show. That's what he said. Interestingly enough, 930 00:49:42,036 --> 00:49:45,316 Speaker 2: Daryl listened to him. Daryl got his life. 931 00:49:45,196 --> 00:49:48,916 Speaker 1: From decades later. That actually would have been a great idea. 932 00:49:48,996 --> 00:49:51,596 Speaker 1: By the way, well, I think he's probably right, you guys. 933 00:49:51,396 --> 00:49:53,076 Speaker 2: That had it like a but we didn't do too 934 00:49:53,116 --> 00:49:54,036 Speaker 2: bad on the recording sign. 935 00:49:54,116 --> 00:49:54,716 Speaker 1: No you didn't. 936 00:49:54,996 --> 00:49:58,156 Speaker 2: No, Frank, you know, Frank Zappa was a real futurist. 937 00:49:58,356 --> 00:50:01,036 Speaker 2: I mean he really, I mean I see some of 938 00:50:01,076 --> 00:50:03,516 Speaker 2: these interviews and stuff that he did back in the 939 00:50:03,596 --> 00:50:07,036 Speaker 2: day talking about I mean he really was like. 940 00:50:07,116 --> 00:50:09,396 Speaker 1: What was going on the internet and artists, right, yeah, 941 00:50:09,796 --> 00:50:13,396 Speaker 1: really brilliant. Yeah, his music was like that must have 942 00:50:13,436 --> 00:50:16,836 Speaker 1: been a that didn't didn't mean anything to didn't resonate. No, yeah, 943 00:50:17,236 --> 00:50:18,716 Speaker 1: very very very uh. 944 00:50:19,116 --> 00:50:22,676 Speaker 2: Yeah, although I did like Captain b part what really. 945 00:50:23,436 --> 00:50:30,276 Speaker 1: That's even more to be honest, like LA in the seventies, unbelievable? 946 00:50:30,316 --> 00:50:32,516 Speaker 1: What yeah? What was that so good? What was that? 947 00:50:32,756 --> 00:50:32,796 Speaker 11: Like? 948 00:50:32,996 --> 00:50:36,756 Speaker 2: I can't tell you, I can't tell you I get arrested. 949 00:50:38,556 --> 00:50:39,076 Speaker 1: Do you miss it? 950 00:50:40,196 --> 00:50:43,716 Speaker 2: I thought, I thought was I thought LA in the 951 00:50:43,796 --> 00:50:47,676 Speaker 2: seventies was like going to like going to Nirvana. The 952 00:50:47,876 --> 00:50:50,316 Speaker 2: roads were empty, you could drive, You could drive to 953 00:50:50,396 --> 00:50:52,996 Speaker 2: freaking Mexico in an hour and forty five minutes. 954 00:50:54,676 --> 00:50:54,996 Speaker 4: You could. 955 00:50:56,196 --> 00:50:59,676 Speaker 2: He could just do whatever you wanted to and everybody 956 00:50:59,916 --> 00:51:04,156 Speaker 2: was loose and cool and it was it was just yeah, 957 00:51:04,236 --> 00:51:06,156 Speaker 2: it was fun. I mean, we did three albums out 958 00:51:06,156 --> 00:51:08,716 Speaker 2: here and we didn't live here, but we spent months, 959 00:51:09,356 --> 00:51:11,836 Speaker 2: you know, renting houses and things like that while we 960 00:51:11,916 --> 00:51:12,476 Speaker 2: were recording. 961 00:51:12,876 --> 00:51:13,916 Speaker 1: And at the time. 962 00:51:15,676 --> 00:51:17,796 Speaker 2: There was a guy named Christopher Bond who was in 963 00:51:17,876 --> 00:51:20,916 Speaker 2: our band in the early seventies. He had moved to 964 00:51:21,396 --> 00:51:24,476 Speaker 2: LA to make his way as a producer, very talented guy, 965 00:51:25,156 --> 00:51:30,236 Speaker 2: and after the word Babies thing with Todd Runggren, when 966 00:51:30,276 --> 00:51:33,156 Speaker 2: that didn't connect, you know, he said, you guys need 967 00:51:33,276 --> 00:51:35,116 Speaker 2: to come out here. He goes, I've got the studios, 968 00:51:35,236 --> 00:51:38,516 Speaker 2: I've got the great players, I've got it all wired. 