Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Playlist on Spotify

Hey guys, now's the time that I share one of my playlists...

This one is about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I started the playlist a back in 2013, and have added on to it over the years. After they announced the 2019 Inductees a few days ago, I decided to "revamp" it for many reasons. Since 2013, so much has changed on Spotify. At that time, there were still some artists, such as AC/DC, the Beatles and Bob Seger, that did not have their whole catalog available on the streaming service. One by one, it would be marked as an occasion when that artist would allow the public to stream their stuff on Spotify. Also, there have been some changes to certain artists' catalogs on Spotify. With some of the older groups like the Drifters and the Flamingos, sometimes their songs would disappear and get regrouped under some other album, thus making my playlist uneven. As of 12/19/2018, the only Hall of Fame artist that does NOT have their catalog on Spotify is the Dave Clark Five. Sounds pretty random, I guess.

RANT ABOUT DAVE CLARK:

Since I'm already on the subject, I might as well put my two cents on here about Dave Clark. Clark is one of two surviving members of his Hall of Famed band, as well as the sole rights-holder of its catalog. He's been quite a tightwad since acquiring all of the DC5's songs since 1978. Very rare, especially in these fast-changing times in the music industry, is the fact we'll ever see a re-release of any of the Dave Clark Five's music. Not very much of the band's little-known tracks have ever been released on CD, just a 2-disc Greatest Hits set in 1993. Fifteen years later, Clark would put that same compilation on iTunes. The band's music is still playing on oldies stations all around, but if a 15-year-old was curious about learning about the history of the DC5, they'd have to turn to Youtube. Fans have uploaded their songs on their channels. I'm not sure what's rolling through Clark's head as he hasn't put a stop to any of this, as well as "keeping up with the digital times" - in this case, just sitting back letting the fans take over. To most musicians of all levels, that's a big no-no. The quote "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" is often attributed to Mikhail Gorbachev. That should apply to Mr. Clark, who has no one to blame but himself that not very many people under the age of 40 are not familiar with him or his band's music. You're like Garth Brooks, you seem to be living in your own dream world about making more money (thinking that people will actually buy your stuff these days) and profits. Maybe that's not the case. Just get your head out of your arse. Rant over.

Back to the playlist: two songs are represented by every Hall of Famer, except for you-know-who. Sometimes it's a song that defines their career, or maybe its one of my personal favorites by the band. This was actually a challenge for me. I had to turn to a few good sources on what songs are the artists best known for - mostly for those I wasn't familiar with much, like Jerry Reed, Albert King and Miles Davis. This also goes for groups/artists that had a long catalog of hits, such as Chicago and Janet Jackson. I tried to spread it out from time spans (ex: like one song from Chicago in the 70s, and one from the 80s). Every Hall of Famer was added in chronological order, with the exception of the order of how they were at induction ceremonies.


Shortest song on the list: "Great Balls of Fire" - Jerry Lee Lewis  (1:51)
Longest song on the list: "East-West" - Paul Butterfield Blues Band  (13:12)


Please keep in mind that this list is not really family-friendly, as there are songs that are labeled "Explicit", mostly with hardcore and rap artists. Also, not all of certain artists' catalogs are not available on Spotify. One fine example is Ray Charles, whose post-Atlantic era material is not available on the service. If so, I would have included "Crying Time" and "Busted".

Want to hear? Just click on the big Spotify logo before, and get ready to rock. Putting it shuffle is recommended.

2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

Today is one of the few days us Rock Hall Watchers all get together, and excitedly, go crazy on social media. For the right reasons, of course. We all had mixed thoughts as always; actually, this time around everyone seemed to be in good spirits and satisfied (well, with the exception of some person that calls itself Zuzu...). Satisfied of the fact that some unpredictable moments occurred (which I'll get into). In short, in the words of Hall of Famer Ice Cube, "today was a good day".

Your 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees:

Def Leppard-Stevie Nicks-Janet Jackson-Roxy Music-The Cure-The Zombies-Radiohead


I didn't get all of them right, but close enough. That's usually what happens, with the exception of two years ago! Still, this is great. I agree with all the Rock Hall Watchers that this is one of the best inductee lists in years. I like to think of it as a Heinz 57 class, you know where the Rock Hall 'catches up' with some of the backlog. As Nick B. put it, it is a step forward for alternative rock in the HOF. The baby boomers generation is about to end, which is a good/bad thing - that's for another time. After years of "classic rock-heavy" classes, this may be a new page in the history of the RRHOF. What's even great about this class is the diversity. Even greater is that all new inductees have expressed their appreciation on their social media pages (with the exception being Radiohead...).

Def Leppard easily won the Fan Vote, which to this day has been a success from the beginning. (Like I always say, it only counts for one ballot!) Stevie Nicks was no surprise either. The Rock Hall Watchers community seemed a bit divided on this one. Many feel she isn't deserving as a solo act. As for me, I know about her influence among several female singers today and I do agree her solo career isn't very noteworthy. I look at it both ways, so I see where the others are coming from. But it happened. I'll be the 498th person to say that she will be the first woman to get into the Clyde McPhatter Club - or the 'inducted more than once' group. I do feel that distinction should have went to someone else, be it Carole King, Tina Turner or Diana Ross. I'll save that conversation for another time. Radiohead - hey, I'm happy they got in on second try. At least I don't have to worry about them, Janet or the Cure popping up again on future ballots. The only thing with Radiohead is there's a strong possibility that they won't show up (as Tom Lane pointed out) to the ceremony, so maybe that's why there's an additional spot for them on the list. Roxy Music finally got in, as this was a group that has appeared on several Rolling Stone lists in the past. I'm very happy for Janet, as many have doubted her chances for not being "rock and roll". (Pssttt...tell that to Vernon Reid, who I hope will be part of her induction performance) Many have already pointed out that Janet's induction will open doors for several divas including Whitney, Mariah, etc. I'm happy for the person behind the Twitter account, InductJanet, that their efforts to get Janet in have paid off. The Zombies, I don't even know where to start...in a great way! Finally, the Cure. It is awesome that they will finally open the door to possibly several alternative/80s indie groups. Ever since my big sis turned me on to them when I was little, I've been a dedicated fan of theirs. (I still have to see them in concert though!)

Those who didn't get in: LL Cool J, Todd Rundgren, John Prine, MC5, Devo, Kraftwerk, Rufus/Chaka Khan, Rage Against the Machine

As the saying always goes, "Better luck next time, or in this case, better luck next year...". The biggest shocker is Todd Rundgren, whose name appeared on the ballot for the first time. He's well known all around in the music world, so it was a bit odd not seeing him on the list. I'm positive he'll get in soon, now that he's on the board. Devo and John Prine were also new names, and I also see them getting in sometime in the next few years - maybe sooner. All respect to Tom Morello (nah, I'm pretty sure he's not reading this, haha), I'm not at all worried about Rage. I'm one of many who are concerned about Kraftwerk's chances of getting in. I have to keep telling myself that it took Black Sabbath a ridiculous 8 nominations (in a span of ten years) to get in. But the German electronica pioneers have waited longer, time-wise. Please no back-door inductions for this group! I'm one of the few concerned about LL Cool J. I'm sure he'll get in, but I'd hate to see him get in when its time for Jay-Z and Eminem to get inducted. Many of you know how I feel about Rufus/Chaka Khan. If not, I'll give you the short explanation: I do recognize their worthiness, but I'd rather someone else from that genre and time period get in than them.

Some interesting notes and observations. Many Rock Hall Watchers tweeted about them and/or put them on the FRL site:

-Janet Jackson is the first female inductee born after 1960. There are 66 living male inductees born from 1960 on. (Thanks, FRL guy!)

