- Sara Smile
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For the album, see Sara Smile (album).
"Sara Smile" Single by Hall & Oates from the album Daryl Hall & John Oates Released January 31, 1976 Format 7″, 12″ Recorded 1975 Genre Soft rock Length 3:07 Label Atlantic Writer(s) Daryl Hall
John OatesProducer Chris Bond
Daryl Hall
John OatesCertification Gold (U.S.) Hall & Oates singles chronology "Alone Too Long"
(1975)"Sara Smile"
(1976)"She's Gone"
(1976)"Sara Smile" is the title of a song written and recorded by the American musical duo Hall & Oates. It was released in January 1976 as the second single from their album Daryl Hall & John Oates. The song was the group's first Top 10 hit in the US, reaching number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. In late 2009, American country music singer Jimmy Wayne released a cover version with a backing vocal from the duo.
Contents
Hall & Oates version
"Sara Smile" was the second single released from Hall & Oates' 1975 self-titled album for RCA Records. Co-written by both halves of the duo, it was Hall & Oates's breakthrough single,[1] with a #4 peak on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1976.[2] It was written about Hall's girlfriend, Sara Allen.[3]
Critical reception
Nathan Brackett and Christian Hoard, in the Rolling Stone album guide, referred to the song as a "love bead ballad,"[4] and Steve Pond of the Los Angeles Times cited it as an example of the duo's R&B influences.[5] Following the success of "Sara Smile," the Atlantic Records label re-released duo's previous single, "She's Gone."[6]
Chart performance
"Sara Smile" was the duo's first Top Ten hit, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at #23 on Hot Soul Singles (now Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs) and #18 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts. The song also earned a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[7]
Chart (1976) Peak
positionCanadian Singles Chart 22 New Zealand Singles Chart 22 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 4 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles 23 U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 18 Cover versions
Jimmy Wayne version
"Sara Smile" 
Single by Jimmy Wayne with Daryl Hall and John Oates from the album Sara Smile Released October 3, 2009 Format Music download Genre Country Length 3:46 Label Valory Music Group Producer Dann Huff Jimmy Wayne chronology "I'll Be That"
(2009)"Sara Smile"
(2009)"Just Knowing You Love Me"
(2010)Country music singer Jimmy Wayne released a cover version in 2009, with backing vocals from Hall & Oates. This version debuted at #51 on the Hot Country Songs chart dated October 3, 2009 and serves as the title track for Wayne's third album, Sara Smile. It became Hall & Oates' first single to chart on the country charts.
Critical reception
Sam Gazdziak of The 9513 gave the song a thumbs-down, saying that it was "almost reverential" to the original and that Wayne's vocals showed R&B influences, but added that it "has no business being played on a country radio station."[8] Bobby Peacock of Roughstock gave a more positive review, also saying that it was well-sung but not country-sounding, but adding that it was a "refreshing change of pace" from the "bombast of Do You Believe Me Now," Wayne's last album.[9] Thom Jurek described the cover favorably in his review of the album, saying that Wayne "basically apes Hall's lead vocal[…]note for note" but "pulls it off in spades."[10]
Chart performance
Jimmy Wayne's version of "Sara Smile" debuted at #51 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in September 2009. After seven weeks on the country chart, the song peaked at #31 in December 2009.
Chart (2009) Peak
positionUS Country Songs (Billboard)[11] 31 References
- ^ Halvonik, Frank (1976-09-10). "Hall & Oates album "bigger" and better". The Collegian. http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG/1976/09/10&EntityId=Ar01502. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
- ^ Taylor, Chuck (2003-02-15). "A Little Rock & Soul Goes A Long Way". Billboard: H3. http://books.google.com/?id=AQ8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA35&dq=%22sara+smile%22+%22hall+%26+oates#v=onepage&q=%22sara%20smile%22%20%22hall%20%26%20oates.
- ^ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N Roll Gold Rush: A Singles Un-Cyclopedia. Algora Publishing. pp. 545. ISBN 9780875862071. http://books.google.com/?id=lJS4EArRBwoC&pg=PA545&dq=%22sara+smile%22+%22hall+%26+oates&q=%22sara%20smile%22%20%22hall%20%26%20oates.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. pp. 358–359. ISBN 9780743201698. http://books.google.com/?id=lRgtYCC6OUwC&pg=PA358&dq=%22sara+smile%22+%22hall+%26+oates#v=onepage&q=%22sara%20smile%22%20%22hall%20%26%20oates.
