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

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by King Clawson (talk | contribs) at 23:14, 1 August 2011 (→‎Samples and interpolations in other songs). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"I Can't Go for That"
Song

"I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" is a 1981 song recorded by Daryl Hall and John Oates.

It was the fourth number-one hit single of their career on the Billboard Hot 100 and the second hit single from their album Private Eyes. It features Charles DeChant on saxello.[1]

On January 30, 1982, "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.

Thanks to heavy airplay on urban contemporary radio stations, "I Can't Go for That" also topped the U.S. R&B chart, a rare feat for a non-African American act. According to the Hall and 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?"

"I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" is one of the 14 Hall and Oates songs that have been played on the radio over one million times, according to BMI.

The single 45 version is actually not just an edit of the album song, but an edit of the dance mix rather than the version from "Private Eyes".

Composition

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 began to play 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 and Sara Allen worked on the lyrics.[1] According to Daryl Hall, when Michael Jackson was recording We Are the World, Jackson approached him and admitted to stealing the bass line for Billie Jean from a Hall and oates song. Hall says that he told Jackson that he had stolen the bass line, too, and that creative borrowing was fair play.

Awards and accolades

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

Covers

The song has been covered by a number of recording artists including Brian McKnight, The Nylons, Les Go (with Alfredo Alias), Donny Osmond, East End, Kansascali, Orson, Peniston.

In 2010, The Bird and the Bee covered this song for their tribute album Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates.

Olivia Ong recorded a Bossa Nova based version on her 2010 album, called Olivia.

Influence on Jackson's Billie Jean

According to Daryl Hall, when Jackson was recording “We Are the World”, Jackson approached him and admitted to lifting the bass line for "Billie Jean" from a Hall and Oates song, apparently referring to "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)". Hall says that he told Jackson that he had stolen the bass line as well. [1][2]

Samples and interpolations in other songs

The original track has often been sampled in R&B and hip-hop songs. The following is a partial list:[3]

Some songs have included a vocal interpolation of the chorus, including:

Other songs have included a re-recorded variation of the song's famous descending arpeggio, including:

Additionally, the JP/PAL Version of Sonic CD's Boss music beat is sampled from this song.

Chart performance

Chart (1981-1982) Peak
position
Canadian Singles Chart 2
Netherlands Singles Chart 13
New Zealand Singles Chart 5
Swedish Singles Chart 10
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 12
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles 1
UK Singles Chart 8

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Classic Tracks: Hall & Oates "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)", Gary Eskow, Mix Online, April 1, 2006
  2. ^ Hall, Daryl (July 10, 2009). "Michael Jackson Remembered: Daryl Hall on the Ultimate Video Star". The Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "SamplesDB — Hall & Oats's Tracks". Retrieved April 4, 2009 (2009-04-04). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

External links

Preceded by Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
January 30, 1982 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Hot Soul Singles number-one single
January 30, 1982 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
January 23, 1982 		Succeeded by

Template:Hall & Oates singles

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Can%27t_Go_for_That_(No_Can_Do)&oldid=442587005"