Do What You Want, Be What You Are: The Music of Daryl Hall & John Oates

As a kid who grew up hearing these guys on the radio I was incredibly affected by their music even as a toddler. I started buying their albums in the eighties and have everything they've put out since, but I still remembered the older radio hits and hearing their earlier albums around the house when I was a kid (my Mom's a big fan) too. I became a musician (horns and later on bass) as a little kid largely due to the way I would feel when I would hear them and bands like Steely Dan, Earth Wind & Fire, etc... A great time to grow up man! I bought this box set because of a special I saw on TV recently where Daryl and John describe how they went through the process of putting it together and how they chose the songs PERSONALLY and how it was such a bittersweet experience to actually listen to their own music and get it together. All I have to say is DAMN IS THIS AN INCREDIBLE BOX SET! Not a bad song on it. Well, they probably never wrote one. Hearing all of the early stuff brings back childhood memories, and the stuff I've never heard before all floors me! The live performances are all absolutely perfect too. These guys are living legends and we are all lucky to still have them writing and performing. And R.I.P. T-Bone. He was a great guy and an incredible musician and person. I met him, and actually got to know him a bit. He used to send me Motown stuff that I couldn't find in the record stores on cassette tapes so I could learn James Jamerson's bass parts. He offered to do this after meeting him once backstage. Very kind and generous soul. I wish the boys luck without him.

The compilation is pretty good. However it is missing Promise Ain't Enough(A radio hit from 1997) and it is missing the two songs mentioned from the review below this one. Other Than this, this box set is pretty good.

The version of "The way you do the things you do/ My girl live at the apollo 1985" is the version that includes the late Eddie Kendrick and David Ruffin from The Temptations. I remember when it came out but I never picked it up and I haven't seen it for years. Thank you Itunes for finally getting this song on here.

I love Hall and Oates so much! They're music is so timeless, I am nineteen and am a huge fan. I went to a concert over the summer and the concert at the closing of the Spectrum. Hall and Oates represents Philadelphia so well! I love this box set. My absolute favorite song on this box set is All The Way From Philadelphia, which was previously unreleased. I recommend this box set to everyone! It's so great!

This body of work is amazing yes, but I find the mastering a bit questionable, I think the two disc "Essential Collection" a bit better as far as sound quality but the breadth of this collection, wow!! I read the liner notes and I question why the the album "Marigold Sky" was totally overlooked. My favorite song from that collection is "Promise Ain't Enough" and that ballad certainly belonged here. The outtakes are amazing, I'm surprised Daryl and John let them free because like numerous professionals regarding outtakes, they weren't used for whatever reasons and are left on the shelf. This set assembles the wealth of hits recorded during Hall & Oates association with their major labels, I again wish more sides recorded for U Watch Records was here to make this set a bit more complete.

Have been coveting the No Good Byes album on CD forever. I've had it on vinyl since the 80s. I do love you guys like a brother, but will have to wait until you sell the individual songs. Saw them in Charlottesville about 1975 in Old Cabell Hall. Very close to the stage-great show!

Must have for the amazing body of work from Hall & Oates but had to leave off a star for the omissions of two great albums Beauty on Backstreet & Marigold Sky otherwise you can't go wrong with this purchase

The live trax on the end of disc 1 are amazing. The band is phenominal and the sound is a revelation. You can feel the energy in the theatre. I'm so glad this era of hall and Oates is so well documented on this box. My request is for a full release of the young vic show!

From the rare collection No Goodbyes... first time on CD, but is it worth the big price tag... album only :-(

Being very familiar with the 1980's Hall and Oates, I wasn't sure that this box set would prove to be a discovery for me. There are A LOT of songs that I had never heard before, mostly from the 70's (before I was born!) I am SO glad that I went ahead with this purchase, it is a musical journey, told by two of the greatest songwriters EVER!