Say It Isn't So (Hall & Oates song)

For the Weezer song, see Say It Ain't So.

"Say It Isn't So" is a song performed by American pop rock duo Daryl Hall & John Oates, and written by Daryl Hall. It was released by RCA Records in October 1983 as the first of two new singles from their compilation album Rock 'n Soul Part 1, released that same year (see 1983 in music). The song was remixed as a "special extended dance mix" by John "Jellybean" Benitez, which topped Billboard magazine's Hot Dance Club Play chart.^[2] The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, behind coincidentally "Say Say Say" by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson.

"Say It Isn't So"
Single by Daryl Hall & John Oates
from the album Rock 'n Soul Part 1
B-side	"Kiss on My List"
Released	October 1983 (1983-10)
Recorded	September 1983 at Electric Lady Studios in New York City[1]
Genre	Pop rock, blue-eyed soul
Length	4:17 (album version) 3:56 (7" version) 6:45 (special extended mix) 5:15 (video version)
Label	RCA Records
Songwriter(s)	Daryl Hall
Producer(s)	Daryl Hall, John Oates, Bob Clearmountain[1]
Daryl Hall & John Oates singles chronology
"Jingle Bell Rock" (1983) "Say It Isn't So" (1983) "Adult Education" (1984)
Music video
"Say It Isn't So" on YouTube

Composition and recording

"Say It Isn't So" was written by Daryl Hall during the duo's supporting tour for H₂O. It was the first of two new songs recorded during the sessions for Rock 'n Soul Part 1. The sessions took place in September 1983 at Electric Lady Studio A in New York City. The song was produced by Daryl Hall and John Oates, with recording by Bob Clearmountain, who co-produced the recordings. The backing musicians on the song were bassist Tom "T-Bone" Wolk, saxophonist Charles DeChant, guitarist G. E. Smith, drummer Mickey Curry, and percussionist Jimmy Bralower. The song's arrangement was developed in the studio with backing vocals inspired by the Flamingos' version of "I Only Have Eyes for You" and a problem with a break in the song solved by Jimmy Bralower.^[1]

Reception

Cash Box called it "a derivative and decidedly Motown-inflected outing" that is "more vital than nostalgic."^[3]

Music videos

There were two versions of the video. The first version was once aired on MTV as part of the duo's special titled The Greatest & The Latest. The second version, which was on heavy rotation during the channel's heyday, was filmed on location in New York City.

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1983–1984) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] 24 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] 18 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] 18 UK Singles (OCC)[7] 69 US Billboard Hot 100[8] 2 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[9] 8 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[10] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] 45 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[12] 18 US Cash Box Top 100 3 US Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay Chart[13] 2

Year-end charts Year-end chart (1984) Rank US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[14] 22

Track listings

7" 45 RPM

Side A

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Say It Isn't So"	Daryl Hall	3:56

Side B

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Kiss on My List"	Hall, Janna Allen	3:48

12" 33⅓ RPM

Side A

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Say It Isn't So" (Special Extended Dance Mix)	Hall	6:45

Side B

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Say It Isn't So" (Dub version)	Hall	4:47
2.	"Kiss on My List"	Hall, Allen	4:24

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)

References

1. Wolk, Tom "T-Bone" (2006) [1983]. "The Rock 'n Soul Part 1 Sessions". Rock 'n Soul Part 1 (CD liner). Daryl Hall & John Oates. RCA Records/Legacy Recordings. 82876753972.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-89820-156-7.
3. "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 22, 1983. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4382." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
6. "Daryl Hall & John Oates – Say It Isn't So". Top 40 Singles.
7. "Daryl Hall & John Oates: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
8. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
9. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
10. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
11. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
12. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
13. "Hall + Oates".
14. "Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. December 22, 1984. p. TA-19.