969 00:51:38,796 --> 00:51:40,836 Speaker 2: Come out here will make a great record. And we 970 00:51:40,956 --> 00:51:42,876 Speaker 2: listened to him, and we did. And we had the 971 00:51:43,036 --> 00:51:45,036 Speaker 2: cream of the crop of the LA session players on 972 00:51:45,676 --> 00:51:47,516 Speaker 2: the Silver album, and the bigger than both of us. 973 00:51:47,956 --> 00:51:49,916 Speaker 2: And it was amazing to be in the studio with 974 00:51:49,996 --> 00:51:52,756 Speaker 2: these great you know, Jeff Bercuero, Lea Scalar, we had 975 00:51:52,836 --> 00:51:55,956 Speaker 2: them all, I mean, every Jim Gordon, you know, all 976 00:51:56,036 --> 00:52:01,876 Speaker 2: these amazing musicians and Sarah Smile and Rich Girl and 977 00:52:01,956 --> 00:52:04,876 Speaker 2: that they came from those sessions, and so it was great. 978 00:52:05,116 --> 00:52:06,876 Speaker 2: It was really great to do that. But at the 979 00:52:06,916 --> 00:52:10,316 Speaker 2: same time, I think what it was pointing at was 980 00:52:10,796 --> 00:52:13,356 Speaker 2: that we needed to really take control of our own 981 00:52:13,436 --> 00:52:18,396 Speaker 2: music and get out of that paradigm where the artist's 982 00:52:18,436 --> 00:52:21,156 Speaker 2: over here and the record company appoints a producer and 983 00:52:21,236 --> 00:52:24,436 Speaker 2: the producers responsible for the artists. It was an old, 984 00:52:24,676 --> 00:52:29,276 Speaker 2: an old fashioned, you know, paradigm. And so by time, 985 00:52:29,396 --> 00:52:31,036 Speaker 2: you know, we were working with David Foster in the 986 00:52:31,076 --> 00:52:35,596 Speaker 2: late seventies, right, And I remember one session we were 987 00:52:35,636 --> 00:52:38,116 Speaker 2: doing in the late seventies, David said, I don't know 988 00:52:38,196 --> 00:52:40,276 Speaker 2: what I'm doing here. You guys are making this record yourself. 989 00:52:40,316 --> 00:52:42,636 Speaker 2: And we're like, yeah, I guess we are. That's what 990 00:52:42,676 --> 00:52:45,236 Speaker 2: we're going to do. So and that led to the eighties, 991 00:52:45,276 --> 00:52:47,396 Speaker 2: and of course you know the commercial success. 992 00:52:47,636 --> 00:52:50,076 Speaker 1: Yeah, there a similarity between what was going on with 993 00:52:50,196 --> 00:52:52,916 Speaker 1: that sort of those studio guys here in LA in 994 00:52:52,956 --> 00:52:55,316 Speaker 1: the seventies, with the Nashville scene. 995 00:52:55,436 --> 00:52:58,036 Speaker 2: Yeah, well just in terms of quality, in terms of 996 00:52:58,276 --> 00:53:00,436 Speaker 2: the musicianship in quality, Yeah, they were at pros. 997 00:53:00,556 --> 00:53:02,316 Speaker 1: The number of they were just super. 998 00:53:02,556 --> 00:53:05,116 Speaker 2: They just came in and played, you know, and you know, 999 00:53:05,196 --> 00:53:08,396 Speaker 2: and it's not and it's not just the playing. It's 1000 00:53:08,436 --> 00:53:12,036 Speaker 2: not just the gil of the technique or they're playing. 1001 00:53:12,356 --> 00:53:16,676 Speaker 2: It's the way they listen. It's their equipment when you 1002 00:53:16,796 --> 00:53:19,076 Speaker 2: do a session in Nashville. You know, Vince Gill told 1003 00:53:19,156 --> 00:53:21,876 Speaker 2: me when I first moved there, he said, if you're 1004 00:53:21,876 --> 00:53:25,156 Speaker 2: going to be producing songs, you know, in Nashville, he says, 1005 00:53:25,476 --> 00:53:27,316 Speaker 2: he says, You've got to think of yourself as like 1006 00:53:27,396 --> 00:53:31,236 Speaker 2: a director of a movie. It's not who you choose. 