-With Janet going to be in the Hall of Fame, she will extend the Jackson family's record as the family with the most inducted members (Michael, Tito, Jackie, Marlon, Jermaine - who were all part of the Jackson 5, and Janet). All members of the family were involved in music and released singles of their own, but its very unlikely any more will be inducted into the Hall.

-One more thing about Janet: she is the first living black woman to be inducted since Claudette Robinson (who was inducted with the Miracles in 2012). (thank you Alex Voltaire!)

-According to one of FRL's tweets:
     -This is one of the largest class of performers since 2004.
     -5 out of the Top 6 finishers in the official fan poll were inducted
     -3 of the inductees were inducted on first nomination
     -36 total people inducted (4 are deceased)
     -2 woman inductees

-5 out of the 7 inductees are British acts (thank you Gassman)

-Many are already saying that this will probably be the best Induction Ceremony in years. Anyone who will be lucky to get a ticket will get to witness several legends on-stage, that's assuming most will show up! One pointed out that Janet, Def Leppard and Stevie Nicks may have to fight over the headlining spot. It will for sure be a star-studded event, maybe with some surprises. Even if Radiohead chooses not to show.

I'm sure there's more, just can't think of any at the moment.

Overall, I'm very satisfied with this class. I can't wait to do my annual Rock Hall Special on my radio program in March. I know I'll be playing lots of Cure! (laughs)   I am disappointed, like every recent year, there are no inductees in the other categories (outside of Performers). However, it was revealed there will be more Song Inductees - we all can't wait to hear who/what they are. Now for predicting, who will induct whom.....

2019 Inductee Predictions

I'm just gonna get the obvious out of the way - I think this will be a Heinz 57 year. Since there were no new/first-time-eligible nominees this time around, this kind of paved the way for a "catch-up" year. Responding to the large backlog of deserved inductees not in, I think voters will realize what they and the music-loving public will want in the Hall of Fame. Two of them will be acts that never appeared on the ballot until 2018, while three will be those that have showed up on Nominations lists at least three times. Two black/African-American acts and two women will probably be inducted. Remember, this is just my predictions, not the real thing.

Every act on the 2019 ballot deserves an induction into the "Performers" category in the Rock Hall, but there's a couple that I feel may just get the back-door induction. Still, its a popularity contest every year as one act outweighs the other in some way. Read on -

Alright, here we go....

JANET JACKSON - The NomCom has been great to put Ms. Jackson on the ballot over the years, but each time, it seems, she can't compete with other long overdue acts. This year, in my mind, there are no excuses. I really hope three times is a charm for her.

STEVIE NICKS - Let's pretend and time travel back 20 years ago (1998). Ask ourselves as Rock Hall watchers, "Who will be the first female that would be inducted twice?" - and we may have said either Tina Turner, Diana Ross, or Carole King. (Not trying to speak for all of us, just guessing)  Times change. The attitudes, the tastes, the leadership, trends, etc. Unfortunately, what's staying the same is the politics of the Rock Hall. I really shouldn't go there, so I won't. For whatever reason, those three women I mentioned were just never given a chance to appear on a ballot. So now, in 2018, we have Stevie Nicks, who was inducted 21 years ago as a member of Fleetwood Mac. Her solo career isn't really that memorable, even though there are some interesting parts (Did you know that Prince played on "Stand Back"?).

When I saw Fleetwood Mac in concert (2015), Stevie stole most of the show, with her speeches, moves and of course, her singing. Point is, it somehow dawned on me that she could possibly be inducted as a solo artist soon. There's no denying that women are influenced by her image and all. Some people suggest that Stevie is now the "Queen of Rock", a title that has never been officially given to anyone, except maybe Tina Turner. When you get done reading this, google "Queen of Rock" and tell me what you see. It's a mixture, depending on your news source.

Whether or not you believe she is deserving as a two-time inductee, the time will probably come for her. There's not very many women that could get into the "Clyde McPhatter Club", so this may be it and who knows when it will ever happen next.

DEF LEPPARD - As we all know, the Rock Hall's official fan vote has been a proven winner since its inception (even though it counts for one vote!). I think most voters are aware that the boys from Sheffield are the biggest of the hard-rock snubs that deserve induction, and they know hardcore music fans demand it. These aren't really credentials but worth noting: 65 million units sold, still touring like crazy, and according to their Facebook page, their records have set the bar for generations in music.

THE ZOMBIES - When I visited the Rock Hall museum back in September, I noticed there were several columns and sections devoted to artists, mostly RRHOF inductees. The Beatles, Elvis and the Stones were among the many few that had their own oversized section. Then you had groups like U2, the Doors...and the Zombies that had "columns" of memorablia, along with an essay attached. I don't know how long its been up, but this is a sure sign that the folks behind the Rock Hall clearly want them in (just read the long essay below, if you can). The voters, I surely hope so. Rod Argent and crew want to get in as well. Same case with Janet, this year there shouldn't be an excuse...

The Zombies "column" at the Hall of Fame, September 2018

LL COOL J - I believe voters will finally put him in after several tries. Its best to get him in anyway before the big guys like Jay-Z and Eminem get their shot. Of course, he'll put on quite a performance if inducted and he'll have an all-star group of supporters. Hip-hop is the new rock, and LL Cool J has helped lead the way more than others. And he's the first solo hip-hop superstar, as well as the first rap act to appear on American Bandstand.


-If there is a 6th inductee and/or a backdoor induction-

TODD RUNDGREN - It's a longtime mystery about how it took this long for rock's everyman Rundgren to ever get placed on the ballot. I'm with everyone else on his legacy, be it behind the mic and behind the scenes. His Wiki page states that he was one of the first acts to be prominent as an artist and producer, although it seems like there were others before him that accomplished such. He's also known for his unorthodox way of doing things musically - in fact when I saw him in concert two years ago it was mostly electronica songs he did (from his latest album at the time). Rundgren has put out many different albums, even one with Robert Johnson covers. I don't know if Steve Tyler would vote for him (if you know what I mean), but he's well respected all around in the music community.

It's a dilemma for just about everyone, be it the Rock Hall people to the fans, on which category Rundgren deserves to be inducted in. Does he belong in the Performers category? Let's see...his 1972 double LP, Something/Anything, is a favorite of many (including me), especially Axl Rose and Cameron Crowe (stupid question, is Crowe one of the voters?). That produced two memorable singles, at least. Over a decade later, he would release that novelty tune that psychs us up ("Bang the Drum All Day"). He put out some great songs here and there, including "Can We Still Be Friends", "Caravan" (w. Utopia) and "Secret Society". He's been around the block, performing with several Hall of Famers. Or does he belong in the Musical Excellence category? We all know he produced Meat Loaf''s Bat Out of Hell, and in addition he has produced over a dozen albums, including for Hall & Oates, XTC and the New York Dolls, among others. Since I really have no say, I'm sure the Rock Hall will make the decision with their heart. It is what it is, whatever it will be.



Why I didn't predict....

JOHN PRINE - Well, truthfully, I knew very little about this man (just his name) when he appeared on the Nominations list last month. Sadly, I haven't really taken the time to listen to his recordings. When discovering an artist, one of the big challenges is where to start. Prine had no big hits or memorable songs, to my knowledge, but that doesn't matter. I do know that he is a well-respected songwriter, and I do know Bob Dylan and Roger Waters are fans of his work. I can see Prine getting in, just not yet. Then again, voters will hurry up and put him in. We shall see on this one.

THE CURE - Just like other groups from their "era" (Smiths, Depeche Mode, etc.), they're having a hard time getting in. There's no denying they are very influential for so many punk/alternative bands from the last 25 years. Along with Bauhaus, they are also known to be one of the pioneering groups in the goth rock genre. There's so much more to say, its ridiculous. A ballot like the 2019 one was hard to compete with many others - I guess I can say the same for other years. The Cure would have to do something to draw very much attention. I do hope they get in sooner rather than later. I can't even wait to see who inducts them (most likely, Billy Corgan, lol). As I write this, they are at the top of the user's poll (51% of the vote) on the Future Rock Legends website, but just a hair above Radiohead.

