posted by Tom Lane at 3:00 AM
The great thing about Harry Belafonte's 2022 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as an Early Influence, is it brought a sorely needed look into his musical career. When one thinks of Harry Belafonte they bring up his activism more than his musical artistry. Some might even bring up his acting career before his albums. And outside of "Day-O (Banana Boat Song)", most listeners may have forgotten that he was a very successful singer.
Belafonte's 50's recordings brought a worldview to the new Folk music explosion that happened in the late 50's. Born to Jamaican parents in New York, his earliest records were his best and most true to his recording legacy. Especially on his two greatest albums, 1956's Calypso and '59's At Carnegie Hall. After the early 60's most of his studio albums covered more contemporary material. Missing was the freshness of his earliest records.
Belafonte's best post 60's moment was his involvement with USA for Africa's "We Are The World". The idea for the project started first with Belafonte seeing the success of Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas". Belafonte got Ken Kragen involved and from their the idea of charity single took off.
Regardless of how his recording career ended, Belafonte's influence and legacy was already intact. Which is why his Rock Hall induction was a pleasant reminder of all his strengths as a musician in addition to his activism.
posted by Tom Lane at 12:16 PM
April 1971. Not quite into American Top 40 at this point. My musical tastes were evolving though. Plus I'm a couple months away from moving to Mannheim, Germany after living in North Carolina for 7 years.
For this latest poll, 40 songs were picked to vote on. My own rankings are at the end of each title. Listen to this countdown at popgoldradio.com.
"What's Going On", Marvin Gaye : 1
"Help Me Make It Through The Night", Sammi Smith : 2
"Oye Como Va", Santana : 3
"Me And Bobby McGee", Janis Joplin : 4
"Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)", Temptations : 5
"Never Can Say Goodbye", Jackson 5 : 6
"Brown Sugar", Rolling Stones : 7
"Joy To The World", Three Dog Night : 8
"Wild World", Cat Stevens : 9
"What Is Life", George Harrison : 10
"One Toke Over The Line", Brewer & Shipley : 11
"I Am...I Said", Neil Diamond : 12
"She's A Lady", Tom Jones : 13
"For All We Know", Carpenters : 14
"Proud Mary", Ike & Tina Turner : 15
"Love Her Madly", Doors : 16
"Want Ads", Honey Cone : 17
"Amos Moses", Jerry Reed : 18
"One Bad Apple", Osmonds : 19
"If", Bread : 20
"(For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People", Chi-Lites : 21
"Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted", Partridge Family : 22
"Another Day", Paul McCartney : 23
"Temptation Eyes", Grass Roots : 24
"We Can Work It Out", Stevie Wonder : 25
"Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It)", Daddy Dewdrop : 26
"Timothy", Buoys : 27
"Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom)", Staple Singers : 28
"Booty Butt", Ray Charles Orchestra : 29
"Soul Power", James Brown : 30
"Bridge Over Troubled Water", Aretha Franklin : 31
"(Where Do I Begin) Love Story", Andy Williams : 32
"(I Just Want To Be) Free", Chicago : 33
"Put Your Hand In The Hand", Ocean : 34
"Stay Awhile", Bells : 35
"Friends (Making Friends For The World To See)", Elton John : 36
"Power To The People", John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band : 37
"Love's Lines, Angles And Rhymes", 5th Dimension : 38
"You're All I Need To Get By", Aretha Franklin : 39
"No Love At All", B.J. Thomas : 40
"Cried Like A Baby", Bobby Sherman : 41
| What's Going On | Marvin Gaye | 1 | |
| Help Me Make It Through The Night | Sammi Smith | 2 | |
| Oye Como Va | Santana | 3 | |
| Me And Bobby McGee | Janis Joplin | 4 | |
| Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) | Temptations | 5 | |
| Never Can Say Goodbye | Jackson 5 | 6 | |
| Brown Sugar | Rolling Stones | 7 | |
| Joy To The World | Three Dog Night | 8 | |
| Wild World | Cat Stevens | 9 | |
| What Is Life | George Harrison | 10 | |
| One Toke Over The Line | Brewer & Shipley | 11 | |
| I Am...I Said | Neil Diamond | 12 | |
