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I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)

January 01, 1970

"I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" is a song by American duo Hall & Oates. Written by Daryl Hall, John Oates and Sara Allen, the song was released as the second single from their tenth studio album, Private Eyes (1981). The song became the fourth number one hit single of their career on the Billboard Hot 100. It features Charles DeChant on saxophone.[3]

"I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)"
Picture sleeve of British vinyl releases
Single by Daryl Hall & John Oates
from the album Private Eyes
B-side"Unguarded Minute"
ReleasedNovember 1981
RecordedMarch 1981
StudioElectric Lady, New York City
Genre
Length
  • 5:09 (album version)
  • 4:14 (video edit)
  • 3:45 (single edit)
  • 6:05 (extended club mix)
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Hall & Oates
Daryl Hall & John Oates singles chronology
"Private Eyes"
(1981) 		"I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)"
(1981) 		"Did It in a Minute"
(1982)
Music video
"I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" on YouTube

Composition edit

Daryl Hall sketched out the basic song one evening at a music studio in New York City, in 1981, after a recording session for the Private Eyes album. Hall started the Rock 1 setting on Roland CompuRhythm then began playing a bass line on a Korg organ, and sound engineer Neil Kernon recorded the result. Hall then came up with a guitar riff, which he and Oates worked on together. The next day, Hall, Oates and Sara Allen worked on the lyrics.[3][4]

Speaking about the meaning of the lyrics, John Oates has stated that while many listeners may assume the lyrics are about a relationship, in reality, the song, "is about the music business. That song is really about not being pushed around by big labels, managers, and agents and being told what to do, and being true to yourself creatively." This was done intentionally, he explained, to universalize the topic of the song into something everyone could relate to and ascribe personal meaning to in their own way. Naming "Maneater" as another example, he revealed that this was a common theme for the group's songs.[5][6] The song is composed in the key of C minor (C major for the chorus).

Reception edit

Record World said that it "demonstrates the duo's versatility as pop craftsmen" and noted that there are many hooks.[7]

Personnel edit

Chart performance edit

The single debuted at number 59 on the Hot 100 the week of November 14, 1981 as the highest debut of the week and after eleven weeks, on January 30, 1982, it reached the top of the chart, staying there for a week.[8][9] "I Can't Go for That" ended a 10-week run at the top of the Hot 100 by Olivia Newton-John's song, "Physical" (which had knocked out Hall & Oates' "Private Eyes" from the top spot). The song also went to number one on the Hot Dance Club Play chart for one week in January 1982.[10]

Thanks to heavy airplay on urban contemporary radio stations, "I Can't Go for That" also topped the US R&B chart, a rare feat for a white act. It was the only record to hit number one on both the Hot 100 and then-Hot Soul charts during all of 1982.[11] The single was certified Gold by the RIAA for shipments of one million units on January 7, 1982.[12] According to the Hall & Oates biography, Hall, upon learning that "I Can't Go for That" had gone to number one on the R&B chart, wrote in his diary, "I'm the head soul brother in the U.S. Where to now?"

It also peaked at number one on the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay chart on December 18, 1981, staying at the top of the chart for six weeks and remaining on it for fifteen weeks, making it their biggest hit on the R&R airplay chart.[13] This single was also the first top 10 hit for the duo in the UK, peaking at number eight in the UK Singles Chart.[14] It was certified Silver by the BPI on March 1, 1982 for shipments of 250,000 units.[15]

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[30] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Silver 250,000^
United States (RIAA)[12] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Legacy edit

"I Can't Go for That" was voted number six on VH1's list of "The 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s."[citation needed]

Samples edit

The song has been sampled numerous times including in "Say No Go" by De La Soul,[31] "Sunrise" by Simply Red,[32] "The Final Hour" and "Take Me to Your Leader" by MF Doom (under the King Geedorah moniker),[33] and "On Hold" by The xx.[34] Anderson .Paak has stated that Dr Dre's "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" was originally also going to sample the song.[35]

