Author: ifmyalbumscouldtalk

1974 was my fifth grade year in school and represented the only year that I had Dad as my principal. Having a parent that’s a teacher has an extra pressure on you as a student not be a screwup. The pressure gets worse when your parent is a teacher in your building. Fortunately, I never had a parent in my building, but my older son had both of his parents in the middle school building during his eighth grade year. Basically, he ignored me unless he needed money. But, when your dad is the principal of your school, that’s not always the coolest. Now, my boys had their grandfather as their principal, but that’s different. Essentially, they loved having Grandpa as their principal. But, your dad is a whole other level.

I remember early on in fifth grade, I got sent out in the hall because I was not paying attention to a math lesson. How I rolled in school was to pay attention long enough to get the gist of the lesson, do the homework and either read, or if my ADHD was kicked in full force, begin entertaining the class with stupid comments. So, I was standing in the hall when lo and behold the new principal of our school, known to everyone as Mr. Keller better known as Dad to me, walked up to me and asked what I was doing out in the hall? Since I thought I was talking to Dad and not Mr. Keller, I smartly replied, “I have no idea.”

Well, that answer did not fly. Immediately, Mr. Keller pointed in the direction of his office. So, I knew immediately that this was not going to go well. I made that long walk of shame to his office as we silently strolled to his office. As we walked in the office, his secretary Mrs. Hanna greeted me friendly with as “Hi Scott!” Unfortunately, her smile quickly faded as Mr. Keller led me into his office, offered me a chair, told me to “sit down,” closed the door to his office (always a bad sign), and took his seat behind his desk.

Then, he opened, “Scott, what are you thinking?”

“Well, Dad, I was just…”

“No! You listen. You cannot behave this way. I know that you are in an unfair situation, but you have to keep yourself uncontrol. I do not need you and your brother in this office because you cannot use self-control.” I really don’t remember much else he said, but I thought the point had been made, but he continued for a good five minutes since I kept glancing at the clock on his desk.

Finally, I heard that words, “I want you to go back to class and apologize to the teacher. Then, I do not want to walk by your classroom and see you in the hallway. Understand?”

“Yes sir,” head down dejected.

“Now, go on. But, remember, your father will want to talk to you when he gets home.”

I wanted to point out that Americans could not be subjected to double jeopardy in this country, but I knew not to push it. That’s what made being a teacher’s kid so bad since you constantly got in trouble twice a day for one infraction.

Fortunately, I did discover that a local radio station did play American Top 40 every Sunday at 10 AM. I made that discovery during the summer of 1974 during another one of my escapades. But, it was a life-altering find nonetheless. Now, I was gathering information about music history from AT40, American Bandstand and Soul Train each and every weekend.

Now, my popular music knowledge was increasing on a weekly basis thanks to Casey Kasem, Dick Clark and Don Cornelius. Yet, I was still about six months from discovering rock magazines and books which would be the final frontier. Since I had no older siblings to help me learn this stuff, I was on my own, which may account for my appreciation of artists whom my peers might view as cheesy. I make no apologies for liking what I like.

So, let’s take a look at my favorite albums of 1974.

50. Bad Company – Bad Company

49. Eric Clapton – 461 Ocean Boulevard

48. Richard & Linda Thompson – I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight

47. Brian Eno – Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)

46. Frank Zappa – Apostrophe (‘)

45. Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson – Winter in America

44. John Lennon – Walls & Bridges

43. Commodores – Machine Gun

42. Neil Young – On the Beach

41. Van Morrison – Veedon Fleece

40. Ohio Players – Skin Tight

39. Little Feat – Feats Don’t Fail Me Now

38. Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel

37. Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

36. Queen – Queen II

35. The Doobie Brothers – What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits

34. Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic

33. The Meters – Rejuvenation

32. B.T. Express – Do It Til You’re Satisfied

31. Funkadelic – Standing on the Verge of Getting Down

30. Supertramp – Crime of the Century

29. Ohio Players – Fire

28. Aerosmith – Get Your Wings

27. Sparks – Kimono My House

26. Kraftwerk – Autobahn

25. Elton John – Caribou

24. Parliament – Up for the Down Stroke

23. Bachman Turner Overdrive – Not Fragile

22. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Natty Dread

21. Rufus featuring Chaka Khan – Rufusized

20. Jackson Browne – Late for the Sky

19. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Second Helping

18. Kiss – Kiss

17. The J. Geils Band – Nightmares…and Other Tales from the Vinyl Jungle

16. Labelle – Nightbirds

15. Barry White – Can’t Get Enough

14. Joni Mitchell – Court and Spark

13. The Rolling Stones – It’s Only Rock and Roll

12. Shuggie Otis – Inspiration Information

11. Rufus featuring Chaka Khan – Rags to Rufus

10. Raspberries – Starting Over

9. Linda Ronstadt – Heart Like a Wheel

8. Bob Dylan/The Band – Before the Flood

7. Randy Newman – Good Old Boys

6. Roxy Music – Country Life

5. Electric Light Orchestra – Eldorado

4. Queen – Sheer Heart Attack

3. Van Morrison – It’s Too Late to Stop Now

2. Stevie Wonder – Fulfillingness’ First Finale

1. Big Star – Radio City

1973 was a year during which I ended third grade and started fourth grade. Between those two school years were a summer of baseball and basketball, watching pro wrestling on a local TV station on Saturdays, watching game shows during rainy days, and the beginnings of my lingering interest in the whole Watergate debacle. It continues to interest me how one paranoid person in the highest position of power in our country can nearly topple the government built on a federalist democracy. Say what you want, at least Nixon put the country’s interests above his own one time when he resigned. We have yet been witness to moments of humility in the words and actions of current former President 45 and Russian leader Putin. Both appear to be willing to take down their whole country’s way of governing and well-being to appease their own egos.

1973 also represents the year in which I began to transition from a man who purchased 7-inch singles to one who preferred albums. This was the year in which I actually bought Billion Dollar Babies by Alice Cooper with my own money. Buddy, you know how many weeks it takes to save your 50-cent allowance to afford a four-dollar album? Let’s say I began this quest shortly after my birthday and worked my way through April to earn this album. But, I was determined. And, did that album ever pay off for me? Not only did it open another dimension of music for me, the inner gatefold of the album contained photos of the band in concert, of which I knew my parents would disapprove. After this album, I was primed for everything that was to cross my path afterwards, from the New York Dolls, Sex Pistols and Marilyn Manson to the P-Funk Thang, David Bowie and Culture Club.

1973 was also the year in which The Dark Side of the Moon entered my consciousness, although it would be seven or eight more years before that album would join my album collection. Additionally, unbeknownst me at the time, Bruce Springsteen released his first two albums. In reality, I was still two years away from hearing The Boss’ music and another three years away from the purchase of one of his albums, 1978’s Darkness on the Edge of Town.

This year was also significant because Daryl Hall & John Oates’ sophomore release was a brilliant album that would go unnoticed until 1976, after “Sarah Smile” ran its course. On the other hand, Elton John was at his creative and commercial zenith just as Stevie Wonder was on the cusp of his.

All in all, 1973 was a fairly solid year, with many of the artists who would go on to dominate my musical interest and collection becoming forces unto themselves. It really wasn’t a bad year for a musical awakening in a boy.

With that said, let’s do this countdown!

50. Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Brain Salad Surgery

49. Lou Reed – Berlin

48. Brian Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets

47. Jackson Browne – For Everyman

46. Eagles – Desperado

45. Bachman Turner Overdrive – Bachman Turner Overdrive II

44. Genesis – Selling England by the Pound

43. Black Sabbath – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

42. The Doobie Brothers – The Captain and Me

41. The J. Geils Band – Bloodshot

40. Al Green – Call Me

39. ZZ Top – Tres Hombres

38. Roberta Flack – Killing Me Softly

37. Neil Young – Time Fades Away

36. Little Feat – Dixie Chicken

35. The Spinners – Spinners

34. Grand Funk Railroad – We’re an American Band

33. The O’Jays – Ship Ahoy

32. John Lennon – Mind Games

31. Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy

30. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Catch a Fire

29. Todd Rundgren – A Wizard, a True Star

28. Raspberries – Side 3

27. George Harrison – Living in the Material World

26. Ringo Starr – Ringo

25. Aerosmith – Aerosmith

24. Gram Parsons – GP

23. Bruce Springsteen – Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.

22. Elton John – Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player

21. The Rolling Stones – Goats Head Soup

20. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Pronounced lêh-nérd skin-nérd

19. Queen – Queen

18. Billy Joel – Piano Man

17. New York Dolls – New York Dolls

16. Steely Dan – Countdown to Ecstasy

15. Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure

14. David Bowie – Aladdin Sane

13. The Isley Brothers – 3 + 3

12. Paul Simon – There Goes Rhymin’ Simon

11. Iggy & the Stooges – Raw Power

10. Roxy Music – Stranded

9. Paul McCartney & Wings – Band on the Run

8. The Who – Quadrophenia

7. Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies

6. Stevie Wonder – Innervisions

5. Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On

4. Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

3. Bruce Springsteen – The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle

2. Daryl Hall & John Oates – Abandoned Luncheonette

1. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon

1972 was the year in which I finished one of my favorite grades in school, third grade. My teacher continues to be something of a saint in my book. She lives an active life in my town while we stay in touch via Facebook. Her name is Nancy Dix, and she was the correct combination of compassion and toughness that I always craved in educators. Unfortunately, as educators, we will never reach all of our students, but it seems that the students we connect with we end up sharing a special life-long bond.

Mrs. Dix was the first person I remember who encouraged me to embrace all of my quirky sides as my true self. When your peers think you are weird, it makes a young person’s life a little rough. But, when there is an adult who understands you, the world opens up. It’s a shame that I had to wait another four years having another educator who view me through a serious lens.

It was in 1972 that my music affliction began to take a serious turn. I discovered FM radio that year, which increased the colors on my musical palette thanks to the best radio station I ever heard in my life, 93.1 FM WNAP, “The Buzzard.” Their combination of deep rock cuts and Top 40 pop hits was innovative and ahead of its time. And, they had the best combination of on air personalities ever assembled, most of whom went on to bigger fame in bigger markets. Yet, all have stated that their best years were spent in “Naptown,” as Indy used to be called.

In addition to FM radio, my family became a regular presence at the local country club, which gave me access to the musical tastes of the high school kids of the upper middle class. Those tastes coupled with the tastes of my more working class neighbors gave me an interesting mix of great music of the day.

Growing up, I was always drawn to older people, especially those who were in high school while I was in elementary school. I found that I could learn so much from them about socialization. Plus, their experiences were so much better than my peers’ experiences. I don’t know how many days I sat in an inconspicuous place in a neighbor’s garage or family room while the older kids interacted, played music, smoked cigarettes and made out. These teens allowed this bratty kid to sort through their 45s and LPs while there, even occasionally letting do a stack of 45s on the record player.

Those fun, easy days are long gone. Still, they were an important part of my development as a man and a music aficionado. Therefore, those things mix together to make 1972 so special in my personal history.

And, now it’s time for a countdown.

50. Humble Pie – Smokin’

49. Neu! – Neu!

48. Deep Purple – Made in Japan

47. The Temptations – All Directions

46. Eagles – Eagles

45. T. Rex – The Slider

44. Little Feat – Sailin’ Shoes

43. The Doobie Brothers – Toulouse Street

42. Marvin Gaye – Trouble Man

41. Bread – Baby I’m-A Want You

40. Rod Stewart – Never a Dull Moment

39. Jim Croce – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim

38. The Staple Singers – Be Altitude: Respect Yourself

37. Al Green – I’m Still in Love with You

36. The Band – Rock of Ages

35. Aretha Franklin – Young, Gifted and Black

34. Yes – Close to the Edge

33. The O’Jays – Back Stabbers

32. Bill Withers – Still Bill

31. Curtis Mayfield – Superfly

30. The J. Geils Band – Live: Full House

29. Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath, Vol. 4

28. Elton John – Honky Chateau

27. Van Morrison – Saint Dominic’s Preview

26. Slade – Slayed?

25. Al Green – Let’s Stay Together

24. Jackson Browne – Jackson Browne (Saturate Before Using)

23. The Allman Brothers Band – Eat a Peach

22. Carly Simon – No Secrets

21. Stevie Wonder – Music of My Mind

20. War – The World Is a Ghetto

19. Jimmy Cliff (and Others) – The Harder They Come

18. Nick Drake – Pink Moon

17. Randy Newman – Sail Away

16. Mott the Hoople – All the Young Dudes

15. Lou Reed – Transformer

14. Roxy Music – Roxy Music

13. Deep Purple – Machine Head

12. Chicago – Chicago V

11. Alice Cooper – School’s Out

10. Raspberries – Fresh

9. Paul Simon – Paul Simon

8. Stevie Wonder – Talking Book

7. Steely Dan – Can’t Buy a Thrill

6. Raspberries – Raspberries

5. The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main Street

4. Neil Young – Harvest

3. David Bowie – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars

2. Todd Rundgren – Something/Anything?

1. Big Star – #1 Record

My dad is my hero. Plain and simple. I never had to look farther away from me than him. After he gave up coaching, a decision that left me heartbroken since he would never coach me in basketball, whenever our local high school did not have a game, Dad would take me to other schools’ games in order to scout for a coaching friend of his. Dad had been this man’s assistant coach before the man left for another coaching job, and Dad assumed his position as the head coach.

I loved these games more than going to the local school’s games because Dad would actually point out what coaches look for on the court. What may appear to be slightly organized chaos to the untrained eye is a work of art that teams the precision of a ballet dance with the strategy of a chess match. And when a team executes at a high level, the beauty of their game is magnificent. I guess I always knew that I would be a coach.

Even during the time that I was angry at him for leaving the family when I had just turned 13, I still admired him. During that estrangement, I despised that people thought my success was only due to him, as if I had no abilities of my own. But, when I started having a family of my own, I was determined to mend our broken relationship. To this day, we are the same yet so very different. He does not understand my politically liberal beliefs nor my artistic side, but he tries to relate. It’s hilarious when this Barbra Streisand-loving man tries to discuss a Simon & Garfunkel musical he saw, but I give him an “A” for his effort.

Back in 1971, I was just 8 years old. I think it was around this time that one of his former basketball players was assassinated in Vietnam by a sniper. I was distraught because I had spent many days at his parents’ home and knew the whole family. During this time of mourning, Dad asked me what I was thinking. I simply told him that it was a waste of John’s life to have been killed in Vietnam. Dad, a Korean War vet and former history teacher, asked me to explain. I told him that I thought this war was a waste of time since it was obvious that the Vietnamese people really no longer wanted our presence over there. Apparently, I elaborated that if South Vietnam truly wanted to win, then more of their people would be joining our forces to push back the North Vietnamese. Yet, that wasn’t happening. As a matter of fact, the opposite is happening as many civilians are playing both sides of the game in an effort to undermine our efforts over there.

