En Filadelfia, a finales de los años sesenta, Daryl Hall y John Oates se conocieron de una forma bastante peculiar. Ambos asistían a la Universidad de Temple y, aunque formaban parte de diferentes bandas, coincidieron en un concurso de talentos local. Una pelea que estalló durante el evento los llevó a refugiarse en la misma escalera de incendios y a descubrir que compartían intereses musicales similares. Este encuentro inicial marcó el inicio de una de las colaboraciones más exitosas en la historia de la música pop.
Después de su reunión casual, Hall y Oates decidieron iniciar una colaboración formal en 1970. Firmaron con Atlantic Records y lanzaron su primer álbum, Whole Oats, en 1972. Aunque el álbum no tuvo un gran éxito comercial, estableció las bases para su sonido único: una mezcla de soul, rock y pop que luego sería conocido como "blue-eyed soul".
Su primer gran éxito llegó en 1975 con el álbum Daryl Hall & John Oates, que incluía el sencillo "Sara Smile", una canción escrita por Hall para su entonces novia Sara Allen. "Sara Smile" se convirtió en un éxito rotundo, alcanzando el número 4 en las listas de Billboard.
El periodo entre 1976 y 1985 fue la época dorada para Hall and Oates. Lanzaron una serie de álbumes que fueron oro y platino, produciendo una cadena de éxitos que incluía canciones como "Rich Girl", "Kiss on My List", "Private Eyes", "I Can't
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You strike a low blow
You fight a dirty fight
Right to the heart you're putting me away
Time was movin' slow
But I was in control
There were so many things I should've said
But couldn't think of one word
(Delayed reaction) oh yeah
At first I was ashamed
Then I was inflamed
I wanted to hurt you
Say that (delayed reaction) oh no
At first I was alright
And then I had to fight
I wanted to hurt you
I wanted to hurt you so
It was a backlash
No I couldn't let it pass
I was so mad I couldn't keep it down
I made it real tough
Ooh I had to blow you off
I couldn't stand it having you around
I couldn't stand the sound, no
(Delayed reaction) oh yeah
At first I was ashamed
And then I was inflamed
I wanted to hurt you
Say that (delayed reaction) oh no
At first I was alright
And then I had to fight with you
I wanted to hurt you
I wanted to hurt you so
But if the rage is right
Then you better be wrong
'Cause if I force a fight well then I'm twice a fool
Ooh, I could've listened more
Was that what you were waiting for?
I can't imagine why
I can't imagine why
I can't imagine why you'd wanna let it go
I didn't wanna blow but
(Delayed reaction) oh yeah
At first I was ashamed
And then I was inflamed
I wanted to hurt you
Say that delayed reaction oh no
At first I was alright
And then I had to fight with you
I wanted to hurt you so
(Delayed reaction) oh yeah
Ooh I had to fight, fight, fight you
(Delayed reaction oh no)
Just had to let the love blow to fight a dirty fight
9Delayed reaction oh yeah)
What good is saying I lost my head I didn't mean it girl
(Delayed reaction) oh no
Ooh baby, ooh baby
I can't imagine why you want to let it go
(Delayed reaction)
Ooh, yeah the boys are fine and I'm twice the fool
(Delayed reaction) oh no
I can't imagine why, I can't imagine why