War Babies (Hall & Oates album)

War Babies is the third studio album by American pop music duo Hall & Oates. The album was released on October 19, 1974, by Atlantic Records. It was their last of three albums for Atlantic Records before moving to RCA Records. The album was produced by Todd Rundgren.[1] Rundgren and other members of Utopia, his then-recently-formed prog-rock band, perform on the record.

War Babies
Studio album by
Hall & Oates
ReleasedOctober 19, 1974
RecordedJune – July 1974
StudioSecret Sound Studios, New York
GenreRock
Length43:25
LabelAtlantic
ProducerTodd Rundgren
Hall & Oates chronology
Abandoned Luncheonette
(1973)		 War Babies
(1974)		 Daryl Hall & John Oates
(1975)
Singles from War Babies
  1. "Can't Stop The Music (He Played It Much Too Long)"
    Released: December 1974

The album was a radical departure from the previous two albums, alienating fans of the blue-eyed soul material that dominated the albums. War Babies is a more rock-oriented LP with heavy keyboard work and sarcastic lyrical content. War Babies was their first charting album, reaching #86 on the Billboard 200.

On February 24, 2017, Friday Music released a remastered version of the album along with their first studio album, Whole Oats.[2]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Can't Stop the Music (He Played It Much Too Long)"John Oates2:50
2."Is It a Star"Daryl Hall, Oates4:41
3."Beanie G and the Rose Tattoo"Hall3:01
4."You're Much Too Soon"Hall4:08
5."70's Scenario"Hall4:00
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."War Baby Son of Zorro"Hall4:10
7."I'm Watching You (A Mutant Romance)"Hall4:27
8."Better Watch Your Back"Hall4:15
9."Screaming Through December"Hall6:35
10."Johnny Gore and the "C" Eaters"Hall, Oates5:18

Personnel
  • Daryl Hall – lead vocals (3-10), backing vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, mandolin, vibraphone
  • John Oates – backing vocals, lead vocals (1, 2), keyboards, synthesizers, guitar
  • Todd Rundgren – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Richie Cerniglia – lead guitar on "Is It a Star"
  • "Admiral Television" – "soloist" [presumably TV-broadcast noise] on "War Baby Son of Zorro"
  • Don York – keyboards, arrangements on "Is It a Star", ARP String Ensemble on "70's Scenario"
  • Tommy Mottola – voice ["Erased Conelrad warning"] on "War Baby Son of Zorro"
  • John Siegler – bass
  • John "Willie" Wilcox [credited as "John G. Wilcox"] – drums
  • Sandy Allen – backing vocals on "War Baby Son of Zorro" and "Johnny Gore and the "C" Eaters"
  • Gail Boggs – backing vocals on "War Baby Son of Zorro" and "Johnny Gore and the "C" Eaters"
  • Hello People – backing vocals on "Johnny Gore and the "C" Eaters"

Production
  • Produced and Engineered by Todd Rundgren
  • Assistant Engineer – David Lesage
  • Mastered by Jean Ristori at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York).
  • Art Direction – Bob Defrin
  • Artwork – Peter Palombi
  • Photography – David Gahr and Armin Kachaturian
  • Musical Assistance – David LaSage and Gene Perla

References
  1. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "War Babies - Daryl Hall & John Oates". AllMusic. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  2. "DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES | WHOLE OATS & WAR BABIES CD (Original Recording Masters/ Deluxe 2 CD Set/Limited Edition)". Friday Music. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
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