Co-written by Hall and Oates for 1978’s Along the Red Ledge, “I Don’t Wanna Lose You” had all of the markings of a hit — from the sweet interlocking of their voices to its Philadelphia street-corner groove, from its smart narrative about a love in jeopardy to those very of-the-moment strings.
Hall and Oates had hooked up with David Foster as producer for Along the Red Ledge, during a period in which he was an up-and-coming name in the business. They were coming off a Top 20 hit with “It’s a Laugh,” too. Everything seemed to be in place for another run up the charts following Hall and Oates’ “Sara Smile” (No. 4), “She’s Gone” (No. 7) and “Rich Girl” (No. 1) over the previous two years.
That’s not the way it turned out for Hall and Oates. And, even today, Daryl Hall admits that he has no idea why.
“‘I Don’t Wanna Lose You’ is a good one,” he tells Rock Cellar. “It’s like here it is, this Philly song; it had all the elements. I said, ‘This has gotta be a radio song,’ and it didn’t get any response whatsoever.”
In fact, “I Don’t Wanna Lose You” stalled two spots outside of the Top 40, well behind “It’s a Laugh” — which partner John Oates recently said was a Daryl Hall that he wished he’d written.
“I’m very proud of ‘It’s a Laugh’; that song is very real,” Hall adds. “It’s about a direct experience and it has some surprises in it in terms of the chord changes. As for what song of John did I wish I wrote? Well, how about ‘Had I Known You Better Then’ from Abandoned Luncheonette. That is a fantastic song. I’m sure there’s others I could think of, if I really put my mind to it but that song is a particularly great song.”
- 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
I love Hall & Oates, but this has too much of a “Philadelphia Freedom” vibe.
was just about to say that
That’s the Philly sound that they are talking about. Philadelphia Freedom is just one of many songs with that sound.
Thank you!! I was trying to think of where I had heard that “vibe” before!
Exactly, a discofied Philadelphia Freedom sound about the time disco was being showed the door.
Now disco is trendy again so strings now ok to like?! H&O have used this kind of string arrangement years before. As Hall played on Philly hits that sound is a major part of their sound. 82’s “Lookin For A Good Sign” is very Philly.What aabout “Back Together Again”? Well Philly!
This is one song they should have re-recorded with t different arrangement when they were hitting it big in the 80’s. It’s a good song, but I don’t really care for the disco strings in it..
It definitely had the potential! Some of those transitions are WICKED!
I think this song had some good moments but I think fans have/had high expectations that were met by other great Hall and Oates tunes, that this one doesn’t stand out.
I’m listening to this and the first thing I expect is to see Magnum coming around Diamond Head in TC’s helicopter.
Love Hall & Oates, but this does not scream HIT…at all. lol Interesting read though!
It’s those freakin’ screechin’ violins.
I LOVE THE STRINGS! WHATS THE MATTER WITH YOU ALL?!
It wasn’t a hit for some reason. For me those strings were so un-Hall&Oates like. To each his own though. To each his own.
It probably didn’t hit because it sounded a little “dated” for 1978. If you look at a list of the top hits of 1978 you’ll realize that this song sounded more like 1973 – 1974.
More 76-77 IMO but this particular sound WAS definitely dated by 78.
Classic H&O.It’s what they do best. Not a great album but “August Day” is a classic!
I agree With Curtis ,when he say too much Cheers for me eighter ,but push a bit too hard Phily vibe .That’s why…
Probably should have been sung all the way through with a Bee Gees falsetto. lol
I Don’t Wanna Lose You, was a hit..with those of us that really appreciate their music…the fans..it’s a great song..then again..how much radio play it rec’d likely played a role as well..who knows..it’s a great song..and fans like us sure know it from beginning to end, lyrics and all.
Doc, I’m not really talking about the soulful “Philly” sound. I listened to the song again. The intro sounds like “Philadelphia Freedom”. The verses, with the staccato feel sound like “Philadelphia Freedom, Part II”. The Choruses are nowhere near as catchy as many other H & O songs. I listened to the song this morning, and a half an hour after, I couldn’t remember the chorus. Just not one of their better tunes.
A slower tempo like what they did with “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” and experiment with the strings and horn combo to make it more harmony driven and it may have worked out better.
Not hearing a hit here at all. It’s missing a hook, is a too over the top with the disco vibe and I agree, it does sound like a bit too much of a Philadelphia Freedom ripoff.
It’s an ok song, but I like ” It’s a Laugh/ Melody For a Memory ” much better.
It’s a totally Philly sound. Fits right in with Elton’s Thom Bell Sessions and anything by The Spinners. H&O are right that it should’ve been a hit, and so they should have promoted it on tour every chance they got. That trick worked for other bands.
no real hook, no real peak or valley = no hit.
This song is horrible
I enjoy the song, violins and all and would rather hear it than the overplayed hits we’ve heard ad nauseam like Private Eyes, No Can Do and especially Maneater!
Great song! Check out LFDH with Eric Hutchens for an updated listen, I really enjoyed.
Lose the violins, don’t sound so mumbly in the intro and maybe it could have caught on.
I expected to hear Leo Sayer singing!
If the strings hadn’t come in so early in the song (in the intro), this song might have had a chance. But, as is, I would have been turning the dial in the first 10 seconds in 1978.