Playlist for 3/23

Lost Bayou Ramblers & Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra - Live Orpheum Theater NOLA

Russell Thompkins Jr. - Riding Solo

Millie Jackson - On The Country Side

Jack Harlow - Jackman

Bill Orcutt - Music for Four Guitars 

We Can Work It Out: Covers of the Beatles 62-66 - Various (Strawberry)

Not Inducted Into Country Music Hall of Fame (Updated 2024 Inductees)

The 2024 Country Hall inductees were announced today:  Toby Keith (Modern Era),  John Anderson (Veterans Era),  James Burton (Session/Touring Musician).

Voting process is described below: (credit: Saving Country Music)

The Country Music Hall of Fame inductees are selected through a committee process appointed by the Country Music Association (CMA). The selection process has been split up into three categories:

1) Modern Era – Eligible for induction 20 years after they first achieve “national prominence.” 2) Veterans Era – Eligible for induction 40 years after they first achieve “national prominence.” 3) Non-Performer, Songwriter, and Recording and/or Touring Musician active prior to 1980 – Rotates every 3 years. If there is a tie in voting in any category, two names can be selected, as we saw in 2021.

Below are a list of artists, session musicians, songwriters, producers, etc., that are eligible as of 2024.

Al Dexter

Asleep At The Wheel

Billy Joe Shaver

Blake Shelton

Bob Moore

Brad Paisley
Buddy Emmons
Buddy Killen
Carter Sisters

Charlie Rich

Chicks (Dixie Chicks)

Clint Black
Crystal Gayle
Curly Putnam
Dallas Frazier

Don Rich
Doug Sahm
Dwight Yoakam

Earl Thomas Conley
Eddie Rabbitt

Faith Hill
Freddy Fender
Garth Fundis
Gary Stewart
Gene Watson
Gram Parsons
Guy Clark
Hank Garland

Jeannie Seely
Jerry Douglas
Jerry Jeff Walker

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

Johnny Rodriguez
June Carter Cash

Keith Urban
Kenny Chesney

Larry Gatlin

Lesley Riddle
Linda Martell
Linda Ronstadt
Lloyd Green

Lorrie Morgan

Lynn Anderson
Maddox Brothers and Rose
Mark O'Connor
Martina McBride
Mickey Gilley

Miranda Lambert
Milton Brown

Paul Franklin

Ralph Mooney

Reggie Young

Rodney Crowell
Rosanne Cash

Shania Twain

Skeeter Davis
Stanley Brothers

Tim McGraw
Tony Brown
Townes Van Zandt
Travis Tritt
Trisha Yearwood
Vern Gosdin

For more on the Country Music Hall check out Future Country Legends

Playlist for 3/16

Sarah Jarosz - Polaroid Lovers

Paranoid Style - Interrogator

Willi Carlisle - Critterland

James Talley - Bandits, Ballads and Blues

Laufey - Bewitched

Nicole Zuraitis - How Love Begins

Joan Baez: I Am A Noise (Documentary)

Remembering My Mom 10 Years Later

  What I miss was the first thing that came to mind when I thought about writing a remembrance on the 10th anniversary of my Mom's passing.  But the list would be too long.  Still there's her home cooking (especially the German dishes),  those homemade German Christmas cookies, her laughter and just always being there when her family needed someone.  But thinking about it further I realized that these were all the things I missed about her.  What did my Mom want throughout the last years of her life?  And did I do enough for her?  Could I have been a better son? 

  Magdalena Lane was born on October 18th, 1929, in Munich, Germany.  She spent her teen years with the backdrop of World War II allied planes bombing Munich.  Her family took shelter when sirens warned of incoming planes. In 1958 she met my Dad, Thomas R. Lane.  He was in Munich on assignment as a member of the Army.  They were married on July 30, 1958.  It was a marriage that would last 49 years. Their retirement years were spent making numerous trips to Germany. My Mom was a proud Munchen lady. 

