Editing Hall and Oates (section)

== Early Career ==

Hall and Oates signed with Atlantic Records in 1972, releasing their debut album "Whole Oats" to modest commercial response. Their early recordings reflected folk-rock influences alongside the soul sounds they had absorbed in Philadelphia, the combination creating an uncertain identity that struggled to find its audience. Albums including "Abandoned Luncheonette" (1973), featuring the future hit "She's Gone," demonstrated their songwriting abilities while commercial success remained elusive.<ref name="oates"/>

The duo moved to RCA Records in 1976, gradually refining their sound toward the combination of rock, soul, and pop that would bring breakthrough success. Albums including "Bigger Than Both of Us" (1976), featuring "Rich Girl" (their first number-one single), began establishing their commercial potential. But consistent success would not arrive until the turn of the decade, when their approach aligned with emerging musical trends that valued the melodic sensibility they had developed.<ref name="hall"/>