This Edsel package brings together (for the first time) Hall & Oates’ first three albums, all recorded for the Atlantic label between 1972 and 1974. Also featured are four bonus tracks: one song from the “Whole Oats” sessions, and three songs exclusive to “No Goodbyes”, a compilation issued after the duo’s departure from Atlantic. These three songs were recorded after the “War Babies” album.
• Legendary producer Arif Mardin (Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, the Bee Gees, Chaka Khan and many more) took the controls for debut album “Whole Oats” in 1972, as well as 1973’s “Abandoned Luncheonette”. Considered by both Hall and Oates to be their best album, it features the slow-burning hit, the absolute classic “She’s Gone”, still the duo’s best-known song.
• For “War Babies”, they recruited fellow Philadelphian Todd Rundgren, eclectic solo act and producer extraordinaire (“Bat Out Of Hell”, XTC, Psychedelic Furs, Patti Smith, The Tubes, Sparks and many more). Resultantly, the trio experimented with a darker, edgy sound, which Rundgren refers to as the first “Daryl Hall solo album”. Their next move was to the RCA label, and eventual massive global success in the late 70s/early 80s, but these albums are where it all started.
• The 32 page booklet features all the lyrics and musician credits, photos and a 2000 word note by Alan Robinson.