RADIOHEAD - Never thought I'd say this, especially about Radiohead, but it looks like for now they will be "pushed to the side" and be just one of those that will appear on future ballots until "the right time". Last year was an easy chance for them, and there's no need for me to even go there as we all know the story. Radiohead, of course, will continue to make albums and tour, maybe even re-invent themselves, so they really should have no trouble getting in in the next few years.

KRAFTWERK - Kraftwerk should have been in several years back, before HBO broadcasted the ceremony. There are theories that HBO wants headliners for the Induction Ceremonies they show, and I wonder if this is one of the reasons why we don't see mid-level/influential acts at these events. Voters haven't really drawn any attention to the pioneering group. To most people (myself included), they are the most innovative and influential act not in the Hall of Fame. And I really hope they don't get a backdoor induction of any kind. Arguably, two of their songs "Autobahn" and "Trans-Europe Express" (well, the whole album too) have changed the course of music. The real question is: if/when they do get inducted, will any of the original members show up?

MC5 - If they don't get in this year...mark my words: they will be a Song Inductee. That's assuming the category continues after its inaugural year (2018).



Who I'd pick if I were a Rock Hall voter:

Stevie Nicks, Def Leppard, Janet Jackson, Kraftwerk, The Cure


I've seen a lot of my fellow Rock Hall watchers' lists, and I always enjoy reading others. What are yours?

Flashback: 2017 Nominee Predictions

NOTE: This is a series that I will be posting in the next few weeks, talking about my past nominee picks. This was from two summers ago (2016), probably around August. Some of these acts did make the ballot, and Pearl Jam and 2Pac were both first-ballot inductees. Nina Simone, Bon Jovi and the Cars would get inducted in 2018. 



First balloters:

PEARL JAM - I'm sure everyone will have the same ideas and reasons why for this one, so I'll just put this in my own words: Pearl Jam is simply an iconic 90s band. I grew up listening to their music, and to me their first three albums are classic. The critics agree, and so do the fans. They continued to make great music even though the grunge subgenre faded and they rock on to the present day. They are for sure a shoo-in.

2PAC - Most of us know that 2Pac was the guy who had the most impact on gangsta-rap, and I guess he still does. For all I know, maybe he still releases albums(?). His death at the early age of 26 propelled him to iconic status. I didn't grow up listening to his music, but my classmates bought his albums. Each time his new CD (dead or alive) would drop, it was like an event. They paid attention to the lyrics, and treated his music like philosophy. I can sense that millions of young teens were the same way. Do I think he will get in right away? No. But I do think he will at least make the board.

Previously nominated:

JANET JACKSON - She really hasn't stood out that much in 2016, except for her touring and postponing dates. I would never think her and Pearl Jam would be headlining an induction ceremony together, but I've seen weirder things happen. Now that she's on the board, keep putting Janet on the list until its her time for induction.

THE SPINNERS - Did you know that the Spinners are still touring? For real. War is too, and they almost made my predictions ballot. But the Spinners...well, they're getting up there. I don't even know any original members that are still with them, or with us. And let's be honest, its actually getting annoying seeing the Spinners and War on the ballot. Just let 'em in.

THE ZOMBIES - I've come to realize the harsh reality that many 50's and 60's acts are becoming very scarce for Rock Hall consideration. And this is not about personal taste: I dig Herman's Hermits and the Turtles, but I don't think they're that RRHOF-worthy, or maybe Brook Benton. I hope it does happen sometime. Clearly the NomCom is making more way for 70's, 80's and now 90's acts. And that's not a problem at all, except for the situation where that band's influence from the 60's is not in the HOF. That's where there is trouble. I'd say the Zombies is the closest to any 60's group that will be nominated.

NINE INCH NAILS - I'm getting this feeling that Trent (and I guess, the backup crew) will be nominated continuously until induction. And I'm fine with that!

KRAFTWERK - Arguably in my opinion, the most important act not in the HOF as far as influence.

THE CARS - I am confident that the NomCom will give them another go.

MC5 - I'm just gonna go with everyone else's guess about this one. Maybe Tom Morello WILL try to get them in.

BON JOVI - It's a mystery to me that Bon Jovi has waited long enough to get in, even though they've only been nominated once. My image of Jon Bon Jovi is him jamming with several HOFers, and usually if there's a big event (like charity), he's usually there. I don't think him and his band will have any trouble getting in soon. Period. I've been waiting for him (or them) to get nominated and inducted the last 3 years. I'm positive that if Bon Jovi is on the ballot this year, they'll get in right away, regardless of their competition. Face it, they're seen as legends and icons. They still sell out arenas. Richie and Jon would definitely show up to the ceremony. On top of that, they would represent the hard-rock genre very well. They would be a great headliner, next to Pearl Jam. If I'm not mistaken, I think Bon Jovi may have performed with Eddie Vedder at some point. I say, get them out of the way please. And thank you.


Never before nominated:

DIONNE WARWICK - My thing about the divas is: before they put in Whitney or Mariah, why not put in the originals first? I broke this one down to either Cher or Dionne Warwick. Sure, Dionne probably would not be classified as a 'diva'. But hey, she was a hitmaker and a great singer who had a long run. And, she should get in before her cousin, Whitney. What would be extremely great would be if Dionne was inducted the same time as Hal David and Burt Bacharach. As far as I know, they helped build each other's careers. I can dream, can I?

ARTHUR BROWN - Brown may not be the "God of Hell Fire", but he's a totally left-field pick. I look at it as over the years sometimes an act that no one would think of would appear on a ballot. Last year it was Los Lobos and the JB's. For some reason, I had Arthur Brown on my mind on a recent day. Then I looked at his Wikipedia page, and it all came down to this: despite of Brown's status as a one-hit wonder, he still has a legacy. He was one of the first 'shock-rockers', and if Pete Townshend, Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne had influence in the Nominating Committee, Brown would be right there on the ballot. Again, this one's just a random guess.

THE GUESS WHO - This is probably the second or third year in a row I've put them on my predictions list. Call them classic rock, Canadian rock, whatever. Philip Seymour Hoffman as Lester Bangs in 'Almost Famous': "The Doors? Jim Morrison? He's a drunken buffoon posing as a poet. Give me the Guess Who! They got the courage to be drunken buffoons, which makes them poetic!"

STEVIE NICKS - I've talked about her many times on this site about why I believe Ms. Nicks would be great as a solo act inductee. It's either her, Diana Ross or Tina Turner who could be the first female "Clyde McPhatter".

NINA SIMONE - Pretty much the same reason why she's on other people's predictions lists. She's just way overdue, even in death.

Others I've considered putting on my list: Glen Campbell, War, Cher, Willie Nelson, The Cure

So there you have it. This usually helps cure my 'end of summer blues', giving me something to look forward to in compiling this list. I do enjoy reading and comparing with everyone else's list on this site. However, at the same time, sometimes I feel like "Whatever...", when I do these lists. Look, I'll be the 1000th person to complain and moan about the Rock Hall - they're getting to the point where the institution is not going to be taken seriously for awhile. I just feel now that there is way too much of a backlog of artists that are not in. Several genres and many subgenres all have their share of being misrepresented, with some exceptions. Don't get me wrong, everyone that is in the Hall is deserving in some way. And I'm glad that the last few years the NomCom has paid more attention to groups that have been shunned (KISS, Rush, Chicago, etc.). But there's still quite a backlog. Starting with the 1950s, to the British Invasion, to Soul, the Country crossovers, New Wave, electronica, the list goes on and on. These are just many periods of time and genres that I think the Hall should catch up on. Did I mention the shortage of women? (By the way, I predict this year the NomCom will be laid back, gender-wise, which is why I put four women on my list) Its no wonder the Hall's politics continues to confuse people. One metalhead would wonder why Motorhead isn't in, or a longtime record collector hobbyist would question why this particular important band is not in the Hall.

