John Oates has been a constant presence in pop music ever since he and Daryl Hall broke through with 1973's Abandoned Luncheonette, a piping hot platter of soul, R&B, and rock 'n' roll. Since then, the Nashville resident has written or cowritten a number of hits, including Hall & Oates classics 'You Make My Dreams,” 'I Can't Go for That (No Can Do),” and 'Man Eater.” Oates' fifth solo release, last year's Good Road to Follow, is a three-disc set of collaborative EPs featuring the likes of Vince Gill, Jerry Douglas, and Hot Chelle Rae. The legendary performer chatted with us as he gears up for his show at City Winery on January 26, which will feature special guests and benefits the T.J. Martell Foundation.
NL: As a title, what does Good Road to Follow mean to you?
JO: It became apparent to me some time back that my life has been one long musical journey, both physically and creatively. I've moved from place to place, from New York to Pennsylvania back to New York to Connecticut to Nashville. I've been living all over the place my whole life. I move every day, if you think about it. I've been on tour pretty much every single day since 1972. It's really been this musical journey that has permeated everything that I've done. Traveling with music, or creativity, is the best road you could possibly take.
You've said that Good Road to Follow wasn't supposed to be an album initially.
The idea for that really started out as me putting out a series of digital singles. I didn't have any intention whatsoever of making an album. They really took on a life of its own, these singles, and a lot of fans on social media were asking for them [on a record]. So it really became an album only after the fact, if you will.
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How often are you in Nashville these days?
I'm in Nashville about half the year, maybe more. I first came to Nashville in the late '80s. Daryl and I sort of slowed down our touring and recording, and I was looking for other things to do. I knew Nashville's reputation, of course, and I sort of started out as a folkie, so I felt like I fit in the musical community. It took a little while. Back in those days, Nashville didn't have as many options musically as it does now. I didn't fit in at first, but I made a lot of friends, and little by little, I got more comfortable with the city, and the city itself evolved, both physically and musically.
What are some of the things you like best about Nashville?
Of course, the music is the real draw for me. I'm always checking out who's playing. I like seeing The Time Jumpers, hanging at The Station Inn. [There's] tons of great restaurants. I like hiking and trail running at Percy Warner Park. I like driving my car on a Sunday morning out into the countryside. I like the size of the city, even though it's growing by leaps and bounds. I like that you have everything that you could possibly want in a city, but it doesn't have the intensity that you might find in, say, New York or L.A. It's really laid-back and friendly. Everyone seems really together in this town, in spirit. It's really great that way.