Skynyrd were not all that. Let's be honest, southern blues rock based on women and alcohol is nothing ground-breaking. Sure, they were good, but I don't think they deserve the high and mighty credit you're giving them.

southern blues rock based on women and alcohol

What a cheap and inaccurate dismissive stereotyping of their classic work.

Oh yes, Skynyrd was in fact all that and a bag of chips. Leaving fancy guitar playing aside, they had some of the greatest SONGS in the rock music tradition.

Sounds to me like Al is not all that familiar with Traffic.

Traffic studio and live albums, released while they were together:
1967   Mr. Fantasy
1968   Traffic
1969   Last Exit [live]
1969   Heaven Is in Your Mind
1970   John Barleycorn Must Die
1970   Live [live]
1971   Welcome to the Canteen [live]
1971   The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
1973   Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory
1973   Traffic: On the Road [live]
1974   When the Eagle Flies

I'd hazard a guess that I've listed more than two or three, but who knows?

Several other post-breakup albums, including two or three excellent compilations and a few more live sets, were also released.

I definitely disagree with Traffic being a waste. They produced a lot of fine, alternately jazzy and folky music over 7 years plus. I also disagree Al's statement that Rickie Lee's cover of Low Spark is superior to the original - the original rocks, the 18 minute live version on On The Road is mindboggling, and the cover blows, IMHO.

Of course, I've been a Traffic head since I was 14, so that may have something to do with my disagreement with Al.

"it is just plain STUPID that (ZZTop are) in and LYNYRD SKYNYRD are not"

Despite disagreeing about Traffic, gotta concur here, Al.

I'm with you, Tal. Can't wait to see Winwood inducted. And wow... Jim Capaldi in the HoF. Had dinner with him a few years back; what a great guy, very smart and funny, and he is *so* talented.

hey al, you know about a Prince tune called "USA"?

i saw this thing on the tube once where Prince & his group (don't know if this was pre-New Power Generation or not) were jamming on this pretty hot funk instrumental thing...then they would stop, a-la James Brown, for a few seconds...then dive back into it.

man, it was cool.

Harrison should be inducted strictly on the strength of All Things Must Pass.

I'm astounded that Seger isn't already in. This can't be his first year qualifying. Might be about 25 years since Night Moves, however.

Jackson Browne has never turned my crank, but he's written a heck of a lot of classic tunes, whether he recorded them or someone else did. I think he deserves to be in.

I missed the Dells. Can't place 'em at all.

Changing the subject a bit, are they screwing Cleveland again and having the ceremony in NYC? NYC is great and all, but last time I check the RRHOF was in Cleveland.

Thanks Al, totally agree about Prince, though I don't place him with Elvis and the Beatles interms of body of work or overall significance, but just a pubic hair below.

Dude, you have missed the boat on Traffic. Traffic was super great, unique, endlessly listenable, were an amazing jam band as well as superior songwriters - pick up the Smiling Phases 2-CD collection to recalibrate this one. Thanks Tal.

I agree with Skynyrd over ZZ Top, who ended up largely as a novelty band, and talk about all your songs sounding the same! Damn.

Also agree about Harrison solo: All Things Must Pass, isolated songs, Traveling Wilburys does not a HOF career make. He was a sentimental pick - another dead Beatle.

I also basically agree about Seger - done too much to keep him out, although I much prefer the earliest raw stuff to The Distance. Great, indelible voice, lots of killer songs, let the dude in.

Can't think of anything about the Dells other than "Oh, What a Night," which they rereleased about 15 times. They got in on longevity, were around for fucking ever, at least 30 years.

Jackson Browne, enough lasting stuff to get in, but where would he bewithout David Lindley? Nowhere my friend.

yea...Lindley should be inducted too. his guitar was all over the place on Browne, Zevon and others' records.

plus...all that polyester!

I like Lindley's "Mercury Blues" better than anything Jackson Browne ever recorded.

Lindley's solo records are definite party material.

Not that there's a whole lot to compare him to, but Chris Wood of Traffic (6/24/44 - 7/12/83) was one of the finest rock wind players ever. I miss him.

Yes, Tal, Chris Wood was an icon to this flautist. I miss him too. And you're right about Harrison's All Things Must Pass -- that alone earns him the nod. And here's to David Lindley; god, I love his work.