In the end, it's us (the music fans and lovers) that keeps coming back. Kind of like being loyal to a sports team. We like to predict who will be the 'chosen few' who will be enshrined next Spring. Let's hope the Rock Hall will live up to its name for a little longer.

Song inductee predictions

As we all know by now, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has now inducted songs by artists/groups that have NOT been inducted into the HOF. This was first introduced at the 2018 Induction Ceremony in April, as Stevie Van Zandt came on-stage and did an explanation of the new category. At the same time, he announced six songs that were going into be inducted the same night as the 2018 Performers.

For an explanation, as well as Van Zandt's speech, check out this Future Rock Legends article. It also addresses questions that are currently being asked.

These songs were inducted in 2018:
"Rocket 88" - Jackie Brenston
"Rumble"- Link Wray
"The Twist" - Chubby Checker
"Louie, Louie" - the Kingsmen
"A Whiter Shade Of Pale" - Procol Harum
"Born To Be Wild" - Steppenwolf

So will more songs be inducted year by year? I'm going to say yes, though it is unknown. We already know, now that the Performers Nominations list is in, that nobody will be voting on songs as of yet. Will we find out in December? Or during the same night the class of 2019 gets inducted? Time will tell for sure.

If the "Song Induction" was a one-time thing, then I'm obviously wasting my time (and yours) with this article. But because there is a huge backlog of deserving artists/groups from the 1940's to the 1970's, I believe this will keep going on. At this point, the Rock Hall is inducting 5 or 6 per year and now it looks like they are focused mostly on the 1970s and 1980s, and the genres of classic rock and pop. Rarely are 1950s and 1960s acts appearing on the ballot, with a few exceptions here and there (ex. the Zombies, MC5, Nina Simone). It looks like the only way a lot of artists that haven't been placed on the ballot for so long, or have appeared a number of times on it - may get this backdoor treatment. I don't know what else to think....

I'm just gonna keep assuming from here. Assume that an average of 5-7 songs will be voted every year into the Hall of Fame. Assume that Little Stevie will present them at the ceremony. I'll even think that he played a huge part in picking the singles. See, when Stevie talks about his picks on who should be in the Rock Hall, people listen. Even though he's a big-time Hall of Famer, he hasn't forgotten what is was like to be a fan. If a university ever had a Rock and Roll History department, he'd be the head. I'll also assume that the song inductees will be honored to those in person (those that are living, of course).

And now, for the first time: my picks of who and what may be inducted into the Songs category for 2019. I went overboard and picked 15, and I'll just pretend six songs could be selected from this list.

Here are my picks, in chronological order. Below the title and year is the song's peak position on the Billboard charts as well as other awards the song received. Twelve of the fifteen have already been selected as part of the Rock Hall's "500 Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll" (those titles have R&R Hall of Fame in the awards column). Some have videos attached. Enjoy. Let me know what your picks are!

"Good Rocking Tonight" - Wynonie Harris  (1948)

    #1 R&B hit; R&R Hall of Fame; Grammy Hall of Fame

    One of the first rock and roll records. Like photography, film and the telephone, there is not one inventor or song that started rock and roll. This jump blues song is cited to be one of them. Harris can easily be inducted as an "Early Influence" but one would think during the Rock Hall's 30+ year existence that it would've happened already.

"Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" - The Penguins  (1954)

    #8 Pop hit; RS500 #152; RIAA #237; R&R Hall of Fame; Grammy Hall of Fame; National Recording Registry

    An early R&B crossover song, this is considered one of the most definitive doo-wop records.

"In The Still Of The Nite (I'll Remember)" - The Five Satins  (1956)

    #24 Pop hit; RS500 #90; RIAA #100; R&R Hall of Fame; Grammy Hall of Fame

    One of the most popular doo-wop songs of all-time was recorded in a church basement in New Haven, Connecticut. In fact, it is known to be one of the first since "doo wop" is literally mentioned in the song. Its been covered by many (most notably Boyz II Men) and featured in movies (who can forget the bed scene in Dirty Dancing?). The Five Satins had a few other charted singles, but it's "Night" that has remained their best known song. Wikipedia says that two of the original Five Satins are still performing as a group (with other various members), so why not give them an honor that's better late than never?

NOTE: In the Top 100 portion of Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs of All-Time (2010), all but 3 songs on that list belong to Performer and Singles Inductees. Last year's song inductees "Whiter Shade Of Pale" and "Louie, Louie" are included in the Top 100. The remaining three that have not been inducted are Dionne Warwick (Walk On By), Patsy Cline (Crazy) and Five Satins. "Crazy" is included in my Predictions list (see below), while I don't believe Dionne Warwick would ever be a Song Inductee. She's had multiple hit songs for three decades, and is one of pop music's living legends. She has never been nominated for the Rock Hall. 

"At The Hop" - Danny and the Juniors  (1957)

    #1 Pop hit; RIAA #250; R&R Hall of Fame

    It would be more necessary to put their "other" hit, "Rock and Roll Is Here To Stay", because that title proved true for the longest time. "Hop", I would say - is their signature tune. It can also be said to be one of the signature songs of the 50's as it talks about record hops and the good life of a teenager. Remember watching Woodstock and listening to Bowzer singing this song and all those hippies were too stoned to sing along?

"Chantilly Lace" - Big Bopper  (1958)

     #6 hit; R&R Hall of Fame

     Hellllo, baaaaby! Somewhere on the Internet, there is a movement to get J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson in the Rock Hall. Unfortunately, he didn't have that many hits during his short lifetime. It sounds absurd because I could say the same about Ritchie Valens, who is in. Next year (2019) will mark the 60th anniversary of Richardson, Valens and Buddy Holly's death in the Iowa plane crash, which to some marked the end of 50's Rock and Roll (see "American Pie" below). I say definitely put the Big Bopper in the Rock Hall in some sorta way. The novelty genre could also use some more representation as well.




"Crazy" - Patsy Cline  (1961)

     #2 Country hit; #9 Hot 100 hit; RS500 #85; NPR 100; National Recording Registry; Grammy Hall of Fame

     It's senseless that Cline and the song's writer, Willie Nelson, are not in the RRHOF. Sure, some may say they only belong in the Country HOF, but there are only a few that have great crossover success. Nelson had not been famous as a performer at the time of this tune, but he would go on to a long successful career in the "outlaw" subgenre in country music for decades. He would chart more than 100 singles on the Billboard Country chart. Years ago, Nelson was inducted in Hard Rock Cafe's Legends (similar to the Rock Hall), possibly due to his R&R image. Cline's career was short-lived because of her tragic death in a plane crash three years after this single came out. I say, if they (as in the Rock Hall people) don't want to acknowledge them in the Hall, at least put a song like this in.

"Miserlou" - Dick Dale  (1962)

    did not chart on Hot 100 but made the Breakouts list

    The song had its origins dating back to who-knows-when, but it was Dale that brought this Eastern Mediterranean/Egyptian song to Western popular culture. Dale had "sped" up the tune to make it into a surf-rock classic, which helped define that subgenre. It's a longtime mystery about Dale not being in the RRHOF, as many wonder why the guitar genius/experimentalist is not in. He's 81 years old as of this writing, so get it done soon. 

"Surf City" - Jan & Dean  (1963)

    #1 Hot 100 hit; R&R Hall of Fame

    Ah yes, another surf song - only this one was the first to ever top the pop chart. Written by Brian Wilson and Jan Berry, this song set the tone of pre-British Invasion America for a bit, but has been brought back to remind us what an innocent time it was in 1963. I wasn't around during that time, but I'm assuming a lot of people couldn't tell the difference between the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean. Of course, the Beach Boys went on to a long career while the duo's was cut short by Jan's car accident. But "Surf City" remains a classic, along with other Jan & Dean songs "Deadman's Curve" and "Little Old Lady From Pasadena".

