A COUPLA WHITE GUYS SITTIN’ AROUND TALKING

“Now remember,” the harried veteran publicist briefs me as I perch on the jump seat of the chauffeur-driven limousine cruising groovily over the 59th Street Bridge into Queens. “They don’t like to be called Hall & Oates. It’s Daryl Hall and John Oates.” She hands the advance cassette of the duo’s new album, Big Bam Boom, to the driver, who slips it into the deck. The synthetically treated tribal percussion sound booms out of the car speakers, an impressive electronic intro to the unmistakable Daryl Hall croon.

Suddenly, the sensurround serenity is abruptly shattered. “Let me see that tape,” snaps my companion on this trip to observe, unh, Daryl Hall and John Oates shoot the obligatory video to the obligatory Top Ten first singjp“Out Of Touch,” from their new LP.IHs just this song that has been interrupted by my hostess, eaggpo make sure the duo’s full name is inscribed on the cassette case. She inks in “D-A-R-Y-L” and “J-O-H-N” ^BP&bove “Hall & Oates.” It is just this paranoia about image which has always undermined the duo’s Philly roots in sweet soul music and dance-oriented R&B.