I remember the conversation, not the specifics as he told me them, but I do remember the look of shock on his face that encapsulated disbelief of a youngster’s grasp on geopolitical history, a shock that I’d be anti-war at all let alone at a young age and a swelling of pride that his son could articulate such a stance at a young age. But, that was the environment in which I grew up. I was not shielded from the news (Walter Cronkite every night!), 60 Minutes, and a small but solid set of political books in his little “library,” all of which I had read before he left the house.

1971 was the year when my parents allowed me to start buying 7-inch singles. My first informed purchase was Paul & Linda McCartney’s “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey.” From there, my collection has exploded. When compared to all of my friends, I have the biggest collection. But, when placed in the context of vinyl collectors, my collection is quite modest as I have around 2500 vinyl albums, 10″ EPs, 7″ singles, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes and CDs.

Since my failed back syndrome and the subsequent back pain and constant back spasms came into my life over 20 years ago, I have shifted the refuge of my sanity from the exercising of a former athlete to a sedentary music aficionado. Oh, sure, I have always been a music aficionado of a high level, but, now, I have taken it to a whole new level. Oh well, what am I supposed to do to survive?

After that non-sequitur opening, let’s get to the countdown. Here’s my favorite 50 albums of 1971.

50. George Harrison & Friends – The Concert for Bangladesh

49. Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Tarkus

48. Yes – The Yes Album

47. Crosby, Still, Nash & Young – 4 Way Street

46. Three Dog Night – Harmony

45. Can – Tago Mago

44. Pink Floyd – Meddle

43. Al Green – Al Green Gets Next to You

42. The Doors – L.A. Woman

41. The Stylistics – The Stylistics

40. Black Sabbath – Master of Reality

39. Gil Scott-Heron – Pieces of a Man

38. Rod Stewart – Every Picture Tells a Story

37. The Faces – A Nod Is As Good As a Wink…to a Blind Horse

36. Traffic – Low Spark of High Heeled Boys

35. The Kinks – Muswell Hillbillies

34. Elton John – Madman Across the Water

33. Alice Cooper – Love It to Death

32.  The J. Geils Band – The Morning After

31. The Allman Brothers – At Fillmore East

30. The Chi-Lites – (For God’s Sake) Give More Power to the People

29. Jethro Tull – Aqualung

28. Issacs Hayes – Shaft

27. Santana – Santana III

26. Janis Joplin – Pearl

25. Nilsson – Nilsson Schmilsson

24. Badfinger – Straight Up

23. America – America

22. The Flamin’ Groovies – Teenage Head

21. John Prine – John Prine

20. Don McLean – American Pie

19. Van Morrison – Tupelo Honey

18. David Bowie – Hunky Dory

17. Yes – Fragile

16. T. Rex – Electric Warrior

15. Cat Stevens – Teaser and the Firecat

14. Alice Cooper – Killer

13. The Beach Boys – Surf’s Up

12. Funkadelic – Maggot Brain

11. Sly & the Family Stone – There’s a Riot Goin’ On

10. Joni Mitchell – Blue

9. Todd Rundgren – Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren

8. Paul & Linda McCartney – Ram

7. John Lennon – Imagine

6. Bill Withers – Just As I Am

5. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV

4. The Who – Who’s Next

3. Carole King – Tapestry

2. The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers

1. Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On

To be perfectly honest, from my earliest memories of a toddler, I loved to listen to music. From my toddler days hearing Mom listening to the latest hits by the likes of Paul Revere & the Raiders on the radio to watching the old Ed Sullivan, Smothers Brothers and other variety television shows with the latest rock and pop artists. My personal journey began with a little plastic record player on which I could listen to children’s versions of Broadway tunes at 45 rpm. If a record skipped, my parents would just tape a penny or two to the end of the tone arm just over the needle.

By the time we finally moved into the home in which Mom lived until she passed in February of 2019, I began to learn about music from all the neighborhood kids. By the time I started kindergarten, I was beginning to piece together the foundation of my musical tastes, with it running the gamut from Motown, Stax and other soul/R&B music, bubblegum music, some psychedelic music, some “acid” or hard rock and Top 40 music, though I was still a good four years away from discovering Casey Kasem’s radio program, American Top 40. These were the days of 1968 and 1969.

However, the whole musical world still had not completely opened to me until the 1969-70 school. That school year was my opening salvo in the public education system. But, it also represented the one area for massive information growth. In today’s world of the internet, this seems quaint, but when a kid in the Seventies begins to ride the school bus, a whole new world opens. Suddenly, all the things that my parents started to shield me from were now in my face. Oh, the cuss words were nothing new to me, what with my maternal grandfather, my maternal uncle and my own father’s language, in addition to spending so much of my life in and out of high school locker rooms. But magical topics like sex and music began to enter my peer-oriented discussions. Oh, certainly, I continued my sports and science obsessions, but they were nowhere as exciting as sex and music.

It was on the school bus where much of my education took place. I learned that the “F-word” just may be the most versatile word in the English language as it can be used as a verb, noun, adjective, adverb, interjection, and just about any part of speech other than a preposition. Additionally, I learned to discern certain desirable physical attributes of the female anatomy, how to and not to talk to a woman (though, in all honesty, these all represented very bad advice) and what was considered good and bad music. But, with music, I quickly out-learned my peers on music upon the discoveries of Creem, Hit Parader, Circus and  Rolling Stone magazines in middle school, once again thanks to another kid on the school bus.

So, 1970 is the year when I began to experience music in real time. Sure, I admit that I actually did some catching up in regards to my critical tastes, but the foundation was being laid. Prior to 1970, I did not know that the FM band on a radio existed, that Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones or The Beatles were gods, or what on Earth was Woodstock, let alone the Monterrey Pop Festival or Altamont. Therefore, for me, the music of the Sixties remains something more of a prehistoric venture for me.

Unfortunately, most people’s musical wheelhouse either ends with their high school or college days, which coincides with one leaving behind the irresponsible days and beginning to hold down jobs and starting families. For whatever reason, my musical interest really did not begin to wain until my boys were in middle school, which meant they were developing their own musical tastes and no longer relying on my opinions. Suddenly, by the mid-Nineties, popular music began to loose many of the qualities in which I found enjoyment. Subsequently, music became more of an academic pursuit and no longer a celebration of my youth.

All of this means that my wheelhouse for music runs from 1970 through 1999, though I did find that I pushed an extra five years out of my comfort zone thanks to my students at Alexandria Monroe High School, where I had my first teaching job after my career change, and my boys.

To celebrate this 30-year window into my musical tastes, let’s count down my 50 favorite albums from each year, beginning with 1970, the end of my first grade year, through 1999, on the cusp of a new millennium.

