Every year when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces its newest class there is debate, not only about who gets in but about who has yet to be inducted.
This year ABBA, along with Genesis, The Hollies and The Stooges, were among those honored with induction and right away, folks are clamoring: What about Chicago? What about KISS? Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, Three Dog Night? The list of deserving musicians not in the rock hall is longer than the list of inductees.
For me, it’s, “What about Hall & Oates?” And it’s not because Daryl and John, from Pottstown and North Wales respectively, are local boys. It’s not because I have had the pleasure of interviewing each of them for stories in Montgomery Newspapers over the past few years.
It’s because every time I get into my car, I’ll choose a Hall & Oates album to listen to over just about any other CD that I have. It’s about the music. I virtually grew up with, and have liked a good number, of H&O songs over the years.
Why, I even considered naming Older Daughter
“Sarah Smile Morsch.” That’s how much I liked that song and that music.
The KISS and Chicago fans — of which I consider myself one of both groups — can wait. Television personality Rachel Ray, who has been lobbying for H&O to be inducted into the rock hall, is right. Daryl and John belong.
And really, I like ABBA, but if that group can get through the doors of the Rock and Roll Hall of fame, then H&O are overdue. In fact, at the very least, John Oates’ moustache should be in the rock hall of fame.
Whose arm do I have to twist on this one? You know, as we say in Philly, “I know a guy.”

Labels: Daryl Hall, John Oates, Mike Morsch, Montgomery Newspapers, Outta Leftfield, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

There are a few local things that interest me this week and a few not so local things that don’t interest me, and in fact, are trying my patience.
Among the people I find compelling is Philadelphia singer-songwriter Mutlu, who was scheduled to perform Dec. 11 at the Sellersville Theater.
Unfortunately, a car accident has sidelined him for a little while and canceled the Sellersville show for now. When he has rescheduled, look for a story on him Ticket magazine inside your local newspaper.
He’s the next generation of Philly soul and his career at this point has been influenced by local sons Daryl Hall and John Oates. I’ve seen Mutlu perform a few times and he’s quite good.
Here’s hoping he has a speedy recovery and can get back on the Sellersville schedule in quick order.
The other group that’s caught my eye is called Straight No Chaser, an a cappella group of 10 guys who will perform Dec. 18 at the Keswick Theater in Glenside.
These guys have an amazing sound. We’re trying to put together a preview story for next week on their appearance in this area. Check them out online and on YouTube.
Mutlu and Straight No Chaser are legitimate talents and deserve well more than their 15 minutes.
Consequently, there are a few stories on the national scene that are just wearing me out.
First, there’s Tiger Woods. I don’t play golf and I don’t watch golf on TV. It’s a challenging sport, but boring nonetheless. I’m a baseball player. When I hit a ball, somebody else should chase it. I shouldn’t have to track it down and hit it again.
As for Tiger’s personal life, I really don’t care. It does not impact my life in any way.
Then there are those two goofs who snuck into a state dinner allegedly without an invitation and got face time with both President Obama and Vice President Biden, among others.
OK, so the Secret Service needs to be perfect and wasn’t on this one. Fine, let it examine its security procedures and make the necessary adjustments so that something like this doesn’t happen again.
As for the two party-crashing reality TV wannabes, if everybody just ignores them, maybe they’ll go away. They got 15 minutes that should have gone to somebody more deserving.

Labels: Daryl Hall, John Oates, Keswick Theater, Mike Morsch, Montgomery Newspapers, Mutlu, Outta Leftfield, Sellersville Theater, Straight No Chaser, Tiger Woods

I appreciate unique experiences, especially when they have anything to do with writing.
And that’s just what several North Penn High School music students and I, among others, got Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Lansdale Center for the Performing Arts when legendary singer-songwriter and North Wales native John Oates conducted a songwriting workshop ahead of a solo gig later the same evening at the LCPA.
He and Daryl Hall — as Hall & Oates — are one of the most successful duos in rock and roll history. In fact, I’d be hard pressed to name a duo that has had more success for such a long period of time, more than four decades now.
Oates told the would-be songwriters a lot of things that apply to writing in general: learn from people you respect; study the people you like; keep a journal; and don’t be afraid to express emotion in one’s writing.
It was a real treat to listen to Oates describe his craft in such an intimate setting. The LCPA is big on providing arts education, and Oates was gracious to share his insights with the 30 or so people who were invited to attend.
Among the additional highlights for me, though, was the inclusion of two young singer-songwriters that are big in the Philly music scene right now – Carsie Blanton and Mutlu. The Blonde Accountant and I are big fans of both and we’ve seen them both at area venues several times.
As one of the North Penn students pointed out after the seminar, it was cool to see the experienced songwriter Oates contrast and interact with the younger songwriters Carsie and Mutlu.
Who would have thought a boy from rural Illinois would one day sit down with John Oates – whose music I grew up on – and discuss writing?
That’s just too cool.

Labels: Carsie Blanton, Daryl Hall, John Oates, Lansdale Center for the Performing Arts, Mike Morsch, Montgomery Newspapers, Mutlu, Outta Leftfield