The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have announced their nominations for 2010 inductees. According to their website, “Five of the twelve nominees will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. To be eligible for nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an act must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. This year’s nominees had to release their first single no later than 1984.”
While I don’t agree with The Sex Pistols’ assessment that the “Hall of Fame is a piss stain,” I, and many others, have questioned many of the inclusions and exclusions made over the years. Ever since the first class in 1986 inducted artists like James Brown and Ray Charles, it was obvious the voters weren’t restricting themselves to players of rock and roll, but rather people who impacted popular music. Not everyone can be as talented and unique as Aretha Franklin or The Beatles, so some artists have gotten in just for being involved with hit songs. However, a Hall of Fame should be reserved for the truly great and historic or else there’s no reason for it. Might as well just have a list with every musician on it.
The 2010 nominees are listed below, but some wouldn’t make it to the El Bicho Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:
ABBA – the Swedish pop group had a great number of pop hits around the world in the 1970s, but I don’t know a single person who owns an album that isn’t a greatest hits package. More than welcome in the Pop Music Hall of Fame.
The Chantels – while I appreciate they were one of the first black girl groups, their output was limited and I bet you nine out of ten people can’t name any of their singles off the top of their head.
Jimmy Cliff – I am surprised he isn’t listed as an influence, but I am fine with Jimmy, whose work on the soundtrack to The Harder They Come brought reggae to the world. No Jimmy Cliff, possibly no induction for The Police.
Article comments
1 - Donald Gibson
My 5 Inductees (of the ones which were nominated):
KISS: Other bands did what they do first, but like the bad kids in school who get special attention, KISS caused the bigger ruckus. It's also hard to argue against the KISS Army.
The Stooges: The idea that the Hall would invite this group to sing in tribute to Madonna's induction last year and not induct them this year would be particularly rotten. Give Iggy & his pals their rightful honor.
Donna Summer: She should have been inducted a long time ago. Her label as the Queen of Disco severely undercuts her talents as a vocalist and songwriter. Incidentally, I really want to see the all-star jam of Summer & Iggy Pop performing "Hot Stuff."
The Hollies: I was actually surprised that they weren't already in the HoF. "Long Cool Woman..." was badass. That wasn't all they did, though. "Bus Stop," "Carrie Anne" [Graham Nash's secret tribute to Marianne Faithful], "Just One Look," "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," and many others. They were fantastic, particularly early on.
Laura Nyro: Another one I was surprised to learn isn't already in there. "Wedding Bell Blues," "Stoned Soul Picnic," "And When I Die." Brilliant songwriter, even in death she still doesn't get the recognition she deserves.
2 - Jordan Richardson
Darlene Love? Seriously?
3 - Steve Rocker
Donna Summer is NOT Rock & Roll in the least!
4 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Still no Iron Maiden?!
It's so easy to have an issue with what a small group that has no one to answer to decides who has made a significant impact on the evolution, development and perpetuation of rock. IMO,It leaves the door wide open to interpretation without significant guidelines.
Kinda like the MPAA...
5 - Dyrkness
Pete Townshend, an influence on punk rock? How so?
6 - Greg Barbrick
Bicho,
I find it funny that we are even taking this stuff at all seriously, because the whole thing is about as out to lunch as the Grammys.
Still and all, it is kind of fun. My idea is that they go for legacy with The Hollies first. Then Jimmy Cliff appears as a (token) historical diversity.
Genesis and Kiss represent good old commerciality.
And Iggy ends the event, giving the sad state of affairs his seal of approval.
Another great night in Jann Wenner's house.
7 - JC Mosquito
It's been noted that when punk rock was going on in the late 70s, bands like the Pistols reviled the big, commercially successful rockers liek Led Zeppelin as dinosaurs. There really were only two successful mainstream bands in England that punks liked: Mott the Hoople and The Who. The song Who Are You is about Pete running into the Pistols at a pub.
8 - Glen Boyd
If you listen to early Who, it definitely predates punk. Paul Weller and The Jam pretty much modeled themselves after the Who, to name one punk -era band obviously inspired by them.
As for the Rock Hall, i think The Stooges and the Hollies are both good, solid choices. KISS is also probably worthy (although Alice Cooper should be in there before they are). If they are finally gonna start recognizing prog-bands in the hall, Gabriel-era Genesis is as good a place to start as any.