"My Guy" - Mary Wells  (1964)

    #1 Hot 100 hit; R&R Hall of Fame; RIAA #282; ASCAP #27; Grammy Hall of Fame

     Mary Wells was nominated twice for the Rock Hall, the last time was a few years before her death in 1992. Since 1988, her name has not re-appeared for reasons unknown. Some may have questioned her importance. Most of us do know this: she had the distinction of having the first real hit from the classic Motown label, which is the song I predicted. Wells even had the title of "The Queen of Motown" during her short reign from the label. She charted over 20 singles on both Billboard's Hot 100 and R&B chart, but "My Guy" and "Two Lovers" remain her most memorable.

"She's About a Mover" - Sir Douglas Quintet  (1965)

    #13 Hot 100 hit; Grammy Hall of Fame; R&R Hall of Fame

    The San Antonio-based Sir Douglas Quintet has so far been nominated for the RRHOF once, and that was in 2005. I'm not really sure whether this song or "Mendocino" (one of my favorites) is the one that defines this group, but I'm leaning toward the former. "Mover" has been covered by several artists, including Ringo Starr. When I saw the Pretenders this year, the song was their intro music as they walked on-stage.

"Kicks" - Paul Revere & the Raiders   (1966)

    #4 Hot 100 hit

    Paul Revere & the Raiders are one of the few American garage groups that kept us from a complete British rock invasion, scoring a number of hits. Little Stevie has said many times that he believed the group deserved induction, mostly based on "Kicks". He would also say that he thinks they're not in because of their costumes. But Stevie did like the fact they recorded the first successful rock and roll anti-drug song.



"96 Tears"- ? & the Mysterians   (1966)

    #1 Hot 100 hit; RS500 #213; R&R Hall of Fame

    Known to be one of the earliest "punk" songs ever, this song set the tone for garage-rock bands. The song, which was originally called "Midnight Hour" and "69 Tears", got its start in Michigan before hitting it big nationally.




"American Pie (Parts I & II)" - Don McLean  (1972)

    #1 Hot 100 hit; R&R Hall of Fame; Grammy Hall of Fame; RIAA #5; National Recording Registry

    If there was ever a song that started many legends or had the most popular culture mentions, it would be this one. No, the ill-fated plane that Buddy Holly rode in was not called the American Pie! To this day, "American Pie" holds up as a classic (despite Madonna's version) on radio stations, jukeboxes, karaoke bars all around America. It's just his love letter to old-time rock and roll. McLean has had some follow-ups but nothing that would match the success of "Pie". McLean is 73, as of this writing. Wouldn't it be nice to see him honored at the HOF ceremony?

"All The Young Dudes" - Mott the Hoople

    #37 Hot 100 hit; RS500 #256; R&R Hall of Fame

   Written and produced by David Bowie (even provided the "shouts" in this song), this song has been regarded as one of glam-rock's biggest anthems. Lou Reed once thought of it as a 'gay anthem'. Whatever it might be, this song is timeless and has influenced several acts. I remember seeing Poison several years ago and this was their "walk on stage" song. Covered by many and featured in several movies (such as Juno).




"Love Will Tear Us Apart" - Joy Division

    did not chart on Pop chart; RS500 #181; R&R Hall of Fame

    I don't think they will go right into the 1980's when inducting singles, but you never know with the Rock Hall. This would be a very likely candidate, knowing that New Order hasn't been nominated yet and that genre/era bands like The Cure, Depeche Mode and the Smiths have. Some have even suggested that Joy Division/New Order should go in together. Nah, this was Joy Division's most notable song.

My visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

(Note: This is a long, detailed view of my visit to the Rock Hall, which was on 9/13/2018. This is not about who is or who is not inducted, but about the museum itself. I won't give away that much about the actual museum, and I respect the institution's wishes not to post any pictures on the Internet.)

Well, it finally happened! I've waited quite a while to visit. I have visited many parts of the United States, but for whatever reason Cleveland was never really a priority until about a couple years ago. It seems now, sadly, that a lot of cities have that "one thing" that makes them plenty of tourism dollars and really there's nothing else that city would offer besides their local scene and maybe a few extra museums here and there. Minneapolis has the "Mall of America", Memphis has Graceland, my home city St. Louis has the Arch (and the Budweiser brewery tour) but not much else that would get people out here. If another city had the RRHOF, I would have visited that particular city just for that reason.

BEFORE THE VISIT....
I planned a trip to Milwaukee and Cleveland a month before, as they were two cities that I never visited but always wanted to. My sister's family had visited Cleveland twice in the last 3 years, mostly to see the Cavaliers play. My nephew is a huge Lebron fan. (Of course, now they may be plotting a trip to L.A. now, haha) Both times they visited the RRHOF, and my nephew posted a short video of his visit on his YouTube channel. After I commented, he said, "You should definitely go. Sooner rather than later. You will love it!". That was my dealbreaker right there! My bro-in-law said for the average person it's a 3-hour museum, but for me it would be an all-day thing.

The main reason I wanted to go to Milwaukee was to visit the Record Research place as well as visit my favorite author, Joel Whitburn, who heads that publishing company. Unfortunately, those plans partly went down the drain before the trip. Short version of story: I was told in the past that Joel (who owns one of the world's largest record collections) would do private tours of his record vault which was at his residence. Last year, Joel's wife was seriously injured in a boating accident and he has been by her side since. Since that time he has permanently suspended all tours, which I totally respect and understand. I was, however, invited to check out the Record Research office, in which I met two of Joel's employees and observed their operations. Then after a couple of days, I was off to Cleveland by train.

AND NOW, MY VISIT...
I was very stoked when I first arrived in Cleveland at 6am, even though I had just three hours of sleep (noisy people on train). Just 4 hours later, the museum was open and all the tourists like me poured in. But first, I had to get a few pics, one I shared to all of my social media pages.

Then I was off! (Suggestion: buy your ticket(s) online before you go. It will save you $3. I bought mine from Travelocity, and you can also use the Rock Hall site as well) I started at the very bottom level, as suggested. It takes you through the roots of rock, the regions of rock, as well as several sub-genres. I really don't want to give too much away, since there are several that have not yet visited the museum that really want to. Basically, you'll be getting the learning experience. Some of it is stuff you may already know, but to get an interactive look with the memorabilia in front of it is something else! Speaking of memorabilia, there are plenty of little items that were part of rock and music history inside the museum. I once heard Casey Kasem say on his Top 40 radio program that the RRHOF hosts the world's largest collection of rock memorabilia, and I have to say he is probably right. I'm actually kind of curious as to how many warehouses they store all the "other stuff" that they use for exhibits and all.

Again, I don't want to give away much, but here's a sample of what you'll find on the top and bottom floors: dresses worn by Grace Slick and Janis Joplin; Jim Morrison's Cub scout uniform; Michael Jackson's glove and outfit worn at the Motown 25th special; pieces of the plane that killed Otis Redding and some members of the Bar-Kays; regular stage props from some concerts and many more. I even sent a picture of me posing in front of Britney Spears' flesh-colored outfit that she wore at the 2000 VMAs to a guy I work with (who loves Britney Spears)!

THE TEMPORARY EXHIBIT:
This was Stay Tuned: Rock on TV. It, of course, told the story about how television and rock and roll worked hand in hand to provide the visual experience. A lot of it was stuff I already knew about, but its always easy to forget that television has had a huge impact on mine and my parent's generation. Not just rock and roll, but the way we act, talk, dress, and sometimes how we vote. It's how people after the 1940's saw the world. Featured were American Bandstand, Ed Sullivan Show to sitcoms like The Monkees and the Partridge Family. The exhibit also talks about talent shows of all generations, as well as musical performances from variety shows, including the Sonny and Cher Show and In Living Color. Isn't it amazing how much we knew what was probably cool from watching TV? MTV is also featured with a room of its own.

