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No disrespect to the Righteous Brothers. But if Webster's dictionary had an entry for "blue-eyed soul, " there would be a picture of Daryl Hall and John Oates next to it. Anchored by Hall's lilting tenor and Oates's soulful baritone, the Philadelphia duo made pop-soul perfection in the late '70s and mid '80s with an engaging string of hits such as "Sara's Smile, " Maneater, " and "One on One. " So what better way to honor the most successful duo in recording history than with a definitive best-of collection, The Very Best of Daryl Hall and John Oates -- which offers six more tracks than the 12-song retrospective Rock 'n' Soul Pt. 1. With their roots firmly planted in the Philly soul tradition of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff (Teddy Pendergrass, the O'Jays) , Hall and Oates transcended racial and chart boundaries with synth-funk-drenched jams such as the irrepressible "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) , " which spent time atop both the pop and R&B charts. Other highlights of this excellent compilation include the precious pop gems "You Make My Dreams Come True" and "Private Eyes" and grittier chart-toppers "Adult Education" and "Method of Modern Love. " On the latter track, the limber-voiced Hall inquires, "We know what we're doing, don't we? " After listening to this nostalgic collection, the obvious answer to that question is a resounding yes.