50 Daryl Hall & John Oates Songs You Better Have…Or Else
“Say It Isn’t So”
(1983; #2 pop)
Writer: Daryl Hall
Producer: Daryl Hall, John Oates, Bob Clearmountain
from the album Rock ‘n Soul Part 1
As the lead single off their first “greatest hits” compilation (Rock ‘n Soul Part 1), “Say It Isn’t So” showed off a new beginning for the soul/pop duo. At its core, “Say It Isn’t So” plays like a sleek disco record. But there was no dodging the smart rock embellishments and hallucinating synthesizers that helped give it the crossover appeal. The only thing keeping it from going to number one pop was “Say Say Say,” the Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney duet. The irony of the unique song titles of the pair battling for the hot spot stirred WBLJ-FM’s Peter Bush to introduce the Hall & Oates tune as “Say, Say, Say It Isn’t So, So, So.”