Influence on "Billie Jean" edit

According to Daryl Hall, during the recording of "We Are the World", Michael Jackson approached him and admitted to lifting the bass line for "Billie Jean" from a Hall & Oates song, apparently referring to "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)." Hall says that he told Jackson that he had lifted the bass line from another song himself, and that it was "something we all do."[3][36]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Fenton, Will. "15 Best Hall & Oates Songs of All Time (Greatest Hits)". middermusic. The song features a classic 1980s synth-pop production, with a catchy chorus and an infectious beat.
  2. ^ Childers, Chad; March 8, 2015. "Hear Metallica Get Mashed Up With Hall & Oates". "...with Hall & Oates' light rock radio standard, "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)." –Loudwire.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c Eskow, Gary (April 1, 2006). . Mix. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  4. ^ Simpson, Dave (April 2, 2018). "Hall and Oates: how we made I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  5. ^ Something Else! (March 24, 2014). "Hall and Oates' 'I Can't Go For That' isn't about what you think it's about; neither is 'Maneater'". Something Else!. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  6. ^ Kauffman, Leah (March 18, 2014). "John Oates on his new album, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, and what 'I Can't Go For That' is really about". Philly.com. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  7. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 7, 1981. p. 1. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  8. ^ "Hot 100". Billboard. November 14, 1981. p. 108. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Disco Top 80". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 3. January 23, 1982. p. 42. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  11. ^ Greenberg, Steve (November 30, 2012). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' at 30: How One Album Changed the World". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2017. In fact, the only record to hit No. 1 on both the pop and black charts during all of 1982 was by a white act: "I Can't Go For That" by Hall & Oates.
  12. ^ a b "American single certifications – Hall & Oates – I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  13. ^ a b "Daryl Hall & John Oates – Chart history (CHR/Pop Airplay)". wweb.uta.edu. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Daryl Hall & John Oates: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "British single certifications – Daryl Hall & John Oates – I Can't Go for That". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  16. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0460." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  17. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. February 13, 1982. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  18. ^ "Daryl Hall & John Oates – I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  19. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Can't Go for That". Irish Singles Chart.
  20. ^ "Daryl Hall & John Oates – I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  21. ^ "Daryl Hall & John Oates – I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  22. ^ "Daryl Hall & John Oates – I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  23. ^ "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  24. ^ "Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart". Billboard. January 30, 1982. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  25. ^ "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  26. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1982". Kent Music Report. January 3, 1983. Retrieved January 22, 2023 – via Imgur.
  27. ^ . Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  28. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1982/Top 100 Songs of 1982". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  29. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  30. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Hall & Oates – No Can Do". Music Canada. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  31. ^ "De La Soul – 10 of the best". The Guardian. August 31, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  32. ^ Jeffries, David. "Home - Simply Red". AllMusic. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  33. ^ "Les samples de l'album Private eyes de Hall oates". Du-Bruit (in French). Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  34. ^ Sodomsky, Sam (November 10, 2016). "The xx Share New Song "On Hold," Sample Hall and Oates: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  35. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Dr. Dre's Collaborator Says "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang" Was Originally Recorded As A Disco-Pop Record". AllHipHop. October 8, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  36. ^ Hall, Daryl (July 10, 2009). "Michael Jackson Remembered: Daryl Hall on the Ultimate Video Star". The Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2010.

