John Oates is one-half of Hall and Oates, the most successful duo in rock history, scoring six #1 hits and seven platinum albums from the Seventies and Eighties. Although he helped create numerous pop smashes, Oates’ true love is still the rhythm & blues and folk music he grew up on. Which brings us to his brand new solo album, Mississippi Mile, a kind of musical road map of his long career. He gives his take on soul classics like “It’s Alright” from the Impressions and “Send Me Someone to Love” from Percy Mayfield.

More surprising is the inclusion of folk standards like “He Was a Friend of Mine,” showing that Oates’ influences are far and wide. Icon Fetch talks with the resident of Aspen, Colorado about the inspiration behind the new record, the back-to-basics recording process, and his thoughts on that monumental success of the Eighties.