SIDE MENTIONS:
-Did you know that, in addition to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees (all categories), there is a permanent exhibit that highlights all the greats in classic radio? Or one for One-Hit Wonders that shaped Rock and Roll? They can be experienced at listening kiosks at the Hall. I was very glad they included local radio hero Ron "Johnny Rabbitt" Elz in the radio category. (He was the first to play the Beatles in America. I'll have more info on that in a future blog...)  I once read that local national one-hit wonder Bob Kuban was featured in the permanent One-Hit Wonders exhibit but I was very disappointed that he wasn't anywhere to be found. Hmmmm.....

-It's not just the inductees that are featured all over the museum. Several acts that are not in have memorabilia and other items about them are featured in certain sections. For example, Herman's Hermits can be found under the British Invasion part. What surprised me overall was a lot of current future hit-makers and mainstays were also featured. I'm talking about Kesha, Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars, along with some of my favorites such as the Arctic Monkeys and Saint Motel. I suppose that's their way of pleasing my generation, haha!

-Did you know there is a Cleveland script sign somewhere nearby the museum where you can take pictures of you and the Rock Hall, in front of the Cleveland city skyline? I didn't know that until the day after my visit. But if you do plan on going there, just a reminder.

-Could this be foreshadowing? The Zombies had a small section devoted to them. I'll explain: in some of the artist/genre sections, some bands like U2 and the Doors have a column devoted to them. In that same section is one about the Zombies. True, Rod Argent did visit the museum 2-3 years ago, and in response his old band has appeared on the Nominations ballot. Also, the Notorious B.I.G. will be eligible for the first time next year and a few of his items (including records from his actual collection!) were in the rap/hip-hop section. I'm not sure if this means he may be a first-time nomination and/or inductee, but we shall see.

-There was also a tucked-away room full of rock-themed pinball machines. Pinball machines have run their course, here and there, over the years - but this exhibit (I believe it was temporary, for all I know) highlighted how rock 'n' roll and pinball went hand-in-hand as a sign of rebellion. It's hard to believe that a lot of elders during the Great Depression didn't think much of pinball back in the day! Some of the machines worked, and some were playable. Each had a description, and some were personally made for that band/artist.

-Outside the museum is Johnny and June Carter Cash's old tour bus. I went in there briefly, since there was not much room to walk around. I did snap a few pictures while inside.

-There is a restaurant inside the place, and a food truck was there outside. I didn't see what the food truck offered, but the indoors restaurant was by the entrance. I ate there, midway through my visit. They have managed to keep up with the restaurant times, offering "hip" items like tacos, flatbread pizza, rice bowls, etc. I can't even remember what I even ate there; think it was buffalo chicken wrap or something and soda. I do recall it was expensive, but what to expect I guess!

-And, as most of us already know, they do let the visitors vote ONE TIME on who should get inducted into the RRHOF. At #1 so far this year is Stevie Nicks, with the most votes. Also on the list are acts that are newly eligible for next year such as Blink 182 and Beck. Surprisingly, Garth Brooks has a lot of votes (he belongs only in the Country Music Hall of Fame!, in my opinion. And maybe a few stars on some Walk of Fames too...). Below is a video I took of the results as of 9-13-2018:

WHAT WOULD I HAVE CHANGED:
-The inductees. No, I'm not talking about who is or isn't in - that's for another post. I'm talking about how they are displayed in the museum. I didn't know this up until the present time that the way they set up that section was brand new. How they present the inductees is by year, starting from, of course, 1986 all the way up to the present year (2018). All inductees, including all categories are presented along with their engraved signatures. No pictures or anything like that. However, the inductees from the new "Singles" category are nowhere to be seen. I did post my concern on Twitter, and the Rock Hall responded they are, at this moment, trying to think of a way to present them in that section. I totally get it, as its unreal to think that it has been at least five months (as of this writing) since they introduced it. I'm sure that will make someone like Chubby Checker happy.

I get it that every Hall of Fame does things different. At the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame, every inductee in that sport gets a plaque with their name, years, description, etc. Same goes for the Country Music Hall of Fame. When I visited the CMHOF in Nashville a couple years ago, I thought it was cool browsing through every plaque, checking out every artist and their achievements as it is engraved. I think it would have been cool to have at least a few lines of description for every artist that has been inducted. Oh well, that's what the website is for, I guess.

-Maybe devote something to electronic music (besides disco), or any other kind of small subgenre. I'm sure there have been temporary exhibits spotlighting them, but what do I know.

IN CLOSING:
I spent nearly seven hours there, which was enough for me. I did comb through every floor again, just to double-check if I missed anything. After all, who knows how long it will take me to get back to Cleveland! Lastly, I went in the gift shop which was huge. Let's just say that it was no average museum gift shop. Almost half of it is apparel, which I didn't bother buying. They sold CDs, records, books, you name it. If you collect something from another place, yes there is a big chance they will have it. I usually collect shot glasses (or what some call toothpick holders, haha) and magnets from other places, so it was like I hit the jackpot. (I used to collect little license plates from other places, but unfortunately more than a decade ago, they stopped making them for whatever reason....)  I also bought a mini-replica of the RRHOF museum. It would definitely look good next to my Arch and Mount Rushmore mini-replica statues....

OVERALL FEEL:
The museum? I give it an A-. Because nothing is perfect. It's entirely impossible to cram everything into one museum, even if its five floors and shaped like a pyramid. Nice work. I have faith that the organization/institution will continue to bring plenty of goodness for the coming years. Cheers!

2019 Nominee Predictions

Here are the 19 artists/groups that I believe may be put on the 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees ballot:

----First-time eligibles: (they had to have released their first major-label debut in 1993)----

Beck-  Well, it has come to the point where Beck is newly-eligible to appear on the ballot. A lot of use were around when he burst onto the scene with "Loser". The song would later be selected to the Rock Hall's "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll"- and rightfully so - because at the time I had never heard anything like it. To me, it set a new tone. Anyway, Beck would almost be brushed off as a one-hit wonder, then came Odelay. The rest is history. Beck has the resume of a first-year-of-eligibility inductee, though he's not much of a superstar/icon compared to Nirvana, Madonna or U2. Beck's usual thing was experimental music, which made him stand out among the critics and music fans. Of the three I listed in this section, he would be the most likely to be inducted on first try.

Snoop Dogg-  I understand a lot of you will strongly disagree with me on this one. Let's face it: Snoop Dogg is an entertainment icon. Of course, that won't be enough to get him in the Rock Hall. Today he is best known as an actor, game-show host and of course, his activism on legalizing pot. But his jams "Gin and Juice" as well as his collaborations with Dr. Dre have cemented him in music history.

Dave Matthews Band-  Without question, they are one of the most popular touring acts of the last 20 years, and they have gained quite a following for those who are now under 40. Several hit albums and radio songs over the years have contributed to the band's image positively. Dave himself has been on the cover of Rolling Stone at least five times (3 of those with the band), so you know if Jann Wenner has his way he'll definitely make the ballot. Dave has also performed with Rock Hall inductees, so you know he may get some support here and there. However, this is now the "#metoo era", and longtime violinist Boyd Tinsley was recently accused of sexual misconduct. Though he's out of the band now, this may hurt things at the moment.

----Nominated before:----

Janet Jackson

Kraftwerk-  In my opinion, the most innovative act not in. They already have been on the waitlist for over 15 years now, off and on, but I guess in this case patience is key. Remember, a lot of legendary and innovative acts had to wait more than five times to get in.