  But the good retirement life took a turn in 2007 when my Dad was diagnosed with esophagus cancer.  Which would eventually take his life in February 2008.  While my Mom had friends living close to her that she visited almost daily, those happened in daytime.  I believe the nights were the hardest thing for her to get through.  For decades she spent quiet evenings in the living room with my Dad.  Reading, watching TV.  Suddenly, that was gone.  Though we made it a weekly (sometimes bi-weekly) thing to have lunch together, she often appeared to be lonely. 

  A year before she died my Mom told me that she would sometimes drive to the beach by herself and just sit in the car parking lot, facing the beach, watching the world. I didn't think much of this at the time.  But I should have.  I realize now she was telling me how empty her life had become. We often take companionship for granted.  What happens when you have such a special bond with someone that nothing else is a substitute for that connection? My parents were inseparable.

  In the last years of her life the cruelty of cancer took its toll. She died on March 14th, 2014 at the age of 84. At her grave I always make sure to say I love her and I'm sorry if I ever let her down.  She is with my Dad at a Veterans cemetery. On the day she was laid to rest those solitary nights were gone forever.  

RIP Eric Carmen

  The Raspberries were my favorite power pop group.  But first, what is power pop?  Bill Holdship wrote this in a review of a 2005 reunion show:  "merging the Who's power chords with the Beach Boys' sweet melodies and vocal harmonies and delivering it all with a decidedly Beatlesque rhythm and feel".

I'd say that pretty much sums it up. So, no knock on other greats of the 70's like Badfinger, Cheap Trick or Big Star, but the Raspberries stuck out for me. But up until the very early 80's I'd only heard two of their songs: 1972's "Go All The Way", their biggest hit and '74's "Overnight Sensation", their second biggest hit. Those got played more on Casey Kasem's AT40 the most and that was my format of choice throughout the 70's.

It took Robert Christgau's Consumer Guide of 70's Albums book to hook me for life on the Raspberries. His review of their 1976 Greatest Hits album plus their 1974 album, Starting Over, both received a grade of A-. I had to seek them out. And what a revelation. Hooks, melodies, harmonies all squashed together in a sound that was missing from Top 40 radio.

Eric Carmen wrote all of the Raspberries biggest hits. He had a knack as Bill Holdship's quote says of finding the right mix of The Who/Beach Boys/Beatles hookiest parts and adding some early 70's sheen. From 72-74 the Raspberries knocked out four concise slices of perfect power pop. Records that were mostly overlooked at the time but hugely influential. Just ask Bruce Springsteen or Steven Van Zandt. Carmen wasn't the only part of the group. The rest of the band contributed solid songs too. My favorite being bassist Scott McCarl's "Rose Coloured Glasses".

But bigger success eluded the band. And Carmen went solo in 1975 releasing his self-titled debut album in later that year. It was a bigger success commercially than any album the Raspberries released. The first single, "All By Myself" sounding unlike anything the band released. A ballad using a classical piece. It went to #2 in the U.S., becoming a much covered standard.

Carmen's solo career didn't abandon his power pop roots. But the hits he had until the late 80's were mostly courting the MOR format. And oddly two of his best uptempo efforts, "That's Rock'N' Roll" (#3 1977) and "Hey Deanie" (#7 '77) weren't hits for Carmen but teen idol Shaun Cassidy. "Hungry Eyes", the nostalgic "Make Me Lose Control", which turned out to be his last hit in 1988. Carmen rarely recorded after the 80's ended. But he did stage some reunion concerts with the Raspberries in the early 00's.

The Raspberries were based on the nostalgic sounds of the 60's. And the sounds they invoked still sound fresh in 2024.

Recommended Recordings

The four studio albums the Raspberries released in the 70's

Raspberries Greatest

Eric Carmen - s/t (1975)

Essential Eric Carmen

Playlist for 3/9

Green Day - Saviors

Brittney Spencer - My Stupid Life

Lizzie No - Halfsies

Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope

Now 89 - Various (U.S. Edition)

Cocteau Twins - Head Over Heels

Thomas Jefferson Kaye - First Grade

Mary Halvorson - Cloudward

Poll: February 1988 Songs

February 1988.  Two months away from getting married. Talk about your life changer. 

