Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Change of Seasons
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 4/7/1948
WEBSITE: http://johnoates.com/
CITY: Nashville
STATE: TN
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
Lives in Nashville, TN, and Colorado. * http://johnoates.com/john-oates-bio/ * http://ew.com/article/2016/06/13/john-oates-memoir-change-seasons-exclusive/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born April 7, 1948, in New York, NY; son of Al and Ann Oates; married Nancy Hunter (divorced); married; second wife’s name Aimee; children: Tanner.
EDUCATION:Attended Temple University.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Pop singer, song writer, guitarist, record producer. Member of Hall and Oates, best-selling duo of all time. Also had solo career. Albums, as Hall and Oates: Whole Oates, Atlantic, 1972; Abandoned Luncheonette, Atlantic, 1973; War Babies, Atlantic, 1974; Daryl Hall and John Oates, RCA, 1976; Bigger Than Both of Us, RCA, 1976; No Goodbyes, Atlantic, 1977; Beauty on a Back Street, RCA, 1977; Livetime, RCA, 1977; Along the Red Ledge, RCA, 1978; X-Static, RCA, 1979; Voices, RCA, 1980; Private Eyes, RCA, 1981; H2O, RCA, 1982; Rock ‘n’ Soul Part One, RCA, 1983; Big Bam Boom, RCA, 1984; Live at the Apollo, RCA, 1985; Ooh Yeah!, Arista, 1988; Change of Season, (includes “So Close”) Arista, 1990; Marigold Sky, Push Records, 1990; VH1 Behind the Music, BMG Heritage Records, 2002; Do It For Love, U-Watch Records, 2003; Our Kind of Soul, U-Watch Records, 2004; Home For Christmas, U-Watch Records, 2006; Live at the Troubador, U-Watch Records/Shout Factory, 2008; Do What You Want, Be What You Are, The Music of Daryl Hall and John Oates, U-Watch Records/Sony, 2009. Solo albums: Phunk Soul, Beyond Records, 2002; 1000 Miles of Life, U-Watch Records, 2008; Mississippi Mile, PS Records, 2011; The Bluesville Sessions, WBA Records, 2012; Good Road to Follow, PS Records, 2014.
AWARDS:Inductee, Songwriters Hall of Fame, 2004; inductee, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 2014.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
American musician and pop singer John Oates is best known for the duo he formed with Daryl Hall, who he met while attending Philadelphia’s Temple University. The duo signed with Atlantic Records in 1972, and went on to record more than a score of albums selling over eighty million copies worldwide. Oates was mainly the guitarist for the duo as well as the cowriter of their chart-topping songs such as “Sara Smile”, “She’s Gone”, “Out of Touch”, “You Make My Dreams”, “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)”, “Maneater”, and “Adult Education”, among many others. Oates also sang the lead vocals on other Top 10 hits from the duo.
Hall and Oates stopped touring regularly by the late 1980s, and Oates, whose first marriage was unraveling, decided to move to Aspen, Colorado, and take stock. There he met and married his second wife, Aimee, and had a son. Though Hall and Oates have continued sporadically to tour, Oates began to forge a solo career with albums such as 1000 Miles of Life and Good Road to Follow. In 2017, he published his memoir, Change of Seasons, written with Chris Epting. Speaking with Isabella Biedenharn on Entertainment Weekly Online, Oates remarked on why he felt the time was ripe to write his memoir. He noted that he had grown up “with rock ‘n’ roll, and rock ‘n’ roll grew up with me.” Then came the folk movement and R&B. “I was in the thick of it all,” Oates told Biedenharn, his life paralleling these musical movements. “[S]o this really felt like my chance to document not just what I’ve done, but what others did around me. But this book is not just about music, it’s about reinventing a life and overcoming personal challenges. I was a journalism student in college and have always dreamed about writing a book, so the time has come.”
Among the more surprising revelations Oates shares in his memoir, Change of Seasons, is the fact that in 1987 his accountant gave him some very bad news: he was broke. With eighty million records sold in the course of his career with Hall, the financial well had been depleted. “I just wish they’d [manager Tommy Mottola and lawyer Allen Grubman] warned us that the high life we were living would have financial consequences,” he told People Online contributor Sam Gillette in an interview. “We weren’t cheated; we were seduced.” Oates went from a high lifestyle with four homes, a fleet of antique cars and an airplane, to a guy with just fifty dollars in his wallet. Poverty did not last long, however. Soon Hall and Oates began recovering millions of dollars in unpaid royalties on their albums.
In his memoir, Oates–who was born in New York but grew up in Philadelphia–describes how he was inspired to sing by his mother and her traditional Italian family. At the age of seven, he got his first guitar and discovered rock ‘n’ roll. He fills in the years at high school and then his brief tenure at Temple University when he hooked up with fellow musician Hall. Their fame, however, was not immediate, and he managed to squeeze in a year of travel in Europe as well as a short career as a race driver. He recounts his years of musical success with Hall, and his long afterlife with his second marriage and the birth of a son; a solo career of four albums; and his love of skiing, tennis, and flying.
Reviewing Change of Seasons, a Publishers Weekly contributor noted: “Above all, charm and curiosity distinguish him from the standard-issue pop star. Oates writes with brio on songwriting and the studio …, but his early years and travels are even more intriguing.” Booklist reviewer Eugenia Williamson also had praise, commenting: “Oates has, with Epting’s help, written an exceedingly entertaining, somewhat rueful chronicle of his life, from an Italian-American childhood eating meatballs in the basement to late-middle age in a tony Aspen enclave.” Similarly, a Kirkus Reviews critic felt that “Oates’ musical admirers will find much to like … [in this] amiable memoir.” Library Journal writer Brian Flota also had a high assessment of Change of Seasons, noting: “Highly recommended for fans of Hall & Oates and those interested in how much work it takes to be a hit act in the music business.”
