Chart Week: April 23, 1983
Song: “One On One” – Daryl Hall & John Oates
Chart Position: #7, 13th week on the chart. Peaked at #7 for three weeks.
Sometimes I come across anecdotes on AT40 that make me giddy.
For example, I first heard this episode a few years back while in the car one Sunday morning. I heard the story I’m about to share and started hooting in excitement. I believe I got wherever I was going – grocery store, donut shop, soccer game? – and immediately tapped out a reminder to share the story with a couple brothers in music as soon as I had the chance.
I’m glad I heard it again so that I can share it with you all.
Casey began the story by pointing out that hitting #1 was a big deal, even for established stars. Some celebrated with shopping sprees, new cars, or big parties for friends and families.
Daryl Hall and John Oates had a different experience.
In 1982 they learned their song “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” hit number one – their fourth #1 single – while on tour in Kansas City. After their show they decided to celebrate at a “very popular barbecue ribs place,” taking a limo from Kemper Arena (I presume) to the restaurant. After filling their bellies with delectable smoked meats and exiting with doggie bags of leftovers, they stood outside the restaurant and waited for their limo. And waited, and waited, and waited. It never returned. It being late night in Kansas City in 1982, there were no cabs to hail.
John Oates picks up the story:
“We’re standing there in front of this barbecue ribs place and finally decided to walk back to our hotel. And then a guy drives by in his pickup and says ‘Hey, you guys need a lift?’ There we were with a #1 record, riding back to our hotel on the flatbed of a pickup trick.”
That is an A+ fucking story, Casey! It hit a lot of spots for me and several of my brothers in music. I just wish I knew what KC barbecue place they went to. And I wonder if a place stayed open late for them, because surely as a headlining act on an arena tour, they were performing deep into the night.
It’s shit like this that I still listen to radio shows that are nearly 40 years old.
“One on One” peaked at #7 for three straight weeks. One spot below them was Journey’s “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart).” Three weeks in one spot was nothing to Steve Perry and the boys. “Separate Ways” spent six straight weeks at #8, which is kind of incredible.
Bonus: Might as well share the song the story was about, too.