My Top 30 Rock Hall Snubs (Updated 2022 Inductees)

  Once the Rock Hall inducted Kraftwerk and Gil Scott-Heron as Early Influences in 2021, then it was time for everybody to rethink how they believe their own Hall snubs had the best chance of induction. And if LL Cool J could be inducted as a Musical Excellence, what does this mean for other artists?

  In the past my Top 25 (now 30) snubs played along with the latest Hall rules. But those things change.  Because the Hall makes up new rules on a yearly basis.  In 2021 the Early Influence began inducting artists from the 70's. 

  For 2022, I've taken a bunch of my previous Top Artists and tried to slot them, along with new names into 3 categories.  A regular snub list and a separate list that includes probable musical excellence/early influence candidates among 60's-70's names.  At the end of those 2 lists, I've kept my pre-54 Early influence lists, but now just call it pre-60's.

  I believe there are some artists who could still get elected as performers even though they started in the 60's. And a few remain on my Top 30.  

  A reminder.  This is my own personal snub list, not who I think the Hall will induct.

Regular Snub List

1.  Spinners

2.  Rufus & Chaka Khan

3.  Kool & The Gang

4.  Dionne Warwick

5.  Smiths

6.  Barry White

7.  Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes/Teddy Pendergrass

8.  Cher

9.  George Michael

10. War

11. Monkees

12. Warren Zevon

13. Joe Cocker

14. Pointer Sisters

15. B-52's

16. Luther Vandross

17. Ashford & Simpson

18. New Order/Joy Division

19. Outkast

20. Bangles

21. Los Lobos

22. Jethro Tull

23. Sheryl Crow

24. Bad Company

25. Patti LaBelle

26. A Tribe Called Quest

27. Carpenters

28. Soundgarden

29. Devo

30. Beck

Musical Excellence/Early Influence 60's/70's Snubs

1.  Glen Campbell

2.  Gram Parsons

3.  Joe Tex

4.  Loretta Lynn

5.  Marvelettes

6.  Mary Wells

7.  MC5

8.  Merle Haggard

9.  Meters/Neville Brothers

10.  Neil Sedaka

11.  New York Dolls

12.  Tom Jones

13.  Willie Nelson

Early Influence Era (Pre-1960) Snubs

Big Mama Thornton
Billy Ward & The Dominoes
Carter Family
Chuck Willis
Clovers

Ella Fitzgerald

Patsy Cline

Son House

Wynonie Harris

Playlist for 5/22

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Unlimited Love

Jon Batiste - We Are (Deluxe)

Esperanza Spalding - Songwrights Apothecary Lab

Ron Carter - Skyline

Bonnie Raitt - Just Like That

Lucius - Second Nature

Arooj Aftab - Vulture Prince

Black Coffee - Subconsciously

Superchunk - Wild Loneliness

American Song Contest (TV Series) 

Eurovision 2022

Billboard 2022 Music Awards

Top 20 Daft Punk Songs (Poll)

The latest poll I voted in was on Daft Punk.  The helmet wearing French duo who updated Dance music for the post-Disco crowd with their mix of electronica, funk and catchy pop hooks.  Just as they began to crossover to mainstream success they broke up.   

One of the rules of the poll was being able to include side projects.  And to vote on our 3 favorite DP albums. 

1.  One More Time

2.  Get Lucky

3.  Around The World

4.  Music Sounds Better With You (Stardust)

5.  Da Funk

6.  Something About Us

7.  Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

8.  Digital Love

9.  So Much Love To Give (Together)

10.  I Feel It Coming (w/Weeknd)

11.  Voyager

12.  Derezzed

13.  Robot Rock

14.  Starboy (w/Weeknd)

15.  Veridis Quo

16.  Lose Yourself To Dance

17.  Touch It/Technologic (Alive 2007)

18.  Human After All

19.  End Of Line

20.  Instant Crush

Top 3 Albums

1. Discovery

2. Random Access Memories

3. Homework

Music List A Month (May): When I Die: Songs For My Funeral

 Alright, I admit the theme of this month's list is a little alarming.  No, I'm not dying, but I did turn 58 on May 5th.  And after two years of dealing with a world-wide pandemic, and seeing how quickly life can end, thinking about my own mortality is not that far-fetched. 