Online AV/AUX contributor Marcus Nuccio also found much to like in this memoir, terming it a “charming, almost breezy retrospective.” Nuccio added: “It’s obvious Oates has always been in his element as a storyteller, whether he was strumming along with the anecdotes or diligently documenting them to put into book form. … Change Of Seasons is Oates’ moment in the spotlight, which he handles with aplomb.” Likewise, Elmore Magazine website reviewer Suzanne Cadgène concluded: “Never preachy or self-important, Oates has told his story in refreshingly straightforward and accessible terms, neither gloating about his accomplishments nor apologizing for the missteps. Maybe he learned something in those journalism classes, after all, because Change of Seasons is a very good read.”
BIOCRIT
BOOKS
Oates, John, and Chris Epting, Change of Seasons, St. Martin’s Press (New York, NY), 2017.
PERIODICALS
Booklist, February 15, 2017, Eugenia Williamson, review of Change of Seasons, p. 21.
Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 2017, review of Change of Seasons.
Library Journal, February 1, 2017, Brian Flota, review of Change of Seasons, p. 83.
Publishers Weekly, January 9, 2017, review of Change of Seasons, p. 51.
ONLINE
AV/AUX, https://aux.avclub.com/ (March 27, 2017), Danette Chavez, review of Change of Seasons.
Digital Journal, http://www.digitaljournal.com/ (April 23, 2017), Markos Papadatos, review of Change of Seasons.
Elmore Magazine, http://www.elmoremagazine.com/ (March 28, 2017), Suzanne Cadgène, review of Change of Seasons.
Entertainment Weekly Online, http://ew.com/article/ (June 13, 2016), Isabella Biedenharn, “John Oates Details His Forthcoming Memoir, Change of Seasons.”
John Oates Website, http://johnoates.com (September 11, 2017).
People Online, http://people.com/ (March 13, 2017), Sam Gillette, review of Change of Seasons.
Red Carpet Crash, http://redcarpetcrash.com/ (April 6, 2017), review of Change of Seasons.
Spill Magazine, http://spillmagazine.com/ (October 1, 2017), Gerry Young, review of Change of Seasons.
QUOTE:
with rock ‘n’ roll, and rock ‘n’ roll grew up with me.
I was in the thick of it all.
so this really felt like my chance to document not just what I’ve done, but what others did around me. But this book is not just about music, it’s about reinventing a life and overcoming personal challenges. I was a journalism student in college and have always dreamed about writing a book, so the time has come.
John Oates details his forthcoming memoir, 'Change of Seasons'
Get a first look at the cover, below
ISABELLA BIEDENHARN@ISABELLA324
POSTED ON JUNE 13, 2016 AT 3:14PM EDT
MATT CHRISTINE
John Oates — one-half of the most successful pop duo in the world, Hall & Oates — will release his memoir, Change of Seasons, on April 4, 2017. Next spring, not only will fans get to read about Oates’ life and career in his own words, but alongside the memoir, the icon will also release a set of both original and traditional songs that reflect the stories of the book, including a special live version of “Maneater.”
EW is excited to exclusively reveal the cover for Change of Seasons — and below, Oates tells us more about these projects and why he’s telling his story.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Why is now the right time to write a memoir?
JOHN OATES: I guess you just get to a point in life where you look back and realize that you are really fortunate to have grown up during a very unique musical era in American history. I remember the post war era of Big Band Music and how it evolved from the ’40s to the ’50s. I grew up with rock ‘n’ roll, and rock ‘n’ roll grew up with me. And then there was the folk movement, doo-wop, and R&B. I was in the thick of it all. I really feel that my life paralleled so many of these American musical movements, and so this really felt like my chance to document not just what I’ve done, but what others did around me. But this book is not just about music, it’s about reinventing a life and overcoming personal challenges. I was a journalism student in college and have always dreamed about writing a book, so the time has come.
How did you help remind yourself about the events you wanted to cover? Were you a journaler? Did you interview friends and family?
I kept handwritten journals starting in 1970, the day I graduated college, until the end of the decade. Somehow I knew my life would change dramatically, and it did. There are many experiences taken directly from these journals as well as plumbing the memory, which has turned into a kind of regressive therapy for me, going back in time and letting the floodgates open. Many of my friends and family have also added their recollections.
Why did you want to release new songs along with the book?
I wanted to include my personal interpretations on some of the important music and artists that influenced me before I began to work with Daryl Hall. There’s a lot people don’t know about my musical roots from childhood. I wanted to create a kind of companion/soundtrack to the book. I really want this to be a unique experience for readers, something that goes beyond just the printed page.
BIO
Thursday April 7, 1948, Al Jolson was voted most popular singer in America by Variety magazine and Columbia Records introduced the new 33 1/3 long- playing record album. At 1 A.M. that day, I was introduced to the world at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, starring as the first child born to Anna and Alfred Oates. – Excerpted from Change of Seasons
John Oates is one half of the best-selling duo of all time, Hall & Oates, as well as an accomplished solo artist. Singing from the time he could talk and playing the guitar since the age of five, John Oates was destined to be a musician. Born in New York City, his family moved to a small town outside of Philadelphia, PA in the early 1950s, a move that would change the course of his life.
J.O._approved_version_500 Soaking up the sounds of the 60s, John was influenced by the nascent folk scene, bluegrass, delta blues, and ragtime guitar styles, while also immersing himself in R&B legends such as Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, The Temptations, Curtis Mayfield, and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. One of his biggest mentors was his guitar teacher Jerry Ricks, who had spent time on the road with Mississippi John Hurt and Son House, and introduced John to the music of Doc Watson and Reverend Gary Davis, passing down their signature finger and flatpicking styles.
