ADVERTISEMENT

OT: Why are the B52's not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

If you do that, the first class entering after the change would be awesome. Beethoven, Mozart, Bach ......
That is a great way to look at it. Open it up unlimited spots. This way they could largely correct what has previously infuriated people like me.
I listen to a bit of everything, however unless you are counting the Music sampling, rap does not belong in a Rock N Roll HOF. Since it is already done, I say expand it this way.
 
I agree, Lightfoot was one of my favorite singers back in the 70s , early 80s. Back in those days, he was considered “rock” as were most musical acts. From Jim Croce , James Taylor, Carol King to America, Steely Dan to Deep Purple , Led Zeppelin. It was all rock. I don’t think the rise of all the musical labels, sub genres has helped the overall quality of music.

Folk rock was an established genre then, no?

My folks listened to lots of folk rock when I was growing up - Lightfoot, Croce, Taylor, King in particular stand out in my musical memories - and I developed a love of the genre (just wouldn't admit to myself I liked my parents' junk until adulthood : ). Has been a good 15 years or so for it.
 
Rock is a general classification. Do the Beach Boys, James Taylor, Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger better fit into some more narrow classification that Gordon Lightfoot doesn't ?

Gordon Lightfoot is a first ballot HOF guy. Longevity, mega-hits, songwriting, you name it. He's #1 most deserving among those listed above, by far.
Didn’t Pete Seeger was in - if so, he definitely does not belong. This from a big fan who saw him concert a couple of times.
 
I would put the Beach Boys as the #1 American group
BAC - I’m going to see Brian Wilson in October. I was very reluctant, I’m quite aware he lost his fastball long ago. But as a group, we agreed we wanted to see a legend maybe one last time. It’s not The Beach Boys, but Al Jardine is with him. And Mike Love is a douche anyway
 
  • Like
Reactions: bac2therac
Folk rock was an established genre then, no?

My folks listened to lots of folk rock when I was growing up - Lightfoot, Croce, Taylor, King in particular stand out in my musical memories - and I developed a love of the genre (just wouldn't admit to myself I liked my parents' junk until adulthood : ). Has been a good 15 years or so for it.
I don’t think it was called “folk rock” back then. It’s a long time ago but generally most popular music at that time was considered “rock”, you certainly didn’t have multiple sub genres of popular music. There was rock, jazz, blues-R&B, country, classical as major genres of music.
 
The question concerning folk-rock, and country-rock as well, is really interesting to me. Bob Dylan, the Band, the Byrds are no brainers. But then folkies like John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Tom Rush, Peter, Paul, and Mary haven’t written/performed a rock song ever. How far do you stretch the boundaries? Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Lyle Lovett. They’re not rock but neither are a lot of people in.
 
George….your topic standards don’t matter. Yellow submarines, pink Cadillacs, blue suede shoes and endlessly similar surf songs are ok but a song about a ship that sank is disqualifying ? Ok that is brilliant
 
  • Like
Reactions: RUTGERS95
I don’t think it was called “folk rock” back then. It’s a long time ago but generally most popular music at that time was considered “rock”, you certainly didn’t have multiple sub genres of popular music. There was rock, jazz, blues-R&B, country, classical as major genres of music.
Folk rock as a term was in use back in the 60’s - probably coined around the time the Byrds had hits with Mr. Tambourine Man an Turn, Turn, Turn.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rutger80
Folk rock as a term was in use back in the 60’s - probably coined around the time the Byrds had hits with Mr. Tambourine Man an Turn, Turn, Turn.
I would like to find out when that term began to be widely used. I’m 63 and don’t seem to recall such distinctions being made back in the late 60s or early 70s, I was obviously young. For instance , the term “southern rock”…didn’t exist when the Allman Brothers emerged in ‘69/70. Later, their record label started to sell “southern rock” around ‘73/74 purely for commercial reasons. The band members to a man didn‘t like the term and thought it was limiting and not what they were about. They were about music and not about regional pride.
 
I would like to find out when that term began to be widely used. I’m 63 and don’t seem to recall such distinctions being made back in the late 60s or early 70s, I was obviously young. For instance , the term “southern rock”…didn’t exist when the Allman Brothers emerged in ‘69/70. Later, their record label started to sell “southern rock” around ‘73/74 purely for commercial reasons. The band members to a man didn‘t like the term and thought it was limiting and not what they were about. They were about music and not about regional pride.
Looked it up - June 1965 to describe Byrds music.
 
