Last year, I specifically complained about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame failing to even nominate Yes, Chicago, Moody Blues, and Todd Rundgren. Then, this year, the former two are on the roster.
Last year, two of my picks, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, actually got in.
The nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016:
“To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. The 2016 nominees had to release their first recording no later than 1990.”
The Cars – worthy
Chic – what I wrote last year when I voted for them, still holds: “its sound still relevant, though if Nile Rodgers got in as a non-performer (songwriter/producer), I could accept that.”
*Chicago – those first two albums were great, and some of their later stuff was decent. They’ve gotten nicked for being too “commercial”, I suspect.
Cheap Trick – probably worthy
Deep Purple – when they got nominated a couple of years back, I admit not knowing them beyond their hits
Janet Jackson – possibly one of the most worthy. Yet, because she’s relatively young, I think she’ll get in eventually, if not this year.
The J.B.’s – James Brown’s backup group, and they should get in in THAT category, not here.
Chaka Khan – for both her music with Rufus and her solo stuff. And we share the same birth month.
Los Lobos – a friend said they are “such a watershed group” long before they “crossed over” to the Anglo market
Steve Miller – definitely worthy
Nine Inch Nails – sure, they’re influential and nominated last year.
N.W.A – also nominated last year, and with the Straight Out of Compton movie, this may well be the year they get in
The Smiths – likewise nominated last year, surely would vote for them down the road
*The Spinners – Motown did NOT know what to do with them, and they didn’t really click until they moved to Atlantic. I LOVE the Spinners. Nominated last year.
*Yes – The problem with the R&R HOF, as Chuck Miller noted, “is that so many deserving ‘rock’ artists were left behind in favor of inducting whoever [Rolling Stone magazine founder] Jann Wenner felt was more deserving.” Some of this had to do with the sense that “commercial is bad,” overcome somewhat by the induction of Hall & Oates last year.
But Yes was both a commercial AND critical success that, unless all of “progressive rock” was being punished, it made no sense to exclude them. Now that long-time bassist Chris Squire has died, it’s well past time for the group’s inclusion. I’d go as far as to suggest his passing affected their nomination, and I hope, their inclusion.
So, in part because of ageism, I’m going with Chicago, Chaka Khan, Los Lobos, The Spinners, and Yes. Especially YES. If I had a sixth vote, it’d probably be Steve Miller.
Which five artists would YOU vote for?
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Harry Nilsson has been eligible almost as long as the Hall has been open, but he’s never even been nominated.
Your argument for Chic is a good one, but I do think that there’s a better one to be made for Niles Rodgers as a non-performer. (Personally, I think it’s past time for Sylvester to be nominated.) My votes would go to Los Lobos (for many reasons, including acknowledging the influence of the early LA punk scene), The Cars, Cheap Trick, The Smiths, and either NIN or NWA. Neither is really my cuppa, but there is no denying the importance and influence.
I do think Janet will eventually make it in, but I think Diana Ross deserves induction as a solo artist first. Maybe in that category that Ringo Starr is in.
My own list of criminally overlooked acts would include the Go-Gos (way past time and there are serious arguments to be made for their influence), The Carter Family (early influence category), Joan Baez, Gram Parsons (I know the Byrds are in there, but he is an overlooked visionary), the B52’s, and Alan Lomax.
My votes would go for Chicago and The Spinners. I completely agree about including Diana Ross.