John Oates met Daryl Hall while attending Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. The two began collaborating and playing music together, marking the beginning of their historic partnership. Since their formation in the early 70s, Daryl Hall & John Oates have gone on to record 21 albums, which have sold over 80 million units, making them the most successful duo in rock history. They have scored 10 number one records, over 20 Top 40 hits, and have toured the world for decades. Their involvement in the original “Live Aid” concert and the groundbreaking “We Are The World” charity recording have further established them as legendary artists, who have personally and through their music, stood the test of time.
In addition to their numerous American Music, MTV awards, and multiple Grammy nominations, in 2005 they were inducted into the American Songwriters Hall of Fame and in May of 2008 were presented the prestigious BMI Icon Award for their outstanding career achievement in songwriting. In April 2014, Hall & Oates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Since embarking on a long awaited solo career in 1999, John has recorded five solo albums: Phunk Shui, 100 Miles of Life, Mississippi Mile, a live album called The Bluesville Sessions, and Good Road To Follow, (which featured collaborations with Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, Vince Gill, Nathan Chapman, Jim Lauderdale, and Jerry Douglas).
In January 2015 John released Another Good Road (Warner/Elektra), a DVD docu-concert that premiered on Palladia Music Channel. Recorded live in a Nashville studio in one session, the video featured some of Music City’s finest musicians and singers as well as rare, seldom seen footage of John’s family ranch in Colorado; a glimpse into his world behind the music.
bio-john-oates-02 John is a diverse musician and songwriter active in Nashville community and beyond. Founded in 2010, he was the creator and executive producer for the “7908 the Aspen Songwriters Festival” at the historic Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, CO. In 2013, John teamed up with Jim James (My Morning Jacket) to curate the Bonnaroo Super Jam with special guests Britney Howard, Billy Idol, R. Kelly, Larry Graham and the Preservation Hall Jazz band.
In April 2017 John released his memoir “Change of Seasons“ co-written with Chris Epting and published by St. Martin’s Press. The acclaimed title was an Amazon best seller and has been received with both outstanding critical and fan reviews. After completing an extensive book promotion tour in the spring of 2017, Oates resumed work on an important music project that represents the next exciting phase in his burgeoning solo roots music career. The project is entitled Arkansas and is set for release in 2018. Originally inspired by the music and legacy of the legendary Mississippi John Hurt, the project grew to encompass other artists and styles that represent the dawn of American popular music. Stylistically diverse and eclectic, the collection features a full band that was put together specially to bring the full range and flavors of classic American musical styles to life. Oates crafted a number of original songs for the Arkansas album; selections actually inspired by the process of digging deep into the sonic soil of authentic roots music. “I really believe this is the most vital and satisfying solo project I’ve ever embarked upon,” Oates says of Arkansas. “Of all the music I have ever made with anyone, for me this album sits right up there.”
John resides in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife Aimee.
John Oates
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other people named John Oates, see John Oates (disambiguation).
John Oates
Mattchristinephotography- 1 jpg.jpg
John Oates in Reading, PA 2016
Background information
Birth name John William Oates
Born April 7, 1948 (age 69)
New York City, New York, United States
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres
Blue-eyed soul pop rock R&B soul Philly soul soft rock bluegrass
Occupation(s) Guitarist, musician, songwriter, record producer
Instruments
Guitar vocals
Years active 1966–present
Labels
Atlantic RCA Epic Arista U-Watch
Associated acts
Carly Simon Hall & Oates
Website hallandoates.com
John William Oates (born April 7, 1948)[1] is an American rock, R&B and soul guitarist, musician, songwriter and record producer best known as half of the rock and soul duo, Hall & Oates (with Daryl Hall).
Although Oates's main role in the duo was guitarist, he also co-wrote many of the Top 10 songs that they recorded, including (with Hall): "Sara Smile" (the song refers to Hall's then-girlfriend, Sara Allen), "She's Gone", and "Out of Touch", as well as (with Allen and Hall): "You Make My Dreams", "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)", "Maneater", and "Adult Education". He also sang lead vocals on several more singles in the Hot 100, such as "How Does It Feel to Be Back", "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (a remake of the 1965 song performed by The Righteous Brothers that was written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil), on which Oates shared lead vocals with Hall, and "Possession Obsession" (with Allen & Hall).
In 1986 Oates contributed the song "(She's the) Shape of Things to Come" on the soundtrack to the 1986 film, "About Last Night". Oates also co-wrote and sang backup on the song "Electric Blue", recorded by the Australian band Icehouse, which was a Billboard Top Ten hit. He also co-wrote, produced and sang duet with the Canadian group The Parachute Club on the 1987 song "Love is Fire" which was a Top 30 hit in Canada.
Oates played the character "Dirty D" in episode 2 of series 1 of the eponymously named comedy TV series "Garfunkel and Oates".
Oates was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004,[2] and in 2014, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of Hall & Oates.[3] His memoir, Change of Seasons, was published in 2017.
Contents [hide]
1 Early life
2 Career
3 Personal life
4 Hall & Oates songs featuring John Oates on lead vocal
5 Discography
5.1 Studio albums
5.2 Live albums
6 References
7 External links
Early life[edit]
Oates was born in New York City. His mother, Ann De Palma, was an Italian immigrant originally from Salerno. His father, Al Oates, was born to an English father and Gibraltarian mother, who claimed ancient Moorish heritage.[4] He was raised in North Wales, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia.