 This is actually a topic I've thought about for many years.  What would my family write about me in a newspaper obituary?  I've jokingly told them to include two things above all else:  "He was an Elvis Presley fan.  And a die-hard New York Jets fan."  As long as those are there, I'll be happy wherever I end up after death.

 I'm sure many people have seen social media posts on this month's topic.  "What song do you want played at your funeral"?  I've also told my family that only one act should be played.  Of course, Elvis Presley.  But what song?  I've mentioned that it could be a terrible song from one of his forgettable 60's movies, or it could be a classic.  

Thanks to the invention of the Internet, our social media footprints will (hopefully) outlive us all.  I'm sure a family member is checking out my blog and have come across this post.  So, below I'm listing a few songs that my son, friends and especially my wife, will all bring back memories of, well, me.  And, also, of our times together.  These songs will instantly be recognizable to them.  I hope it makes them smile.  And that would be fine by me.

Elvis Presley - Do The Clam

Elvis Presley - If I Can Dream

Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds

Elvis Presley - Yoga Is As Yoga Does

Gregory Abbott - Shake You Down

Manhattans - Kiss and Say Goodbye

Stevie Wonder - You and I

Stylistics - You Make Me Feel Brand New

Tom Cochrane - Life Is A Highway

Missing From The Country Music Hall of Fame (Updated 2022 Inductees)

The 2022 Country Hall inductees were announced today: Keith Whitley (Modern Era), Jerry Lee Lewis (Veterans Era),  Joe Galante (Non-Performer).

The process to get into the Country Hall is explained here (as of 2012).  In short: One act is chosen from 3 categories every year: Veterans Era (45 years after achieving "national prominence").  Modern Era (20 years after achieving "national prominence").   Non-Performer, Songwriter and Recording/Touring Musician categories rotate every 3 years. Also: candidates are not eligible for one year after they pass away. 

Below are a list of artists, session musicians, songwriters, producers, etc., that have yet to be inducted as of 2022.

Al Dexter

Anita Kerr

Anne Murray 

Asleep At The Wheel

Billy Joe Shaver

Bob McDill

Bob Moore

Brad Paisley
Buddy Emmons
Buddy Killen
Carson Robison
Carter Sisters

Charlie Chase
Charlie Rich

Chet Flippo

Chicks
Clint Black
Crystal Gayle
Curly Putnam
Dallas Frazier

Don Rich
Doug Sahm
Dwight Yoakam

Earl Thomas Conley
Eddie Rabbitt

Faith Hill
Flatlanders (Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely, Butch Hancock)
Freddy Fender
Garth Fundis
Gary Stewart
Gene Watson
Gram Parsons
Guy Clark
Hank Garland

Irving Waugh

Jeannie Seely
Jerry Douglas
Jerry Jeff Walker

Jim Owens
Jimmy Capps
Jimmy Martin
John Anderson
John Hughey
Johnny Horton
Johnny Paycheck

Johnny Rodriguez
June Carter Cash

Keith Urban
Kenny Chesney

Larry Gatlin

LeAnn Rimes 
Lesley Riddle
Linda Martell
Linda Ronstadt
Lloyd Green

Lorianne Crook 

Lorrie Morgan

Lucinda Williams
Lynn Anderson
Maddox Brothers and Rose
Mark O'Connor
Martina McBride
Mickey Gilley
Milton Brown

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Nudie Cohn
Patty Loveless
Ralph Mooney

Reggie Young

Robert K. Oermann
Rodney Crowell
Rosanne Cash

Shania Twain

Skeeter Davis
Stanley Brothers
Steve Earle

Stoney Cooper
Tanya Tucker
Tim McGraw
Toby Keith
Tompall Glaser & the Glaser Brothers
Tony Brown
Townes Van Zandt
Travis Tritt
Trisha Yearwood
Vern Gosdin
Wilburn Brothers

Wilma Lee

Playlist for 5/14

Punch Brothers - Hell On Church Street

Ian Noe - River Fools & Mountain Saints

Erin Rae - Lighten Up

Maren Morris - Humble Quest

Molly Tuttle - Crooked Tree

Elizabeth Cotten - Freight Train

Weezer - SZNZ: Spring

Jack White - Fear Of The Dawn

Waylon Jennings - Man Called Hoss

Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (Documentary)

RIP the Ipod

 I wrote the below post in September 2014, when Apple announced it was discontinuing the Ipod Classic. Now 8 years later, Apple has announced that they are discontinuing all of their Ipods.  