1007 00:53:31,476 --> 00:53:33,476 Speaker 2: It's not the best guitar player to choose, or the 1008 00:53:33,516 --> 00:53:36,516 Speaker 2: best bass player or drummer, because they're all good. It's 1009 00:53:36,556 --> 00:53:41,116 Speaker 2: who's the exact right player for that moment, for that song, 1010 00:53:41,836 --> 00:53:44,996 Speaker 2: to serve that song. And it takes time to learn 1011 00:53:45,076 --> 00:53:48,556 Speaker 2: who they are and experience them and kind of pull 1012 00:53:48,636 --> 00:53:52,036 Speaker 2: together your rolodex, so to speak, you know, and yeah, 1013 00:53:52,036 --> 00:53:53,876 Speaker 2: and that's what you do. You just you know, and 1014 00:53:53,916 --> 00:53:56,116 Speaker 2: now I can handpick the you know, if I need 1015 00:53:56,156 --> 00:53:59,276 Speaker 2: a pedal steel player there's two guys that I'm always 1016 00:53:59,316 --> 00:54:01,316 Speaker 2: going to go to and depends on which which ones 1017 00:54:01,396 --> 00:54:04,676 Speaker 2: available and which one's right and keyboards and drums and 1018 00:54:04,756 --> 00:54:05,196 Speaker 2: it's all. 1019 00:54:05,156 --> 00:54:07,316 Speaker 1: This, you know, And it's almost a crazy way to 1020 00:54:07,356 --> 00:54:07,716 Speaker 1: work there. 1021 00:54:07,836 --> 00:54:10,796 Speaker 2: You could craft and craft the music you want to 1022 00:54:10,836 --> 00:54:13,516 Speaker 2: make and know that they're going to deliver it for you. Wow, 1023 00:54:13,916 --> 00:54:15,916 Speaker 2: you know, and they have all the guitars and the 1024 00:54:16,156 --> 00:54:19,076 Speaker 2: pedal boards and the sounds and you know, and and 1025 00:54:20,036 --> 00:54:24,316 Speaker 2: they're there there. It's a real pleasure to walk into 1026 00:54:24,396 --> 00:54:27,356 Speaker 2: a room and just have the support knowing that these 1027 00:54:27,396 --> 00:54:29,356 Speaker 2: guys are going to deliver. Yeah. 1028 00:54:29,476 --> 00:54:30,596 Speaker 1: I don't know if it's a toy you on. Now 1029 00:54:30,716 --> 00:54:33,636 Speaker 1: you do do a tour where it's you and three Yeah, 1030 00:54:33,676 --> 00:54:36,716 Speaker 1: acoustic tour an acoustic quartet, which I've been doing for 1031 00:54:36,756 --> 00:54:38,316 Speaker 1: the last two and a half years. Is that what 1032 00:54:38,356 --> 00:54:40,476 Speaker 1: you're doing tomorrow at the now it's a full electric band. 1033 00:54:41,436 --> 00:54:42,596 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're kicking ass tomorrow. 1034 00:54:42,836 --> 00:54:43,236 Speaker 1: Can't wait? 1035 00:54:44,116 --> 00:54:44,396 Speaker 3: What what? 1036 00:54:44,636 --> 00:54:46,716 Speaker 1: What tunes do you do with the acoustic quartet? 1037 00:54:47,196 --> 00:54:51,356 Speaker 2: Well through Sanitary and Brownie McGee to also all kinds 1038 00:54:51,356 --> 00:54:54,556 Speaker 2: of stuff I do, you know, I do some folky stuff. 