Career[edit]
In 1966, he recorded his first single, "I Need Your Love," with The Masters for Philadelphia-based Crimson Records.[5] After graduating from North Penn High School in 1966,[6] John enrolled in Temple University in Philadelphia, where he met Daryl Hall, a senior at Temple who was also a professional musician. The two were involved in several college bands, then formed the duo Hall & Oates, and by 1972, they had signed with Atlantic Records.[7] Hall & Oates went on to record 21 albums (to date), which have sold over 80 million units worldwide, making them arguably the most successful duo in pop–rock history. They have scored ten number-one records and over 20 Top 40 hits and have toured the world for decades. Their involvement in the original Live Aid concert and the charity single "We Are the World", both in 1985, established them further as artists. Their influence on modern American pop music and considerable contributions have been acknowledged by numerous contemporary bands, including Gym Class Heroes and The Killers.[citation needed]
In 1983, Oates was asked whether he regretted not pursuing his degree in journalism. He replied that he did not—and admitted that he had in fact never intended to finish it.[8]
Despite 30 years as a chart-topping performer and sought-after producer, Oates did not release a solo album until 2002's Phunk Shui.
Oates took part, along with Jamie Cullum, in the song "Greatest Mistake" by Handsome Boy Modeling School. The song appears on the 2004 album White People.
Oates's second solo album, 1000 Miles of Life, was released on August 23, 2008.[9]
As reported by Billboard, Oates will be starring in an animated series called J.Stache, created by Evan Duby at Primary Wave Music Publishing.[10]
In March 2010, Oates played with the indie rock band The Bird and the Bee as a surprise guest. The show was a medley of The Bird and the Bee songs, as well as classic Hall & Oates. The performance was dedicated to H&O bassist T-Bone Wolk who died on February 27, 2010.
On October 1, 2011, Margo Rey charted at #24 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks with the song "Let the Rain", which was co-written by John Oates.[11]
On March 11, 2013, Oates released a new single, "Stand Strong", which he co-wrote with Teddy Morgan. "Stand Strong" is part of Oates's newest project, "Good Road To Follow", a set of original songs that will be released as digital singles, one after the other.[12] In 2015, Oates released Another Good Road,[13] a DVD and Live CD combination via PS Records / Warner Elektra, which also debuted as a television special on Palladia music channel. The DVD was shot live in a recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee, and features rare footage of his home in Woody Creek, Colorado.
His memoir, Change of Seasons (9781250082657), was published on March 28, 2017 by St. Martin's Press.[14]
John Oates has employed the use of many instruments and effects throughout his musical career and endorses several manufactures and brands. Some of the companies endorsed by John Oates include, Taylor guitars,[15] Voyage-Air guitars,[16] Neunaber Audio Effects,[17] LR Baggs,[18] and Fishman.[19]
Personal life[edit]
Oates has been married twice. His first wife was Nancy Hunter, a former model. He and his second wife Aimee Oates[4] have a son, Tanner, who was born in 1996. They reside in Woody Creek, Colorado[20] as well as Nashville, Tennessee.[21]
Hall & Oates songs featuring John Oates on lead vocal[edit]
"All Our Love" (co-lead vocal) from Whole Oats
"Southeast City Window" from Whole Oats
"Thank You For ..." from Whole Oats
"Lily (Are You Happy)" (co-lead vocal) from Whole Oats
"Had I Known You Better Then" from Abandoned Luncheonette
"Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song)" from Abandoned Luncheonette
"She's Gone" (co-lead vocal) from Abandoned Luncheonette
"I'm Just A Kid (Don't Make Me Feel Like A Man)" from Abandoned Luncheonette
"Lady Rain" (co-lead vocal) from Abandoned Luncheonette
"Can't Stop The Music (He Played It Much Too Long)" from War Babies
"Is it a Star" from War Babies
"Past Times Behind" from "The Atlantic Collection" compilation
"Camellia" from Daryl Hall & John Oates
"Alone Too Long" from Daryl Hall & John Oates
"Back Together Again" from Bigger Than Both of Us
"Crazy Eyes" from Bigger Than Both of Us
"You'll Never Learn" from Bigger Than Both of Us
"The Emptyness" from Beauty on a Back Street
"Love Hurts (Love Heals)" from Beauty on a Back Street
"The Girl Who Used to Be" from Beauty on a Back Street
"Melody for a Memory" from Along the Red Ledge
"Serious Music" from Along the Red Ledge
"Pleasure Beach" from Along the Red Ledge
"Portable Radio" from X-Static
"All You Want Is Heaven" from X-Static
"Bebop/Drop" from X-Static
"How Does It Feel To Be Back" from Voices
"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (co-lead vocal) from Voices
"Africa" from Voices
"Mano A Mano" from Private Eyes
"Friday Let Me Down" from Private Eyes
"Italian Girls" from H2O
"At Tension" from H2O
"Jingle Bell Rock" from 1983 Christmas single (flip-side featured another version with lead vocals by Daryl Hall)
"Possession Obsession" from Big Bam Boom
"Cold Dark And Yesterday" from Big Bam Boom
"Rockability" (co-lead vocal) from Ooh Yeah!
"Keep on Pushin' Love" from Ooh Yeah!
