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

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For the Weezer song, see Say It Ain't So.
"Say It Isn't So"
Single by Daryl Hall & John Oates
from the album Rock 'n Soul Part 1
B-side"Kiss on My List"
ReleasedOctober 1983 (1983-10)
RecordedSeptember 1983 at Electric Lady Studios in New York City[1]
GenrePop rock, blue-eyed soul
Length4:17 (album version)
3:56 (7" version)
6:45 (special extended mix)
5:15 (video version)
LabelRCA Records
Songwriter(s)Daryl Hall
Producer(s)Daryl Hall, John Oates, Bob Clearmountain[1]
Daryl Hall & John Oates singles chronology
"Jingle Bell Rock"
(1983) 		"Say It Isn't So"
(1983) 		"Adult Education"
(1984)
Music video
"Say It Isn't So" on YouTube

"Say It Isn't So" is a song performed by American pop rock duo Daryl Hall & John Oates, and 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 number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, behind coincidentally "Say Say Say" by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson.

Composition and recording[edit]

"Say It Isn't So" was written by Daryl Hall during the duo's supporting tour for H2O. It was the first of two new 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]

Reception[edit]

Cash Box called it "a derivative and decidedly Motown-inflected outing" that is "more vital than nostalgic."[3]

Music videos[edit]

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[edit]

Track listings[edit]

7" 45 RPM[edit]

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Say It Isn't So"Daryl Hall3:56
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Kiss on My List"Hall, Janna Allen3:48

12" 33⅓ RPM[edit]

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Say It Isn't So" (Special Extended Dance Mix)Hall6:45
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Say It Isn't So" (Dub version)Hall4:47
2."Kiss on My List"Hall, Allen4:24

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 22, 1983. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  4. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4382." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  6. ^ "Daryl Hall & John Oates: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  7. ^ "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  8. ^ "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  9. ^ "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  10. ^ "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  11. ^ "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  12. ^ "Hall + Oates".
  13. ^ "Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. December 22, 1984. p. TA-19.
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