War

Chaka Khan-  Not to be ignorant but I don't know why she's been popping up so much on the ballot over the years. This is not to say that she's not deserving, or that I don't like her music. But what about other ladies in her genre...like Patti LaBelle? I'm guessing she's one of those the NomCom will keep putting on the ballot until she gets in.

L.L. Cool J- To be honest I'm not even sure why I'm putting him on here. The voters have had many opportunities to get Mr. Smith in the Rock Hall, especially last year when he received Kennedy Center Honors. Luckily, he's had a lot of support from the Nominating Committee, and it may just be he will keep showing up on the ballot until he gets in. Like Kraftwerk, he may end up being one of those who will have to wait at least 5 nominations.

Jane's Addiction- They haven't really done much to get attention this year, or in previous ones. "Nothing's Shocking" just turned 30 and there were plenty of reasons to celebrate. But I'm positive they will get in sometime in the next three years.

Radiohead- No need to get into this one, as others have done well explaining it better than I would have

Eurythmics-  I'm sure there are people who would be like, "If it wasn't for MTV, there would be no George Michael, Culture Club, Duran Duran, Eurythmics...". They're probably right, but no matter. Annie Lennox has won many awards, possibly more than the bands that I have mentioned. With Aretha Franklin's recent passing, I'm betting that whether or not Lennox gets inducted, she'll be one of the performers that will participate in the tribute to her next spring.

The Zombies- To quote fellow Rock Hall watcher Alex Voltaire, "The Rock Hall loves the Zombies, the Zombies love the Rock Hall". And I sort of agree that if they don't make it one more time, they may just end up getting the "Singles" induction, which would make my blood boil because "She's Not There", "Tell Her No" and "Time of the Season" are all great songs and they're all worthy to get this band in.

----Never before nominated----

Bad Company- Every year in the last few years, there is that one act that has long been blackballed that would appear on the Nominations list and get inducted the next year. Two years ago, it was ELO. Last year it was the Moody Blues. This year, I was in a dilemma between Jethro Tull and The Monkees - two acts that most Rock Hall Watchers highly consider as the biggest snubs to date. In the end, I went with neither and settled on Bad Company. Seriously, after 25+ years of being eligible, you think they'll finally induct the Monkees??? For real. Then again, the jokes on me if it does happen. As for Jethro Tull, Ian may have to wait a bit - even if he's doing the 50th anniversary tour of his band.

Despite of Paul Rodger's recent criticism of the Rock Hall, I'm sure he'll get help from Little Stevie. Rodgers, who has made a name for himself thanks to his voice and involvements with several bands and musicians, is one of the most popular snubs today. He was ranked #55 on Rolling Stone's Singers list. There is a lot of debate, I'm sure, about how Rodgers should be inducted. He made his fame first with Free, but he was arguably the most successful with Bad Company, in which he still tours with (even though Rodgers toured with Jeff Beck this summer).

Def Leppard- What has nine arms and may get likely get in for the Fan Vote? Tasteless jokes aside, some Rock Hall watchers are making that prediction. This is the 2nd year in a row that I'm putting them on my predictions list. They've done the well-publicized stadium tour with Journey this summer. Not sure if that is a requirement to get in the Rock Hall, but I suppose every connection helps! This is the one group from the 80s hair metal/hard rock era that stands out in my mind, as far as who would likely get in next for the fan vote. But I don't think this will be the one Tom Morello will be pushing this year.

Stevie Nicks- I've put her on my predictions list many times in the past, and I'm glad to see many people are on the same page on this one. Even the machine at the Rock Hall for visitors to vote on has her at #1! (Or so I believe...) Her solo career was so-so, but several female singers today cite her as an influence, as far as style and image. As of right now, it looks like Stevie Nicks is on her way into being the first female member of the "Clyde McPhatter club", or two-time inductees club...this is assuming that Diana Ross and/or Tina Turner (as solo artists) don't get in before her.

Johnny Nash- Each year there's always that one "WTF" act on the ballot. In past years, there would be the J.B.'s, Los Lobos and Bad Brains. You also have surprise mentions like last year's Kate Bush. Well, I think this year it could be Johnny Nash. What are the chances of this one? No one knows. This one came to me recently out of nowhere. Bob Marley may have been the king of reggae music, but it was Johnny Nash that first brought it into the mainstream. Its been eight years since a reggae artist has been inducted in the Rock Hall. Unless you want to include The Police, there are only two reggae artists in. Nash put out several singles on the Pop chart, including three Billboard Top 20 hits. He hasn't done anything to attract attention in several years (or decades), but I'm sure at some point someone will bring his name to the table.

Phil Collins- I was afraid not a lot of Rock Hall watchers would take me seriously if I put Phil Collins on my list, until I saw someone else's list! I get it why a lot of people don't want him in. After all, Collins has been praised and damned by several artists, critics and others in the entertainment industry. But the numbers don't lie - Collins and Paul McCartney have the distinction of selling over 100 million records worldwide while being solo AND  being a principal member of a band. I'm sure his name will appear on a ballot sometime in the next five years. And if it does, I'm positive he'll get in right away with the amount of possible support. At this point, it would look good for Genesis to have two of its members inducted on their own. Phil, of all people, has also been cited as an influence in the rap/hip-hop community. He will be doing a North American tour this year, and of course he recently announced that he is open to a Genesis reunion as long as his son plays drums for them.

Lionel Richie -or- the Commodores-  It's a long mystery about the absence of several R&B/soul/funk acts over the years, and its time to induct more. I came up with the theory about maybe the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame being a reason, but apparently some people disagree or have not given it much thought. I really don't need to get into Richie's or the Commodores legacy - but Richie has gotten a lot of attention in the past ten months. He's got the Kennedy Center Honors, he's judged the revamped American Idol, and he's been performing, even headlining festivals. I would love for Richie to be a two-time inductee in the future, but as of now it's not very likely.

Gary U.S. Bonds- Truthfully, I gave up putting 50's and early 60's acts on my predictions list a while back. Then last year came the "Singles" category which brought back some of the songs during those eras and giving them new life in the Rock Hall. I don't know if my hopes should be raised into drawing more attention to those who peaked during that era. You know, the ones that won't get just a song induction. The names that crossed my mind were Bobby Rydell, Freddy Cannon and Bonds. Bonds was no major influence or innovator (imo), but he would get plenty of support from voters, especially The Boss. For the record, Bonds is still performing and making music. In fact, one of my friends recently saw him perform in, fittingly, New Orleans.


About the other newly-eligible acts:
1993 was a year where several major artists broke out. This is why I went with three newly-eligible acts on my list. But there are more who could be inducted in the future:

-Blink 182
-Sheryl Crow
-Jeff Buckley
-Liz Phair
-Outkast

This here is an article that analyzes 15 newly-eligible acts for this ballot year and talked about their pros and cons. The author, Troy Smith, explained it much better than I would.

Why I didn't include MC5, the Meters, Chuck Willis and some others: 
Its because of the "Singles" category, which I believe they will continue to do annually. If they don't, well, whatever. I don't want to dismiss any artist as a one-hit wonder. There are those, however, that are noted for their one big hit: MC5: Kick Out The Jams. Chuck Willis: What Am I Living For. The list goes on. Who knows, maybe Steppenwolf who was also known for songs like "Magic Carpet Ride," "Rock Me" and many others, may get nominated again. For now, we shall wait and see what happens as far as the "Singles" category goes.

Introduction

Hello, everyone in Internetland!

I'm Jason and I have been blogging off and on for more than a decade. Sometimes its hard to know if blogs are still the 'in' thing or not. I found out, depending on where your social circles and interests take you, blogging can still be a great way to reach out to others. I'll go ahead and share my stories about how I became one of the "followers" of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame institution.