Much as I love ABBA (major guilty pleasure of mine), I'm not so sure an institution which purports to celebrate rock and roll is the proper place for them. LL Cool J is definitely a rap pioneer, but I'd have probably gone first with the Beastie Boys as this year's token rap act.
My $.02
-Glen
9 - rob r
"Donna Summer is NOT Rock and Roll in the least." Obviously this reader is only familiar with her 14 top ten hits and not her catalogue. She was the first women to win a grammy for Rock Vocal Female for Hot Stuff. Rolling Stone cited her LP The Wanderer as the 2nd best Rock Album of 1980 after Springsteen's The River. Why is it that Rock and Roll folks no nothing about artists they consider a different genre? Listen to The Wanderer or I'm a Rainbow. That stuff will knock you out.
10 - El Bicho
Sorry, but I don't see what The Hollies have done that makes them rise above. Just a small handful of hits doesn't cut it in my book.
Brian is absolutely right that Maiden belongs in.
Drykness, two words: "My Generation". 'Nuff said.
Greg, did I really come across as serious?
Glen, the Beasties can wait. There's enough white guys who ripped off black guys in the Hall and I'm not so sure an institution which purports to celebrate rock and roll is the proper place for some of the people already inducted
11 - Charles Crossley, Jr.
Sorry, El Bicho, but if you can't see your way around Ray Charles and James Brown being in a R&RHoF, then you need to throw out the guy who popularized "rock & roll" in the first place, Alan Freed. When disc jockey Alan Freed first started using that term to describe the music he played on his broadcasts, he was playing what at the time was called "race music", or what would now be called doo wop and early R&B. Every artist inducted as a performer in the R&RHoF, and every nominee on the ballot this year, is musically related to the rock & roll Alan Freed played way back then.
Besides, if it were truly a Pop Music Hall of Fame, Ethel Berman and Mel Torme would be among the initial group of nominees, and we would be looking at nominees like Air Supply and Harry Connick, Jr. . . .
12 - Bri Guy
Wow! This years inductees are really lame!
13 - El Bicho
Charles, I don't believe I stated Ray And James don't belong in the hall. I said they didn't play rock 'n' roll.
14 - Dave
"A handfull of hits" from the Hollies? Try something like 20 top 10's... they were a hit machine till Nash left - and actually had several after that as well.
15 - GEAH
The Hollies " Sorry, but no. Any band could have created “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress.”
* *
Only a moron could have written that sentence.
16 - El Bicho
Glad that members of the the Hollies fan club showed up.
They only had six Top Ten hits on the US Hot 100 charts, which is actually nothing like 20, and I am sure no one noticed you didn't bother to limit yourself to Top Five or Number One Singles.
Feel free to make a case on what contribution they made to rock 'n' roll because plenty of people create a bunch of good songs. Or you can just name call like a moron.
17 - Jimmie
Donna Summer IS rock and roll. Of course, you'd have to be a fan to know that.
18 - Marcelo
Most of Donna Summer's music is not technically rock, but she had a rock attitude, she was sexy, bold and innovative and she's still influential up to this day. Rock artists such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Blondie have covered her songs.
19 - Jet Gardner
Donna Summer made millions off of her gay following and then became "born-again" and shat in their faces on shows like the 700 Club trying to convince them to change their evil ways after taking their money.
Disco has no business in the ROCK hall of fame. maybe the POP hall of fame but not the Rock. Or don't any of you remember the celebrations after disco was officially declared dead.
I'll never forgive what she did to Richard Harris's classic Mac Arthur Park.
20 - Lance
No Alice Cooper? How can you deny someone who has had hits in 4 decades and has been an influence on everyone from Kiss to Marilyn Manson...cheez
21 - lanny
The Hollies had huge hits in almost every country in the world. even in U,S. where they were underatted they had several hits including: Bus Stop, Stop, Stop, Stop, LCW, CarrieAnn,On A Carousel, Look through any Window, Jennifer Eccels, Pay You Back with interest, He Aint Heavy he,s my Brother (one of the all time greatest songs) Air that I Breathe. Anyone who dosnt think they should be in the hall of fame should think again.
22 - Joe
WHERE IS CHICAGO!
23 - DAN DEFRANG
the hollies were one of the top great bands in the 60s and 70s,the air that i breathe will always be in my memory,and yes anybody can write long cool women in a black dress but only the hollies cand play it,and play it right