For this latest poll 37 songs were picked to vote on. Here are my rankings.  Listen to this countdown at popgoldradio.com

"Push It", Salt-N-Pepa : 1
"What Have I Done To Deserve This?", Pet Shop Boys (& Dusty Springfield) : 2
"Need You Tonight", INXS : 3
"Never Gonna Give You Up", Rick Astley : 4
"Father Figure", George Michael : 5
"Tunnel Of Love", Bruce Springsteen : 6
"I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man", Prince : 7
"I Want Her", Keith Sweat : 8
"Pump Up The Volume", M/A/R/R/S : 9
"Faith", George Michael : 10
"Hazy Shade Of Winter", Bangles : 11
"Everywhere", Fleetwood Mac : 12
"I Want To Be Your Man", Roger : 13
"Man In The Mirror", Michael Jackson : 14
"Shake Your Love", Debbie Gibson : 15
"I Found Someone", Cher : 16
"Don't Shed A Tear", Paul Carrack : 17
"The Way You Make Me Feel", Michael Jackson : 18
"Got My Mind Set On You", George Harrison : 19
"Love Overboard", Gladys Knight & the Pips : 20
"Tell It To My Heart", Taylor Dayne : 21
"Seasons Change", Expose : 22
"Hungry Eyes", Eric Carmen : 23
"She's Like The Wind", Patrick Swayze (featuring Wendy Fraser) : 24
"I Get Weak", Belinda Carlisle : 25
"Endless Summer Nights", Richard Marx : 26
"Is This Love", Whitesnake : 27
"Candle In The Wind (live in Australia)", Elton John : 28
"Can't Stay Away From You", Gloria Estefan & the Miami Sound Machine : 29
"Say You Will", Foreigner : 30
"I Live For Your Love", Natalie Cole : 31
"Could've Been", Tiffany : 32
"Just Like Paradise", David Lee Roth : 33
"So Emotional", Whitney Houston : 34
"Because Of You", Cover Girls : 35
"Out Of The Blue", Debbie Gibson : 36
"Pop Goes The World", Men Without Hats : 37

Playlist for 2/27

T. L. Barrett - Like A Ship 

Jimmy Buffett - Living & Dying In 3/4 Time

Red Clay Strays - Moment of Truth

Larkin Poe - Blood Harmony

Oxford American Ballads Winter Music Issue #123 - Various 

Written In Their Soul: Stax Songwriter Demos - Various (Box Set)

Pushin' Too Hard American Garage Punk 64-67 - Various (Cherry Red Box Set)

Playlist for 2/19

Brittany Howard - What Now

Grandaddy - Blu Wav

Usher - Coming Home

Green Day - Saviors

Charles Wesley Godwin - Family Ties

Amanda Fields - What, When and Without 

Lankum - False Lankum

June (2023 June Carter Cash Documentary)

Greatest Night In Pop (2024 We Are The World Documentary) 

Poll: January 1965 Songs

 January 1965.  I'm 8 months old.  But I count three songs that would turn out to be my favorite songs ever by the artists who recorded them. 

For this latest poll 44 songs were picked to vote on. Listen to this countdown at popgoldradio.com.

