Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees Hall and Oates are known for 34 charting hits, making them the most successful duo ever. John Oates says they may have made another kind of history, too.
Oates, in a talk with Vice, says Hall and Oates were likely also the first to top the charts with a song utilizing a drum machine. He’s referencing “Kiss On My List,” the 1981 smash that would end up as the second of Hall and Oates’ six No. 1 songs.
“I may be going out on a limb by saying this, but we may have had the first ever recorded with a drum machine, ‘Kiss on My List,'” Oates says, noting that it’s the “exact same drum machine” used on “I Can’t Go for That” — which was Hall and Oates’ fourth No. 1, from later in 1981.
“It was a Roland CompuRhythm,” Oates adds. “You can’t even call it a drum machine — it was a wooden box. It had presets: Rock 1, Rock 2, Samba, and Calypso. And you had a rotary dial that gave you tempo, and there was no indication what that number was. And that box used to sit on Daryl’s piano, set on Rock 1.”
- Angell & Crane, “Himalayan Dial-Up” from ‘Angell & Crane’ (2024): Video Premiere - November 22, 2024
- Michael Attias, “Avrils” from ‘Quartet Music Vol. II- Kardamon Fall’ (2024): Streaming premiere - October 11, 2024
- Bryn Roberts, “Aloft” from ‘Aloft’ (2024): Video Premiere - September 20, 2024
This doesn’t sound right. Sly Stone was making hits with drum machines in the early 70’s.
That’s right, “Family Affair” was a #1 hit, too.
Sorry guys. Blondie’s Heart of Glass was the 1st #1 using a drum machine as part of the track.