No way in hell should George Harrison be in as a solo artist...If making 1 oustanding album ("All Things", of course) is enough to get in then even better arguments can be made for the inclusion of the likes of Love, T-Rex, and Mott who are all far more deserving (I'm going on my own arrogant assumption that they're not already in)...I had to grow up with an "anything by a Beatle is great" sister and I can't tell you how excruciating it was to have to put up with albums like "Extra Texture" and "33 1/3" playing ad nauseum...Skynyrd is paying some kind of perplexing penalty for some unknown reason.

No love here for such classics as Pearl Necklace, Tush, Tube Snake Boogie, Legs, etc?

TD, yes, it's a good song

i think the best ZZ song is "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide".

no, wait....it's "She Loves My Automobile".

yea, that's it.

Not "Manic Mechanic"?

Craig, they have it in Cleveland about once every 5 years. They claim more often than that is "too inconvenient."

Prince, alright, the rest, well, meh, sure whatever.

The one really great thing about Prince becoming a Jehovah's Witness is that, with him buying a house in Toronto, there is a significant probability he could show up at my door to give me a copy of The Watchtower.

Sure, pal, I'll take your pamphlet, but first you gotta sign these albums.

As for the induction ceremony, why don't they just put the whole thing on a train, call it "The Mystery Train" or "Midnight Train To Georgia".

I wonder if Jehovah will give him the night off so he can attend his induction ceremony.

Al, your comment:
they had some of the greatest SONGS in the rock music tradition.

only shows that you and I must have completely different musical tastes. If you think Skynyrd is the shit in "rock music tradition," (whatever that's supposed to be) then you have some digging to do.

"'rock music tradition,' (whatever that's supposed to be) then "

You rock, P-man.

I would place "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama" as essential to the rock music tradition, but that's about it

Ditto.

Gotta add "Saturday Night Special". And "That Smell" has some sweet geetar playin'"

those are good songs, and there are more, but I don't see them as indelible

The Ballad of Curtis Loew
Needle and the Spoon
On The Hunt
Gimme Three Steps
Tuesday's Gone
Simple Man

Some of the great tunes from the Southern Rock sub-genre. If there were a Southern Rock Hall of Fame, Skynyrd would undoubtedly deserve one of about 5 spots in it. They did some really fun, drink-a-lot party music.

And they did some truly killer covers of JJ Cale tunes.

Is JJ Cale in? Probably not, since you should actually be famous before they put you in the Hall of Fame.

"fun, drink-a-lot party music"? That does not describe most of their songs. How does that describe "Free Bird" or "Simple Man" or "Saturday Night Special" or "That Smell"?

How can you get that dismissive description? That would be a reasonable description of only maybe one or two of the songs you yourself listed.

I am a big Beatles fan. So I am a little biased on George's belated selection. I'll try to brief.

His early foorays into Eastern and Electronic music( Woderwall music and Electronic Music respectively) His late 60's relationships with members of Cream, The Band, Dylan and being the catalyst for Derek and the Dominoes
were a terrific start to a unique solo career. After the monster "All Things Must Pass" (with Phil Spector) came The Concert of Bangledesh which will continue to amaze as an achievement as time goes on. Not to mention that the show gave us Dylan back. Living in the Material World gave us a uniquely spiritual and fine sounding #1 album which that is truly original. The remaster will prove it again. The Dark Hoarse Tour which was dreadful is talked about :"all" the time. His plagarism suit for "My Sweet Lord was a dramatic point in his solo career.

Great Rock stars branch out. and George did that with movies, soundtracks and different projects.
He also peppered his career with hits.

He was a pioneer with his own record label and contributed to countless projects by Badfinger, Monty Python, Carl Perkins and even Madonna.

His comeback in the late eighties to early nineties was excellent. Cloud Nine was huge and Wilbury's were legendary. Now that he's gone, The Concert for George is a fitting testament of his profound effect as an individual in Rock.

Producing movies and organizing a benefit show are nice, but irrelevant to being picked for the Hall of Fame.

He wrote some fine songs, numerous standards- but almost all of them were written and recorded as a member of the Beatles. All Things Must Pass was pretty good, but it's just one album- and it's no Pepper. It starts running pretty thin after that.

Is this a music writer? Read your Roch 101 before attempting to write music articles. Traffic are the most influential, inventive, greatest band since the Beatles. They are way past due for an induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Go back to write about college football!

