From Isaac Hayes to Jefferson Airplane - Rock Hall of Fame Critique

Isaac Hayes is cool. He has a rock attitude, but his music is not rock. He has soul classics like his extended cover of By The Time I Get To Phoenix and who could forget Shaft? Isaac’s voice is as close to Barry White as you get in music. Isaac should be in the Songwriters Hall of Fame for his co-written songs such as Soul Man.

Jimi Hendrix copped the psychedelic look from his first producer Arthur Lee who later fronted Love. There have been many imitators of Hendrix, but their has not been anyone since that innovated as many guitar techniques. Jimi was only Top 40 once with his number 20 hit cover of Bob Dylan’s All Along the Watchtower. Hendrix’s version impressed Dylan so much that Bob started playing his own tune Hendrix style. Jimi’s covers of Like a Rolling Stone, Johnny B. Goode, and Red House are outstanding. You like loud guitar, a touch of the psychedelic, and blues-rock, buy Hendrix’s first three albums. (My favorite is Axis Bold As Love). You will find Purple Haze, Foxy Lady, Manic Depression, Bold As Love, Castles Are Made of Sand, Voodoo Chile, Room Full of Mirrors, and all the smash hits on these albums. Hendrix should have a room named after him in the hall.

Buddy Holly and his horned rimmed glasses belting out pretty little pretty little Peggy Sue foreshadowed the garage, new wave, punk, grunge attitude and music that would materialize over the next few decades. Buddy didn’t care how he looked. He just wanted to rock the best he could, and he did on Oh Boy, That’ll Be the Day, Rave On and Peggy Sue. Buddy showed his soft side on Raining in My Heart and Everyday. Buddy should be immortalized.

John Lee Hooker was a bluesman that was also a rocker. Hooker’s Boom Boom has more punch than most rock jams. Hooker even recorded albums with Canned Heat and toured with them. He later recorded albums with Bonnie Raitt and Van Morrison. His selection was warranted.

The Impressions tend to be a mellow band, but they deserve their membership. Their song People Get Ready has been covered by many including Vanilla Fudge, Jeff Beck with Rod Stewart, and the Chambers Brothers. Their For Your Precious Love with Jerry Butler influenced Elvis Presley, B.J. Thomas, and the Righteous Brothers. They evolved into a no nonsense soul band with Curtis Mayfield on Amen, Keep on Pushing, and It’s Alright. Recently they have toured and recorded with Eric Clapton.

The Isley Brothers should be inducted for their frat classic Shout Parts 1 and 2 alone. The Beatles covered twist and Shout. Their later soul based rock tended to include Hendrix influenced guitar solos as in That Lady Part 1.

If the Jackson Five deserve an induction then the Osmonds do as well. Their songs tend to age better than Michael’s solo material. ABC was their cartoon theme, later an Alpha-Bits Cereal theme, and more recently for the network ABC. I Want You Back and I’ll Be There are pop classics that actually sound sincere. Later the Jacksons recorded State of Shock with the Rolling Stones.

Michael Jackson's induction into the rock hall may be because he had Eddie Van Halen play on Beat It, or Vincent Price on Thriller. Michael heard Vincent’s narrative on Alice Cooper’s Thriller and imitated it. If Michael deserved his induction then Alice Cooper most certainly does. One can plainly see that the hall is just a popularity contest otherwise.

Etta James had 9 hits that reached the lower levels of the Top 40, mostly during the era when Elvis was in the army and the Beatles had not arrived. She had a booming voice, but was not a rock artist. Her biggest hit was the number 23 Tell Mama.

Jefferson Airplane oozed rock and roll. They had the psychedelic leanings of White Rabbit, Somebody to Love, and the Ballad of You, Me, and Pooh Neil. They were radically, political in Volunteers. The band’s Kanter, Balin and Slick harmonized together in a style that influenced many including the 80’s X. They played Woodstock, and their performance at Altamont is documented in Gimme shelter.