B-side "Kiss on My List" | Format 7" 45 RPM, 12" 33⅓ RPM | |
Released October 29, 1983 (1983-10-29) Recorded September 1983 at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, New York Genre Pop rock, blue-eyed soul Length 4:17 (album version)
3:56 (7" version)
6:45 (special extended dance mix)
5:15 (video version) | ||
"Say It Isn't So" is a song by American duo Daryl Hall & John Oates 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. The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, coincidentally behind "Say Say Say" by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson.
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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 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.
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.