John Oates - Solo: The Album/The Concert (2006)

It's not very often that a musician with a lifetime of experience and success gets to be rediscovered by both the public and himself...but that's the case with the John Oates solo project, "Phunk Shui". After 30 years as a professional recording artist, John finally made his first CD without his longtime partner, Daryl Hall. It's ironic that after waiting all this time, it took less than a month to pick the songs, find a label, put a band together, record and mix the entire project.

The songs are a well-crafted collection of sure to be pop classics many written in collaboration with writers such as Keith Follese, Jed Leiber, Arthur Baker, and Steve Postell. Then there is the killer band: Steve Holley on drums, Tom "T-Bone" Wolk on bass, Jed Leiber on keyboards and of course, John on guitar.

The sound is a blend of 70's inspired funk and acoustic soul. Listening to Phunk Shui is like having an old friend over for dinner, and then after eating, he pulls out his guitar and sings for you. You know you have heard this guy sing before, but just maybe never realized how much depth there was to the man.

Track List:

01 - Color Of Love
02 - It Girl
03 - All Good People
04 - Love In A Dangerous Time
05 - Unspoken
06 - Soul Slide
07 - Go Deep
08 - Little Angel
09 - Beauty
10 - Phunk Shui
11 - Electric Ladyland
12 - Mona Lisa's Eyes
13 - Time Will Tell
14 - People Get Ready (Live)

Note from Hoolie: Phunk Shui was actually released in 2002, but this audio was ripped from my copy of 'Solo - The Album, The Concert' released in 2006.

Download includes HQ scans of all artwork