| She's A Lady | Tom Jones | 13 | |
| For All We Know | Carpenters | 14 | |
| Proud Mary | Ike & Tina Turner | 15 | |
| Love Her Madly | Doors | 16 | |
| Want Ads | Honey Cone | 17 | |
| Amos Moses | Jerry Reed | 18 | |
| One Bad Apple | Osmonds | 19 | |
| If | Bread | 20 | |
| (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People | Chi-Lites | 21 | |
| Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted | Partridge Family | 22 | |
| Another Day | Paul McCartney | 23 | |
| Temptation Eyes | Grass Roots | 24 | |
| We Can Work It Out | Stevie Wonder | 25 | |
| Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It) | Daddy Dewdrop | 26 | |
| Timothy | Buoys | 27 | |
| Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom) | Staple Singers | 28 | |
| Booty Butt | Ray Charles Orchestra | 29 | |
| Soul Power | James Brown | 30 | |
| Bridge Over Troubled Water | Aretha Franklin | 31 | |
| (Where Do I Begin) Love Story | Andy Williams | 32 | |
| (I Just Want To Be) Free | Chicago | 33 | |
| Put Your Hand In The Hand | Ocean | 34 | |
| Stay Awhile | Bells | 35 | |
| Friends (Making Friends For The World To See) | Elton John | 36 | |
| Power To The People | John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band | 37 | |
| Love's Lines, Angles And Rhymes | 5th Dimension | 38 | |
| You're All I Need To Get By | Aretha Franklin | 39 | |
| No Love At All | B.J. Thomas | 40 | |
| Cried Like A Baby |
posted by Tom Lane at 9:13 AM
There are 14 nominees this year, the lowest total since 2010. But a lot of new nominees. Six first time nominees and two first year eligibles. There are six names I feel confident about. After that a potential seventh inductee is up in the air. All of my performer picks appear on the ballot for the first time, which might be a stretch, but we'll see how things play out. Never forget, voters tend to favor newly nominated names.
Inductees
Cyndi Lauper - This 80's icon never stopped recording after her hits dried up in 1989. She's one Oscar away from an EGOT. Her videos, support for humanitarian causes and the music she made in the 80's will get her in on her first try. First nomination.
George Michael - One of the biggest stars of the 80's yet to be inducted. He made the jump from the frothy Pop of Wham to more adult issues on his own. First time nominated.
Missy Elliott - Inducted as the first female rapper into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019. It seems the NomCom was just waiting for her to become eligible to make her the first female rapper to get inducted. In the past few years she's been racking up many career accolades as well. First year eligible.
Sheryl Crow - She seemed to be everywhere in 2022. A new documentary, performances at the 2022 Rock Hall Ceremony and the Kennedy Center Honors. Widely admired by many current Hall of Famers, she has a solid chance on her first nomination.
Warren Zevon - Most voters will find it hard to believe he's never been nominated. Outside of the Excitable Boy album and his one Top 40 hit, "Werewolves of London", Zevon never had much commercial success. But what he had was critical acclaim and universal love from many of his fellow musicians, both when he was alive and in the 20 years since his passing. First time nominated.
White Stripes - This is my Wild Card pick. But I'm not positive about their chances. Soundgarden, Kate Bush, New Order/Joy Division were all considered for this slot, which is my #7 pick. Jack White is a much respected figure nowadays. Let’s see if that’s enough. First year eligible
Willie Nelson - Nelson turns 90 on April 29th. The face of Outlaw Country, which I like to remind people had a big Rock & Roll following when it took off in the 70's. Nelson has also recorded with tons of people in many genres. An easy pick. First nomination.
The Rest
A Tribe Called Quest - I was wondering if they would get shelved this year for De La Soul or Outkast. Their second nomination in a row, but on a tough ballot it will be hard to break through again.
Iron Maiden - Metal acts will continue to struggle. Judas Priest are more well known with Classic Rock staples and they couldn't get the votes. I don't think Maiden will either. 2nd nomination.
