Change of Seasons: A Memoir

I'm a long time H&O fan, so I expected to like this book and I did, but like several others I felt it was lacking in some ways. To be honest, I think it was somewhere between three and four stars, but I guess I'll round up.First, the good. The things I think he did well were showing how much of a contributor he was to their biggest hits. Perhaps because Daryl was the lead, I assumed he wrote most of the songs, but I saw that it was much more of a partnership than I thought in that respect. Also, I thought the chapters about his formative years as a musician and about the early years of the H&O partnership were the most fully formed and gave a good sense of how Daryl and John evolved as friends and musical partners, as well as showing the extremely hard work that went into their well-earned rise to fame.Now, the disappointing.First, the (admittedly) nitpicky:- I wasn't particularly a fan of his writing style; the prose sometimes felt stilted, to me, but not enough to make me want to put the book down.- The last section of the book, in particular, is often told out of chronological order, which can be confusing (example, he has a chapter on his wedding, which occurs in 1994, but then in a later chapter talks about how he and his then fiancee (later wife) bought their ranch two years earlier. There are a couple of instances like this.- I caught more than a few grammatical errors (that's either poor editing or poor transfer to the Kindle format, either way, boo :(.Slightly more disappointing is that the 80s - the period of their greatest fame (until the resurgence in their popularity in recent years) - feels completely glossed over, IMO.But the biggest disappointment is the dearth of details regarding their partnership after they became successful. I get that he wants to tell his own story, not the H&O story (as he says in the forward), but the better part of his life was spent as part of this partnership, constantly on the road and in the studio. They probably spent more time together than most married couples. So, how can it not be a bigger part of the book? The best analogy I could make is that it feels to me like if Prince Charles wrote an autobiography and talked about his life before and after Diana, and perhaps even about their courtship, but then completely glossed over the marriage. Yes, he's had a full life and done a lot of things that didn't include Diana, but his story is not complete without a discussion of that marriage. Similarly, the partnership with Daryl has got to be a huge part of the John Oates story. Further, it is undoubtedly a large part of what people want to hear.Even the best partnerships have their ups and downs, I can only imagine it would be moreso when you're constantly traveling together and, for a period, living together. Did they never disagree? Were there never any creative or power struggles? Did they never just get sick of seeing each other's faces after the umpteenth night on the road? How did the rock and roll lifestyle (particularly at the height of their fame) impact them individually and collectively? And how did any of that impact the music that they made? I think all of that could have been told from his perspective (and therefore it is still his story), but for the most part, it's not and it just seems like a big gaping hole. So, if this is what you're interested in, you will be a bit disappointed.When I read this, I was left with the impression that either (a) John and Daryl had the most charmed, perfect and trouble-free relationship ever (possible, but seems highly improbable); (b) in a career that, publicly at least, often seemed overshadowed by Daryl, John worked so hard to come out from under that shadow in this book, that he left out parts of the story that would have made if feel more fully fleshed out; or (c) in an attempt to protect Daryl's privacy or preserve his feelings or perhaps avoid conflict, large portions of the story were left out.In the end, it's still, for the most part, a good book and an enjoyable read. There are a few good yarns about celebrity life (the Hunter S. Thompson stuff is pretty good), but nothing really salacious. So, if that's something that interests you, again, you'll be a bit underwhelmed. What you will get a fuller picture of who John is, outside of H&O. I agree that this is something that you probably have to be a pretty big H&O fan to find interesting, but I did like it and I did feel that I knew him better when I was done. I do just wish that he'd had more about the partnership with Daryl. That's no small omission, IMO. And if you're looking to better understand that partnership, you'll probably be left, like me, wanting more.