"Change of Season" (co-lead vocal) from Change of Season
"Only Love" from Change of Season
"Time Won't Pass Me By" from Marigold Sky
"War of Words" from Marigold Sky
"Someday We'll Know" from Do It for Love
"Love in a Dangerous Time" from Do It for Love
"Ooh Child" from Our Kind of Soul
"Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" from Our Kind of Soul
"No Child Should Ever Cry on Christmas" from Home for Christmas
"The Christmas Song" from Home for Christmas
"Don't Go Out" from "Do What You Want, Be What You Are" box set
"All the Way from Philadelphia" (co-lead vocal) from "Do What You Want, Be What You Are" box set
"I Want Someone" (co-lead vocal) from "Do What You Want, Be What You Are" box set
Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]
Phunk Shui (2002)
1000 Miles of Life (2008)
Mississippi Mile (2011)
Good Road To Follow (2013)
Live albums[edit]
John Oates: Live at the Historic Wheeler Opera House (2004)
John Oates Solo – The Album, The Concert (2006)
The Bluesville Sessions (2012)
QUOTE:
Oates has, with Epting's help, written an
exceedingly entertaining, somewhat rueful chronicle of his life, from an Italian-American childhood eating meatballs in
the basement to late-middle age in a tony Aspen enclave.
Change of Seasons
Eugenia Williamson
Booklist.
113.12 (Feb. 15, 2017): p21.
COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
* Change of Seasons. By John Oates and Chris Epting. Apr. 2017.400p. St. Martin's, $29.99 (9781250082657); e book,
$14.99 (9781250082664). 782.4216.
In the early 1990s, just after Hall and Oates faded from ubiquity, Oates found himself in Tokyo, staring into the mirror
of a hotel bathroom, shaving off his iconic mustache. "[No] one will understand how much that mustache affected my
life," he writes. "I resented it." Seasoned readers of celebrity memoirs might expect to learn precisely what effluvia and
intoxicants befouled those accursed hairs. But Oates' foray into the genre is remarkably discreet. Unnamed women
flicker through the book, and Oates only hints at the venal excess expected of '80s MTV stars. Whereas Keith Richards,
in Life (2010), takes great pleasure in snarking on Mick "Princess" Jagger, Oates avoids saying anything unflattering
about Daryl Hall. In the absence of grisly details or petty complaints, Oates has, with Epting's help, written an
exceedingly entertaining, somewhat rueful chronicle of his life, from an Italian-American childhood eating meatballs in
the basement to late-middle age in a tony Aspen enclave. He spent the '70s and '80s as a tiny, mustachioed Zelig,
flitting about the Boomer demimonde. Andy Warhol, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Quincy Jones, Miles
Davis, and Edgar Winter all make appearances--in airports, recording studios, arenas, and, in the case of George
Harrison, a 120-room Gothic castle, complete with a miniature replica of the Matterhorn.--Eugenia Williamson
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Williamson, Eugenia. "Change of Seasons." Booklist, 15 Feb. 2017, p. 21. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA485442471&it=r&asid=fc2eaf969aa5bb200aca30b834bb5443.
Accessed 30 Sept. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A485442471
9/30/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506824108394 2/4
QUOTE:
Oates' musical admirers will find much to like [n this] amibale memoir
Oates, John: CHANGE OF SEASONS
Kirkus Reviews.
(Feb. 15, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Oates, John CHANGE OF SEASONS St. Martin's (Adult Nonfiction) $29.99 4, 4 ISBN: 978-1-250-08265-7
Amiable memoir by the shorter, quieter partner in the renowned duo Hall & Oates.In partnership with Daryl Hall, Oates
has racked up some impressive chart stats indeed. As he opens his look backward, he rehearses some of them: countless
live performances, seven platinum albums, more than 40 million albums sold, and "fame, fortune, freedom." Though
Hall & Oates are remembered as a creature of the mid-1980s, Oates points out that his friendship and collaboration
with Hall dates back a decade and a half earlier, in the second generation of rockers, informed by the likes of Bill
Haley, Elvis, and the soul sounds of the Philadelphia streets. Oates has reason to boast, but his prose is workmanlike
and modest; more than anything else, he comes off as a fan of many artists of the day, from the Beatles to the
Temptations and the earliest manifestations of Elton John and David Bowie. There's some Zelig-like right-place, righttime
things happening here, too, such as a residence at LA's famed Tropicana Motel: as he writes, nicely, "can't say I
wasn't blown away by the fabulousity of it all because I was." Oates works quickly over his earliest years, marked by a
stint as a high school wrestler and time in journalism school, before settling into the journeyman stuff, where knowing
fans will find a wealth of notes on how the hits came into being, from the early "Abandoned Luncheonette" to the later,
more polished, but far less engaged "Ooh Yeah!" ("my head and my heart were not into it"). There's some sex and
drugs along with the rock 'n' roll, but Oates emerges, like Hall, as a pretty sensible guy who recognized when he was
going off the rails; in the end, he emerges as a seeker not of pleasure but of wisdom, even as the duo acquires new
street cred in the place of being a "Reagan-era punchline." Oates' musical admirers will find much to like here.
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"Oates, John: CHANGE OF SEASONS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2017. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA480921801&it=r&asid=8932b3300fb54aed5c6c447eb0053ff4.
Accessed 30 Sept. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A480921801
9/30/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506824108394 3/4
QUOTE:
Highly recommended for fans of Hall & Oates and those interested in how much work it takes to be a hit act in the
music business.
Oates, John with Chris Epting. Change of
Seasons
Brian Flota
Library Journal.
142.2 (Feb. 1, 2017): p83.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution
permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
Oates, John with Chris Epting. Change of Seasons. St. Martin's. Apr. 2017.400p. photos, index. ISBN 9781250082657.
