John Oates Release New Solo Song “Long Monday”
John Oates has unveiled the latest addition to his forthcoming album Reunion with the release of “Long Monday,” a cover of John Prine’s 2005 track. This follows the earlier drop of the album’s title track earlier this month.
Originally featured on Prine’s Fair & Square album, “Long Monday” caught Oates’ attention for its evocative storytelling and authentic charm. In a press release announcing the song, Oates expressed his reverence for Prine’s work, stating:
“I chose to record ‘Long Monday’ due to the evocative nature and down-to-earth beauty of the song’s story.”
He added:
“I think it’s important to respect a songwriter’s work. Because of that, I wanted to remain faithful to the lyrics and melody while, at the same time, making it my own as far as the arrangement.”
The Reunion marks Oates’ return to solo studio albums since 2018’s Arkansas. Alongside the album’s release on May 17, Oates will embark on a U.S. tour in support of the LP.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind the album’s title track, Oates shared:
“The idea for writing a song about a ‘Reunion’ came to me when I began to think about the true definition of the word. It came together when my 100-year-old father told me that he was making ready to be together with my mother, who had passed away some time ago. I wanted to write about the idea of reconnecting with the most essential part of our soul and our spirit.”
In other news, questions linger about the future of Hall & Oates following recent statements from Oates. The longtime performing partner of Daryl Hall disclosed that their partnership has reached its conclusion. The duo faced a rift in November 2023 when Hall filed a lawsuit against Oates, seeking to prevent Oates from selling his share in their music business. Hall expressed feeling “blindsided” by Oates’ actions, while Oates admitted to being “deeply hurt” by Hall’s accusations.
Oates affirmed his stance, stating:
“As far as I’m concerned, I’ve moved on. I feel like I have a new lease on my creative life.”
Check out John Oates’ 2024 Tour dates:
April 28 – Corona, CA @ Dos Lagos Amphitheater
May 2-3 – Phoenix, AZ @ Musical Instrument Museum
May 7 – St. Louis, MO @ City Winery
May 8 – Chicago, IL @ City Winery
June 7-8 – Cedaredge, CO @ Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival
June 25 – Cincinnati, OH @ Memorial Hall
June 26 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre + Ballroom
June 27 – Rochester, NY @ Rochester International Jazz Festival
August 15 – Cape May, NJ @ Cape May Convention Hall
August 17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Philadelphia Folk Festival
August 22 – Newton, NJ @ The Newtown Theater
August 24 – Beverly, MA @ The Cabot
August 25 – Nantucket, MA @ Dreamland
