Daryl Hall & John Oates with David Ruffin & Eddie Kendricks, Live At The Apollo (1985)
Another day, another Hall & Oates record! A year ago I had two or three albums – now I have nearly a dozen I reckon. Getting there…getting there…At any rate, I was pleased to find this. Recorded live at the Apollo with two of The Temptations this was Hall and Oates acknowledging their influences, repaying the debt, paying dues. You may remember they fronted up at Live Aid in July of 85 with Kendricks and Ruffin and it was one of the coolest sets of an over-hyped and under-delivering show. Go back and watch it now – it still stands up. Very little from that day (and night) does. And then a couple of months later this live album arrives – which points to the sincerity of the gesture. It wasn’t just a one-off for show on a giant stage. They had done the Apollo gig ahead of that, they gave the old, forgotten guys a run – played a medley of old hits – as well as doing some of the classic and new H & O material. I’m glad to have this live album. It’s a cracker!

Sample Track: Everytime You Go Away
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