Jerry Lee Lewis to Van Morrison, a Rock Hall Critique

It is a wonder that the piano of Jerry Lee Lewis survived Jerry’s constant barrage of pounding fury with his hands, arms, and feet. The piano stool was often sent soaring and did not fare as well. His Whole Lotta Shaking, Breathless, Great Balls of Fire, and High School Confidential were among the fastest songs ever made or at least they sure sounded that way. Jerry was rock ‘n roll, but he was abandoned by his audience when word of his marriage to his 13 year-old cousin was published. How could he reach the charts again? The solution, country music.

Little Willie John was a talented R & B performer, but he does not belong in the hall. Although John’s Fever was better than Peggy Lee’s, it was sung to a greater rock effect by Rick Derringer’s early band, the McCoys. Ya Ya was later covered by John Lennon.

Lovin' Spoonful's legacy in rock was tainted when guitarist Zal Yanovsky and bassist Steve Boone had to turn in their source to avoid jail time in a 1967 California marijuana bust. This did not sit well with their hippie followers. The Spoonful belong in the hall because of their Summer in the City, Do You Believe in Magic, and Nashville Cats. Lead singer John Sebastian had a solo hit with Welcome Back, the theme from Welcome Back Kotter.

Mamas and the Papas belong in the hall because of their great harmonies and their role in making California the hippie capital of the world. Sure their songs Monday, Monday, I Saw Her Again Last Night, and California Dreamin’ are sunnier than typical rock, but the harmonies influenced bands such as Crosby, Stills, and Nash to unite and the electrification of their folk based songs gave credence to a movement that included the Byrds and Bob Dylan. Papa John Phillips wrote "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair) for Scott McKenzie, a former band mate in John’s previous band the Journeymen. Phillips wanted the Monterrey International Pop Festival that he was sponsoring to be peaceful. The festival launched the careers of Jimi Hendrix (where he set his guitar on fire), Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding (His introduction to white audiences). The Who smashed their instruments prior to Hendrix’s pyrotechnical display. The festival brought hippies to Haight Ashbury to stay.

Bob Marley was reggae's first international star. He brought his music to the rock world when Eric Clapton recorded his I Shot the Sheriff its influence was solidified. Bob belongs in the hall as does Jimmy Cliff. Bob’s image has become an icon of suffrage in Jamaica.

Martha and the Vandellas' music was infectious pop much like Katrina and the Waves Walking on Sunshine. They are remembered for Dancing in the Street, Nowhere to Run, and Heat Wave. Their entry may have been solidified when Van Halen and Mick Jagger and David Bowie covered Heat Wave.

Curtis Mayfield deserves his membership due to the tone of the content and the toughened up guitar of his 70’s post Impressions tunes Freddy’s Dead and Superfly. In 1990, he became paralyzed from the neck down when a lighting rig fell on top of him at a concert in Brooklyn. He died in 1999.

Sir Paul McCartney deserves his membership for his post Beatles, 70’s material. Paul continued to write his share of cutesy songs. There was Uncle Albert/ Admiral Halsey, Junior’s Farm, Magneto and Titanium Man, and Venus and Mars Rock Show. And there was the all out jams of Hi, Hi, Hi, Jet, and Live and Let Die (Perhaps the best James Bond song ever despite the fact that it contains the word “in” 3 times in one line). Band on the Run and Wings Over America were great albums too. Unfortunately the 80’s and 90’s material, the Girl is Mine (with Michael Jackson), Take it Away, Ebony and Ivory (with Stevie Wonder), and Spys Like Us, did not hold up as well.

Clyde McPhatter is best known for A Lover’s Question and Lover Please. His induction is not warranted. Before becoming a solo pop star he was the leader of the Dominoes and the Drifters.

Joni Mitchell proved that a woman performing folk based rock could be a success. Her music was a bit watered down, and one could argue that based on Joni’s induction, Carly Simon should join her. Joni’s live Big Yellow Taxi is quite catchy. Help Me was her biggest hit.

The Moonglows are too saccharine to merit their membership in the hall. Their lone top 20 hit Sincerely became a country hit for the Forrester Sisters in the 80’s. Leader Harvey Fuqua was later behind successes of the Spinners, Sylvester, and Marvin Gaye.

Van Morrison first hit the scene as a member of Them with the original Gloria and Here Comes the Night. Morrison’s induction comes as no surprise as he can sing virtually any type of music. Brown-eyed Girl, Moon Dance, and Jackie Wilson Says I’m in Heaven When You Smile are each a different style of rock. You can find jazz, R and B, Irish Mysticism, mainstream, and loads of different influences in Van’s rock songs.