Say It Isn't So (Hall & Oates song)

"Say It Isn't So"
Single by Hall & Oates
from the album Rock 'n Soul Part 1
B-side "Kiss on My List"
Released October 29, 1983 (1983-10-29)
Format 7" 45 RPM, 12" 33⅓ RPM
Recorded September 1983 at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, New York[1]
Genre Pop rock, blue-eyed soul
Length 4:17
Label RCA
Writer(s) Daryl Hall
Producer(s) Daryl Hall, John Oates, Bob Clearmountain[1]
Hall & Oates singles chronology
"Jingle Bell Rock"
(1983)		 "Say It Isn't So"
(1983)		 "Adult Education"
(1984)

"Say It Isn't So" is a song by American duo Daryl Hall & John Oates written by Daryl Hall. It was released by RCA Records in October 1983 as the first of two new singles from their compilation album Rock 'n Soul Part 1, released that same year (see 1983 in music). The song was remixed as a "special extended dance mix" by John "Jellybean" Benitez, which topped Billboard magazine's Hot Dance Club Play chart.[2] The song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, coincidentally behind "Say Say Say" by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson.

Composition and recording

"Say It Isn't So" was written by Daryl Hall during the duo's supporting tour for H2O. It was the first of two songs recorded during the sessions for Rock 'n Soul Part 1. The sessions took place in September 1983 at Electric Lady Studio A in New York City. The song was produced by Daryl Hall and John Oates, with recording by Bob Clearmountain, who co-produced the recordings. The backing musicians on the song were bassist Tom "T-Bone" Wolk, saxophonist Charles DeChant, guitarist G. E. Smith, drummer Mickey Curry, and percussionist Jimmy Bralower. The song's arrangement was developed in the studio with backing vocals inspired by the Flamingos' version of "I Only Have Eyes for You" and a problem with a break in the song solved by Jimmy Bralower.[1]

Music videos

There were two versions of the video. The first version was once aired on MTV as part of the duo's special titled The Greatest & The Latest. The second version, which was on heavy rotation during the channel's heyday, was filmed on location in New York City.

Chart performance

Weekly singles charts

Chart (1983-84) Peak
position
Australia 24
Canada RPM 4
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[3] 2
U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles 45
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 8
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 18
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 3
UK 69

Year-end charts

Chart (1983) Position
U.S. Cash Box Top 100[4] 47
Chart (1984) Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 22

Single track listings

7" 45 RPM

Side a
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Say It Isn't So"  Daryl Hall 3:56
Side b
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Kiss on My List"  Hall, Janna Allen 3:48

12" 33⅓ RPM

Side a
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Say It Isn't So" (Special Extended Dance Mix)Hall 6:45
Side b
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Say It Isn't So" (Dub version)Hall 4:47
2. "Kiss on My List"  Hall, Allen 4:24

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Wolk, Tom "T-Bone" (2006) [1983]. "The Rock 'n Soul Part 1 Sessions". Rock 'n Soul Part 1 (CD liner). Daryl Hall & John Oates. RCA Records/Legacy Recordings. 82876753972.
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-89820-156-7.
  3. ↑ http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1984.htm
  4. ↑ http://50.6.195.142/archives/80s_files/1983YESP.html
Preceded by
"Talking in Your Sleep" by The Romantics		 Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
December 24, 1983 – January 14, 1984 		Succeeded by
"Din Daa Daa" by George Kranz


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