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", Righteous Brothers : 1
"My Girl", Temptations : 2
"All Day And All Of The Night", Kinks : 3
"Goin' Out Of My Head", Little Anthony & the Imperials : 4
"I Feel Fine", Beatles : 5
"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", Marvin Gaye : 6
"She's Not There", Zombies : 7
"Come See About Me", Supremes : 8
"Amen", Impressions : 9
"Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow The Sun)", Del Shannon : 10
"Hold What You've Got", Joe Tex : 11
"Downtown", Petula Clark : 12
"She's A Woman", Beatles : 13
"I'm Into Something Good", Herman's Hermits : 14
"The Boy From New York City", Ad Libs : 15
"Heart Of Stone", Rolling Stones : 16
"I Go To Pieces", Peter & Gordon : 17
"Mr. Lonely", Bobby Vinton : 18
"The Jerk", Larks : 19
"This Diamond Ring", Gary Lewis & the Playboys : 20
"Time Is On My Side", Rolling Stones : 21
"Any Way You Want It", Dave Clark Five : 22
"Love Potion Number Nine", Searchers : 23
"Mountain Of Love", Johnny Rivers : 24
"Tell Her No", Zombies : 25
"Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye)", Four Seasons : 26
"Shake", Sam Cooke : 27
"Give Him A Great Big Kiss", Shangri-Las : 28
"Sha-La-La", Manfred Mann : 29
"Ringo", Lorne Greene : 30
"Too Many Fish In The Sea", Marvelettes : 31
"Let's Lock The Door (And Throw Away The Key)", Jay & the Americans : 32
"The Name Game", Shirley Ellis : 33
"The Wedding", Julie Rogers : 34
"Leader Of The Laundromat", Detergents : 35
"I'll Be There", Gerry & the Pacemakers : 36
"Dear Heart", Andy Williams : 37
"Whenever A Teenager Cries", Reparata & the Delrons : 38
"Dear Heart", Jack Jones : 39
"It's Alright", Adam Faith & the Roulettes : 40
"Don't Forget I Still Love You", Bobbi Martin : 41
"Thou Shalt Not Steal", Dick & Dee Dee : 42
"Willow Weep For Me", Chad & Jeremy : 43
"My Love, Forgive Me (Amore Scumsami)", Robert Goulet : 44

My Latest Appearance on the Rock in Retrospect Podcast (2024 Rock Hall Nominees Reaction)

 Check out my latest appearance on Nick Bambach's Rock in Retrospect podcast.  This time I was on with 3 other guests to discuss the 2024 Rock Hall nominees.  

Rock in Retrospect 2024 Rock Hall Nominee Discussion

Goodbye to My Rolling Stone Magazine Subscription

   My Rolling Stone magazine subscription expired this month.  And I didn't renew it.  Before you shrug your shoulders, I should point out that I'd been a subscriber since May 1979.  The 5/3/79 issue had Richard Pryor on the cover.  I bought it and then got a subscription. I was 15 years old.  But already becoming the music junkie I am today.  For 45 years I kept renewing it.  Before that 1979 issue I either bought random issues or read them at bookstores or libraries.  The year I subscribed, the magazine was at a peak.  Here in the U.S. it's still the most popular music magazine ever.  Even though Jann Wenner has been kicked to the curb nowadays, you can't deny that Rolling Stone was a must read at one point.  But things changed when it went monthly in July 2018.  The cutback from a bi-weekly had to do with declining sales and more importantly the internet.  

  There's no denying that the Rolling Stone had an influence on my tastes in music in my teens.  Its reviews, articles and the acts it championed definitely shaped my listening and buying habits. 

  I might have renewed were it not for the high renewal rates.  $99 for a 12 month magazine? And no digital access?  That's an easy pass for me.  The magazine itself is not bad.  But so short of articles and reviews that it would only take me minutes to skim through.  It seemed that what was in the magazine, despite the digital paywall,  could eventually be found for free online.  Why am I paying $99 a year for something that was easily accessed elsewhere?   The first magazine I ever subscribed to was Billboard.  I was 13 years old.  But a chart junkie at an early age.  And I kept a subscription with that until the late 90's.  Nowadays the magazine is a shell of its former glory.  Hardly any charts in it.  Mostly profiles of artists or music industry types.  

  In case anyone is wondering I still subscribe to print magazines.  The best are the UK ones like Record Collector, Mojo and Uncut.  In the U.S. I'm still onboard with Goldmine, Beatlefan, Shindig, Big Takeover, Ugly Things, No Depression, Endless Summer Quarterly. But that list used to be a lot longer.  Like I said earlier, then the Internet came along and so many print music mags disappeared and went online only.

  So, it's goodbye to Rolling Stone.  When I see people posting pictures of past covers I feel nostalgic.  But as someone once sang, "those days are gone forever". 

RIP Henry Fambrough

  Henry Fambrough was the last original member of the Spinners, one of the greatest R&B vocal groups ever.  He died at the age of 85, but happily lived long enough to see the Spinners finally inducted into the Rock Hall in November 2023.  

