Rock Hall Finally Admits Cat Stevens, Ronstadt, Hall & Oates, Makes up Award for E Street Band
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame years ago refused to induct the E Street Band with Bruce Springsteen. But now, after considerable leaning on from within, the Hall of Fame has had to make up an award for Springsteen’s amazing band. They’ll get a Special Merit Award, cooked up in a political backstage maneuver. It’s too little, too late.
Also in that category is make up time for a bunch of acts that should have been in long ago: Linda Ronstadt, Hall & Oates, and Cat Stevens. Better late than never.
Long time stragglers KISS also made the cut this year, as did Peter Gabriel. Nirvana made it on their first year of eligibility.
Also being inducted , for no apparent reason, are the original managers of the Beatles and Rolling Stones, respectively Brian Epstein and Andrew Loog Oldham.
Who’s still not in: dozens of producers who made hit records and created the sounds of stars in the 60s and 70s including Phil Ramone, Richard Perry, Tommy LiPuma, Russ Titelman, and Nile Rodgers.
Also artists like The Moody Blues and Chicago, Billy Preston and Mary Wells. Sting is not in as an individual artist. Bon Jovi remains locked out. So does Chubby Checker.
But the rock hall is running out of inductees. The year of eligibility for new nominees is now 1989. Music was in a fallow period for most of the 90s. In tact, it still is. The choices are getting slimmer and slimmer. This last minute concocted award for the E Street Band speaks volumes about the mistakes made in the past.
Linda Ronstadt deserved to be in the Hall of Fame the first year she was eligible. Her career has far exceeded the boundaries of rock and roll but what she achieved within those boundaries was significant. She was one of the pioneers of the country/rock movement that dominated music in the 70’s. Aside from all of her hits, she championed new songwriters and talent who went on to greatness themselves.Countless singers and musicians cite her as an influence in their careers. Most importantly, she has one of the best set of pipes of her generation.
I can answer that. She’s a freaking great singer who had two dozen top 10 hits. That’s why. She influenced generations of other singers. She also “discovered” and promoted the Eagles, Jackson Browne, Andrew Gold, Warren Zevon. And covered lots of songwriters who became famous. She also revived Buddy Holly. She’s smart, funny, and beautiful. Anything else?
special award for the E street band??? why there not that great
… Hall & Oats and Cat Stevens wrote and played their own songs. Linda Ronstadt’s career consisted mostly of doing covers. But she is an outspoken lefty and that put her over the top.
Why does Linda Ronstadt deserve to be in the Hall?
Linda Ronstadt should be in the RRHOF??? C’mon. That’s just as silly as Public Enemy and RUN DMC.
The problem is not that the choices are getting slimmer, it’s the people making the choices are old and out of touch.