50. Free – Fire and Water

49. The Doors – Morrison Hotel

48. Various Artists – Woodstock OST

47. Traffic – John Barleycorn Must Die

46. Funkadelic – Funkadelic

45. Tim Buckley – Starsailor

44. Rodriguez – Cold Fact

43. The Flying Burrito Brothers – Burrito Deluxe

42. The Temptations – Psychedelic Shack

41. Jimi Hendrix – Band of Gypsys

40. Curtis Mayfield – Curtis

39. The Velvet Underground – Loaded

38. Joe Cocker – Mad Dogs and Englishmen

37. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Cosmo’s Factory

36. Santana – Abraxas

35. The Rolling Stones – ‘Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!’: The Rolling Stones in Concert

34. The Who – Live at Leeds

33. The Move – Shazam

32. The Guess Who – American Woman

31. The Jackson 5 – ABC

30. David Bowie – The Man Who Sold the World

29. The J. Geils Band – The J. Geils Band

28. James Taylor – Sweet Baby James

27. Nick Drake – Bryter Layter

26. Syd Barrett – The Madcap Laughs

25. The Kinks – Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One

24. The Band – Stage Fright

23. Badfinger – No Dice

22. Randy Newman – 12 Songs

21. Funkadelic – Free Your Mind…and Your Ass Will Follow

20. The Beatles – Let It Be

19. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin III

18. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band – John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band

17. Van Morrison – His Band and the Street Choir

16. Derek & the Dominos – Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs

15. Emitt Rhodes – Emitt Rhodes

14. Black Sabbath – Paranoid

13. Elton John – Tumbleweed Connection

12. Neil Young – After the Gold Rush

11. The Stooges – Fun House

10. Grateful Dead – Workingman’s Dead

9. Cat Stevens – Tea for the Tillerman

8. Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath

7. Van Morrison – Moondance

6. George Harrison – All Things Must Pass

5. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Dèjá Vu

4. Elton John – Elton John

3. Grateful Dead – American Beauty

2. Chicago – Chicago II

1. Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

On February 2, 2022, the powers that be at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, under the relatively new guidance of former MTV leader John Sykes released their Nominee List for the Class of 2022 Inductees. Now, for the next couple of months, some accounting group, group of hired administrative assistants or maybe its just a bunch of college interns, will count and compile the votes on the submitted ballots from various industry movers and shakers, music critics and historians, on-air personalities, prominent rock stars and all previous living inductees as to the five to ten acts who will be inducted later this fall.

In case you have not seen the list of nominees, we have 17 nominees this year representing many genres and subgenres of rock and roll. In many people’s minds, rock music should be reduced down to what is basically played on classic rock radio. But, they are forgetting the whole “roll” portion of rock & roll. Then roll includes the R&B, dance and hip hop segments of music. Therefore, rock & roll is an all-inclusive term for the popular music that slowly became the most popular form since the mid-Fifties.

The nominees are as follows in alphabetical order: Beck, Pat Benatar, Kate Bush, Devo, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Judas Priest, Fela Kuti, MC5, New York Dolls, Dolly Parton, Rage Against the Machine, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, A Tribe Called Quest and Dionne Warwick. Let’s take a look at the credentials of each nominee and their chances for getting in based on those credentials alone.

Perhaps, the biggest issue I have with the Hall is that they have spent the Aughts parading around as some exclusive club that is truly only around to celebrate Boomer’s long-past youth under the guise they are a living, breathing organism who will continue to do so. When former Rolling Stone founder finally stepped down as the head of the Hall, we may finally get this logjam of deserving artists inducted.

1. Beck. The Grammy award winning Beck got his first RRHOF nomination. While his status as a critics’ darling may have him leaning toward a first-year induction, I continue to teeter as to whether he will be inducted on his first time being nominated.

2. Pat Benatar. As someone who was a teenager during Benatar’s heyday, it remains troubling that she has yet to be inducted. She was a diva dressed up in a hard rock uniform with a tough as nails attitude. It’s acts like Benatar that piss off the general public so much.

3. Kate Bush. Go most anywhere around the English speaking world, and the name Kate Bush resonates as one of the true visionaries of rock music. But, her name hits the general American public like pigeon crap hits a statue. And, that’s a shame because she is as poetic and insightful as Joni Mitchell set to music as challenging and innovative as Peter Gabriel. I’m most grateful that her influence is growing by the year with millennials and Gen Z-ers discovering her catalog that Ms. Bush will soon be an inductee.

4. Devo. Boomers looked at them as novelty oddities, while Gen X saw them as the rock and social parodists they are. Once again, enough is enough and induct these visionaries from Akron, Ohio.

5. Duran Duran. My older son calls D-squared “The Beatles of the Eighties.” Personally, I always viewed them as the Pink Floyd of the music video. Regardless, their attempt to fuse the fury of the Sex Pistols with the dance/funk of Chic was successful and profitable, to the extent they just might be the most representative band of the 80s attitude.

6. Eminem. This man is arguably the only shoo-in of the nominees. Oh, sure, he continues to be a lightning rod for controversy, but rock and roll was never about being nice people. It was, and continues to be, about challenging the status quo of current music and norms.

7. Eurythmics. The 80s seemed to be all about androgyny. Duran Duran, Boy George and most of the heavy metal guys all looked like women, while Eurythmics lead vocalist and all-around sex goddess Annie Lennox took a more masculine approach to her image when the band first burst forth on MTV. Never mind that you could not hide her soulfully feminine vocals and curves, the total juxtaposition of her image and the rocker-in-a-corporation image of her partner Dave Stewart butted up against their icy synthpop based in rock sound.

8. Judas Priest. Here we go again. Another year and another nomination for this legendary metal band. Priest is exhibit 2 of everything that is wrong with the Rock Hall because of them being left outside looking in. Christ, just induct them so we don’t have to listen to Eddie Trunk for a year.

9. Fela Kuti. Talk about someone with absolutely no name recognition in the USA, this is the man on this year’s nomination list. But, if you just go listen to his groundbreaking Afrobeat funkateering, then you may recognize strands of DNA that runs through his music in the music of disparate artists such as the P-Funk collective, Talking Heads and their off-shoots after Remain in Light, Adam & the Ants, Bow Wow Wow, Peter Gabriel, among many others. He is likely to find his way into the Hall either as a Musical Influence or for Musical Excellence.

10. MC5. This proto-punk/metal band from Detroit are no strangers to the nominee list as this is their sixth nomination. So, put them in and move on! At this point I don’t really care how they get in, just do it! You can’t justify Rage Against the Machine’s induction since MC5 did it first.

11. New York Dolls. While I am bitching about MC5, this will allow me a seamless rant not wasted to go on about the other godfathers of punk, New York Dolls. You see, The Stooges are in the Hall and have been for years, so it’s only right that MC5 AND NY Dolls both find themselves enshrined. And, don’t get me going about The Jam…

12. Dolly Parton. Ever since I started caring about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I have never been able to figure out why some out-of-the-box influencers like Miles Davis and Hank Williams are in the Hall, but not others like John Coltrane, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Patsy Cline, Big Mama Thornton and this national treasure, Ms. Dolly Parton. Plain and simple, her song writing has influenced countless artists, and her primo example as a caring human being is head-and-shoulders above anyone else in the music industry. We must right this wrong!

13. Rage Against the Machine. So, you think hip hop has no place in the Hall? Well, folks, if it wasn’t for the turntable magic of hip hop pioneers Grandmaster Flash, Dr. Dre and the Bomb Squad of Public Enemy, then Tom Morello would have been just another Randy Rhoads soundalike. But, because he was influenced by those turntable scratches, then he innovated a whole new musical palette that continues to resonate to this day. Throw in the fact that the band combined the power of P-Funk, punk and metal with the rage of Public Enemy and MC5, and you have one of the greatest renegades of funk ever.

14.  Lionel Richie. From 1977 to 1986, Lionel Richie was ubiquitous. He was on the radio, dominating the singles and albums charts, all over MTV and hosted the Grammys. Plus, he has spread so much goodwill throughout the music industry that you might be surprised that the co-writer of “We Are the World” is NOT in the Hall. Oh, and this is his FIRST nomination. What?!?!?!

15. Carly Simon. Boomers everywhere read the names on this list and came across the one and collectively gasped. Huh?! Carly Simon’s not in? That’s nearly as bad to them as Carole King’s and Tina Turner’s omissions. Most of you only know her “You’re So Vain.” But, isn’t that enough? Do not be shocked if she gets inducted. She may not be my first choice, or even my seventh, but stranger artists have gotten the votes (did someone say Percy Sledge?).

