Personal Picks: 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Kudos to John Sykes in his first year as Rock Hall Chairman, for steering the NomCom to their most female-centric ballot ever.  7/16 women nominated, the most ever.  Should have been more. But I will give a thumbs up to this year's ballot with the hope that next year the trend continues.  Now the tough part.  Getting more than a couple women inducted.  A reminder of my all-Women ballots that appeared in 2020 and 2019.  Also,  this is the most racially diverse ballot in over a decade.

Below are my Personal picks, listed in alphabetical order.  Most of the 16 nominees could get a Yes vote from me in other years.

Can only vote for 5, which has always been an impossible task.  The Hall usually inducts 6, but in 2019 inducted 7, so they could do that again.  As I do every year, I added two bonus picks after my Top 5.

With each of my 7 picks, I recommend some of their best recordings.

Again, these are my Personal choices, not predictions.  

Top 5

Carole King - Yes, she's in with Gerry Goffin (1990) as a non-performer.  But that's selling her influence short.  Tapestry is a landmark album.  And she had other hits afterwards.  2nd nomination (last in 1989).

1. Tapestry

2. Legendary Demos

3. Essential 

Chaka Khan
No other way to say this: but Chaka Khan has one of the most powerful voices you'll ever hear.  And with and without Rufus she put out a bunch of classic hits.  (7th nomination: 4 w/Rufus, 3 as solo)

1.  Very Best of Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
2.  Best of Chaka Khan (solo)
3.  Rufus featuring Chaka Khan

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.  First time nominated. 

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

2. Definitive Collection

3. Here I Am 

Go-Go's - Some of the best New Wave Pop/Rock of the 80's.  An inspiration to many future female singers and bands.  First nomination. 

1. Beauty and the Beat

2. Talk Show

3. Greatest

Tina Turner - No, being in with Ike (1991) is not enough.  Tina pulled off music's greatest comeback.  First solo nomination. 

1. Private Dancer

2. What's Love Got To Do With It (album)

3. All the Best

Bonus Picks 

LL Cool J - My all-time favorite male rapper.  Now on his 6th nomination. 

 
1.  Mama Said Knock You Out
2.  All World: Greatest Hits

3.  MTV Unplugged 1991 Performance of "Mama Said Knock You Out"  

                                               

New York Dolls - Their 2nd nomination, but first in 20 years. Punk Rock pioneers who mixed in glam-rock, Stones/Faces era Rock.  Their first two albums are indeed classics.

1. New York Dolls

2. In Too Much Too Soon

3. One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This

The Rest

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.  2nd nomination. 

Fela Kuti - Afro-Pop pioneer and an exciting performer whose catalog is one of the biggest of all the performers nominated.  Go explore and be amazed.  First nomination.

Foo Fighters - No. 

Iron Maiden -  True story.  And let this be a lesson to anyone who might think they know an artist by only listening to a couple of their records.  I have a friend who plays in a metal band.  One day we were talking about a magazine article on Iron Maiden.  He's a fan, but I was always lukewarm about them. I like Judas Priest more, a group whose catalog I've kept up with over the years.  He asked me what I've heard from Iron Maiden.  I said their self-titled debut, Killers, Number of the Beast and a compilation.  He said I bailed out to early on them. So, he suggested a few more albums from the 80's-2010's.  And over time I began hearing them differently.  Nope, it's never too late to learn about an artist who you might have dismissed outright.  First nomination.

Jay-Z - I almost respect his business savvy even more than his music. But no denying he was a major musical force.  First 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.  An inspiration to many female alternative singers.  2nd nomination.

Mary J. Blige - A surprise pick, considering Mariah Carey has never been nominated.  Blige is at the point in her career where it's time to look back on her influence.  First nomination.

Rage Against the Machine - Never really warmed to their revolution.  Like Tom Morello's post-RATM years better.   3rd nomination.

Todd Rundgren - Now on his 3rd nomination in a row. If the voters don't want him, then he would be a perfect Musical Excellence pick.