$29.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250082664. MUSIC
Oates, half of the legendary pop duo Hall & Oates, recounts his path to stardom in this fascinating memoir. Raised in a
middle-class Italian American family, he develops an early interest in music, experiments with drugs while a student at
Temple University during the Vietnam War era, and begins a fortuitous partnership with Daryl Hall that parlayed itself
into a record deal in the early 1970s. Prior to becoming superstars in the 1980s, they struggled, yielding a few big early
hits ("She's Gone," "Sara Smile"). Oates recalls the travails of a hardworking musical group constantly touring and
recording, sometimes succeeding, often failing. With 1980's "Kiss on My List," Oates details the dizzying blur of
superstardom in the new age of music videos and corporate-sponsored world tours. After retreating from the limelight,
Oates experienced financial straits as a result of shoddy management and byzantine record deals. He discusses being a
husband and father and relates stories about his notorious next-door neighbor, writer Hunter S. Thompson. VERDICT
Highly recommended for fans of Hall & Oates and those interested in how much work it takes to be a hit act in the
music business. [See Prepub Alert, 10/31/16.]--BRIAN FLOTA, James Madison Univ., Harrisonburg, VA
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Flota, Brian. "Oates, John with Chris Epting. Change of Seasons." Library Journal, 1 Feb. 2017, p. 83. General
OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA479301257&it=r&asid=f5732309aef3672a4fa73e7ccaa694c2.
Accessed 30 Sept. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A479301257
9/30/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506824108394 4/4
QUOTE:
above all, charm and curiosity distinguish him from the standard-issue pop star. Oates
writes with brio on songwriting and the studio but his early years and
travels are even more intriguing.
Change of Seasons
Publishers Weekly.
264.2 (Jan. 9, 2017): p51.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Change of Seasons
John Oates, with Chris Epting. St. Martin's, $29.99 (400p) ISBN 978-1-250-08265-7
The mustachioed half of one of the best-known duos in pop history, Oates offers a memoir that might lead even his
greatest critics to revisit the '80s icons. Encouraged to sing by his mother's traditional Italian family, Oates found rock
'n' roll and his first guitar before he was seven. Half-hearted journalism studies at Temple University in the late 1960s
gave him time to explore the dynamic Philadelphia music scene before partnering with Daryl Hall. Stardom was a long
time coming, and en route Oates took interesting detours--including a hippie wanderjahr across Europe and an autoracing
career. Defined by a relentless work ethic and interests ranging from Beat poetry to Delta blues, Oates is a child
both of the '60s and blue-collar America. Oates can gloat, pointedly listing his accomplishments as a skier, wrestler,
pilot, and tennis player. Yet, above all, charm and curiosity distinguish him from the standard-issue pop star. Oates
writes with brio on songwriting and the studio (although little about his relationship with Hall), but his early years and
travels are even more intriguing. Such an engaging narrator is Oates that it's easy to miss the strict limits to his
revelations--romance goes almost unmentioned and '80s excesses are discretely elided. The second half loses focus, but
there are still plenty of entertaining anecdotes on such topics as having Hunter S. Thompson for a neighbor. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"Change of Seasons." Publishers Weekly, 9 Jan. 2017, p. 51+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA477339316&it=r&asid=71089d137e46b51c8d4a721434fc35b1.
Accessed 30 Sept. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A477339316
QUOTE:
charming, almost breezy retrospective. It’s obvious Oates has always been in his element as a storyteller, whether he was strumming along with the anecdotes or diligently documenting them to put into book form.
Change Of Seasons is Oates’ moment in the spotlight, which he handles with aplomb.
John Oates’ memoir is full of rock and soul
Danette Chavez
3/27/17 12:00amFiled to: BOOKS
90
Image: Marcus Nuccio
BOOK REVIEW
Lead
B
Change Of Seasons: A Memoir
AUTHOR
John Oates
PUBLISHER
St. Martin's Press
Early on in Change Of Seasons, John Oates maps out the direction of his memoir. Although his personal history converges frequently with that of Daryl Hall, his musical partner of over 45 years, it’s still very much a solo venture. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer has meticulously pieced together his memoir from an expansive collection of journals that goes as far back as his teen years in small-town Pennsylvania through the height of the group’s popularity. His work with Hall, with whom he’s been friends for over 50 years, isn’t at all minimized; it’s the backbeat that runs throughout Oates’ tale. But despite their closeness, the musical partners never tried to speak for one another, a tradition that Oates is determined to follow in his book.
Although the author doesn’t see the need to make this distinction, let’s get one thing cleared up: A common misconception of the duo’s dynamic is that Oates was a supporting player, which is a consequence of not contributing lead vocals to most of their songs. But the duo shared writing credits on the bulk of their hits, and Oates already had radio play to his name before he began performing with Hall. He’s a gifted musician and singer, a natural talent who jokes that his greatness was predicted from birth. So his story stands on its own, and it’s one that Oates delights in telling. As the only son and grandson born to a largely Italian immigrant family, he arrived on this Earth already a star. The New York City native gleefully admits that he ate up the attention, never pretending that he wanted anything less than fame and fortune.
For all his natural talent, though, Oates’ work ethic is what rings out the clearest in his memoir. The music lessons that began at age 5 extended well into his 30s; he remains “afflicted” by the performance bug that bit him at the tender age of 2. That same diligence is on full display in the composition of Change Of Seasons. Oates shows a journalistic commitment to telling his story and filling in as many details in the picture as possible. And even if some of the tales are familiar to fans, they’re now as burnished as his own musical chops.
Recent Video from The A.V. Club
VIEW MORE >
"She was always biting us”: 6 TV pets hated by their castmates
08/21/2017
Like so many of his R&B-infused pop tunes, Change Of Seasons is an upbeat recollection, but one with heart. The title of the memoir suggests an end to something, but the author regards that “change” as a cyclical one. Even five decades later, Oates isn’t close to writing his professional swan song. There is, however, musical accompaniment in the form of Hall & Oates covers as performed by Oates. Still, it’s clear that he doesn’t think the creatively fecund times are in the past, though obviously his rock-and-soul collaborations with Hall will probably remain the high point of his career. Oates doesn’t distance himself from their success; he tells stories that will be familiar to avid fans, like the infamous cover shoot for the so-called “Silver” album, and the Apollo Theater performance that prompted them to press pause on their joint careers.
