What Was the First US Top 40 Single by Hall & Oates?

Hall & Oates delivered massive chart success during their time together. Yes, they stand as one of the most successful duos to ever do it. But you can also compare their run of hits to most renowned solo artists and groups and find that they can hang with just about anybody.

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But what was the first song that made it big for them? Well, there’s one song that a lot of people might guess, based on when it was released on an album. But it was another song that cleared the path for it that we’re about to discuss.

Finding Their Sound

Because their most consistent run of chart smashes came during this decade, we tend to think of Daryl Hall & John Oates as 80s superstars. In actuality, they released their first album all the way back in 1972. And even though they boasted of major label backing right from the start, they didn’t sell a lot of records for a while.

Like a lot of artists, Hall & Oates struggled to define their music at first, as they worked with different producers and tried out different genres. They came closest to the sound for which they would become known on the 1973 album Abandoned Luncheonette. That album included a little song called “She’s Gone”.

As many of you might know, “She’s Gone” became a signature song for the duo. And it would also become a big hit. But that didn’t happen initially. In fact, when “She’s Gone” was first released in 1973, the heartbreaking ballad only made it to no. 60 on the pop charts. It would take another two years for the duo to come up with the song that would dent the charts. Even then, they almost missed it.

“Smile” Soars

Daryl Hall had been dating Sara Allen for a couple of years when he and John Oates settled in to make their fourth LP. It was a make-or-break kind of record for the pair. Prior to it, they had been dropped by their original label (Atlantic) and signed to a new one (RCA). It’s doubtful that their new overlords would have been quite so patient with any more flops.

Evans was with Hall as he composed a tribute to her, titled “Sara Smile”. Although Oates would receive co-writing credit, this song was largely Hall’s baby. He allegedly laid down most of the track’s emotional lead vocal in a single take.

Meanwhile, Chris Bond, who played in the backing band and was acting as co-producer on the album, which would be titled simply Daryl Hall & John Oates when released in 1975, came through with the string arrangements that elevated the heartfelt ode to a special girl. “Sara Smile” made the running order for the album. But it nearly didn’t make the cut as a single.

A Persistent Hit

The songs “Camellia” and “Alone Too Long” were chosen as the first two singles from the album. Neither one of them did a thing on the charts. It looked like Hall & Oates were headed for another hitless album, at least until they caught a little break.

Some industrious DJs who had checked out the whole album gravitated to “Sara Smile”. They began playing the song on their shows without prompting. As the song caught on with audiences, RCA sensed the opportunity. They released “Sara Smile” as a single, and it made it all the way to no. 4 on the pop charts in America in early 1976.

Since the hit made Hall & Oates a recognizable brand, Atlantic Records, looking to get at least a little bit out of an act that hadn’t exactly lit it up for them, re-released “She’s Gone” as a single. Only then did it hit the Top 10. But it would never have received that chance if “Sara Smile” hadn’t first broken down the dam for this legendary duo.

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