1039 00:54:54,556 --> 00:54:56,356 Speaker 2: I do a John Prime song, you know, I mean 1040 00:54:56,836 --> 00:55:00,636 Speaker 2: just like it's it's a much more loose and it's 1041 00:55:00,716 --> 00:55:04,356 Speaker 2: much more it's much more a storyteller show where I 1042 00:55:04,436 --> 00:55:07,156 Speaker 2: tell these really long involved stories about I do some 1043 00:55:07,156 --> 00:55:09,676 Speaker 2: Mississippi John Hurd, I do some doc wats. So yeah, 1044 00:55:09,716 --> 00:55:11,396 Speaker 2: it's a much more laid back. I'm sitting down. I 1045 00:55:11,476 --> 00:55:15,236 Speaker 2: got an acoustic guitar, I got a cello, pedal, steel percussion, 1046 00:55:15,876 --> 00:55:18,796 Speaker 2: and then it was time to put the acoustic away, 1047 00:55:18,956 --> 00:55:21,796 Speaker 2: grab my strat, plug it into an amp and crank 1048 00:55:21,876 --> 00:55:23,716 Speaker 2: it up a little bit. So yeah, this new band 1049 00:55:23,836 --> 00:55:25,836 Speaker 2: is much more of a kind of R and B 1050 00:55:26,636 --> 00:55:27,116 Speaker 2: soul band. 1051 00:55:27,276 --> 00:55:29,276 Speaker 1: Any of the same guys are totally. 1052 00:55:29,076 --> 00:55:29,716 Speaker 2: Only the drummer. 1053 00:55:29,796 --> 00:55:30,316 Speaker 1: That's awesome. 1054 00:55:30,356 --> 00:55:30,516 Speaker 7: Man. 1055 00:55:30,556 --> 00:55:32,556 Speaker 2: We've only done about five shows, six shows. 1056 00:55:32,836 --> 00:55:37,956 Speaker 1: That's that's I mean the experience, the experience you have 1057 00:55:38,796 --> 00:55:41,356 Speaker 1: like over the years. Play like I imagine when you 1058 00:55:41,436 --> 00:55:43,676 Speaker 1: go to play like a troubador now, it's like it's 1059 00:55:43,716 --> 00:55:44,876 Speaker 1: got to be so much fun. 1060 00:55:44,756 --> 00:55:47,756 Speaker 2: To I love playing small venues. I love playing small venues. 1061 00:55:47,796 --> 00:55:50,636 Speaker 2: It's it's musical, it's it's the people are right there, 1062 00:55:50,756 --> 00:55:54,076 Speaker 2: the energy's there, you know. Uh yeah, I mean I've 1063 00:55:54,236 --> 00:55:57,756 Speaker 2: really especially on the acoustic tour, it's playing small theaters 1064 00:55:57,916 --> 00:56:00,716 Speaker 2: was the sweet spot because it's a you know, people 1065 00:56:00,716 --> 00:56:03,196 Speaker 2: are sitting, they're coming, they're sitting to listen to stories 1066 00:56:03,236 --> 00:56:05,476 Speaker 2: and they want to be comfortable. And the sound is 1067 00:56:05,516 --> 00:56:07,716 Speaker 2: great because it's a theater, it's made for music. I 1068 00:56:07,876 --> 00:56:10,156 Speaker 2: really don't like playing a reiness and things like that. 1069 00:56:10,916 --> 00:56:15,516 Speaker 2: It just feels disjointed and feel removed from the crowd 1070 00:56:15,676 --> 00:56:19,996 Speaker 2: and it feels more like a spectacle where it's not 1071 00:56:20,116 --> 00:56:20,876 Speaker 2: as musical. 1072 00:56:21,116 --> 00:56:25,596 Speaker 1: Man, well, are you open to ending with another tune? 1073 00:56:25,876 --> 00:56:28,516 Speaker 1: I could do a push in a rock Yeah, great 1074 00:56:28,716 --> 00:56:29,356 Speaker 1: the new version. 1075 00:56:29,676 --> 00:56:32,476 Speaker 2: Yeah, but damn, I wish I could sing better. I'm 1076 00:56:32,676 --> 00:56:35,396 Speaker 2: I'm really kind of this coldest bother me. 1077 00:56:35,516 --> 00:57:11,556 Speaker 4: But keep push. Can't have a brother. Kenyon laying today 1078 00:57:12,316 --> 00:57:16,596 Speaker 4: feels out of murding. Ken You understink it because he 1079 00:57:16,716 --> 00:57:20,196 Speaker 4: keep his mouth pride when I had out of here 1080 00:57:20,516 --> 00:57:22,836 Speaker 4: lie everything alive. 