16. A Tribe Called Quest. A Tribe Called Quest is long overdue for induction, as they represent the last of the original blast of hip hop artists. While these guys were street poets, they were creating their beats not from James Brown or George Clinton but were raiding vintage jazz albums from the 50s, 60s and 70s for their sonic scope. Unfortunately, the list is long with many rap forefathers awaiting their moments (Let’s see. Hmmm, how about Kurtis Blow, Eric B & Rakim, Boogie Down Productions, De La Soul, Queen Latifah, Salt-n-Pepa and ATCQ from the first wave, followed by Wu-Tang Clan, Puff Daddy/Sean Combs/P Diddy/ Whatever his name is these days, OutKast, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, just for a start.).

17. Dionne Warwick. In the 60s and 70s, Ms. Warwick was a smooth R&B singer. By the 90s, she had gone full crazy train by endorsing a 1-900 phone number for psychics, finally transitioning into the world’s favorite octogenarian Twitter user and SNL talk show sketch host. It’s time to induct Whitney Houston’s aunt.

That’s the list of nominees for induction as the Class of 2022 into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Of course, I will predict who is going to be inducted. Hell, that’s what the whole lead up is for. But, I will not only give you the names of seven acts who I think will get inducted, but I will identify a couple of spoilers, wild cards and dark horses on this list.

Let’s start with my sure things for induction, which are Eminem and Dolly Parton. After them, it becomes a free-for-all. Yet, sometimes, if you pay attention to the people in the know, they tend to tip their hats a bit. Therefore, I believe the Class of 2022 will also include Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Dionne Warwick and Rage Against the Machine. That leaves one more spot. That one spot will be so interesting to see which act will fill it. After much deliberation, I will say Devo will round out the class nicely as it makes the class fairly diverse as last year’s was.

However, I think that Carly Simon could spoil Dionne Warwick’s spot, while Judas Priest does something similar to RATM. All of that means that Carly Simon and Judas Priest are my spoilers. My dark horses are Kate Bush and Eurythmics, since they represent the underdogs while maintaining a high level of artistic integrity and influence. Finally, the wild card in the bunch has got to be “Mr. Outrageous” (remember him using that word WAY too often while hosting the Grammys in the mid-80s?) Lionel Richie. People have been clamoring for the induction of his original group the Commodores. But, will the Hall pull a fast one as they did with Nile Rodgers and induct a solo man and not the band? Anything is possible these days.

And since anything is possible, why don’t we just induct all of these nominees? Honestly, we could do that for a good twenty years AND still have a logjam of acts awaiting their turn. See? I understand why you are frustrated, because I am too. Peace.

It’s Friday! That sentence alone used to be some of the most exciting words in a person’s heart. Yet, when you are retired, as I had to take early a decade ago, your week is seems like six Saturdays and a Sunday. Which is cool, but I do miss the excitement of a Friday either at school on game day or in the hospital knowing this one was the Friday that signaled my three-day weekend in my schedule. And, let’s not even consider what a Friday night meant in college (PARTY!).

Therefore, in an effort to muster up some excitement for this particular Friday, I decided to split of my Women Who Deserve to Be Inducted in the RRHOF into four parts as a way to build some excitement into my life. As if looking out my music room’s window to see about eight inches of snow blanketing the neighborhood won’t garner some latent SNOW DAY excitement left in my body. No, today is the day on which I reveal my Top 25 Women Who Need to Be Inducted into the RRHOF soon.

Let’s get this thing rolling!

25. The Pointer Sisters. This undervalued singing group was first written off as just another disco group with a novelty act (40s attire and music set to a disco beat) then as an 80s pop/dance band. But, if you do a little time travel through their catalog, you will find these women are a group for the ages. Best song: “Slow Hand”

24. Sonic Youth. During a moment in history when the synthesizer represented a whole new world, this alternative NYC band came along with their guitars going into worlds then-unknown to create a whole new rock & roll vocabulary. And holding down the base was sometime-vocalist Kim Gordon, who became something of a fairy godmother to a whole generation of 90s alternative rockers. Best song: “Teen Age Riot”

23. Sheryl Crow. The former elementary music teacher-turned Michael Jackson background singer-turned alternative rock goddess has been a beacon in the whole pop/rock/alternative genre. Best song: “If It Makes You Happy”

22. Labelle. In the mid-70s, no band had nailed down the girl group/funk/space alien sound and visual like Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash did. This was the one time when you were not certain that Patti was always the lead singer since the other two were virtuosos in their own rights. Best song: “Lady Marmalade”

21. Grace Jones. Grace Jones was a formidable presence, and I am not just talking about her physical looks. Her musical demeanor was every bit as imposing as she had patrons hitting the dancefloor all over the world with her own songs and covers filtered through her larger-than-life personality. Best song: “Slave to the Rhythm”

20. Mary J. Blige. Arguably, Ms. Blige is the first diva of the hip hop era. Sure, Mariah Carey dabbled in the hip hop arena with remixes and duets, but Mary J. grew up in it and has the DNA to prove it. Although she continues to grow musically, her 90s music was some of the most exciting diva work since Donna Summer put a whole generation in the disco clubs. Best song: “Real Love”

19. Chaka Khan. With and without the terrific band Rufus, Khan was the diva vocalist who links Aretha Franklin to Donna Summer through the funk years. Khan has influenced some many singers in her wake that its almost embarrassing that she remains on the outside of the Hall: Whitney, Mariah, Taylor Dayne, Mary J., etc. Best song: “I’m Every Woman”

18. Cyndi Lauper. Upon first glance, we all thought she might just be a novelty act with her new wave New York trash chic in the “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” video. But, her debut and sophomore albums revealed an artist with far more depth than any other at the time. She had a real and fresh take on feminism that started with Donna Summer’s Bad Girls and grew from there. Best song: “She Bop”

17. The Bangles. Unfairly, these women have been compared to The Go-Go’s. While The Go-Go’s were steeped in LA punk before discovering the pop in their music, The Bangles were bathing in the psychedelia of the mid-60s. At first, their take on power pop might capture you, but you end up staying for the four-part harmonies they throw at you. It is their vocals that make their music so timeless. Best song: “Hazy Shade of Winter”

16. Eurythmics. Take Annie Lennox’ warm soulful vocals and set them against Dave Stewart’s icy synth-based noise, and you get a golden juxtaposition of sound that is otherworldly. Best song: “Love Is a Stranger”

15. The B-52’s. The first of the great bands who hailed from Athens, Georgia, helped segue people from the disco sounds of the 70s to the new wave dance sounds of the 80s. The band originally consisted of two women and three men and played some the most off-kiltered dance music this side of DEVO. Best song: “Rock Lobster”

14. Loretta Lynn. Ms. Lynn’s influence on society was solidified decades ago with the film based on her life A Coalminer’s Daughter. And, her influence on country is undeniable. But, when Jack White gave her a production boost in the Aughts, her stature among rock stars became clear. Best song: “The Pill”

13. Suzi Quatro. This Detroit native had to go to the U.K. in order to find stardom. No matter that she found a lukewarm reception in her homeland, because it seems that every female star in her wake was influenced by her. Plus, can we really continue to deny Leather Tuscadero a spot in the Hall? Best song: “Devil Gate Drive”

