Hall and Oates (1974) Can't Stop the Music (He Played It Much Too Long) - LOST 70s GEMS

This song is to me the third of a trio of potential hit singles that Hall and Oates recorded during their early 70s three album run on Atlantic Records; the other two being Goodnight and Goodmorning from their rootsy folk debut, Whole Oates(1972) and When the Morning Comes from their less folky classic soul follow up Abandoned Luncheonette(1973). While those two singles are very commercial sounding post-Hippy folk rock tunes, this track is more novel in it's sound; though When the Morning Comes was book-ended with that Wah-Wah treated Oboe that created an exotic, otherworldly texture.

Can't Stop the Music is the lead track off third album, War Babies(1974) their very psychedelic attempt at progressive rock. This is probably the most commercial sounding song of a very dark and eerie concept album about.. I'm not sure what. What I do know is this track has a airy pre-80s synth pop sound, the mellow wash of several analog synthesizers overlapping each other. Oates comes in with a story of an old performer who was 'star of the stage' but can't cut it anymore over a bright electric piano chord progression. I should point out everything in this album is heavily phased or treated. After the chorus refrain where he states that he can't even remember the ending to the song; possible musings on their own career, for now they were safely at the other end of it; practically at the starting line.

It's a John Oates track that showed he was an equal to Hall in their massively underappreciated period in the 70s where they reigned as soul superstars. The album has the psychedelia and soul combo of Sly and the Family Stone but ups the cold dystopian eeriness with a lot of analog synths and minor keyed piano mood pieces like 70's Scenario and Screaming through December. Meanwhile there's enough tight commercial material in the funkier rock tracks like Better Watch Your Back and Much Too Soon. But best is still this number..(you can't play it too long)