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Blue-eyed soul is a useful, but debated, retrospective label for soul- and R&B-influenced music by white performers; it is not a technical genre boundary and it should not erase the Black musical traditions from which the style draws. The records here are commonly discussed in that context because of their vocal approach, songwriting, production, or reception. This is a list of distinct studio albums, not ten pressings of the same record. For an original-era title, a legitimate new reissue or a clearly graded used original is safer than an unverified ‘rare’ listing; confirm the catalog number, format, and track list before buying.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daryl Hall & John Oates — Abandoned Luncheonette | $10–$35 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Daryl Hall & John Oates — Voices | $8–$30 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Daryl Hall & John Oates — Private Eyes | $8–$30 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Boz Scaggs — Silk Degrees | $10–$35 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Average White Band — AWB | $10–$35 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | Steve Winwood — Back in the High Life | $10–$35 | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | George Michael — Faith | $12–$40 | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | Simply Red — Picture Book | $10–$35 | Amazon · eBay |
| 9 | Simply Red — A New Flame | $10–$35 | Amazon · eBay |
| 10 | Michael McDonald — If That’s What It Takes | $10–$35 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Daryl Hall & John Oates — Abandoned Luncheonette
The duo’s 1973 Atlantic album is an early, album-length Hall & Oates statement, with ‘She’s Gone’ anchoring a set that sits between Philadelphia soul, pop, and singer-songwriter writing.
- Daryl Hall & John Oates studio album
- original release: 1973
- Atlantic Records era
- CD and vinyl editions circulate
- A strong starting point for the duo’s early soul-informed catalog
- Distinct album rather than a later hits package
- Used editions vary substantially in pressing and condition
Daryl Hall & John Oates — Voices
Released in 1980, Voices is the streamlined pop-soul pivot that produced ‘How Does It Feel to Be Back’ and ‘Kiss on My List,’ making it a direct route into the duo’s crossover period.
- studio album
- original release: 1980
- includes ‘Kiss on My List’
- available used on CD and vinyl
- Captures the duo’s polished early-1980s sound
- A full studio album rather than a compilation
- Original vinyl copies are common, so condition matters more than scarcity claims
Daryl Hall & John Oates — Private Eyes
Private Eyes is the 1981 follow-up for listeners who want Hall & Oates at their most radio-ready, combining the title song and ‘I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)’ on one original studio album.
- studio album
- original release: 1981
- includes ‘Private Eyes’
- includes ‘I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)’
- Two defining songs appear in their original album setting
- Widely available in legitimate used physical formats
- Do not confuse it with similarly titled compilation packages
Boz Scaggs — Silk Degrees
Boz Scaggs’s 1976 Columbia album is a polished West Coast soul-pop landmark, built with the musicians who would become Toto and containing ‘Lowdown’ and ‘Lido Shuffle.’
- Boz Scaggs studio album
- original release: 1976
- Columbia Records
- CD and vinyl editions available
- A canonical album-length example of sophisticated 1970s soul-pop
- Useful for listeners who prefer studio-band detail to raw garage soul
- Later remasters and originals can have different mastering and packaging
Average White Band — AWB
The Average White Band’s 1974 self-titled Atlantic album is a funk-forward pick rather than a soft-rock one, and it contains the instrumental ‘Pick Up the Pieces.’
- Average White Band studio album
- original release: 1974
- Atlantic Records
- includes ‘Pick Up the Pieces’
- Adds tight funk playing to a blue-eyed-soul collection
- A distinct Scottish band album, not an anthology
- Instrumental funk emphasis may suit listeners less interested in vocal ballads
Steve Winwood — Back in the High Life
Winwood’s 1986 solo album uses soul, pop, rock, and gospel-informed vocals in a polished digital-era production, with ‘Higher Love’ as its best-known track.
- Steve Winwood studio album
- original release: 1986
- includes ‘Higher Love’
- available on CD and vinyl
- A good bridge between classic blue-eyed soul and 1980s adult pop
- Full original studio sequence
- Its production is distinctly 1980s rather than vintage R&B
George Michael — Faith
Faith is George Michael’s 1987 solo debut, a pop record with major R&B and soul framing that is often included in blue-eyed-soul discussions; it is not a traditional soul-only album.
- George Michael studio album
- original release: 1987
- solo debut
- CD and vinyl editions available
- Essential late-1980s crossover context
- Legitimate reissues make it easy to buy without chasing a fragile original
- Genre classification is broader pop/R&B crossover, so it will not satisfy a purist soul-only search
Simply Red — Picture Book
Simply Red’s 1985 debut is a British pop-soul album with Mick Hucknall’s voice at the center; ‘Holding Back the Years’ gives the record a clear entry point.
- Simply Red studio album
- original release: 1985
- debut album
- includes ‘Holding Back the Years’
- A natural British-pop-soul complement to the American records here
- Available on established CD and vinyl editions
- The sound leans pop-soul rather than deep-soul revivalism
Simply Red — A New Flame
A New Flame is Simply Red’s 1989 studio album and a slicker continuation of the group’s soul-pop approach, with ‘If You Don’t Know Me by Now’ as a prominent cover performance.
- Simply Red studio album
- original release: 1989
- includes ‘If You Don’t Know Me by Now’
- CD and vinyl editions available
- Useful for listeners who want a smoother late-1980s production style
- A complete album rather than a single-track purchase
- Its signature song is a cover, so explore the full track list before buying for one performance
Michael McDonald — If That’s What It Takes
Michael McDonald’s 1982 solo album turns his Doobie Brothers-era vocal style into an adult soul-pop record, led by ‘I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near).
- Michael McDonald studio album
- original release: 1982
- includes ‘I Keep Forgettin’
- available used on CD and vinyl
- A clear solo entry for listeners drawn to McDonald’s blue-eyed-soul vocal style
- Original studio album, not a Doobie Brothers compilation
- Original vinyl is an early-1980s pressing; inspect grading and seller photos
Buying tips
- Treat blue-eyed soul as a listening guide, not a claim that any artist belongs to a settled genre canon.
- Buy a full studio album when you want the original sequencing; compilations are legitimate products but are different releases and can omit key album tracks.
- For used vinyl, verify pressing, grading, track list, and return policy. A low price can reflect condition, not a bargain pressing.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.