Joy Division/New Order - In which the NomCom goes the way of Parliament/Funkadelic and Small Faces/Faces route. I’m curious to see if these two bands will get in on their first try when the Cure and Depeche Mode didn’t. First nomination.
Kate Bush - Here comes the biggest question mark of the ballot. Bush had a glorious Summer of 2022 thanks to Stranger Things resurrecting "Running Up That Hill" close to the top of the U.S. Charts. It's this success that has many believing she will finally get inducted after four tries. Had voting for the Hall began last Summer, I would agree, but last Summer seems so long ago. Still her chances are higher than they've ever been. Also, if she doesn't get the votes, the Hall may induct her in the Musical Excellence category. 4th nomination.
Rage Against the Machine - This is their 5th nomination between 2018-2023. The only year they missed was 2020. Because Tom Morello is on the NomCom, I wonder if it's hard not to have to pick Rage as a nominee every year. But if nom #5 doesn’t do it, then it’s time to think of another way to get them in.
Soundgarden - I was one of those who thought they would be a fyn when they first got nominated in 2020. But looking back at that ballot they were up against a bunch of classic rockers like T. Rex, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, MC5, Motorhead, Doobie Brothers. Lots of vote splitting that year. This year's ballot is more friendly towards them and a three year absence might help. 2nd nomination.
Spinners - Back on the ballot after 7 years, mostly because the death of Thom Bell last December brought their name back into the NomCom room. The good news is that they have the classic R&B lane all to themselves. There were no other female, male or R&B groups nominated this year. Also, being off the ballot for 7 years might get them to pick up a few more votes. Many won't remember the last time they were nominated. Others might have thought they were already in. This will most likely be their last chance at induction. 4th nomination.
posted by Tom Lane at 9:15 AM
posted by Tom Lane at 8:30 AM
Summer. The best time of the year when you're young. Well, for me it was. There were no year round schools when we were lived in Germany. The school calendar went from September-June (first week only). From early June until the day after Labor Day, I was free. No sports activities until August. So, what to do. Just do normal things that kids do when they are ten years old. Play with your friends, go to movies or the public pool. Radio's were everywhere I went. Here's the deal. You hang around the Military apartments where we lived and there's bound to be someone hanging around outside listening to something.
"Band On The Run", "Billy Don't Be A Hero", "Night Chicago Died", "Sundown", "Rock Your Baby", "Feel Like Makin' Love" (R. Flack), were #1's that summer. A Stevie Wonder song that only went to #16 called "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" is near the top of a list of non-#1's. Others? "Waterloo", "You Won't See Me" (A. Murray), "You Make Me Feel Brand New", "Entertainer", "Rock and Roll Heaven", "Sideshow", "Help Me", "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", all fondly remembered.
Radio was everything back then. I still had no record player. Was still a year and a half away from buying my first album (my first music purchases were albums, not singles). Summer memories play a big part in our youth. Music is an incredible part of that experience. When I hear those above songs today, I always pause for a second and am instantly taken back to a simpler, easier, innocent time. Not ready to grow up.
posted by Tom Lane at 2:30 PM
posted by Tom Lane at 4:09 PM
posted by Tom Lane at 12:52 AM
March 1973. It's all about AM Top 40 radio at this point in my young life. I'm not quite an American Top 40 fanatic yet, that would happen a year later.
For this latest poll, 40 songs were picked to vote on.
posted by Tom Lane at 2:47 PM
posted by Tom Lane at 11:40 AM
The 2023 Country Hall inductees were announced today: Patty Loveless (Modern Era), Tanya Tucker (Veterans Era), Bob McDill (Songwriter).
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 (more than 45 years ago). Modern Era (20-45 years ago). Non-Performer, Songwriter and Recording/Touring Musician categories rotate every 3 years. Also: candidates who pass away are not eligible until one year after they die.
Below are a list of artists, session musicians, songwriters, producers, etc., that are eligible from 2024 and earlier.
Al Dexter
Anne Murray
posted by Tom Lane at 8:22 AM
posted by Tom Lane at 1:01 PM