HOW/WHY THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INTERESTS ME

A lot of professions have some sort of thing where there is a way of remembering excellency for generations to come. Every sport has a Hall of Fame. The entertainment industry has its Walk of Fame. The aviation, agricultral and the science worlds all have at least one Hall of Fame. A lot of countries, states and cities have some way in remembering their citizens that have contributed positively in this world. People also get recognized with major industry awards, as well as statues, busts, among other things that cement their way to immortality.

Then we have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which was created in 1983 by longtime record man Ahmet Ertugen (along with a team that included Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner). There were several intentions for making it what it was. It was to recognize the people who made the music of rock and roll, as well as the people behind the scenes and helped promote it. Rock and roll music can be defined in many ways. Here lies the controversy behind it. What is considered rock and roll? Rock and roll was created as a mixture of blues, country, rhythm, among other things. The genre has evolved into several sub-genres and along the way, has intermixed with disco, electronic and hip-hop through the decades.

I'm a longtime music lover. I don't play an instrument, but I do love how its a part of my life. It's art. I collect it, I play it on the radio as well as where I live, and I go out and see shows whenever I can. I promote it to my peers, in-person and online. I read the stories behind my favorite artists. I like pop, alternative, classic rock, R&B (all decades), rap/hip-hop, even disco. Sure, there are a few subgenres I don't care for, but that's no matter because millions of people out there love what I don't like. I like that several legends who have created the soundtrack of my life, as well as everyone else's, will be recognized for generations to come. And it is all being told by several publications, people, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

With every Hall of Fame always has its controversy. Why isn't Pete Rose in the Baseball Hall of Fame, especially with how the baseball industry has changed over the years? (Sure, he gambled, but at least he didn't get on the juice...) Why isn't Hank Williams Jr. in the Country Music Hall of Fame? I'm sure some chess historian/enthusiast is upset that their hero isn't in the World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis. A lot of Hall of Fames are known to be about favoritism, at least according to some people. Of course, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has had more than its share of criticism, from rock music lovers of all ages. I'm getting a little ahead of myself here, as I'll explain more on this in the coming paragraphs....

HISTORY OF ME AND THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

It was 1995 and I was in junior high. Remember, the Internet was in its infancy and a lot of information was not at very much access to me at the time. I first found out about the Rock Hall as I was digging deep into my Joel Whitburn/Record Research books. (For those that aren't familiar with those books, they are mostly artist discographies with chart statistics and facts and so forth)  In some of the artists' notes - usually near the end of their short biographies, it would say "Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in (year)". I had no idea such institution existed, and I didn't give much thought at the time since I didn't have a list of inductees. It wasn't mentioned in the press hardly at all, at that time.

Late summer of that year, I was listening to Casey Kasem talking about the actual museum's opening in Cleveland on his Casey's Top 40 radio program. He went on to talk about how every band usually has a member that is a pack rat, and that person would donate their items and memorabilia to the museum. Everything from U2's early band shirts to Jim Morrison's Cub Scout uniform would be displayed there. I couldn't wait to visit a place like that! (Unfortunately it would take me more than 20 years to make it out there!)

For my 14th birthday that year, my oldest sister Jenny gave me a one-year membership to the Rock Hall. This would be the inaugural year, of course. Newsletters came in the mail, even an invite to the Hall of Fame dinner (of course, I couldn't afford it! lol). This would be my way of keeping tabs on the Hall of Fame for a bit, like with exhibits and inductees. My membership would expire in '96. I still have my membership card (they say it may be worth something in the future, who knows?). The only time I would keep up with the Hall would be through articles in Rolling Stone.

I felt that just about everyone who was in the Hall of Fame by the end of the 20th century was very deserving, and I couldn't wait to see who would be inducted in the future. Take a look at the first two classes (1986, 1987): you had the forefathers of rock and roll as well as the many important artists that rockers looked up to during the early years. In 1988 and 1989, the people behind the British Invasion as well as the Motown sound were given the honors. From the 90s, inductees included 60s greats Simon & Garfunkel and the Mamas and the Papas to the 70s titans, Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles. I thought, how can the Hall go wrong?

Sometime during the mid-2000s, I started questioning things about the RRHOF. Why isn't Chubby Checker, Chicago and so many hit-makers and superstars not in? How cool do they have to be to get into the Hall of Fame??? Why is Percy Sledge in and not Brook Benton? Why has Donna Summer been nominated but not her former labelmates KISS? I asked myself these kinds of questions numerous times. It got to a point where I felt so many were picked by favoritism and based on the picks of the so-called professional critics, experts and publishers.

ENTER FUTURE ROCK LEGENDS

I don't remember exactly how or when I found it, but it was the website, Future Rock Hall (now futurerocklegends.com) that provided some answers. I immediately started commenting on some of the pages and posts. The site had the same questions as I did, as well as some answers. As I educated myself through many of the articles posted on that site, I gained an impression of what the behind-the-scenes of the Rock Hall were about. There were also many regular users on the FRL site; in fact, some of them I have interacted with outside the site (mostly Twitter), and I have hung out with one at music festivals in the Midwest. So needless to say, I'm proud to be part of a circle of people who share the same interests with me (you know who you are!), at least on-line. For the record, I don't share very much about the Rock Hall on my personal Facebook page since a lot of my "friends" have told me over and over how much the HOF is a joke, in the comments.

Over the years, I have followed who gets inducted year-by-year. These days, its in small batches of who gets inducted, as opposed to larger groups in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. Most of them are deserving, in my opinion. The good news is, the last few years, the Rock Hall has been open about putting former "blackballed" artists in there (ex. Quincy Jones, Moody Blues, etc.). Many bands from the classic rock era that fans have been longing to get in have also been nominated and inducted (Rush, ELO, Stevie Ray Vaughan, etc.). The Hall has also let the fans get involved with the "Fan Vote", which has been a success. Even though the Fan Vote counts as only one ballot, it has to this day helped bands get in 100% to this day.

But there is still a huge backlog of artists. This is where active and passive rock fans, armchair and professional critics and Rock Hall followers clash. Does Jethro Tull or Boston deserve to get in? Should the Monkees, who were created for a television show, be in? Does the Rock Hall need to induct more rap/hip-hop acts? When will the Rock Hall induct more electronic/techno/new wave groups? Several questions arise, and that's what keeps us on our toes, year-by-year. This is not to speak for all Rock Hall watchers, but I have a good feeling this is why they're all in it, too. It's kind of like fantasy football or any kind of sport.

The Rock Hall followers have come to a consensus on several issues facing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as far as who's in, who's not):

1)  the small percentage of women in
2)  the 80s/early-MTV era
3)  the Soul/R&B acts, or in a non-PC way, black artists
4)  too many classic rock groups inducted in the last few years
5)  number of inductees inducted each year is too small
6)  the passing over of several 50s & 60s acts
7)  the non-inducted people who have the opportunity to vote who gets in the Hall of Fame
7)  back-door inductions

I'm sure there's plenty more that I'm missing, but I hope you get the idea.

Me and a lot of others have a shared vision of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We hope it continues to induct the many worthy artists that have long deserved recognition. I can't always be happy, and neither can anyone else. There are plenty of things that I wish would change, and most were listed in the "several issues" list above.


Does Joe Tex belong in the Rock Hall? He put out several hits on both the Pop/R&B chart in the 60s and early 70s but his legacy has arguably been forgotten by many. In fact, I don't think not many people under the age of 40 know what he was about.

Does T. Rex belong in the Rock Hall? They had one hit in the U.S. (more overseas) but are known to be iconic in the glam rock genre. Lead singer Marc Bolan, who has been gone for more than 40 years now, is seen as an influence in many genres.

Does Eddie Money belong in the Rock Hall? He put out several classic rock hits, many of them still played on the radio today, and he still regularly tours.

I don't have the answer to these questions, as time will tell if their influence and legacy is proven by the voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.


For now, Rock on.