  As many who read this blog know I'm a huge Spinners fan.  Was pushing hard for them to get into the Rock Hall last year.  Ecstatic that they got in and even more happy that Henry and John Edwards, who joined the group in 1977, was also able to attend.

  The Spinners were a perfect vocal group that after years of laboring on the Motown label finally hit it big in 1972.  Part of that success was getting Thom Bell, who was a hot Producer in 1972 to work with them on their records.  He produced their classic hits in the 70's and even co-wrote many of their hits.  

  

  Henry didn't get to sing lead very often, but when he did his smooth baritone was a reassuring listen.  His best moment was on 1975's Old School classic "I Don't Want To Lose You" a wonderful ballad that still gets played on many Quiet Storm stations.  His biggest hit as a co-vocalist (with the incredible Philippe Wynne) was on "Ghetto Child" from 1973.  The song peaked at #29 Pop and #4 on the R&B chart. 

  After co-lead singer Bobby Smith died in 2013, Fambrough became the last living original member of the group.  He kept performing with the newest members until early 2023.  Fambrough always expressed his hope that the Spinners would be inducted into the Rock Hall and in 2023 they finally made it.  Along with John Edwards, Fambrough was in attendence at the ceremony in November 2023.  

With Henry's passing the Golden Age of R&B Vocal Groups has lost another special individual. 

Playlist for 2/3

Turnpike Troubadours - A Cat In The Rain 

Vincent Neil Emerson - Golden Crystal Kingdom

Rita Wilson - Duets

Bella White - Among Other Things

P.J. Proby - Presley Style

Gabe Lee - Drink the River

James Brandon Lewis - For Mahalia, With Love

Poll: December 1977 Songs

 December 1977.  First year in Junior High.  Not listening to AM radio as much, thanks to local Top 40 stations now simulcasting on both the FM/AM dials. 

 For this latest poll 38 songs were picked to vote on. Listen to this countdown at popgoldradio.com.

"How Deep Is Your Love", Bee Gees : 1
"Baby Come Back", Player : 2
"(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again", L.T.D. : 3
"Sentimental Lady", Bob Welch : 4
"Isn't It Time", Babys : 5
"Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue", Crystal Gayle : 6
"Here You Come Again", Dolly Parton : 7
"Just The Way You Are", Billy Joel : 8
"Turn To Stone", Electric Light Orchestra : 9
"Hey Deanie", Shaun Cassidy : 10
"Boogie Nights", Heatwave : 11
"You Make Loving Fun", Fleetwood Mac : 12
"We Just Disagree", Dave Mason : 13
"Come Sail Away", Styx : 14
"Baby, What A Big Surprise", Chicago : 15
"Your Smiling Face", James Taylor : 16
"We Are The Champions", Queen : 17
"Slip Slidin' Away", Paul Simon : 18
"We're All Alone", Rita Coolidge : 19
"Just Remember I Love You", Firefall : 20
"Nobody Does It Better", Carly Simon : 21
"Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)", Chic : 22
"Send In The Clowns", Judy Collins : 23
"Blue Bayou", Linda Ronstadt : 24
"It's So Easy", Linda Ronstadt : 25
"It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me", Barry White : 26
"You're In My Heart (The Final Acclaim)", Rod Stewart : 27
"Native New Yorker", Odyssey : 28
"Short People", Randy Newman : 29
"You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On)", High Inergy : 30
"Help Is On Its Way", Little River Band : 31
"Swingtown", Steve Miller Band : 32
"Point Of Know Return", Kansas : 33
"She's Not There", Santana : 34
"Gone Too Far", England Dan & John Ford Coley : 35
"You Light Up My Life", Debby Boone : 36
"Heaven On The 7th Floor", Paul Nicholas : 37
"Runaround Sue", Leif Garrett : 38

Playlist for 1/24

Tanner Adell - Buckle Bunny

Peter Gabriel - i/o

Raye - My 21st Century Blues

Renee Rapp - Snow Angel

Chappell Roan - Rise and Fall of A Midwest Princess 

Howdy Glenn - I Can Almost See Houston

William Prince - Stand In The Joy

Not Inducted In The Songwriters Hall of Fame (2024 Inductees Updated)

The 2024 Songwriters Hall Inductees have been announced: R.E.M. and Steely Dan in the Performers category.  Dean Pitchford, Hillary Lindsey and Timbaland in the Non-Performer category.