Framed though it is from Oates’ perspective, Change Of Seasons is also a frank look at the music industry, including the nebulous deals that often seal an artist’s fate. Along with the breakup of his first marriage, these shadowy negotiations make up some of the callow times implied by the title. The artist’s middle-class upbringing and strong family ties grounded him at first, but provided a source of conflict once the stardom became overwhelming. He refers to the “duality” of being a married man who acted anything but while on the road, but there’s no deep dig into backstage encounters or after-parties; he just owns up to letting his first wife down.
Even with its reflections on personal responsibility, Change Of Seasons remains a charming, almost breezy retrospective. It’s obvious Oates has always been in his element as a storyteller, whether he was strumming along with the anecdotes or diligently documenting them to put into book form. In his afterword, Chris Epting notes that dedication, and again, the consideration of Oates’ longtime collaborator and friend. But ultimately, Change Of Seasons is Oates’ moment in the spotlight, which he handles with aplomb.
Purchase Change Of Seasons here, which helps support The A.V. Club.
Book Review: ‘Change Of Seasons: A Memoir’ By John Oates Is A Great Read About His Life
RedCarpetCrash April 6, 2017
I’ve been a fan of Hall & Oates for years. I’ve seen them in concert many times over the years. I’ve never really known much about their personal lives until now. John Oates has written his story and it’s a fascinating look at his life, the music industry and Hall & Oates. He’s quick to point out this is John Oates story not a story about Daryl. Yes Daryl is mentioned a lot but again this is John’s story.
From the time he was born music was a part of his life. He even recorded his first song at 2 years old. From his days in New York to moving to the outskirts of Philly and growing up there. John goes into great detail on his every times with music, including an interesting story on how he got his first record deal (in a music store).
The music business is not an easy place and John goes into great detail about it. From meeting Daryl, to their first big contract. To how they write and record songs and life on the road. John covers it all. Even how they were so successful and then one day years later he was told he was broke. How could that happen? John explains.
He also tells great personal stories about some adventures with drugs, a guard dog and relates stuff from his personal diaries he’s kept over the years. You even get a 5 track CD with the book!
Half of the group that’s sold over 60 million records, 29 top 40 hits, in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Pick up your copy of Change Of Seasons: A Memoir now in stores from St. Martin’s Press.
Review: John Oates releases compelling book 'Change of Seasons: A Memoir' SPECIAL
LISTEN | PRINT
BY MARKOS PAPADATOS APR 23, 2017 IN MUSIC
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Oates (from the duo Hall & Oates) released his highly-anticipated new book "Change of Seasons: A Memoir," and it is raw and authentic.
His memoir is dramatic, witty and captivating, to the point where anybody can relate to him. Oates truly takes his fans and readers on a journey of his musical career over the years, and it allows to give him the spotlight (and see things from his perspective). The book even includes how he met his wife Aimee, and he opened up about his love for sports, especially tennis, as well as some of his encounters with some of the biggest names in the music industry. Without giving too much away, this book is filled with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the iconic musician. It is a book about hard work, perseverance, and one gets to get to know the man behind the music on a somewhat more intimate level.
The Verdict
John Oates' new book is highly recommended for fans of Hall & Oates, and anybody who is interested a well-written memoir about one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of our time, from one of the most successful musical duos in history: Mr. John Oates. Chris Epting did a brilliant job co-writing this book with Oates.
Change of Seasons: A Memoir is available on Amazon.
To learn more about veteran singer-songwriter John Oates and his latest endeavors, check out his official website.
SPILL BOOKS: JOHN OATES – CHANGE OF SEASONS: A MEMOIR (WITH CHRIS EPTING)
BOOKS
2116
John Oates
John Oates – Change Of Seasons: A Memoir (With Chris Epting)
St. Martin’s Press – April 4, 2017
ISBN – 978-1250082657
Book Review By Gerry Young
In John Oates’ riveting new memoir Change of Seasons, one half of the mega-selling pop duo Hall & Oates touches all the usual bases, including recording, touring, and partying with celebrities, but the book is so much more than that. Oates proves himself to be as adept at storytelling as he was writing some of the biggest selling hits in Pop music history, along with his partner Daryl Hall.
I first saw Hall and Oates at Massey Hall on their Abandoned Luncheonette tour in the mid seventies. The Abandoned Luncheonette album featured their first hit single, “She’s Gone”, which Oates wrote after being stood up one New Year’s Eve. A string of Top Ten hits soon followed throughout the rest of the seventies and eighties, including “I Can’t Go for That,” ‘Kiss on My List,” “Maneater,” “Out of Touch,” “Private Eyes,” “One on One,” “Rich Girl,” and the list goes on and on.
Change of Seasons tells the stories behind the hits, but refreshingly, it also examines the band’s misses. However, the real strength of the book lies in the intelligent storytelling of the musician behind it all. Oates makes it clear that both he and Daryl Hall only cared about the music, and to their detriment, left the financial matters to others (i.e.manager Tommy Mottola and financial advisors). In 1987, while on hiatus and after writing and producing with Australian band Icehouse and Canadian band Parachute Club, Oates learned that despite all the successes and his accumulated expensive toys (multiple airplanes, cars and houses), he was $9 million dollars in debt. To his credit Oates takes the blame for this by admitting that he and Hall cared only about the music and didn’t pay enough attention to money matters. Around this time, Oates suffered another setback when his first marriage fell apart.
How Oates deals with these setbacks and moves on with his life gracefully, is really the heart of the book, and shows the real strength and character of the man and the artist. Change of Seasons is really a book about personal development and growth, and learning how to deal with whatever curve balls life may throw at you.