External links edit

January 01, 1970
that, song, american, hall, oates, written, daryl, hall, john, oates, sara, allen, song, released, second, single, from, their, tenth, studio, album, private, eyes, 1981, song, became, fourth, number, single, their, career, billboard, features, charles, dechan. I Can t Go for That No Can Do is a song by American duo Hall amp Oates Written by Daryl Hall John Oates and Sara Allen the song was released as the second single from their tenth studio album Private Eyes 1981 The song became the fourth number one hit single of their career on the Billboard Hot 100 It features Charles DeChant on saxophone 3 I Can t Go for That No Can Do Picture sleeve of British vinyl releasesSingle by Daryl Hall amp John Oatesfrom the album Private EyesB side Unguarded Minute ReleasedNovember 1981RecordedMarch 1981StudioElectric Lady New York CityGenreSynth pop 1 soft rock 2 Length5 09 album version 4 14 video edit 3 45 single edit 6 05 extended club mix LabelRCASongwriter s Sara Allen Daryl Hall John OatesProducer s Hall amp OatesDaryl Hall amp John Oates singles chronology Private Eyes 1981 I Can t Go for That No Can Do 1981 Did It in a Minute 1982 Music video I Can t Go for That No Can Do on YouTube Contents 1 Composition 2 Reception 3 Personnel 4 Chart performance 4 1 Weekly 4 2 Year end 4 3 All time 5 Certifications 6 Legacy 6 1 Samples 6 2 Influence on Billie Jean 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksComposition editDaryl Hall sketched out the basic song one evening at a music studio in New York City in 1981 after a recording session for the Private Eyes album Hall started the Rock 1 setting on Roland CompuRhythm then began playing a bass line on a Korg organ and sound engineer Neil Kernon recorded the result Hall then came up with a guitar riff which he and Oates worked on together The next day Hall Oates and Sara Allen worked on the lyrics 3 4 Speaking about the meaning of the lyrics John Oates has stated that while many listeners may assume the lyrics are about a relationship in reality the song is about the music business That song is really about not being pushed around by big labels managers and agents and being told what to do and being true to yourself creatively This was done intentionally he explained to universalize the topic of the song into something everyone could relate to and ascribe personal meaning to in their own way Naming Maneater as another example he revealed that this was a common theme for the group s songs 5 6 The song is composed in the key of C minor C major for the chorus Reception editRecord World said that it demonstrates the duo s versatility as pop craftsmen and noted that there are many hooks 7 Personnel editDaryl Hall lead vocals and backing vocals synthesizers Roland CR 78 drum machine John Oates electric guitar backing vocals Charles DeChant saxophone John Siegler bassChart performance editThe single debuted at number 59 on the Hot 100 the week of November 14 1981 as the highest debut of the week and after eleven weeks on January 30 1982 it reached the top of the chart staying there for a week 8 9 I Can t Go for That ended a 10 week run at the top of the Hot 100 by Olivia Newton John s song Physical which had knocked out Hall amp Oates Private Eyes from the top spot The song also went to number one on the Hot Dance Club Play chart for one week in January 1982 10 Thanks to heavy airplay on urban contemporary radio stations I Can t Go for That also topped the US R amp B chart a rare feat for a white act It was the only record to hit number one on both the Hot 100 and then Hot Soul charts during all of 1982 11 The single was certified Gold by the RIAA for shipments of one million units on January 7 1982 12 According to the Hall amp Oates biography Hall upon learning that I Can t Go for That had gone to number one on the R amp B chart wrote in his diary I m the head soul brother in the U S Where to now It also peaked at number one on the Radio amp Records CHR Pop Airplay chart on December 18 1981 staying at the top of the chart for six weeks and remaining on it for fifteen weeks making it their biggest hit on the R amp R airplay chart 13 This single was also the first top 10 hit for the duo in the UK peaking at number eight in the UK Singles Chart 14 It was certified Silver by the BPI on March 1 1982 for shipments of 250 000 units 15 Weekly edit Chart 1981 1982 Peakposition Australia Kent Music Report 13 Canada Top Singles RPM 16 2 Canada RPM Adult Contemporary 17 1 Germany Official German Charts 18 72 Ireland IRMA 19 9 Netherlands Single Top 100 20 13 New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 21 5 Sweden Sverigetopplistan 22 10 UK Singles OCC 14 8 US Billboard Hot 100 9 1 US Adult Contemporary Billboard 23 12 US Dance Club Songs Billboard 10 1 US Hot Soul Singles Billboard 24 1 US Mainstream Rock Billboard 25 28 US Radio amp Records CHR Pop Airplay Chart 13 1 Year end edit Chart 1982 Rank Australia Kent Music Report 26 96 Canada Top Singles RPM 27 16 US Billboard Hot 100 28 15 All time edit Chart 1958 2018 Position US Billboard Hot 100 29 265Certifications editRegion Certification Certified units sales Canada Music Canada 30 Gold 50 000 United Kingdom BPI 15 Silver 250 000 United States RIAA 12 Gold 1 000 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone Legacy edit I Can t Go for That was voted number six on VH1 s list of The 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s citation needed Samples edit The song has been sampled numerous