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.
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