- ^ Pond, Steve (1976-10-31). "Pop Album Briefs". Los Angeles Times. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/658631792.html?dids=658631792:658631792&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+31%2C+1976&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Pop+Album+Briefs&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; J. Scott McClintock. "Hall & Oates biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4427/biography. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
- ^ "Search results for Hall & Oates". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Hall%20Oates&format=SINGLE&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
- ^ Gazdziak, Sam (2009-09-28). "Jimmy Wayne — "Sara Smile"". The 9513. http://www.the9513.com/jimmy-wayne-sara-smile/. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
- ^ Bobby Peacock (2009-09-17). "Jimmy Wayne — "Sara Smile"". Roughstock. http://www.roughstock.com/blog/jimmy-wayne-feat-hall-oates-sara-smile-. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Sara Smile review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1679169. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
- ^ "Jimmy Wayne Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Country Songs for Jimmy Wayne. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
External links
Daryl Hall · John Oates Studio albums Whole Oats (1972) · Abandoned Luncheonette (1973) · War Babies (1974) · Daryl Hall & John Oates (1975) · Bigger Than Both of Us (1976) · Beauty on a Back Street (1977) · Along the Red Ledge (1978) · X-Static (1979) · Voices (1980) · Private Eyes (1981) · H2O (1982) · Big Bam Boom (1984) · Ooh Yeah! (1988) · Change of Season (1990) · Marigold Sky (1997) · Do It for Love (2003) · Our Kind of Soul (2004) · Home for Christmas (2006)
Live albums Livetime (1978) · Sweet Soul Music (1983) · Live at the Apollo (1985)
Compilation albums No Goodbyes (1977) · Rock 'n Soul Part 1 (1983) · Special Mix on CD (1989) · Looking Back – The Best of Daryl Hall & John Oates (1991) · VH1 Behind the Music: The Daryl Hall and John Oates Collection (2002)
Singles "How Does It Feel to Be Back" (1980) · "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (1980) · "Kiss on My List" (1981) · "You Make My Dreams" (1981) · "Private Eyes" (1981) · "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" (1981) · "Did It in a Minute" (1982) · "Your Imagination" (1982) · "Maneater" (1982) · "One on One" (1983) · "Family Man" (1983) · "Jingle Bell Rock" (1983) · "Say It Isn't So" (1983) · "Adult Education" (1984) · "Out of Touch" (1984) · "Method of Modern Love" (1985) · "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid" (1985) · "Possession Obsession" (1985) · "Out of Touch" (re-mix) (1985) · "A Nite at the Apollo Live! The Way You Do the Things You Do/My Girl" (live) (1985) · "Everything Your Heart Desires" (1988) · "Missed Opportunity" (1988) · "Downtown Life" (1988) · "Talking All Night" (1988) · "Love Train" (1989) · "So Close" (1990) · "Don't Hold Back Your Love" (1991) · "Everywhere I Look" (1991) · "Starting All Over Again" (1991)
Hall solo albums Sacred Songs (1980) · Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine (1986) · Soul Alone (1993) · Can't Stop Dreaming (1996) · Live in Philadelphia (2004)Oates solo albums Phunk Shui (2002) · John Oates: Live at the Historic Wheeler Opera House (2004) · John Oates Solo – The Album, The Concert (2006) · 1000 Miles of Life (2008) · Mississippi Mile (2011)Related articles 
Book:Hall & Oates1970s "She's Gone" (1974) · "Alone Too Long" (1975) · "Sara Smile" (1976) · "She's Gone" (re-issue) (1976) · "Do What You Want, Be What You Are" (1976) · "Rich Girl" (1977) · "Back Together Agagin" (1977) · "It's Uncanny" (1977) · "Why Do Lovers (Break Each Other's Heart?)" (1977) · "It's a Laugh" (1978) · "I Don't Wanna Lose You" (1978) · "Wait for Me" (1979) · "Post-Static" (1979)
1980s "Who Said the World Was Fair" (1980) · "Running from Paradise" (1980) · "How Does It Feel to Be Back" (1980) · "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (1980) · "Kiss on My List" (1981) · "You Make My Dreams" (1981) · "Private Eyes" (1981) · "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" (1981) · "Did It in a Minute" (1982) · "Your Imagination" (1982) · "Maneater" (1982) · "One on One" (1983) · "Family Man" (1983) · "Jingle Bell Rock" (1983) · "Say It Isn't So" (1983) · "Adult Education" (1984) · "Out of Touch" (1984) · "Method of Modern Love" (1984) · "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid" (1985) · "Possession Obsession" (1985) · "Out of Touch" (re-mix) (1985) · "A Night at the Apollo Live! The Way You Do the Things You Do/My Girl" (live medley) (1985) · "Dreamtime" (Hall solo) (1986) · "Foolish Pride" (Hall solo) (1986) · "Someone Like You" (Hall solo) (1987) · "Everything Your Heart Desires" (1988) · "Missed Opportunity" (1988) · "Downtown Life" (1988) · "Talking All Night" (1988) · "Love Train" (1989)
1990s "So Close" (1990) · "Don't Hold Back Your Love" (1991) · "Everywhere I Look" (1991) · "Starting All Over Again" (1991) · "I'm in a Philly Mood" (Hall solo) (1993) · "Stop Loving Me, Stop Loving You" (Hall solo) (1994) · "Help Me Find a Way to Your Heart" (Hall solo) (1994) · "Gloryland" (Hall solo) (1994) · "Wherever Would I Be" (Hall solo) (1995) · "Promise Ain't Enough" (1997) · "Romeo Is Bleeding" (1998) · "The Sky Is Falling" (1998) · "Hold on to Yourself" (1998) · "Throw the Roses Away" (1998)
2000s "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" (re-mix) (2001) · "Do It for Love" (2002) · "Forever for You" (2002) · "Man on a Mission" (2003) · "Someday We'll Know" (2003) · "Intuition" (2003) · "Getaway Car" (2003) · "I'll Be Around" (2004) · "Without You" (2004) · "I Can Dream About You" (2005) · "Ooh Child" (2005) · "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" (2006) · "Home for Christmas" (2006) · "Take Christmas Back" (2007)
Book:Hall & OatesStudio albums Charted singles "Stay Gone" · "I Love You This Much" · "You Are" · "Paper Angels" · "That's All I'll Ever Need" · "Do You Believe Me Now" · "I Will" · "I'll Be That" · "Sara Smile" (with Daryl Hall and John Oates) · "Just Knowing You Love Me" (with Whitney Duncan)Related articles DreamWorks Nashville · Valory Music GroupCategories:- 1976 singles
- 2009 singles
- Hall & Oates songs
- Jimmy Wayne songs
- Singles certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America
- Songs produced by Dann Huff
- Atlantic Records singles
- Big Machine Records singles
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