Highly recommended.
QUOTE:
I just wish they’d warned us that the high life we were living would have financial consequences,” he writes of his ex-manager Tommy Mottola and lawyer Allen Grubman. “We weren’t cheated; we were seduced.
How John Oates Lost His Money and His Mustache: The Singer Reveals All in New Memoir
BY SAM GILLETTE•@SGILLETTE7
POSTED ON MARCH 13, 2017 AT 1:36PM EDT
SHARE
TWEET
EMAIL
DANA NALBANDIAN/WIREIMAGE
John Oates, half of the soulful hit-making duo Hall & Oates, lost many precious things in the ’80s and ’90s.
In his upcoming memoir Change of Seasons, the “Private Eyes” singer reveals that in 1987 his accountant blindsided him with devastating news: after selling 80 million records, Oates was broke.
“I just wish they’d warned us that the high life we were living would have financial consequences,” he writes of his ex-manager Tommy Mottola and lawyer Allen Grubman. “We weren’t cheated; we were seduced.”
In a striking transition, Oates claims that he went from being the owner of four homes, numerous antique cars, and a plane—to having $50 in his wallet. Fortunately, the duo gained some financial stability after they recovered millions of dollars in royalties they were owed.
Oates admits to other missteps in that era, including is treatment of his first wife, Nancy Hunter, a Ford model.
“I should never have been married in the ’80s,” he writes. “She was a successful model and I was running around the world like I was single.”
ST. MARTIN'S PRESS
At the turn of the decade, the musician made a change that was almost as drastic as is financial loss: he shaved off his trademark mustache. As he writes in Change of Seasons, losing the facial hair was Oates’ way of beginning a new chapter in his life.
“No one will ever understand how much that mustache affected my life,” he writes. “It was so much a part of who I had become.”
But Change of Seasons is more than a look into Oates’ career and how he overcame “personal challenges” (as he explained to EW). In addition to the book, he will release a set of songs that mirror stories in Change of Seasons, as well as a live version of Hall & Oates’ 1982 smash, “Maneater.”
FROM COINAGE: 7 Most Expensive Music Videos
7 Most Expensive Music Videos
These artists spent a pretty penny on their videos.
Pause
Mute
Current Time 0:23
/
Duration Time 1:24
Loaded: 0%Progress: 0%
Share
Captions
Fullscreen
“I wanted to include my personal interpretations on some of the important music and artists that influenced me before I began to work with Daryl Hall,” he told EW. “There’s a lot people don’t know about my musical roots from childhood. I wanted to create a kind of companion/soundtrack to the book. I really want this to be a unique experience for readers, something that goes beyond just the printed page.”
Change of Seasons hits bookshelves on March 28.
QUOTE:
Never preachy or self-important, Oates has told his story in refreshingly straightforward and accessible terms, neither gloating about his accomplishments nor apologizing for the missteps. Maybe he learned something in those journalism classes, after all, because Change of Seasons is a very good read.
Change of Seasons, A Memoir
John Oates with Chris Epting
Book Reviews | March 28th, 2017
ChangeofSeasons(2)St. Martin’s Press
One-half of the mega-hit duo Hall & Oates, John Oates states at the outset that he hasn’t written the Hall and Oates story, but the John Oates story, a thoughtful account of his personal journey from Philly schoolboy to top-of the world-star, on down to a bankrupt guy whose time may have passed, and finally to his emergence as a balanced, thoughtful and highly successful human being.
Oates chronicles his life beginning with his large Italian family, his rural Pennsylvania upbringing and musical training beginning at age four or five (in his first audition, in Atlantic City, NJ, he sang “Volare” in Italian), his early love of sports and auto racing, and his musical evolution. John Oates wasn’t a late bloomer in any way: everything the man became showed up early in his life.
Interestingly, Oates explains his decision to became a journalism major “because I was good at typing and there was very little homework,” but his is not the story of a slacker. Yes, the hippie mentality played heavily in his journey to seven platinum albums and 40 million records sold, but Oates worked his laid-back ass off and—sometimes unconsciously—went with the flow. His success story brings to mind the old shipwreck adage “Pray to God, but row toward shore.”
Oates began a lifelong friendship with Daryl Hall (then Daryl Hohl), when their two respective groups were booked to lip-synch their singles at a Philadelphia radio-station record hop early in their college careers, and Oates’ stories include the rich, the famous, and the infamous. From Quincy Jones to George Harrison, Tommy Mattola to Hunter S. Thompson, from performance auto racing greats to tennis greats, Oates has “played” with them all, at a professional level.
The books flaws are minor. Depending on the page, Oates has sold 40, 60 or 80 million albums. His sudden reference to “my wife” sent me scrambling backward, unsuccessfully searching for a reference to a serious relationship, and an entire chapter on shaving off his moustache was followed by a photo of Oates with a huge moustache. (David Crosby also famously wrote a song “Almost Cut My Hair;” it must be a guy thing.) That said, I’ve no doubt that this book is honestly written.
Oates’ story serves as a primer for anyone interested in becoming a star. Though they are not unique in the industry, with Daryl Hall, John Oates did it all: put in the time, made some lucky connections, found, lost and re-found love and the Daryl Hall connection, wrote enduring and commercial songs, nearly died, had adventures with famous characters, earned huge triumphs and huge disappointments, got shafted monetarily, kept working until it got fixed, and—this may put him in the minority—stayed human throughout.
Never preachy or self-important, Oates has told his story in refreshingly straightforward and accessible terms, neither gloating about his accomplishments nor apologizing for the missteps. Maybe he learned something in those journalism classes, after all, because Change of Seasons is a very good read.
—Suzanne Cadgène