Thing about the HoF, it's supposed to be honoring the greatest of the great. If all the great bands are inducted, what is the point behind it? Lynyrd Skynyrd -- great band, I think most would agree. Greatest of the greats? Time will tell, for some. Remember, just because Skynyrd didn't make it in this year or previously doesn't mean they won't be inducted in the future. And think about the future -- does anyone really think too many artists from the current generation will qualify?

That said, I would count myself amonth those who see Skynyrd as superior to ZZ Top. Don't get me wrong: I love the bearded ones. Their greatest song, IMO: "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide." I do love "Legs," but in general, I prefer pre-MTV Top.

And Jackson Browne -- definitely earned his induction. I love the thunder.

Natalie,

You rock.

I have no wish to beat a dead horse, but I fail to see how Freebird (a few simple chords and a drawn out, melodramatic guitar solo) stands out in the realm of rock n roll. I see the band as southern fried Led Zeppelin hacks with two extraneous guitar players.

I don't know, I think the greatest of the great are honored by having their music stay in the record stores year after year. I understand the HoF does other worthwhile work in preserving the history of the not-so-famous; but the whole induction thing just strikes me as more famous people patting each other on the back. Not to be a buzzkill, but I don't see the point.

Can't disagree with that. At the same time, it is cool to see folks you haven't seen in a long time receive public adulation -- especially when you believe they deserve it. And when I visited the HoF a few years back, I had an awesome time, which was most unexpected but definitely appreciated.

I have covered most of the induction ceremonies and they range from fascinating, killer parties, to bloated, forced sap-fests depending upon the inductees and the presenters. Overall it's a good thing, I think, because induction has revived careers, shone a brighter light on those out of fashion, and forces those paying attention to think about each artist as they get in, whom they wouldn't have otherwise given the time of day.

USUALLY he speaks about war, land mines, famine and disease. But yesterday, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan revealed another passion - George Harrison of the Beatles.

At a tribute dinner for the 50 years of celebrities who have served as UN goodwill ambassadors, Mr Annan said Harrison's work on behalf of Bangladesh in the 1970s was a landmark in social activism.

"George Harrison was the first to understand and use the power of rock music to motivate people to embrace causes bigger than themselves," he said. "Not only did George's sensitive and spiritual music bring profound joy and poignancy to millions of people around the world, his character, compassion, conscience and sense of common humanity compelled him to do even more than that.

"When George heard a call for help, he wanted to answer it."

Harrison, who died two years ago, is credited with staging the first major star-packed benefit concert in 1971, in New York for Bangladesh.

Mr Annan said advocacy by celebrities had multiplied "but it is hard to imagine how all this could have happened without the contribution of Harrison, or the sound of his guitar gently weeping."

Agence France-Presse

Prince in the Hall is a joke. This guy has been over hyped for too long. His contributions to music are a myth that has been manufactured by the music industry for pretty obvious reasons. He sucks.
Seger's induction makes sense. He has truly been a Rock and Roll icon. Its too bad he has to share the stage with Prince.

Not to put too fine a point on it Eugene, but you obviously wouldn't know a song from a tree stump. Beyond anything else, he's one of the most accomplished dozen or so songwriters in the rock music tradition. Or perhaps you never heard "Little Red Corvette" or "Kiss."

Lynerd Skynard should be in and the Patti Smith group as well.

1)I agree that Lynyrd Skynrd should be included
in the RRHOF.That they're not,isn't any real big surprise though. The nominee process for the HOF
has always been kinda suspect anyways. 2)Why are some of you out there in blogland always comparing
Lynyrd Skynyrd w/ Z.Z.Top? They are nothing alike.
L.S.is a Southern R 'n'R band and ZZ Top are Texas
blues rockers. 3)In defense of ZZ Top:Yeah, maybe some of their material is similar sounding,some of
it.They have(IMO)a great formula & stick with it.
Sticking with what works hasn't hurt:The Ramones,
Bo Diddley,Jimmy Reed,James Brown,Hank Williams Sr
or a host of others.It isn't as though Rock'n'Roll
is music by and for geniuses anyway.