1081 00:57:22,996 --> 00:57:26,076 Speaker 12: Something I get going through back with the good made 1082 00:57:26,196 --> 00:57:29,156 Speaker 12: some mistakes, I mean, the understand. 1083 00:57:29,916 --> 00:57:32,876 Speaker 2: N't down trying to turn her and bids to get 1084 00:57:33,036 --> 00:57:34,476 Speaker 2: back onside. 1085 00:57:34,036 --> 00:57:39,236 Speaker 4: And rykeep borrowing hard. Shugar ship should do like bole 1086 00:57:39,356 --> 00:57:41,276 Speaker 4: Kid when. 1087 00:57:41,156 --> 00:57:45,996 Speaker 5: It rolls back down this google with it, Try Google 1088 00:57:46,076 --> 00:57:56,116 Speaker 5: with a puson us didn't nobody when he looks back down, 1089 00:57:56,676 --> 00:58:04,276 Speaker 5: google with it and keep your head held high. 1090 00:58:04,556 --> 00:58:06,036 Speaker 1: I keep trying and trying. 1091 00:58:06,436 --> 00:58:09,836 Speaker 4: Keep your eyes on the price on the rocks. 1092 00:58:09,876 --> 00:58:14,956 Speaker 5: On got holy pet bet you keep on something drip 1093 00:58:15,036 --> 00:58:17,276 Speaker 5: of water covering the rook. 1094 00:58:17,356 --> 00:58:18,236 Speaker 4: Gainst rather. 1095 00:58:20,436 --> 00:58:23,116 Speaker 1: Light that you hard, but she keeps that in time. 1096 00:58:24,276 --> 00:58:28,956 Speaker 4: Then hit him. Try to help the brother jat to it. 1097 00:58:32,116 --> 00:58:49,356 Speaker 14: Shut put it rock with the goblet there, do you have. 1098 00:58:49,476 --> 00:58:54,396 Speaker 4: A you got gooble that the problem the couple there, 1099 00:58:58,156 --> 00:59:04,956 Speaker 4: something that's coming up, sons couple who don't happen. If 1100 00:59:05,036 --> 00:59:08,796 Speaker 4: I keep on pushing it, I can't turn this whole 1101 00:59:08,836 --> 00:59:19,076 Speaker 4: thing stepinite, two steps to hide. If I just face 1102 00:59:19,236 --> 00:59:19,956 Speaker 4: every day. 1103 00:59:20,876 --> 00:59:23,356 Speaker 2: I get back on my feet in time. 1104 00:59:24,076 --> 00:59:46,596 Speaker 15: Id su supers pas you on the rock, but you 1105 00:59:46,796 --> 00:59:52,876 Speaker 15: have a figure that lead. 1106 00:59:55,436 --> 00:59:55,796 Speaker 1: Keep on. 1107 00:59:58,116 --> 00:59:58,476 Speaker 7: A rock. 1108 01:00:01,316 --> 01:00:05,716 Speaker 1: Don't you ever give up? Maybe just. 1109 01:00:07,836 --> 01:00:08,996 Speaker 3: The baby. 1110 01:00:14,356 --> 01:00:26,836 Speaker 1: Said, baby baby is that's sweet man. When you hit that, 1111 01:00:27,916 --> 01:00:30,636 Speaker 1: keep on pushing in that falsetto. I remember that's my 1112 01:00:30,716 --> 01:00:32,636 Speaker 1: Curtis Mayfield. I was gonna say, I remember you and 1113 01:00:32,676 --> 01:00:34,516 Speaker 1: you do a version of Gypsy Woman. To do it 1114 01:00:34,596 --> 01:00:36,236 Speaker 1: live my one of my favorite songs. 1115 01:00:36,356 --> 01:00:46,316 Speaker 3: So cool, Yeah, loan there through the Cabravan down the 1116 01:00:46,716 --> 01:00:53,956 Speaker 3: cab fire, love liking one man in Mo shut. 1117 01:00:55,636 --> 01:00:59,076 Speaker 4: Stops a knight, right. 1118 01:01:01,596 --> 01:01:02,396 Speaker 12: That girl? 1119 01:01:02,996 --> 01:01:16,036 Speaker 8: Can it? 1120 01:01:19,676 --> 01:01:21,876 Speaker 1: Did you ever get to meet Curtis or impressions or anything? 