More Rock Hall of Fame Debates

Bob and George


The Drifters perform beach music that many people enjoy shagging (not the Austin Powers definition) to. On the banks of South Carolina a young lady is shagging with her boyfriend to the band’s Under the Boardwalk or its sound-alike Sand in My Shoes. The Drifters wrote other beach classics like Up on the Roof and Save the Last Dance for Me. Their music is infectious and their concerts are fun. There are many chances to see this band, because there are many Drifters bands that have no relationship to the original line-up. I whole-heartedly endorse the Drifters as Beach Music Hall of Fame members, but I do not consider beach music rock music. Pop music, yes, but not rock music.

Bob Dylan is a genius. Whether if you like his voice or not, he is the best storyteller in rock. His tunes Like a Rolling Stone, Stuck Inside of Memphis with the Mobile Blues Again, and the Grooms Still Waiting at the Alter rock as hard as anyone. Bob made J. Edgar Hoover nervous too. Many have tried to be the next Dylan, but they can’t even tie the laces of his shoes.

The Eagles defined the California mellow rock sound of the 70’s with Peaceful Easy Feeling, Take it Easy, and Ol’ ’55. As the decade passed, they rocked out a bit more with Hotel California. They inspired many bands and their members had other great successes.

Earth, Wind & Fire are a great pop band, but I do not consider them a rock band, and I feel they should not be in the hall. I do enjoy the Way of the World, Shining Star, and September. I do not care for their cover Of the Beatle’s Got to Get You into My Life. I would prefer to see Jimmy Cliff in the hall.

Duane Eddy had 15 top 40 instrumental hits between 1958 and 1963 and is most famous for Rebel Rouser. He played a guitar that easily recognizable. He played on B. J. Thomas’s Rock and Roll Lullabye as well. A better instrumentalist choice would be Dick Dale or the Ventures.

Elvis Costello and the Attractions was part of the new wave punk scene of the late 70’s and early 80’s The band always got great reviews. Elvis shocked many people when he recorded songs like A Good Year for the Roses for an all country album, Almost Blue. Elvis’s best album was Spike inspired by Spike Jones. Spike contained instrumentation found rarely on rock records. The album inspired many people including Aimee Mann who co-wrote The Other End of the Telescope with Elvis.

One does not have to look much farther than the Everly Brothers to find the harmonies that inspired the Beatles. They had lots of great tunes, Bye Bye Love, Wake Up Little Suzie, All I Have To Do Is Dream, and When Will I Be Loved. The brothers also had their feuds long before the Davies and Gallagher brothers.

The Flamingos belong in the Vocal Hall of Fame but not in the Rock Hall of Fame. They never had a top 10 record, and had only 2 top 40 hits. They are best known for I Only Have Eyes for You. Their selection into the hall could have just as easily gone to Shep and the Limelights.

Fleetwood Mac was a blues rock band in the Peter Green days with Oh Well and the original version of Black Magic Woman. Later with Bob Welch they had Hypnotized. The Lindsay Buckingham era scored the most The Chain, Go Your Own Way and Dreams. Any band that can stay together with this many interesting line-up deserve their induction.

Four Seasons Personally when I worked at an oldies station I grew to hate the Four Seasons. Their songs played every hour. Perhaps if they only were one season I’d like them better. I guess any band that is tough enough to sing Big Girls Don’t Cry in falsetto deserves their place in the hall. The band did modify their sound from time to time with songs like C’Mon Marianne.

The Four Tops/ are a Motown band that deserves to be in the hall. They had pop hits like Baby, I Need Your Loving and I Can’t Help Myself. They rocked out on Bernadette and Reach out, I’ll Be There.

Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers do not deserve to be in the hall. Their hit Why Do Fools Fall in Love is more pop than rock. Perhaps Lymons unfortunate death swayed the voters.