Who qualifies for a nomination? This from the Song Hall: "A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first significant commercial release of a song". Apparently, inducted songwriters are required to appear at the induction ceremony to get their award.  Those not able to attend can defer their induction to a later date. 

Here's my list of songwriters not inducted as of 2024: 

Alicia Keys

B.B. King
Bert Berns

Beyonce
Billy Joe Shaver
Bo Diddley
Bob McDill
Bobby Womack
Bonnie Raitt

Bootsy Collins 
Boz Scaggs
Bryan Adams
Bryan Ferry
Carl Perkins

Chips Moman
Chrissie Hynde
Chuck Willis

Clash (Joe Strummer/Mick Jones)
Curly Putnam
Dallas Frazier
Dan Fogelberg
Dan Penn
David Gates
Dean Dillon
Debbie Harry/Chris Stein
Dion DiMucci
Donna Summer/Giorgio Moroder/Pete Bellotte

Doobie Brothers
Doors
Dwight Yoakam

George Clinton
George Harrison
George Michael
Guy Clark
Harry Nilsson
Harry Wayne Casey

Heart
J.J. Cale
Janet Jackson
Jerry Chesnut
Jerry Fuller
Jimi Hendrix

Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Cliff

Joe South
John Hiatt

John Legend
John D. Loudermilk
Kate Bush
Kenny Loggins
Led Zeppelin
Lefty Frizzell

Lindsey Buckingham/Stevie Nicks/Christine McVie

Lou Reed
Lucinda Williams
Luther Vandross
Madonna
Mark Knopfler
Mary J. Blige

Matraca Berg
Max D. Barnes

Mike Chapman/Nicky Chinn
Mike Love
Morrissey/Johnny Marr
Muddy Waters
Neil Young
Nick Lowe
Outkast
Pam Sawyer
Paul Overstreet
Percy Mayfield
Pete Townshend
Peter Gabriel 
P.F. Sloan & Steve Barri
Phil Ochs

Pink
Prince
Randy Goodrum
Ric Ocasek
Richard Thompson
Robbie Robertson
Robert "Mutt" Lange
Rod Stewart
Rod Temperton
Rodney Crowell
Roger Miller
Roger Waters/David Gilmour
Rosanne Cash

Ryan Tedder
Rudy Toombs
Sandy Linzer/Denny Randell

Shania Twain
Shel Silverstein
Sheryl Crow
Sly Stone
Sonny Throckmorton
Spooner Oldham
Steve Earle
Steve Perry/Neal Schon/Jonathan Cain
Steve Winwood
Talking Heads
Tim Hardin

Todd Rundgren
Tom Waits
Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart
Tony Macaulay
Tony Joe White

Toots Hibbert
Townes Van Zandt
Tracy Chapman
U2
Vince Gill
Warren Zevon
Waylon Jennings
Whitey Shafer
William Bell

2024 Rock Hall Nominee Predictions

  There are no surefire first year eligibles, so the 2024 Nominee ballot should be filled with previous and first time nominees.  The Hall usually nominates between 15-17 acts a year. Although they  have gone as high as 19 but last year there were only 14 nominees. 

  This will be an interesting Hall ballot. Jann Wenner’s dismissal exposed the Hall’s lack of diversity among its inductees. Will the 2024 ballot be affected by all of this? That’s the big question confronting those of us making predictions. 

  For 2024 I'm predicting 15 nominees.

B-52's - These New Wave pioneers are long overdue for a nomination.  Still in the news regarding a final tour, an induction would bring a much needed boost of humor, camp and party vibes to the Hall.  No previous nominations. 

Cher - A huge icon that has amazingly never been nominated. Cher seemed to be everywhere in the last 3 months of 2023 promoting her Christmas album and the 25th anniversary of "Believe".  I don't think the NomCom will care that Cher has been saying she doesn't care about getting inducted.. 

