2023 RRHoF and 101 Rock Songs

After last year’s…interesting… inductees (Dolly Parton asked not to be inducted since she’s made no contributions to Rock, but was anyways), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame seems more on track in 2023. The nominees are:

A Tribe Called Quest. I can support this. They definitely are one of the most important hiphop groups of the 1990s, and deserve a spot in the Hall alongside legends like the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, and Notorious BIG.

Kate Bush. Overdue, really.

Sheryl Crow. Eh. I mean, like Dolly Parton last year – when is it no longer Rock, but Country? There is no R&B, or Hiphop, Hall of Fame, so I’m more comfortable with them being inducted into the Rock Hall than I am with Country music, which does have it’s own. If she gets in I won’t be mad, though. Just disappointed.

Missy Elliott. Sure, absolutely.

Iron Maiden. It’s a travesty metal is so neglected by the RRHoF. So far there’s only Metallica, Guns n Roses, Def Leppard, and…Bon Jovi? KISS? Iron Maiden should totally be in there. (They totally copped out when they put Judas Priest in a subcategory instead of Performers last year.)

Joy Division/New Order. I’ve been arguing this one for ages – yes!

Cyndi Lauper. I think this is fair, especially in light of her late-career renaissance. I mean, if we’re inducting one-album wonders (looking at you, The Go-Go’s, The Zombies...), then there’s no reason Lauper shouldn’t be included.

George Michael. Eh. I won’t be mad if he gets in, but there are many, many more deserving artists.

Willie Nelson. Like Sheryl Crow, but more so, I think Nelson is firmly in the world of Country music.

Rage Against the Machine. They’re not my cup of tea, but I respect their sound, and what they’ve done for Rock history. They keep being nominated – they should be inducted.

Soundgarden. Maybe? They were Grunge pioneers, but never got the acclaim of Nirvana or Pearl Jam (both inductees). I wouldn’t mind them getting in. More deserving than George Michael.

The Spinners. I mean, they are lovable – I can think of three catchy songs by them off the top of my head (“I’ll Be Around”, “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love”, “Working My Way Back to You”). They’re sort of like Three Dog Night – a few really great tracks, but not a whole lot of innovation or legacy. But, again, I certainly wouldn’t mind them being inducted.

The White Stripes. Absolutely – arguably (for now) one of the last great rock bands.

Warren Zevon. WEREWOLVES! I mean, Zevon is nice, but, no, I don’t think he really deserves a spot.

 

Top Picks:

Kate Bush

Missy Elliott

Iron Maiden

Joy Division/New Order

Rage Against the Machine

The White Stripes

 

Good Alternatives:

A Tribe Called Quest

Cyndi Lauper

Soundgarden

The Spinners

 

Not Great, but Fine:

Sheryl Crow

George Michael

 

Best Not:

Willie Nelson

Warren Zevon

 

And since we’re talking about Rock and Roll, here is an alphabetical list of the 101 Essential Rock Songs - according to me. Note: this list does not include R&B, Soul, Country, Doowop, and mostly avoids Pop (with a few high profile exceptions for pop and disco artists in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame). Singer-songwriters are included. It also limits entries to one song per artist/band. Without further ado:

 

All Along the Watchtower – The Jimi Hendrix Experience

American Idiot – Green Day

Anarchy in the UK – The Sex Pistols

Baba O’Reilly – The Who

Barracuda – Heart

Be My Baby – The Ronettes

Billie Jean – Michael Jackson

Blitzkrieg Bop – Ramones

Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley

Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell

Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison

California Dreaming – The Mamas and the Papas

Cathy’s Clown – The Everly Brothers

Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd

Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne

Crying – Roy Orbison

Dancing Queen – ABBA

Don’t Fear the Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult

Don’t Stop Believing – Journey

Dream On – Aerosmith

Dreams – Fleetwood Mac

Eight Miles High – The Byrds

Enter Sandman – Metallica

Eruption – Van Halen

Everyday People – Sly and the Family Stone

Fire and Rain – James Taylor

Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival

For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield

Friend of the Devil – The Grateful Dead

Gloria – Patti Smith

God Only Knows – The Beach Boys

Great Balls of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis

Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen

Heart of Glass – Blondie

Heart of Gold – Neil Young

Heroes – David Bowie

Hit Me with Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar

Hotel California – The Eagles

(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones

I Feel the Earth Move – Carole King

I Feel Love – Donna Summer

I Love Rock n’ Roll – Joan Jett

Imagine – John Lennon

I’m Waiting for the Man – The Velvet Underground

In the Air Tonight – Phil Collins

Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley

Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry

Just What I Needed – The Cars

La Bamba – Ritchie Valens

Last Night – The Strokes

Layla – Derek and the Dominos

Light My Fire – The Doors

Like a Prayer – Madonna

Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan

Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi

London Calling – The Clash

Losing My Religion – R.E.M.

Louie, Louie – The Kingsmen

Maps – Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs

Maybe I’m Amazed – Paul McCartney

More Than a Feeling – Boston

Once in a Lifetime – The Talking Heads

One – U2

Oye Como Va – Santana

Paranoid Android – Radiohead

Pour Some Sugar on Me – Def Leppard

Refugee – Tom Petty

Roadrunner – The Modern Lovers

Rock and Roll All Nite – Kiss

Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley

Roxanne – The Police

Running Up That Hill – Kate Bush

Search and Destroy – The Stooges

September – Earth, Wind, and Fire

Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes

Shoot to Thrill – AC/DC

Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple

Sound of Silence – Simon and Garfunkel

Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin

Suite: Judy Blue Eyes – Crosby, Stills, and Nash

Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Sweet Child o’ Mine – Guns n Roses

Sweet Dreams – The Eurythmics

Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Stayin’ Alive – The Bee Gees

That’ll Be the Day – Buddy Holly

Tiny Dancer – Elton John

Turn the Page – Bob Seger

Tutti Frutti – Little Richard

Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed

Waterloo Sunset – The Kinks

The Weight – The Band

We’re Not Gonna Take It – Twisted Sister

When Doves Cry – Prince

Yesterday – The Beatles

You Oughta Know – Alanis Morrissette

You’re So Vain – Carly Simon

You’ve Lost That Loving Feelin’ – The Righteous Brothers