Here’s 25 from the Only Artist I Think Deserves Hall of Fame Induction from This Year’s Nominee List: The Cars

In a couple of weeks, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will name their inductees for the Class of 2018. And, to be perfectly honest, the list of nominees is very underwhelming. It seems as though the nominating committee is determined to honor certain artists over those who are much more deserving. Full disclosure: I have been voting periodically for the required five artists, but my votes have been divided between ten artists. Right now, the only artists that I have voted for every time are The Cars and The J. Geils Band. Both bands have always been some of my favorites, though not one of my top artists. I have also voted for LL Cool J, Dire Straits, Rage Against the Machine, Kate Bush, MC5, Depeche Mode, Judas Priest and Nina Simone. That’s right! I have NOT voted for the two leading vote-getters in the public voting, Bon Jovi and The Moody Blues. First, I have never been a fan of The Moody Blues, outside of a couple of songs (“Nights in White Satin” and “Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band”) and a couple of albums (Days of Future Passed and Long Distance Voyager). Other than that, the Moody Blues have been non-existent in my life.

Then, there is the case of Bon Jovi. In my mind, how are they any different than Loverboy, Mötley Crüe, Poison, Cinderella, RATT, Aldo Nova, Billy Squier or any other of those hard rock/hair metal artists of the Eighties. Sure, the band had couple of number one songs. And, Slippery When Wet was a huge-selling album. But, in my mind, that album is only the equal of Billy Squier’s Don’t Say No or Loverboy’s Get Lucky albums for the number of hits from each. The difference was Bon Jovi having “Living on a Prayer”, one of their chart-toppers, on that album. However, like the other two aforementioned artists, Bon Jovi has only released mediocre albums and songs. I simply believe that Bon Jovi does not belong in the RRHOF. However, I believe that a better representative of that hard rock/pop metal genre is Def Leppard. After Thriller and Back in Black, Def Leppard’s Pyromania AND Hysteria are two of the biggest selling albums of the Eighties. Plus, they had a #1 song with “Pour Some Sugar on Me”. And, the band stayed together even though their drummer lost one of his arms in an automobile accident. I get it that Jon Bon Jovi is a pretty guy, but come on, Bon Jovi in the RRHOF before Def Leppard, let alone Dr. Dre, Judas Priest, Motörhead, New Order/Joy Division, Kraftwerk, Willie Nelson and tens of other artists is a travesty. Not a life-and-death travesty. More like a damn shame and a diluting of the honor of the Hall of Fame.

So, in honor of one of the two bands that I definitely believe should be inducted into the RRHOF, my I present My 25 Favorite Songs by The Cars. Let the countdown begin!

1. “Bye Bye Love” (The Cars, 1978)
2. “Touch and Go” (Panorama, 1980)
3. “Drive” (Heartbeat City, 1984)
4. “My Best Friends Girlfriend” (The Cars, 1978)
5. “Shake It Up” (Shake It Up, 1981)
6. “I’m Not the One” (Shake It Up, 1981)
7. “It’s All I Can Do” (Candy-O, 1979)
8. “Good Times Roll” (The Cars, 1978)
9. “Let’s Go” (Candy-O, 1979)
10. “Dangerous Type” (Candy-O, 1979)
11. “Since Your Gone” (Shake It Up, 1981)
12. “Just What I Needed” (The Cars, 1978)
13. “Tonight She Comes” (Greatest Hits, 1985)
14. “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight” (The Cars, 1978)
15. “You Might Think” (Heartbeat City, 1984)
16. “Double Life” (Candy-O, 1979)
17. “You Are the Girl” (Door to Door, 1987)
18. “Sad Song” (Move Like This, 2011)
19. “Moving in Stereo” (The Cars, 1978)
20. “Got a Lot on My Head” (Candy-O, 1979)
21. “Don’t Cha Stop” (The Cars, 1978)
22. “Hello Again” (Heartbeat City, 1984)
23. “Magic” (Heartbeat City, 1984)
24. “Cruiser” (Shake It Up, 1981)
25. “Heartbeat City” (Heartbeat City, 1984)

Now that I have endorsed The Cars for induction into the RRHOF, I have probably jinxed them as well. Oh well. I will continue to argue for their induction because having them join rock royalty just makes more sense to me than anyone else nominated this year. Long live The Cars!

One day soon, I will have to do a little RRHOF critique. Until then, let’s be careful out there.

P.S. I forgot to mention that I also vote for Eurythmics for induction into the RRHOF.

Author: ifmyalbumscouldtalk

I am just a long-time music fan who used to be a high school science teacher and a varsity coach of several high school athletic teams. Before that, I worked as a medical technologist at three hospitals in their labs, mainly as a microbiologist. I am retired/disabled (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome), and this is my attempt to remain a human. Additionally, I am a serious vinyl aficionado, with a CD addiction and a love of reading about rock history. Finally, I am a fan of Prince, Cheap Trick, Tom Petty, R.E.M., Hall & Oates, Springsteen, Paul Weller & his bands and Power Pop music. View all posts by ifmyalbumscouldtalk