Also Simon and Garfunkel used term in lyrics of A Simple Desultory Philippic on the Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme album released in 66
 
BAC - I’m going to see Brian Wilson in October. I was very reluctant, I’m quite aware he lost his fastball long ago. But as a group, we agreed we wanted to see a legend maybe one last time. It’s not The Beach Boys, but Al Jardine is with him. And Mike Love is a douche anyway

I never got to see them but not sure id want to see them at their ages
 
If maiden and judas priest can't get in... then f the b-52s and their 2 hits.
Can anyone make a cogent argument as to why those two are not in ? Gotta be something personal. I know Bruce Dickinson made some dismissive comments about the R&R HF in the past. Can't blame him.
 
Nope. “Dancing Queen“ was their apex and, while a catchy tune, is not a particularly good song. Lame sappy, vaguely pedophile-esque, lyrics and all.

Let’s examine the facts. Here’s how the song starts.

Ooh
You can dance
You can jive

“You can jive”? Seriously?

I rest my case.
 
vaguely pedophile-esque

Depends on the country and state. Mountaineer fans wouldn't think so and Afghanistan is busy reintroducing 12 as the age of "consent" Consent being very, very loosely applied.
 
This is a disgrace

Was watching an early performance on the Tube the other day and it revived my interest in them. Their energy and creativity is without question but their breadth of their catalog and the fact that they produced 2 of the most iconic songs both very difrerent from each other one decade a part. One a new wave/ surf punk opus and then a 80s pop classic. In between all kinds of great songs. Throw in the longevity of 40 years plus on the touring scene

I see they have been eligible since 2004..wtf is going on here
I saw them twice in the early ‘80s in Phila. The performances were electric. Everyone was dancing, including security guards!
 
#1 American band-Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Behind:

The Beach Boys
Aerosmith
Springsteen and the E Street
Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble
The Temptations
The Doors
Doobie Brothers
Allman Brothers

I'll stop at 8.
 
All the bands you mention are terrific but I think CCR has always been underrated. For a 2-3 year period in the late 60s the only band maybe putting out better music was the Beatles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TM94goRU
Love Shack, the only song on our do not play list at our wedding. Not because it had any special meaning to us(like a past relatiinship) just that it is an awful, annoying song
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jm0513
All the bands you mention are terrific but I think CCR has always been underrated. For a 2-3 year period in the late 60s the only band maybe putting out better music was the Beatles.


Doors
Cream
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Led Zeppelin
Rolling Stones
Savoy Brown
Jethro Tull
Mountain
 
In terms of popularity, I agree with Guitar that CCR was far ahead of Cream, Allmans, Hendrix,Tull and some others at the time I think The Doors, Hendrix, Joplin, etc have become more popular over time partly due to careers cut short
 
In terms of popularity, I agree with Guitar that CCR was far ahead of Cream, Allmans, Hendrix,Tull and some others at the time I think The Doors, Hendrix, Joplin, etc have become more popular over time partly due to careers cut short

Sorry, '67 - '69 Cream and Hendrix were way ahead of CCR. So was The Doors. Strange Days the song particularly (Jan. '68) and the album caught what was going on as well as anyone Led Zep I ('68) and Led Zep II ('69) were ahead of CCR as well. And what CCR song matched the Stones "Gimme Shelter"?

And I forgot, but add Sly and the Family Stone to the list.

Edited to add- Although it turned out to not be so good, it was Hendrix who closed Woodstock, not CCR.
 
Last edited:
Can anyone make a cogent argument as to why those two are not in ? Gotta be something personal. I know Bruce Dickinson made some dismissive comments about the R&R HF in the past. Can't blame him.
The Hall is privately owned and from what I've read, the owners heavily use their own opinions on who or what kind of music they like vs. stuff they don't.

Not the way to form a Hall of Fame.

