John Oates pays tribute to his youth on new album

Being half of a legendary pop duo can make it difficult when you set out on your own. John Oates, of Hall & Oates fame, believes he's gotten over the hump.

“When I started doing this, I think there was an expectation that I would just be playing solo versions of the stuff Daryl (Hall) and I had done,” Oates said during a phone interview. “It's really not like that anymore. I've put out a few records by now, and people who come out to see me want to hear that music.”

Oates' newest solo record, “Mississippi Mile” (Elektra Nashville), is a tribute to the country, blues and rockabilly songs that inspired him while he grew up outside of Philadelphia. Oates will perform songs from that record and throughout his career next week at Viper Alley in Lincolnshire.

Most of the songs on “Mississippi Mile” are cover versions of songs by such American luminaries as Curtis Mayfield, Elvis Presley and Mississippi John Hurt, though Oates contributes two originals.

The idea for “Mississippi Mile” came out of, in Oates' words, “pure selfishness.”

“It started out real casual, where I'd just start playing some of these songs with friends for no other reason than I loved doing it,” he said. “But I soon realized that they formed a kind of musical autobiography for me.

“I used to play in blues bands and listen to folk bands in coffee houses before I even met Daryl. These songs are what inspired me to become a musician.”

The sound of the record might startle listeners used to the smooth soul-pop that Oates plays with Hall. It's a raw, stripped-down album, the songs accented by acoustic slide guitar, harmonica and Oates' twangy vocals.

“I wanted this to be like the old recording sessions, so we did everything fast, and there are virtually no overdubs,” he said. “For the most part, we could all see each other as we played and recorded. This kind of music shouldn't be overthought in the studio.”

His live performances on his current tour follow the aesthetic that prevailed during the making of “Mississippi Mile.”

“We're essentially a blues band, so that's the kind of flavor we have onstage,” he said.

He added, though, that he will sprinkle some Hall & Oates tunes into the set list.

“I usually do a few, though I like to put a different spin on them,” he said. “Daryl is a great, distinctive singer, and there's no point in me trying to replicate his sound on my own.”

Oates has been playing music for going on 40 years now. He and Hall arrived at the height of the vinyl LP era, then delivered a string of hits in the 1980s, when the CD emerged as the format of choice.

What does he think about making music in the age of the Internet?

“Well, I wouldn't want to trade places with a young artist just starting out,” he said. “But I also see much to embrace in this new world. Artists now have an unlimited worldwide form for their music, which is very exciting.

“I can tell you that it's given me a new lease on life, in a lot of ways. I feel freer as an artist than I have in a long time.”

<b>John Oates</b>

<b>When: </b>8:15 p.m. Thursday, May 19

<b>Where: </b>Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire

<b>Tickets: </b>$30-$70; call (847) 499-5000 or go to <a href="http://www.viper-alley.com" target="_blank">viper-alley.com</a>