Apple announced 2 weeks ago it was discontinuing the Ipod Classic.  I still have mine.  A 20GB one that holds just under 4000 songs.  What I have on it are the cream of my music collection.  In other words, the best Elvis Presley songs, not all Elvis Presley songs.

But while I still played the Ipod, I didn't use it as often.  In fact, I rarely took any songs off it.  The last time I made a major change on it was 3 years ago. 

The Ipod came out in October 2001, and I think I bought mine for Christmas.  Remember the Ipod Mini?  Yeah, I had one of those as well, but sold it years ago.  With Iphones able to do what the Ipod could do, Apple didn't see a need to keep it around.

But I'll never get rid of mine.  It's still a thrill to hit the old Shuffle Songs option and be amazed at what's going to come up.  That's what made the Ipod the legend it was.  Some people made Playlists, but I never did.  It was all about the Shuffle.

There were some sad posts about the death of the IClassic.  But mine is still alive.  Still handy whenever I need a fix.  4000 songs strong.  Just waitin' to be shuffled.

Top Music Videos Of All Time Poll (More Personal Picks)

Last month I posted about a poll that I participated in about my favorite music videos.  There were 961 videos submitted to vote for, in which the voter chose between 5 and 50.  This was a poll that required the voter to only pick from those 961 nominees.  I missed the deadline for nominees, so a bunch of my favorite videos didn't make the cut.  Below are some videos I probably would've included in my Top 50 had they been nominated.

Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way

Bangles - If She Knew What She Wants

Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer

Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star

Clash - London Calling

Duran Duran - Rio

Foreigner - Waiting For A Girl Like You

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - Message

Johnny Cash - Hurt

Lonely Island - Dick In A Box

Madness - One Step Beyond

Madonna - Borderline

Martina McBride - Independence Day

Merle Haggard & Willie Nelson - Pancho & Lefty

Michael Jackson - Beat It

Michael Nesmith - Cruisin'

Miranda Lambert - Kerosene

Smiths - Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before

Squeeze - Tempted

Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It

Tracy Chapman - Fast Car

Van Halen - Jump

Wham - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

Whitesnake - Here I Go Again

Whitney Houston - How Will I Know

XTC - Dear God

Best Mother's Day Songs

When most people think of Mother's Day songs, sentimentality usually wins out.  I've got a few of those listed below, but also some that avoid the teardrops.
                                                                                                                                             
Anthony Hamilton - Mama Knew Love
Beatles - Julia
Bill Anderson - Mama Sang A Song
Boyz II Men - Song For Mama
Bruce Springsteen - Wish
Carrie Underwood - Mama's Song
Dolly Parton - Coat Of Many Colors
Electric Light Orchestra - Mama
Elvis Presley - Mama Liked The Roses
Gerry Rafferty - Mary Skeffington
Gregory Porter - Mother's Song
Intruders - I'll Always Love My Mama
Jamie O'Neal - Somebody's Hero
Judds - Mama He's Crazy
John Lennon - Mother
Junior - Mama Used To Say
Lefty Frizzell - Mom and Dad's Waltz
Lenny Kravitz - Thinking Of You
Linda Ronstadt - Sweetest Gift
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man
Merle Haggard - Mama Tried
Miracles - Shop Around
Miranda Lambert - Mama's Broken Heart
Outkast - She's Alive
Paul Simon - Loves Me Like A Rock
Pink Floyd - Mother
Randy Travis - Angels
Ruth Brown - Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean
Shirelles - Mama Said
Sizzla - Thank U Mamma
2Pac - Dear Mama
Spinners - Sadie
Sufjan Stevens - Fourth Of July
Taylor Swift - Best Day

Playlist for 5/6

For Love & Country (2022 Documentary)

Beth Hart - Tribute to Led Zeppelin

Ray Wylie Hubbard - Co-Starring Too

Linda Lindas - Growing Up

Hailey Whitters - Raised

Charli XCX - Crash

Rosalia - Motomami

Michael Buble - Higher

2022 Rock Hall Inductee Podcast (Guest Appearance)

You want to know my thoughts on the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee class? 

I was a guest on Nick Bambach's Rock In Retrospect podcast with 5 other excellent Hall experts.

A must listen for all Rock Hall followers.