Steve Miller got inducted and let the Hall have it on their policies and exploitation of those who geth in ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umI7MkgwS7M
 
  • Like
Reactions: RUaMoose
I wouldn't include the B52's in the bands "that often sound kinda samey"... The B52's sound was original and unique. One of the reasons for that (but not the only reason) was that Ricky Wilson's guitar playing style, and his unusual tuning (often using only 4 strings on his guitar, skipping the middle 2 strings), didn't sound the same as anyone else. Sadly, he died of AIDS complications in 1985.
Keith Richards uses five strings. U2, Goo Goo Dolls and others use alternate tuning. I can't say I was ever taken with B52s guitar. Its a cute band typical of 80s. You know its 80s as soon as you hear it if you were around. They are the music version of the pink Izod polo shirt with the collar popped-up lol
 
How about Huey Lewis and the News?

Their early work was a little too new wave for my tastes, but when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.

In '87, Huey released Fore, their most accomplished album. I think their undisputed masterpiece is "Hip to be Square", a song so catchy, most people probably don't listen to the lyrics. But they should, because it's not just about the pleasures of conformity, and the importance of trends, it's also a personal statement about the band itself.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TM94goRU
Sorry, '67 - '69 Cream and Hendrix were way ahead of CCR. So was The Doors. Strange Days the song particularly (Jan. '68) and the album caught what was going on as well as anyone Led Zep I ('68) and Led Zep II ('69) were ahead of CCR as well. And what CCR song matched the Stones "Gimme Shelter"?

And I forgot, but add Sly and the Family Stone to the list.

Edited to add- Although it turned out to not be so good, it was Hendrix who closed Woodstock, not CCR.
Obviously Cream and the Stones are not American. You ask what CCR song matched "Gimme Shelter"? I'll give you 2: Proud Mary and Fortunate Son.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RUTGERS95
Keith Richards uses five strings. U2, Goo Goo Dolls and others use alternate tuning. I can't say I was ever taken with B52s guitar. Its a cute band typical of 80s. You know its 80s as soon as you hear it if you were around. They are the music version of the pink Izod polo shirt with the collar popped-up lol
Your previous post stated:
"They were a good band, but the 80s had a lot of good bands that often sound kinda samey. Their members were probably interchangeable with each other."


My point was to offer the opposing viewpoint, that the B52's often didn't sound the same as other 80's bands, especially early in their career. Other late 70's/early 80's bands did not have songs that sounded like Planet Claire, Rock Lobster, Private Idaho, etc....If you took members of whatever other 80's bands you're referring to and gave them B52's songs to perform (before the B52's performed them), the sound and style of those songs would be very different, and most likely nowhere near as fun...So I still don't agree with your opinion that the members of 80's bands were interchangeable, especially when it includes the B52's... Just my opinion and I realize that you and some others don't agree.

I'm not sure what the other guitarists you've mentioned (who've used one of the many variations of alternate or open tunings for certain songs), have to do with my belief that Ricky Wilson's playing had a personal sound and style that added to the unique B52's sound.... Leo Kottke, Michael Hedges, and Elmore James, for example, all used forms of open tuning at times, but that doesn't mean that their guitar sound and style can't sound very different from each other's, or from other guitarists' who use various alternate tunings, or from Ricky Wilson's.

Obviously there are many alternate or open types of guitar tunings, and they often sound a lot different from one another. So because many other guitarists (including myself) have used alternate or open tunings for certain songs, it doesn't mean that RIcky Wilson's playing style, his guitar and amp sound settings, and his use of only the top 2 and bottom 2 strings with a non-standard tuning, wasn't one of the things that made the B52's sound unique and fresh at the time. (at least for their first 3 albums, up to 1985 when Wilson was still alive, which is when I liked their work the most). Certainly Ricky Wilson wasn't a guitar virtuoso, but I still feel that his guitar sound and style with its upbeat rhythm, along with the band's signature vocals and keyboards, helped give the music of the B52's its own identity.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: bac2therac
Obviously Cream and the Stones are not American. You ask what CCR song matched "Gimme Shelter"? I'll give you 2: Proud Mary and Fortunate Son.

In the post I responded to he was speaking in terms of popularity, and was not limited to American bands. So I stand by my response. Totally disagree on Proud Mary, and will agree to disagree on "Fortunate Son". Perhaps the rules regarding the draft (I was 1A my freshman winter and spring in college with no student deferment and it was my year of eligibility) affected my opinion.
 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT