SACD Daryl Hall and John Oates – Abandoned Luncheonette

Abandoned Luncheonette as a hybrid stereo SACD from the Atlantic 75 Series, mastered for DSD by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound: Daryl Hall and John Oates’ 1973 album with “She’s Gone” – all nine tracks in one continuous sequence, through to the long closing “Everytime I Look At You”.

From Philadelphia to New York studios

In the spring of 1973, Daryl Hall and John Oates recorded their second album in New York. After Whole Oats, they moved into Atlantic Recording Studios and Advantage Sound, with Arif Mardin producing. Philadelphia remained part of their musical background, while Abandoned Luncheonette opened the sessions to a wider circle of studio musicians and a colourful instrumental palette.

Released in November 1973, the album comes before the later run of big pop singles and gives two songwriters room for their own approaches. Hall wrote “When The Morning Comes”, Oates contributed “Had I Known You Better Then” and “Las Vegas Turnaround”, and “She’s Gone” belongs to both – the opening sequence alone is reason enough to get to know the partnership better.

The players behind the two voices

Bernard Purdie plays drums on much of the record, with Rick Marotta taking over on “Had I Known You Better Then”. Steve Gelfand and Gordon Edwards share the bass duties, Joe Farrell moves between oboe and saxophones, and Hugh McCracken, Ralph MacDonald and Richard Tee add further colours. Mardin wrote the string and horn arrangements.

Christopher Bond’s contributions are especially revealing: guitars, Mellotron and synthesizer widen the setting. Hall plays mandolin and keyboards among other instruments, Oates several kinds of guitar. So the album can be explored through far more than its two voices – small instrumental choices lie behind the melodies, and the title track even features a separately credited “Humanity Chorus”.

A hit that needed a second run

“She’s Gone” only became a major hit for the duo a few years later. Its first release reached number 60 on the US singles chart; the 1976 reissue climbed to number seven, and cover versions – among them one by Tavares – belong to the story in between. Coming to the album through its best-known song means discovering music whose wider recognition took time.

The cover has an equally specific history. Barbara Wilson photographed the retired Rosedale Diner from Pottstown, then standing near Kenilworth, Pennsylvania, and screen printing and hand colouring turned the photograph into the familiar image. The nine-track programme runs to the long closing “Everytime I Look At You” – plenty of reason to go beyond the hit and follow both writers through the complete album.

The Atlantic 75 hybrid stereo SACD

CAPA 050 SA is a hybrid stereo SACD from the Analogue Productions Atlantic 75 Series. According to the publisher, Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound mastered it for DSD. The SACD layer plays on SACD-capable players, the CD layer on any conventional CD player. The disc contains the nine tracks of the original album.

You order from Michael 45 in Germany. We arrange the US import and ship from Hilden.

More from the series: Atlantic 75 Series

Also in another edition: Abandoned Luncheonette

Customer question: Buying Analogue Productions records in Europe

Musicians

Participants and documented credit status. Track references correspond to the tracklist.

• Daryl Halllead vocals, mandolin, electric piano, piano, keyboards, chorusParticipation: Album personnel
• John Oateslead vocals, acoustic guitar, wah-wah guitar, electric guitar, chorusParticipation: tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9
• Christopher BondMellotron, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, synthesizer, chorusParticipation: tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9
• Bernard PurdiedrumsParticipation: tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9
• Rick Marottadrums, percussionParticipation: track 2
• Steve GelfandbassParticipation: tracks 1, 2, 4, 7, 9
• Gordon EdwardsbassParticipation: tracks 3, 5, 6
• Joe Farrelloboe, tenor saxophone, alto saxophoneParticipation: tracks 1, 3, 4, 6
• Hugh McCrackenelectric guitarParticipation: tracks 1, 7
• Ralph MacDonaldpercussionParticipation: tracks 1, 4, 7
• Jerry Ricksacoustic guitarParticipation: tracks 2, 5
• Pat RebillotorganParticipation: track 3
• Pancho MoralescongasParticipation: track 3
• Richard TeepianoParticipation: track 6
• Gloria AgostiniharpParticipation: track 6
• John Blairelectric violinParticipation: track 7
• Marvin StammflugelhornParticipation: track 8
• Mark HorowitzbanjoParticipation: track 9
• Larry PackerfiddleParticipation: track 9
• Arif Mardinvocals (Humanity Chorus)Participation: track 6
• Donald Wannervocals (Humanity Chorus)Participation: track 6
• Ronald Wannervocals (Humanity Chorus)Participation: track 6
• Kathy Hohlvocals (Humanity Chorus)Participation: track 6
• Walter F. Hohlvocals (Humanity Chorus)Participation: track 6

Produced by Arif Mardin, who also arranged strings and horns. Recorded by Gene Paul. Humanity Chorus on track 6; all eight members listed individually. Individual instruments do not apply to every track listed for a performer.