John Oates Pays Homage to American Music in 'Arkansas' Video

John Oates pays homage to a state’s rich musical legacy in the newly released music video for “Arkansas,” the title track off his upcoming solo album.

Oates is of course best remembered for his work with Darryl Hall in Hall & Oates, a Grammy-winning duo that made its Stern Show debut in 2015. But on this album, which began originally as a tribute to actor John Hurt, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer fronts an electrified string band called the Good Road Band.

“The album came to life in the studio by assembling a group of great musicians who listened to each other and then played their asses off,” Oates explained to Rolling Stone. “It is a collection of early American popular songs, and to me [it] sounds like Dixieland, dipped in bluegrass and salted with Delta blues.”

The video for “Arkansas” (above), which Oates penned, is filled with classically American images like sweeping farmlands, grain silos, and cotton fields.

As listeners of the Wrap Up Show may remember, songs about America’s rich musical history aren’t the only ones Oates is open to writing these days. When he appeared as a guest last March, he told Stern Show Executive producer Gary Dell’Abate he’d be open to helping Howard Stern write a hit song. In fact, if Howard would only give him a title, he said they could do it in just 30 minutes. While Howard was intrigued, he ultimately decided to stay faithful to his longtime collaborator in Fred Norris. Listen to the conversation (below).