Personal Picks: 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

   Below are my Personal picks for the 2025 Rock Hall, listed in alphabetical order.  Most of the 14 nominees could get a "Yes" vote from me in other years.

8/14 are first time nominees.

5 are 2nd time nominees. 

One nominee is a 3 time nominee.

Two acts are back from last year (Mariah Carey, Oasis)

Only 4 women nominated. 

All 4 women are return nominees. 

No new female nominees this year. 

I really think the nomcom wants the 2 solo women inducted. 

Only 2 R&B acts nominated. 

No first year eligibles nominated. 

If you like 90’s music, this ballot will make you happy. 7 of these acts first hit big in that decade. 

With each of my picks, I recommend some of their best recordings.

Reminder: voters can pick up to 7 acts.  

Again, these are my Personal picks, not predictions. 

Top 7

Bad Company - Thanks to the muscular vocals of Paul Rodgers they were one of my favorite rock bands of the 70's.  All praise to Free, too.  First nomination.

1.  Bad Company

2.  Very Best of 

Billy Idol - Decades removed from his MTV peak in the 80's, his best songs still sound good away from the visuals.  First nomination.

1.  Rebel Yell

2.  Greatest Hits

Cyndi Lauper -  An empowering, inspirational voice who inspired many followers.  2nd nomination.

1. She's So Unusual

2. Essential 

Joe Cocker - One of the most distinctive, soulful vocalists of his era.  I saw him open for Tom Petty in 2005 and he put on a tight 45 minute crowd-pleasing set.  First nomination.

1.  Mad Dogs and Englishmen

2.  Ultimate Collection

Mariah Carey - We all know she can sing, but she can also write a good song. Inducted into the Songwriters Hall in 2022.  2nd nomination

1.  Emancipation of Mimi

2.  Essential

Outkast - The best rap act of the late 90's/00's.  Rap blended with Southern Soul & Funk.  First nomination. 

1.  Stankonia

2.  Big Boi and Dre Present Outkast

White Stripes - Jack & Meg White blended Blues and Garage Rock into their own original sound for the 21st Century. 2nd nomination

1.  Elephant

2.  Greatest Hits

The Rest

Black Crowes - first nomination

Chubby Checker - first nomination

Joy Division/New Order - 2nd nomination

Mana - first nomination

Oasis - 2nd nomination

Phish - first nomination

Soundgarden - 3rd nomination

Playlist for 4/2

Sly Lives (2025 Sly Stone Documentary)

Sly Stone Songbook - Various (Ace)

Opry 100 (TV Special)

Anders Osborne - Picasso's Villa

Lilly Hiatt - Forever

Yacht Soul 78-84 - Paul Clifford Radio Show

Ruthie Foster - Mileage

Taj Mahal - Swingin' Live at the Church in Tulsa

Not Inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame (Updated 2025 Inductees)

The 2025 Country Hall inductees were announced today:  Kenny Chesney (Modern Era),  June Carter Cash  (Veterans Era),  Tony Brown (Non-Performer).

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 45 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 2025.

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 Chesnutt
Jerry Douglas
Jerry Jeff Walker

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

Johnny Rodriguez

Keith Urban

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

Moon Mullican

Paul Franklin

Ralph Mooney

Reggie Young

Rodney Crowell
Rosanne Cash

Shania Twain

Skeeter Davis
Stanley Brothers

Tim McGraw
Townes Van Zandt
Travis Tritt
Trisha Yearwood
Vern Gosdin

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

Playlist for 3/15

Neko Case - Ultimate (Playlist)

Rose -  Rosie

Fontaines D.C. -Romance

Larkin Poe - Bloom 

FKA twigs - Eusexua

Colonel Jubilation - Moldy Goldies

Van Morrison -  Van The Man

Poll: February 1985 Songs

   The latest poll of songs I voted on was for February 1985, a big year for the CHR format.  Top 40 ruled the days during those times.  35 songs were voted on this time. 

You can hear this countdown at: 

popradiogold.com

"I Want To Know What Love Is", Foreigner : 1
"The Boys Of Summer", Don Henley : 2
"Careless Whisper", Wham! featuring George Michael : 3
"Easy Lover", Philip Bailey (with Phil Collins) : 4
"Lovergirl", Teena Marie : 5
"Misled", Kool & the Gang : 6
"Can't Fight This Feeling", REO Speedwagon : 7
"Solid", Ashford & Simpson : 8
"Run To You", Bryan Adams : 9
"Material Girl", Madonna : 10
"Missing You", Diana Ross : 11
"Jungle Love", The Time : 12
"Born In The U.S.A.", Bruce Springsteen : 13
"Foolish Heart", Steve Perry : 14
"Loverboy", Billy Ocean : 15
"Like A Virgin", Madonna : 16
"Method Of Modern Love", Daryl Hall & John Oates : 17
"The Old Man Down The Road", John Fogerty : 18
"Private Dancer", Tina Turner : 19
"Do What You Do", Jermaine Jackson : 20
"Mr. Telephone Man", New Edition : 21
"Love Light In Flight", Stevie Wonder : 22
"Neutron Dance", Pointer Sisters : 23
"You're The Inspiration", Chicago : 24
"I Would Die 4 U", Prince & the Revolution : 25
"The Heat Is On", Glenn Frey : 26
"Operator", Midnight Star : 27
"Sugar Walls", Sheena Easton : 28
"Too Late For Goodbyes", Julian Lennon : 29
"Sea Of Love", Honeydrippers (Robert Plant) : 30
"Jamie", Ray Parker, Jr. : 31
"All I Need", Jack Wagner : 32
"California Girls", David Lee Roth : 33
"Call To The Heart", Giuffria : 34
"Yo' Little Brother", Nolan Thomas : 35

Ranking: Songs from Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark (1974)

With 1974's Court and Spark Joni Mitchell landed her biggest selling album.  Peaking at #2, no doubt aided by her biggest single, the #7 "Help Me".  It was the success of that song that turned me on to the rest of the album.  But not until I was out of high school.  "Help Me" became known to me thanks to my frequent listening of American Top 40, while I lived in Germany (Army brats unite).  That song and its followup, the #22 charting "Free Man In Paris" latched onto my 10 year old brain during the Spring and Summer of 1974.  But it wasn't until the early 80's when I started buying more albums did I finally hear the whole thing.  And while some love Blue, I always land on Court and Spark as my favorite Joni record. While this was he jazziest album up until 1974, the success of the album was how enough Pop hooks made their way into the mix.  Joni would never reach the sales heights of this album, or have another Top 10 single again.  But in 1974 she was due for a Pop breakthrough, similar to what happened to Neil Young with Harvest. 

1.  Help Me

2.  Free Man In Paris

3.  Court and Spark

4.  Raised on Robbery

5.  Down to You

6.  Car On A Hill

7.  Just Like This Train

8.  Same Situation

9.  People's Parties

10.  Trouble Child

11.  Twisted

Playlist for 3/1

Franz Ferdinand - Human Fear 

Ringo Starr - Look Up

Innocence Mission - Midwenter Swimmers

Vijay Iyer - Compassion

Patricia Brennan - Breaking Stretch

Brenton Wood - 18 Best

Lucinda Williams = Sings the Beatles from Abbey Road

Yola- My Way 

SNL50: Anniversary Special 

90’s Boy Band Boom (Documentary)