First of all, The idea of a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is rediculous in the first place. Michael Jackson a rock and roll artist? Come on, give me a break. It seems like this hall of fame is just another politically correct manifestation of corporate showmanship. Lynyrd Skynyrd is probably one of the top 10 rock and roll acts of all time if you take out the PC Rhythm and Blues artist from the hall. When I was a kid, I liked rock and roll, and all the Pop fans hated Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, CCR, The Rolling Stones, Rush, Van Halen, Pink Floyd and the like. All the Pop fans liked Michael Jackson, Rick James, Kool and the Gang, Prince, The Bee Gees(The Saturday Night Fever songs), KC and the Sunshine Band, and all that other Soul Train type stuff. Now, All these acts are considered Rock and Roll. I doubt it! You guys need your own hall. It should be called the Pop music dance party corporate music hall of fame. It's just a matter of time until Britney Spears, 50 Cent, Clay Aiken, Snoop Dogg, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Whitney Houston, and Selena are inducted! What the hell, Lets let Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Ferrante and Teicher, Yanni, Mozart and Irving Berlin in too! Where do you draw the line?

Might I add:

1) re: Al on Traffic - Al, you have a right to an informed opinion; which means you need to remain silent on the subject of music history.

2) re. "...Let's be honest, southern blues rock based on women and alcohol is nothing ground-breaking." Let's be honest: rock and roll was originall based on women, alcohol,drugs, testosterone, and mindless rebellion. "...Ladies and gentlemen, coming down the red carpet is the renowned killer Billy the Kid--- dressed in a spiffy Ralph Lauren suit to accept his induction into the Outlaw Hall of Fame."

3) I visited the place once, and it was money and time wasted. The "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" is a gigantic, over-designed architectural monstrosity that is more of a SHRINE TO MARKETING than rock n roll. Like most contemporary 'non-profit' musuems etc, they have more space dedicated to their friggin' "gift shop/book store" than to 'rock' history.

4) Besides: what self-respecting rocker wants to be canonized by some idiotic Board of Directors based on polling the public? I hate the idea of Jim Morrison or Sex Pistols or the Ramones or Lou Reed et al dressing up in tuxedos to receive corporate-approved blessings---between commercials for Cadillacs where Led Zepplin provides the background music. ("...where's the tower, where's the gun, where's the tower, where's the gun...)

5) PRINCE - sorry, but I've never gotten Prince. I've tried. Smells like chicken --- tastes like shit. I think he might be the most over-rated artist in rock history. I hear people link him with the word GENIUS and I just don't get it.

CAVEAT: But then again, Ronald Reagan won two terms and was adored by the public as "the great communicator" ---while I thought he was a stuffed meat puppet who couldn't orate his way out of a paper bag.

Nevermind...

Just an aside:

Hey Al,

I've noticed the "filed under" categories for your entries on Blogcritics; Are there any categories that your entries DON'T FIT INTO?

Maybe you should ask the administrators to assign you a special "ALL OF THE ABOVE" key.

Just tryin' to be helpful.

Okay...

Another aside:

And I know everyone says Jim Morrison is dead...

but ya just never know.

heh.

Smells like chicken --- tastes like shit.

shark, on Prince we disagree....but THAT was funny.

Shark, On Prince: a black hole of wrongitude.

On the Rock Hall: what do you want, a shack? There is much to be gained from a visit to the Rock Hall in educational, entertainment and cultural terms.

Re voting: it is n't the public, it's a group a rock critics.

You are correct about Traffic, though.

Prince isn't an artist that would typically fit into my radar screen, but to think of some of the beautiful songs he wrote. Sure he had some serious party music going, but then there were songs (late in the 80's and early in the 90's I think) like Seven, Diamonds and Pearls, etc. that only added to the legacy of his Purple Rain era stuff. Anyway, my knowledge on Prince is lacking, but I know his impact is great.

First off...All the artists inducted (besides the Dell's) deserved it. This was a great year of induction (minus the Dells). Who the hell are the Dell's and who cares?

But, comparing Prince to the Beatles..come on try to hide your ignorance by having someone with common sense proofread your statements before you submit them. ZZ Top are a great blues band...Billy Gibbons one of the leaders of Texas fuzz blues and a personal friend of Jimi Hendrix. That's right, he used to open for the Experience when they toured Texas in 67, his band was called the "Moving Sidewalks".

Skynryd...definetly should be in there...any fan claiming Skynyrd who hasn't heard
"All I can do is Write About it"
does not know the full talent of Ronnie.

I feel sorry for any of you "critics" that cannot find inspiration and appriciation in the music of any of the previosly listed...

I'm Rick James, bitch

Rick James would fully appreciate the contributions of the Dells, bitch.