1121 01:01:22,516 --> 01:01:22,636 Speaker 3: Well? 1122 01:01:22,716 --> 01:01:23,956 Speaker 2: I was a huge fan though. 1123 01:01:23,956 --> 01:01:26,236 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, did you ever see him or anything? Yeah 1124 01:01:26,316 --> 01:01:26,596 Speaker 1: you did. 1125 01:01:26,756 --> 01:01:29,196 Speaker 2: I saw him live at the Uptown Theater in Philadelphia, 1126 01:01:29,676 --> 01:01:30,556 Speaker 2: solo gigs. 1127 01:01:31,196 --> 01:01:35,196 Speaker 1: With the impressions. The impressions. Oh man, that's amazing, so good, 1128 01:01:35,636 --> 01:01:38,116 Speaker 1: one of the best. And man, thank you so much, 1129 01:01:38,316 --> 01:01:38,836 Speaker 1: so great that. 1130 01:01:38,916 --> 01:01:40,116 Speaker 2: It was a great interview. I appreciate it. 1131 01:01:40,236 --> 01:01:40,996 Speaker 1: No, thank you. 1132 01:01:41,116 --> 01:01:42,596 Speaker 2: Just to really go some places. 1133 01:01:42,756 --> 01:01:43,876 Speaker 1: Thank you really looking forward to this. 1134 01:01:43,956 --> 01:01:45,756 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me right and I'm sorry I wasn't 1135 01:01:45,756 --> 01:01:48,076 Speaker 2: at my best because I'm honestly, I just feel like 1136 01:01:48,116 --> 01:01:49,196 Speaker 2: I can't sing very well. 1137 01:01:49,236 --> 01:01:51,756 Speaker 1: But no, we're two guys not at our best right now. 1138 01:01:51,956 --> 01:01:53,036 Speaker 4: Okay, we did it. 1139 01:01:53,356 --> 01:01:54,156 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. 1140 01:01:54,236 --> 01:01:57,316 Speaker 2: The secret. Don't tell anybody. See if we fooled him again? 1141 01:01:57,396 --> 01:01:57,476 Speaker 7: Right? 1142 01:01:57,556 --> 01:02:00,116 Speaker 1: We think we did. I think we did. That was 1143 01:02:00,156 --> 01:02:05,356 Speaker 1: a real real pleasure. Man. Don't miss the episode description, 1144 01:02:05,476 --> 01:02:07,516 Speaker 1: where you'll find a playlist of our favorite John Oaks 1145 01:02:07,596 --> 01:02:11,716 Speaker 1: songs plus his new and remember subscribe to YouTube dot 1146 01:02:11,796 --> 01:02:15,276 Speaker 1: com slash Broken Record podcast for all of our video interviews, 1147 01:02:15,676 --> 01:02:17,636 Speaker 1: and be sure to follow us on Instagram at the 1148 01:02:17,716 --> 01:02:20,236 Speaker 1: Broken Record Pop. You can follow us on Twitter at 1149 01:02:20,316 --> 01:02:23,716 Speaker 1: broken Record. Broken Record is produced and edited by Leah Rose, 1150 01:02:23,756 --> 01:02:26,356 Speaker 1: with marketing and help from Eric Sandler and Jordan McMillan. 1151 01:02:26,476 --> 01:02:29,916 Speaker 1: Our engineer is Ben Tomaday. Broken Record is a production 1152 01:02:30,036 --> 01:02:32,676 Speaker 1: of Pushkin Industries. If you love this show and others 1153 01:02:32,716 --> 01:02:36,356 Speaker 1: from Pushkin, consider subscribing to Pushkin Plus. Pushkin Plus is 1154 01:02:36,356 --> 01:02:39,276 Speaker 1: a podcast subscription that offers bonus content and ad free 1155 01:02:39,356 --> 01:02:41,916 Speaker 1: listening for four ninety nine a month. Look for Pushkin 1156 01:02:41,956 --> 01:02:45,316 Speaker 1: Plus on Apple podcast subscriptions, and if you like this show, 1157 01:02:45,436 --> 01:02:47,396 Speaker 1: please remember to share, rate, and review us on your 1158 01:02:47,436 --> 01:02:50,996 Speaker 1: podcast app. Our theme music's by Kenny Beeats. I'm justin Richmond.