Personal Picks: 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Below are my Personal picks, listed in alphabetical order.  Most of the 17 nominees could get a "Yes" vote from me in other years.

Only able to vote for 5, which has always been an impossible task.  The Hall usually inducts 6, but in 2021 inducted 7, by inserting nominee LL Cool J into the Musical Excellence category.  Also, there were 7 inductees in 2019 on a ballot of 15.  

With each of my picks, I recommend some of their best recordings. Last year there were 16 nominations and I chose 2 extra picks.  This year I follow the same formula with 17 names.  

Again, these are my Personal picks, not predictions. 

Update: I posted this after Dolly made her announcement to be removed from the ballot.  But I decided not to make any changes. 

Top 5

Dionne Warwick - Her glorious run of 1960's hits with Bacharach/David (who should be in as Songwriters) was one of Pop music's most classic pairings ever.  The other reason I'm rooting for her induction?  Her first #1 hit, in 1974, was with my beloved Spinners.  2nd nomination.  

1. Her All-Time Greatest Hits (1962-70)

2. Definitive Collection

3. Here I Am 

Dolly Parton - A Country icon who is known throughout the world.  And has been embraced by artists from all genres.  1st nomination

1.  Coat Of Many Colors

2.  Jolene

3.  Essential

Duran Duran  - Could they have made it without MTV?  Maybe, but then again, they helped put MTV on the map in the 80's.  1st nomination. 

1.  Duran Duran - s/t

2.  Rio

3.  Greatest

Eurythmics - Annie Lennox & Dave Stewart crafted some of the most soulful New Wave hits of the 80's.  Lennox was not only a great vocalist, but a trailblazer in her videos and concerts too. 2nd nomination

1.  Sweet Dreams 

2.  Be Yourself Tonight

3.  Ultimate Collection

Lionel Richie - Unfortunately for the rest of the Commodores (who definitely should have already been inducted), Lionel's solo career was bigger. Also unfortunate. A Lionel induction pretty much ends their chances at induction.  Still, hard for me to separate most of his solo material from his Commodores years.  1st nomination. 

1.  Can't Slow Down

2.  Lionel Richie - s/t

3.  Definitive Collection (solo + Commodores)

Bonus Picks                             

Carly Simon - One of the quintessential 70's singer/songwriters who also had hits in the 80's.  1st nomination.

1.  No Secrets

2.  Anticipation

3.  Reflections: Greatest Hits

Pat Benatar  - Powerful singer that produced MTV-friendly hits from the late 70's through the 80's.  2nd nomination.

1. Greatest Hits
2. In The Heat of the Night
3. Crimes of Passion

The Rest

A Tribe Called Quest - If the gangsta rap of the 90's turned you off, then this group, along with De La Soul, was one of the acts to champion.  Cool samples, smart lyrics.   1st nomination.

Beck -  Your post 90’s version of David Bowie.  A chameleon who always keeps you guessing from album to album.  1st nomination.

Devo - They had the look and the sound that was just perfect for the burgeoning New Wave/Music Video movement of the late 70's/early 80's.  3nd nomination. 

Eminem - Outside of "Stan" and "Lose Yourself",  I've never had any use for his homophobia and misogyny. 1st nomination.

Fela Kuti - Afrobeat pioneer and an exciting performer whose catalog is one of the biggest of all the performers nominated.   2nd nomination.

Judas Priest - Like I did with Iron Maiden last year, on the advise of a Metal friend, I went back into their catalog and found a bunch of worthy deep cuts.  3rd nomination. 

Kate Bush - Bush's catalog dating back to the late 70's has only grown in stature. Even if she's better known in England than in the U.S.  3rd nomination.

MC5 - In light of World events, their records sound as relevant today as they did 50+ years ago.  6th nomination. 

New York Dolls - Punk pioneers who mixed in glam with Stones era Rock.  3rd nomination.

Rage Against the Machine - Never really warmed to their revolution.  I like Tom Morello's post-RATM years better.   4th nomination.