Cyndi Lauper - Of the 2023 nominees not to get inducted, Lauper's was the most surprising.  My guess is she was close enough to get her back on the ballot.  One previous nomination. 

Dave Matthews Band - The 2020 fan vote winner hasn't been able to get a second nomination.  Matthews was busy in 2023 though.  A new album, tour plus another appearance as an inductor at last years Rock Hall ceremony. Take all that and 2024 seems like his best chance for a second nomination. 

Dionne Warwick - Off the ballot last year after 2 consecutive nominations.  I still think she will get in soon, either in the performer category or the Musical Excellence one. Two previous nominations. 

Jimmy Buffett - Buffett's death last year spurred a deeper look at his influence on Country and Rock music.  I feel safe in saying that his influence on Country music was deeper than on Rock music.  Never nominated before, 2024 now seems like his best chance at an induction. No previous nominations. 

Kool & The Gang - How is that one of the Founders of Funk turned 80's crossover hit machine can't get on a ballot?  And 2024 is their 60th anniversary too. A Songwriters Hall inductee in 2018.  Now, sadly down to one original member.  Paging Questlove.  No previous nominations.. . 

Mariah Carey - When? That’s the only question most are asking regarding a possible first nomination. 

Outkast - We all know how bad the NomCom wants A Tribe Called Quest inducted.  But after 2 successive nominations, maybe it's time to switch things up and give a group that might be an FYN a chance. Andre 3000 was back in the music news last year with an instrumental album.  No previous nominations. 

Queen Latifah - The induction of Missy Elliott has many wondering who will be the next female rap act to get a nomination.  You can't go wrong with either Latifah or Salt-N-Pepa. She also inducted Missy last year too.  No previous nominations.  

Sinead O'Connor - As usually happens when someone dies, a reappraisal of their career happens.  And O'Connor's career definitely needed a new look.  I'm betting the NomCom sees how influential she was. No previous nomination.  

Soundgarden - - Back in 2020 Motorhead, Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, MC5, T. Rex and Soundgarden were all on the same ballot. A dream ballot for Metal/Hard Rock/Classic Rock fans.  But, alas, only T. Rex got voted in that year. With Judas Priest receiving a Musical Excellence nod in 2022. With RATM finally off the ballot, Soundgarden might be able to pick up some extra votes. This would be Soundgarden’s 3rd nomination. 

Tracy Chapman - Just as Kate Bush had a catalog song find new from its placement in a hit TV show, so did Tracy Chapman thanks to Luke Combs’ Country crossover cover of “Fast Car”. Chapman’s  career has gotten a reappraisal thanks to all this newfound publicity. Maybe enough for a first nomination. 

Warren Zevon - A surprise nominee last year that thrilled many baby boomers. John Sykes said on a radio show after the inductees were announced that Zevon did well on last years ballot.  Good. enough for a second nomination?  One previous nomination. 

White Stripes - Count me as one of those surprised that they were not an FYE last year.  I just thought Jack White had made enough musical peers to go in. So, let's see what happens on a second nom. One previous nomination. 

Other Possible Nominees: A Tribe Called Quest, Coldplay, Devo, Iron Maiden,  Jane’s Addiction, John Prine, Lenny Kravitz, Los Lobos, Mary J. Blige, Peter Frampton, Replacements, Salt-N-Pepa, Snoop Dogg, War

Playlist for 1/15

Johnny Bush - Texas Dance Hall Girl

Wanda Jackson - Country Keepsakes

Skeeter Davis - Hillbilly Singer 

Robbie Williams (2023 Netflix Documentary) 

Del Lords - Frontier Days

Todd Snider - Crank It, We're Doomed

Willie Nelson & Family (2023 Documentary) 

Willie Nelson’s  90th Birthday Celebration (TV Special)

My Latest Appearance on Rock In Retrospect Podcast

 Check out my latest appearance, with 5 other folks, on Nick Bambach's Rock In Retrospect podcast.  We spent nearly 2 hours talking about potential 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees. 

2024 Rock Hall Nominees Draft