John Oates’ upcoming memoir, Change of Seasons, is a true gem, full of rich storytelling and amazing detail, painting a multi-layered portrait of a truly remarkable life in music. We learn about the music, the fame, the fortune...but the real story is an inspirational tale of life constantly reinvented and reimagined.For die-hard H&O fans like myself, the book ties together and fills in many of the stories we’ve heard over the years about the early days. Hearing it first hand from John reminds us why Hall and Oates don’t think of themselves as a duo…John’s part of the famous partnership has it’s own path, it’s own highs, lows, curves and reflections. We’re also reminded that while John may be perceived as the lighter side of the duo, his talent and depth as a musician is undeniable. The stories about his life before Daryl and his role in the creation of the vast Hall and Oates songbook remind us that John Oates is a born musician. Every word of the memoir (including those straight out of his journals) reflects a deep and constant devotion to music and that John is a deeply reflective person. It may be a key reason why the music has stood the test of time for so many of us. Here’s my list of favorite gems in the book:• Favorite line – “I don’t care about fame, I’ve always been famous”• Favorite backstory about a song – Diddy Doo Wop/Voices• Favorite chapter – “Drive in” – what a trip!• Favorite tribute – T-Bone…it’ll make you tear up• Favorite Daryl story – There really are none, but the ode to brotherhood that is the book’s introduction speaks volumes about the one-of-a-kind partnership• Favorite John and Daryl story – backstage after the show with the Temps…the look that led to the end of the 80’s run• Favorite artifact – script from the original She’s Gone video• Favorite thing to do while reading this book –I listened to the 2009 H&O box set “Do What You Want, Be What You Are” in a new way as I read the stories about how the music of each period was made and the backstories for many of the songs – what a treat!Even if you are not a die hard fan, the book has a lot to offer music lovers in general. Oates (and collaborator Chris Epting) share a journey that is wonderfully convoluted and unexpected at times, far from the one dimensional 80s pop star image that may be a misguided lasting impression of Hall and Oates for some. The story provides a unique view into the depth behind the music, what it really took to get to the 80s and beyond, and how a path emerged that’s led to lasting success, renewed appreciation and lifelong devotion to craft. But more than that, we meet and understand that John Oates is authentic. You can’t help but want to know him. Not so much because he’s famous…but because he seems to have figured out how to pursue one’s dreams, kicking aside the stuff that doesn’t really matter (fame, fortune, superficial “success”) and focusing in on deeper meaning and purpose. That ability reveals a man whose humility and honesty about the common struggle that is life, is inspirational, especially for mid-lifers like me who ponder the meaning in our lives as we head closer to our final destination. And Oates is not done yet. This first memoir only takes us part way…and doesn’t even get to the latest reinvention of his life and music as a solo artist based in Nashville and the “Good Road to Follow” years. I can’t wait to read all about that and the evolving partnership of Hall and Oates in the next book. Thank you John Oates, Chris Epting and St Martin’s Press!

Well done. John is a well balanced, intelligent, and intuitive individual.Thanks John for writing this very interesting story so we fans can understand the history and events that effected the music we love.

John Oates was studying to become a journalist before he chose a career in music and it shows. He has an easy reporting style, a compelling way of telling stories and drawing characters and an excellent memory. I loved Daryl Hall and John Oates from the moment I first heard "She's Gone", and had all of their albums until the late 80s, when I lost interest. Having read this book I may investigate their more recent collective and individual output. I tend to enjoy rock star autobiographies that look at pre- and post-fame more than those that focus on fame itself and this one really delivers. Interestingly - and deliberately - John Oates doesn't tell us much about Daryl Hall, and it would be fascinating to have his insight into their separate and mutual careers. Even if you are unfamiliar with anything other than their many 70s and 80s hits, this is a compelling read. Highly recommended!

As far as I'm concerned, Hall and Oates have always been 95% Daryl Hall, and this book did nothing to dispel that. Boy, he really does try to "big up" his part though, magnifying even the slightest input or contribution. Even the actual writing itself, with sudden lapses into sentences of startling poetic and verbose imagery, screams out "co-author" to me! Again, he seems quite happy for someone else to have a hand in proceedings. I realise the book is about J.O., (not D.H. and J.O.), but luckily there are still many really interesting snippets and anecdotes about the duo to make it worthwhile. Having said that, sometimes a whole album gets little more than a one-line mention (and not always in sequence!) which is annoying. If he'd spent less time talking about his racing cars and planes (too much detail), he might have given us more musical insights. I'd never heard anything about him owing millions after the 80s. I was hardly surprised though, when I'd read all about his excessive lifestyle. I got a bit bored when he admitted not taking enough interest in his financial affairs, but then STILL started complaining people hadn't intervened earlier. (Same as drug addict rockers, it's ALWAYS someone else's fault, right?) After a while one starts to think "Are these people lazy, thick or both?" After all, Daryl Hall may have been denied some royalties as well, but HE didn't end up owing millions and millions, did he? Anyway, it was an eye-opening read, but never more so than in the last few pages of thanks and acknowledgements. One obvious, glaring omission. You can guess who. Hmmmm!

This is a rather difficult review for me to write, as I have been a fan of Daryl Hall & John Oates for over 30 years, and have been waiting for this book for over a year. I don’t think this is a book purely for fans – if you’re a fan of music memoirs & biographies you will enjoy this.It’s well written and very easy to read, it covers his life prior to his recent solo albums. The 60s & 70s are quite detailed, but the 80s felt rushed. My feeling is that the book should’ve been split into two volumes. There is a hint of more to come, so hopefully some of the gaps may get filled in.There's not many books about Hall & Oates available, apart the odd MTV affair. But try and a get a copy of the rather excellent ‘Dangerous Dances’ from 1984, it’s been out print for many years but sometimes pops up on ebay. Hall and Oates: Dangerous DancesHall and Oates: Dangerous Dances

I am a huge Hall and Oates fan but found this account of John’s life a bit short on interest and if it was intended to deal with life issues it was a bit shallow - few too many name checks!

Excellent.