John Oates was born at the perfect time, paralleling the birth of rock ‘n roll. Raised in a small Pennsylvania town, he was exposed to folk, blues, soul, and R&B. Meeting and teaming up with Daryl Hall in the late 1960s, they developed a style of music that was uniquely their own but never abandoned their roots. John uncovers the grit and struggle it took to secure a recording contract with the legendary Atlantic Records and chronicles the artistic twists and turns that resulted in a DJ discovering an obscure album track that would become their first hit record. This is not your typical rock and roll story. John was focused creating great music. Along the way he achieved incredible success, battling the ever-changing pop music landscape and coming to terms with complex managerial, business, and personal challenges.
Daryl Hall and John Oates have over 20 albums together, more than 60 million records sold, and 29 Top 40 hits. They are the most successful pop duo in the world and members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And yet John’s story has never been told. Relying on his many hand-written journals, he brings to light many fascinating stories spanning his entire life with a journalist’s eye and a poet’s heart.
In Change of Seasons, John shares his highs, lows, triumphs, and failures. He takes the reader on a wild ride through all the eras, personalities and music that has shaped him into what he is.
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“John Oates, the renowned rock singer and composer, and author Chris Epting collaborate on both the synthesis of Oates’ journals for this memoir and on the audiobook narration…Listeners will be absorbed by the life of John Oates, whom one could view as a privileged and self-possessed artiste.”
— AudioFile
“His story stands on its own, and it’s one that Oates delights in telling…A charming, almost breezy retrospective…Change of Seasons is Oates’ moment in the spotlight, which he handles with aplomb.”
— AV Club“An exceedingly entertaining, somewhat rueful chronicle of his life..Andy Warhol, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, and Edgar Winter all make appearances.”
— Booklist (starred review)“Oates offers a memoir that might lead even his greatest critics to revisit the ’80s icons…Charm and curiosity distinguish him from the standard-issue pop star…Plenty of entertaining anecdotes on such topics as having Hunter S. Thompson for a neighbor.”
— Publishers WeeklyBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
John Oates grew up outside of Philadelphia in the early 1950s. At Temple University, he met fellow musician Daryl Hall. Since the two formed Hall & Oates in the early 1970s, they have recorded twenty-one albums, which have sold over eighty million units, making them the most successful duo in rock history.
Chris Epting is the author of many books, including Led Zeppelin Crashed Here, All I Really Need to Know I Learned from KISS, and Hello, It’s Me—Dispatches From a Pop Culture Junkie.