12. Sade. By the mid-80s, some were burned out on the whole synthesizer thing. Along came Sade Adu and her band Sade to bring some smooth jazz to the mix. Her music continues down the same path, but it is the confidence of her vocals that grow each time the band releases a new album in a new decade. It’s about time for Sade to release a new one. Best song: “The Sweetest Taboo”

11. Salt-n-Pepa. The most successful all-female rap group remains the most influential as well. No one that has followed in their wake could have done so without Salt, Pepa and their DJ Spinderella. These ladies blazed the trail that everyone from TLC and Mary J. Blige to Nicki Minaj and Doja Cat have traveled. Best song: “Let’s Talk About Sex”

10. Sylvia Robinson. No, this is not an endorsement for her duo that had one hit. No, Ms. Robinson deserves induction because she (1) founded Sugar Hill Records, one of the first and most successful labels for hip hop, and (2) recorded and released the most important single in hip hop history – the one that started it all – “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang. Most important song: “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang

9. Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldi. Many female rockers came knocking up the hard rock glass ceiling, but it was the diminutive Benatar, with the help of her musical partner and husband Neil Giraldi, who broke through that barrier making all of rock hereafter the realm of anyone talented enough. Best song: “Hell Is for Children”

8. Chic. DON’T LET THE HALL FOOL YOU JUST BECAUSE THEY INDUCTED GUITARIST/PRODUCER NILE RODGERS! Chic was the child of Rodgers AND bassist/producer Bernard Edwards, along with the collaboration of drummer Tony Thompson AND singers Norma Jean Wright, Luci Martin and Alfa Anderson. Remove any of them, and the mix is not quite correct. So, stop the BS and induct the WHOLE band! Best song: “Le Freak”

7. New Order. I probably will always lobby for New Order and Joy Division to be inducted together since they are essentially the same band with keyboardist Ms. Gillian Gilbert replacing the late singer Ian Curtis in the lineup. And, there is precedent for such a combo induction with Parliament/Funkadelic doing it first, followed by The Small Faces and The Faces a decade later. But, New Order realized the promise of Joy Division by combining JD’s darkness with creative dance beats that set dancefloors ablaze worldwide. Best song: “Bizarre Love Triangle”

6. Diana Ross. How can one of rock history’s most successful divas continue to be left out of the Hall? Oh sure, Ms. Ross has been inducted with The Supremes, but her solo career towers over the lofty heights set by her original group. Plus, how can we deny a million or so drag queens their moment in the spotlight? Best song: “I’m Coming Out”

5. Cher. So, how do you top the excitement of a Diana Ross induction? You induct Cher, that’s how! What more does this woman have to prove? She’s had hits with Sonny in the folk-rock genre, struck AM Gold in the early-70s during her tenure on The Sonny & Cher Show, followed by some disco hits in the late-70s, recorded a bombastic duet with Meat Loaf in the early-80s, did her take on hair metal in the laste-80s and got back to dominating the dancefloor in the late-90s? Nothing, I say, except she did cover ABBA songs recently. The woman has done more that enough for all 100 women on this list to be inducted. Best song: “Believe”

4. Mariah Carey. How do you top Cher? You go with the most successful diva of them all, that’s how! And, that woman is Mariah Carey. She has done it all, dominating ballads, 90s R&B, hip hop-influenced dancefloor hits and becoming THE Christmas Queen of all-time. Best song: “Fantasy”

3. The Runaways. In the wake of Suzi Quatro came a LA band of teenage girls who could flat-out rock and write their own music, although they were put together by rock impresario Kim Fowley. They were way ahead of their time with their take on punk and hard rock, as a solo Joan Jett scored a number one song in 1981 with “I Love Rock & Roll” and guitarist Lita Ford became a force during the hair metal days of the late-80s. Best song: “Cherry Bomb”

2. Big Mama Thornton. She originated much of what ended up being called rock and roll on the chitlin circuit in the South that was only for blacks. How can this woman continue to be denied a place in the Hall when it was HER version of “Hound Dog” that Elvis stole the arrangement for his hit? Best song: “Hound Dog”

1. Dolly Parton. If you are a female songwriter and are not familiar with the catalog of Ms. Parton, then you probably will never become a star. Sure, Dolly is country through-and-through, but her attitude is pure rock and roll. She has done it all and is deserving of this recognition. Plus, we could always use some honest-to-goodness good people in the Hall, and Dolly fits the mold. Hell, put her in the Hall simply because she donate a million dollars for COVID-19 vaccine research back when most people had no idea what a virus was. Best song: “Jolene”

There you are folks! The 100 women I feel as though should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Oh, and remember, the Hall is entitled “Rock AND ROLL,” so we gotta have some roll in the form of R&B and rap to go with our rock. Peace.

It’s Thursday, February 3, 2022, and Central Indiana is getting pelted by the first significant snowfall in a few years. I went out a couple of hours ago just to push some snow out of the way for our Shi-Tzus to get outside for their business, and the little snow I moved has been replaced by nearly an equal amount. That means we have gotten somewhere between 6 and 8 inches of the white powdery stuff.

Since we live in the country, I had to make arrangements with a man to plow our driveway. Ten years ago, I would have had to have lined up a guy at the beginning of winter, but since snow seems to be skipping around Indiana, I really had not made those arrangements. But, since we might end up with double digits in snow, then I thought it prudent to get this arrangement finalized before the guy inundated by requests.

Now that I have that aspect of our boring life under control, let’s get back to my list of women who deserve to be immortalized in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

50. MC Lyte. One of the first female MCs of hip hop to have a career that wasn’t a flash-in-the-pan. Best song: “Cold Rock a Party”

49. Kate Bush. I love Kate Bush, who might just be the person on whom Peter Gabriel based his solo career. As her influence continues to grow, I see her backers for induction growing as well. Best song: “Running Up That Hill”

48. Selena. To be honest, I am either too old or too Midwestern to fully grasp Selena’s impact. Hell, if I am totally transparent here, I had not even heard of nor read about her until her tragic and untimely murder. But, I will try to put her contribution in perspective for her impact on the Millennial and Latinx populations. Best song: “I Could Fall in Love”

47. Lucinda Williams. Thank God someone came up with the Americana tag for those musicians equally influenced by folk, country and rock & roll because a great songwriter like Ms. Williams would have simply been lost to time. Instead, we now know that she is truly timeless. Best song: “Can’t Let Go”

46. Bikini Kill. Arguably the best of the Riot Grrrls, Bikini Kill also made some inroads in the mainstream without ever compromising their aggression, venom and unique take on feminism. Best song: “Rebel Girl”

45. June Carter Cash. From the first family of early country, The Carter Family, June blazed an impressive trail as the latter-day muse of her second husband, the immortal Johnny Cash. But June was more than Johnny’s second fiddle. This strong woman was a role model for numerous women rockers over the decades. Plus, she was a first-rate singer, songwriter and musician. Best song: “Juke Box Blues”

44. Alanis Morissette. There is some DNA running through the music of Liz Phair, PJ Harvey and Alanis Morissette. While the first two wrote and recorded raw emotions and music, Morissette struck hard on the mainstream, taking all of us with her. Best song: “You Oughta Know”

43. Dionne Warwick. The great-aunt of Whitney Houston burst onto the scene in the 60s with her soulful blend of smooth R&B, bringing out the urban feel of white bred songwriters like Burt Bacharach & Hal David, Neil Diamond, etc. Best song: “Walk on By”

42. Carole Kaye. This woman was the bassist extraordinaire of the LA session players collectively known as The Wrecking Crew. Ms. Kaye held the bass on a multitude of songs by the likes of Frank Sinatra to The Beach Boys to The Grass Roots to Carpenters, and all places in between. Best album: Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys

41. The Shangri-La’s. I firmly believe that every woman who had hits during the new wave days of the late-70s and early-80s had been influenced by the vocals, music and image of this all-girl group. If we don’t get The Shangri-La’s, then we get a totally different version of Debbie Harry, The B-52’s women, Bananarama and Madonna. These women were street smart and sensitive. Best song: “Remember (Walking in the Sand)”

40. X. Perhaps X is the premier LA punk band, who had something of a Jefferson Airplane-thing going with co-lead singers John Doe and the exquisite Exene. Best Song: “The Hungry Wolf”

39. Patsy Cline. Perhaps Ms. Cline is the greatest female country singer ever. Then again, maybe not. Regardless, she continues to cast a long shadow of all of popular music despite her early death. Best song: “Crazy”

38. Carly Simon. If Carly had only written “You’re So Vain,” she would deserve induction. But, she maintained a high level of songwriting right through her most recent material. Best song: “You’re So Vain”

37. Tracy Chapman. Ms. Chapman was the one artist that transcended the whole neo-folk scene of the 80s. Her debut album remains a landmark in her description of the plight of the inner city. The sad part? This album’s lyrics remain just as true today as they were then. Best song: “Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution”

36. Emmylou Harris. Initially, Emmylou was the counterpoint voice-of-an-angel to Gram Parson’s aching voice on Parson’s two solo albums. Yet, after the untimely death of Parson, Ms. Harris spread her wings to become one of the greatest country artists ever. Best song: “Boulder to Birmingham”

35. Queen Latifah. The most important female voice of the Golden Era of Hip Hop. When Latifah spoke, you HAD to listen. This was a strong woman who wasn’t going to take any shit from anyone. Nothing but respect for the Queen! Best song: “Ladies First”

34. Ella Fitzgerald. How is one of the greatest jazz singers of all time not part of the Early Influences of the Hall of Fame? Tragic! Best song: “Airmail Special”

33. The Marvelettes. One of Motown’s most important early all-women singing groups is STILL not in the Hall. This over-sight needs to be addressed. Best song: “Please Mr. Postman”

32. Mary Wells. I know that Ms. Wells left Motown as the label’s first important artist, but that is no reason to keep her out of the Hall any longer. Her hits kept Motown afloat until the artist dam broke. Best song: “My Guy”

31. Carpenters. I remember when I was a youngster thinking the Carpenters’ music was nothing but schlock. Then, I became an adult and listened to their Singles 1969-1973 album and was blown away by Karen’s voice. The knowing pain she convey butted up against to that perfectly executed music giving the overall sound a tension that is anything BUT schlock. I am a big proponent of their induction. Best song: “Superstar”

30. Sleater-Kinney. These women make up arguably the finest punk band of the 90s, regardless of the gender of the band members. Best song: “One More Hour”

29. TLC. The Supremes of the 90s is highly underrated. This group is loaded with two talented singers and one outstanding MC. Plus, they had a string of hits that is difficult to beat in any decade. Best song: “Waterfalls”

28. Fiona Apple. What is it about the tiniest women being some of the most fearless songwriters and musicians in rock? Ms. Apple took the whole Gen X feminist view and made it her own. Sure, she takes years between albums, but she ALWAYS delivers. Best song: “Criminal”

27. Hole. Courtney Love’s excellent grunge band Hole recorded three outstanding albums while she was in a relationship with Kurt Cobain. Unfortunately, rumors have dogged the band that Cobain wrote everything on them. Who cares!?!? Someone had to record them, and Hole knocked all those songs outta the park. Give the band their due! Best song: “Celebrity Skin”

26. Roberta Flack. What a terrific singer/songwriter thrown into the R&B scene. My opinion is that if Bill Withers is (rightfully) inducted, then Roberta Flack, who is very similar in my book, she be as well. Best song: “Killing Me Softly (With His Song)”

And, now we have 75 women or female-dominated acts who all should be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Stay tuned for my Top 25. Peace.

Today is one of those dates that will have numerologists and conspiracy guessers (they ARE NOT THEORISTS!) going crazy. Today it is February 2, 2022 (2/2/22) and also Groundhog’s Day in the States, another stupid notion that a groundhog can actually predict when Spring will arrive (Duh! March 19! It’s right around the corner or about 6 weeks away, no matter how you paint it.). Supposedly, Trump will be reinstated again today. Oh, yeah, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, one of our favorite distractions announced the nominees for their Class of 2022.

This year’s nominees is stuffed full of deserving acts. That’s right! Each one of them deserve to be inducted. The nominees are Beck, Pat Benatar, Kate Bush, Devo, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Judas Priest, Fela Kuti, MC5, New York Dolls, Dolly Parton, Rage Against the Machine, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, A Tribe Called Quest and Dionne Warwick. This is be one of the most worthy class of inductees since the start of the institution. I will write more on this topic later, mainly because I really need to digest this list a bit more before making any predictions. But, let’s just say, this is a worthy class.

So, while I have left you hanging with my predictions, I think you will be pleasantly surprised to see the names of many women on the Nominees List released today. Whilst I channel the late great Casey Kasem, “On with the countdown!”

75. 7 Year Bitch. In the wake of the Grunge movement called Riot Grrrl, which was the punk movement filtered through feminism. 7YB was one of the leading lights. Best song: “Dead Men Don’t Rape”

74. Richard & Linda Thompson. Richard is one of rock’s best-kept secrets as a guitarist, and Linda’s singing adds a depth to the duo’s music that makes their song-cycles concerning their marriage so painful. Best song: “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight”

73. Carla Thomas. This was THE voice of STAX Records in the beginning. Best song: “Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)”

72. Melissa Etheridge. She singlehandedly brought the blues rock back in vogue in the last-80s. That alone puts her in the Hall. Best song: “Bring Me Some Water”

71. Tori Amos. Ms. Amos took the lyrics of Joni Mitchell and channeled them through a Gen X mentality with a directness and rawness not yet heard. Best song: “Cornflake Girl”

70. The (Dixie) Chicks. Country fans were ready for this trio’s talent level, but they were NOT prepared for the band’s brand of feminism. Best song: “Not Ready to Make Nice”

69. Indigo Girls. This neo-folk duo were one of the leading lights in the 80s neo-folk movement. Best song: “Closer to Fine”

68. Babes in Toyland. Another prominent band from Seattle’s Grunge-influenced Riot Grrrls scene. Best song: “Bruise Violet”

67. Missy Elliott. By the mid-Aughts, Ms. Elliott was probably ranked higher. However, her subsequent silence on the charts may have diminished her ranking. Regardless, she is responsible for some of the sickest beats this century. Best song: “Get Ur Freak On”

66. Cocteau Twins (singer Elizabeth Fraser). This band is responsible for the marriage of post-punk exploration with airy vocals that became a big deal in the 90s. The problem is that the Twins did it better than anyone else.