times including in Say No Go by De La Soul 31 Sunrise by Simply Red 32 The Final Hour and Take Me to Your Leader by MF Doom under the King Geedorah moniker 33 and On Hold by The xx 34 Anderson Paak has stated that Dr Dre s Nuthin but a G Thang was originally also going to sample the song 35 Influence on Billie Jean edit According to Daryl Hall during the recording of We Are the World Michael Jackson approached him and admitted to lifting the bass line for Billie Jean from a Hall amp Oates song apparently referring to I Can t Go for That No Can Do Hall says that he told Jackson that he had lifted the bass line from another song himself and that it was something we all do 3 36 See also editList of number one dance hits United States List of Billboard Hot 100 number one singles of 1982References edit Fenton Will 15 Best Hall amp Oates Songs of All Time Greatest Hits middermusic The song features a classic 1980s synth pop production with a catchy chorus and an infectious beat Childers Chad March 8 2015 Hear Metallica Get Mashed Up With Hall amp Oates with Hall amp Oates light rock radio standard I Can t Go for That No Can Do Loudwire a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link a b c Eskow Gary April 1 2006 Classic Tracks Hall amp Oates I Can t Go For That No Can Do Mix Archived from the original on January 9 2014 Retrieved January 13 2014 Simpson Dave April 2 2018 Hall and Oates how we made I Can t Go for That No Can Do TheGuardian com Retrieved September 3 2018 Something Else March 24 2014 Hall and Oates I Can t Go For That isn t about what you think it s about neither is Maneater Something Else Retrieved November 27 2014 Kauffman Leah March 18 2014 John Oates on his new album Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and what I Can t Go For That is really about Philly com Retrieved November 27 2014 Hits of the Week PDF Record World November 7 1981 p 1 Retrieved March 2 2023 Hot 100 Billboard November 14 1981 p 108 ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved August 16 2017 a b Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved July 8 2017 a b Disco Top 80 Billboard Vol 94 no 3 January 23 1982 p 42 ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved January 2 2018 Greenberg Steve November 30 2012 Michael Jackson s Thriller at 30 How One Album Changed the World Billboard Retrieved August 17 2017 In fact the only record to hit No 1 on both the pop and black charts during all of 1982 was by a white act I Can t Go For That by Hall amp Oates a b American single certifications Hall amp Oates I Can t Go for That No Can Do Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved September 17 2017 a b Daryl Hall amp John Oates Chart history CHR Pop Airplay wweb uta edu Retrieved August 16 2017 a b Daryl Hall amp John Oates Artist Chart History Official Charts Company Retrieved July 8 2017 a b British single certifications Daryl Hall amp John Oates I Can t Go for That British Phonographic Industry Retrieved September 17 2017 Top RPM Singles Issue 0460 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved July 8 2017 Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca February 13 1982 Retrieved August 11 2019 Daryl Hall amp John Oates I Can t Go For That No Can Do in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved July 8 2017 The Irish Charts Search Results I Can t Go for That Irish Singles Chart Daryl Hall amp John Oates I Can t Go For That No Can Do in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved July 8 2017 Daryl Hall amp John Oates I Can t Go For That No Can Do Top 40 Singles Retrieved July 8 2017 Daryl Hall amp John Oates I Can t Go For That No Can Do Singles Top 100 Retrieved July 8 2017 Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History Adult Contemporary Billboard Retrieved July 8 2017 Billboard Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Chart Billboard January 30 1982 Retrieved February 24 2021 Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History Mainstream Rock Billboard Retrieved March 30 2017 National Top 100 Singles for 1982 Kent Music Report January 3 1983 Retrieved January 22 2023 via Imgur Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca Archived from the original on August 11 2016 Retrieved October 19 2016 Top 100 Hits of 1982 Top 100 Songs of 1982 Musicoutfitters com Retrieved October 19 2016 Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart Billboard Retrieved December 10 2018 Canadian single certifications Hall amp Oates No Can Do Music Canada Retrieved August 3 2023 De La Soul 10 of the best The Guardian August 31 2016 Retrieved October 7 2021 Jeffries David Home Simply Red AllMusic Retrieved October 8 2021 Les samples de l album Private eyes de Hall oates Du Bruit in French Retrieved December 21 2021 Sodomsky Sam November 10 2016 The xx Share New Song On Hold Sample Hall and Oates Listen Pitchfork Retrieved October 7 2021 EXCLUSIVE Dr Dre s Collaborator Says Nuthin But A G Thang Was Originally Recorded As A Disco Pop Record AllHipHop October 8 2015 Retrieved October 7 2021 Hall Daryl July 10 2009 Michael Jackson Remembered Daryl Hall on the Ultimate Video Star The Rolling Stone Archived from the original on September 9 2012 Retrieved October 15 2010 External links editVideo on VH1 Classic website 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title I Can 27t Go for That No Can Do amp oldid 1221575486, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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