65. Kylie Minogue. Easily the Madonna of Europe, Minogue has become something of a franchise outside of the USA. She is THE disco diva of the world. Best song: “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”

64. Spice Girls. Love ’em or hate ’em, you gotta give ’em their due. These women branded a new form of feminism for the Millennials. Best song:  “Wannabe”

63. L7. Another Riot Girl entry who just flat out pummel you into submission. Best song: Pretend We’re Dead”

62. The Donnas. Perfected the pop punk sound. Best song: “Take It Off”

61. The Slits. T band were the peers of Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Jam. Peers! Best song: “Typical Girls”

60. Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine. Gloria and her Miami-based Latin dance crew make some great Top 40 Latin-tinged dance hits in the 80s. She was the OG Latin star here in the States. Best song: “Conga”

59. No Doubt (Gwen Stefani). They popularized ska for a brief moment in the 90s, then transformed into one helluva pop/rock band. Best song: “Just a Girl”

58. Sinead O’Connor. Her combination of sensitivity and furiousness was fresh and visionary.  Best song: “Nothing Compares 2 U”

57. Siouxsie & the Banshees. The original Goth rock group that transcended the genre all over the world. Best song: “Hong Kong Garden”

56. Ashford & Simpson (Valerie Simpson). One of the greatest songwriting duos ever, this husband and wife team penned hits for seemingly everyone, then went on to have a very successful singing career. Best song: “Solid”

55. En Vogue. One of the great female vocal groups of all-time. Best song: “Giving Him Something He Can Feel”

54. PJ Harvey. This petite woman packs a mighty wallop with her music and lyrics. Best song: “Rid of Me”

53. Annie Lennox (solo). Launched her solo career by embracing her massively soulful vocals. Best song: “No More ‘I Love Yous'”

52. Fugees (Lauryn Hill). The Fugees rang in a new era of hip hop with their unique Caribbean-influenced sounds. Best songs: “Killing Me Softly”

51. Liz Phair. The original angry woman of the 90s. Best song: “Supernova”

We are halfway through this list. More to follow.

I suspect we will hear which artists made the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee’s list of nominees for possible induction later this year. As a matter of fact, it may even be tomorrow. Since the Class of 2021 had more women and minorities inducted than most of the other past classes, especially in recent years, it makes one hope that we will see more of the same trends this year. After all, John Sykes, who once was a big name with MTV, witnessed his career and power explode after his network began playing the videos of all races of artists.

In the recent past, I made a list of worthy women for induction into the RRHOF. And since we have had Carole King, Tina Turner, The Go-Go’s, among others, inducted, I felt it was a good time to make my updated list the 100 Important Women in Rock History Who Should Be Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This four-day blog entry should definitely spark some discussion. (I will break into my series to bring you up-to-date analysis of the Committee’s list when it is released (actually, tomorrow’s date of 2/2/22 is up on the Hall’s website currently). Stay tuned!

Here we go!

100. Connie Francis. Ms. Francis was the biggest selling female artist during the Fifties, so why not give her an induction for Musical Excellence? Best Song: “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool”

99. Celine Dion. Just like Connie Francis, I really am ambivalent about Celine’s prospects for induction. However, she is one of the divas of the Nineties. Best song: “Because You Loved Me”

98. Barbra Streisand. Here’s the third of the divas that are borderline acts for induction. But, if the Hall is indeed a living and breathing institution about music, then perhaps the diva of all diva, Bah-bra must have a place. Best song: “A Woman in Love”

97. Buffy Sainte-Marie. This folkie was one of the originals in the Village that spawned Dylan, Baez, etc. Best song: “Soldier Blue”

96. Astrud Gilberto. This jazz chanteuse lent her sultry vocals to many jazz hits of the 60s. Best song: “The Girl from Ipanema”

95. Bette Midler. Before Midler became an Oscar-nominated actress, she was one of the more popular artists in the NYC underground of the 70s. Best song: “The Rose”

94. Suzanne Vega. Vega spearheaded something of a neo-folkie scene in the mid-80s. Best song: “Luka”

93. Sheila E. Arguably she was Prince’s most successful protégé while holding done the drums and percussion in his second high profile band. Best song: “The Glamorous Life”

92. Fairport Convention (singer Sandy Denny). This English folk rock band was more of a UK phenomenon, but their influence, especially on Led Zeppelin III, was all over the British rock scene. Best song: “Who Knows Where the Time Goes?”

91. Shakira. This Latina songstress knocked down the wall for more pop success for other Latinx artists. Best song: “Hips Don’t Lie”

90. Janis Martin. She was marketed as the female Elvis for her similarities in her musical sound. Too bad she ran into so much chauvinism in the 50s. Best song: “Drugstore Rock ‘n’ Roll”

89. Julie London. Since Lana Del Rey has burst onto the scene a decade ago, music critics have been re-evaluating the music of Ms. London. After all, she invented the whole musical noir genre that Del Rey has been mining. Best song: “Cry Me a River”

88. Shonen Knife. Wanna know where the whole pop punk thing of the 90s began, look no further than these Japanese ladies. Back in the 80s, they were combining the great bubblegum sounds of the late-60s and early-70s with the rawking roll of early Ramones. Best song: “Twist Barbie”

87. Björk. This daring Icelander hit the alternative rock scene back in the mid-80s as the vocalist for the great underground band Sugarcubes. By the 90s, she went solo and completely cut loose while creating music by dabbling in all types of genres. Best song: “Hyperballad”

86. Anita Baker. In the aftermath of Whitney Houston’s and Sade’s simultaneous successes in the 80s, American R&B continued to move into that Quiet Storm realm that Luther Vandross and Freddie Jackson were dominating. Enter Anita Baker and her smooth, throaty vocals that captured the world. Best song: “Sweet Love”

85. Aaliyah. Once the protégé of convicted child molester R. Kelly, Aaliyah was just beginning to discover her own voice in her early 20s when she tragically died. We’ll never know what she would have become, but the music she left behind was awfully seductive. Best song: “Try Again”

84. Odetta. Another one of the folkie greats of the 60s. Best song: “Hit or Miss”

83. Robyn. She began her career as yet-another-disposable-dancefloor-queen only to develop into one of the most creative forces in the post-Donna Summer/Madonna disco world. Best song: “Show Me Love”

82. Bananarama. They wanted to be a white English version of the Supremes. What they ended up being was the savior of the girl group in the disguise of new wave sexpots. Best song: “Robert De Niro’s Waiting”

81. 10, 000 Maniacs (vocalist Natalie Merchant). After the initial commercial success of R.E.M., record companies began to scour college towns throughout the States searching for other bands that mixed literary lyrics and folk-rock music. This band was the best of the second wave of post-R.E.M. college rock. Best song: “Like the Weather”

80. Vixen. You would have thought that hair metal would have brought out more female musicians since the young ladies all ready knew about big hair. Unfortunately, the bands we did get were nowhere near as talented as Vixen. These women could give any of the male-based bands a run for their money. Best song: “Edge of a Broken Heart”

79. Roseanne Cash. The daughter of the Man in Black Johnny Cash is a force to be reckoned with all by herself. She alone made brought her namesake’s badass toughness into the feminine world. And music changed for the better because of Roseanne. Best song: “Seven Year Ache”

78. Tammi Terrell. She was one of Motown’s up-and-coming queens. Initially, Ms. Terrell was a duet partner of Marvin Gaye, as the duo had several hit songs. Motown was just beginning to move Terrell into solo success when she collapsed in the arms of Gaye while performing in a concert. Tammi had an aneurism and later passed away. So, we will never really know if her solo success could have matched her enormous talent. Best song: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – with Marvin Gaye

77. Tanya Tucker. She burst onto the country scene as a teen in the 70s, as if she was paving the way for the upcoming Outlaw Movement. Her early records continue to influence young country artists over the half-century since her debut. Best song: “Lizzie and the Rain Man”

76. Fanny. These ladies were the first all-female band to play their own instruments and write their own songs. They blazed the trail for The Runaways, The Go-Go’s, The Bangles, Vixen and all of the other all-female bands who followed. Best song: “Butter Boy”

And there you have it. 25 down, and 75 to go. let’s see who else made the cut. Peace!