A Look At The RRHoF Class Of 2012
Blog: Music For Old(er) Folks
December 9, 2011
Well, they're in. We're going to take a quick look at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame's class of 2012, which was announced earlier this week. We'll start with a quick peek at the performers. It's a quick peek, because that isn't where the good stuff is. Inductees are in bold.
Guns 'N' Roses brings up the musical question "Why?" They play competent rock, and are probably kind to small children and dogs, but that's not enough in my view. And unlike The Red Hot Chili Peppers or "The Beastie Boys", they really have done nothing to advance the cause of Rock & Roll. Might as well have nominated Grand Funk. Besides, in this 3 for 1 sale of groups I don't really like, they have the destinction of being the one I definately would not have picked.
So we move on to the singer/songwriters that made it, Donovan and Laura Nyro. I think they're both talented and deserve to be in the RRHoF BUT, Donovan deserves to be in the Peerformance catagory. He is a great songwriter, but he's also a masterful performer with a sales and creativity record to back it up. A 10+ year track record ranging from folk to pop to rock, all of it pulled off well.
Laura Nyro on the other hand, was a terrific writer. The female Jim Webb, Nyro's songs populated the rock charts in the same era. "Eli's Coming", "Stone Soul Picnic", "Wedding Bell Blues" and other songs were all over the radio....by other artists. A competent performer, I think I refered to her as Carol King without "Tapestry". So what is she doing in the performance catagory? I haven't the foggiest. She should have been inducted as a songwriter.
Our last inductee is the 2 for 1 package, The Small Faces/The Faces. Everyone's focusing on the Rod Stewart group ("....this will be Rod's second induction...." read a number of news reports), and forgetting the Steve Marriott led moddies that brought you....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_fdrCTroSc&feature=related
Marriott left, joining Peter Frampton to form Humble Pie, and The "Small" Faces recruted unmall Rod Stewart and Ron Wood to become the bar band that backed Stewart's "solo" efforts and The Faces LP's. Both bands deserve a shot separately, but I'll accept them together with no problem.
NOW THE GOOD STUFF. I sometimes wonder if the RRHoF needs "elections". With the exception of Leon Russel last year, the hall generally does better with their non voted awards, and this year is no exception. They kick off with....
Freddie King. To be inducted as an Early Influence. How so? It's generally accepted that John Mayall's Blues Breakers was the best British Blues band in the mid 60's and made Eric Clapton a star. What was his signature song?
You guessed it. It's King's "Hideaway". Clapton left The Bluesbreakers, to be replaced by Peter Green ("The Little Green God") and the band didn't miss a beat. Green's signature song?
You got it. King's early 60's recordings were a major influence on most all of the British blues players of the era.
The late Don Kirshner, also made it in. Called "The Man With The Golden Ear", Kirshner had a hand in The Archies and The Monkees, and was the music publisher behind Brill Building writers like Neil Sedaka, Carol King, Neil Diamond and others. But he's best known for The Don Kirshner Rock Concerts, a long running late night performance show that highlited many of the "big" acts of the early 70's. I'm not sure he's deserving the Ahmed Ertegum "Non Performer" award, but I'm not sure he isn't, either.
Definately worthy of "The Award For Musical Excellence are producers Cosimo Matassa, Tom Dowd and Glyn Johns. New Orleans based Matassa recorded many acts (Fats Domino, Little Richard, Lee Dorsey, early Dr. John and others that were so critical to the beginnings of rock and roll.
Tom Dowd as a producer/engineer was the heart and soul of Atlantic Records in their hayday, working with Atlantic artists as diverse as The Drifters, Coasters, Bobby Darin, J. Giles and The Rascals. He is also credited with pioneering multi track recording, when he conviced Atlantic to install an 8-track recording system in their studio.
And if you've heard much 70's rock you've heard Glyn John's work. Produced and mixed The Who's "Who's Next", and was a MAJOR influence on The Faces' "A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse", and helmed recording sessions for Stewart, Georgie Fame, Clapton, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Steve Miller, The Clash and a mess of others.
Now you know why I said the unreported half of the list is almost better than the performers. Were there mistakes, definately. After much thought, and a tunghlashing by the SoulfulDetroit.com gang, I now feel The Spinners should have made it. And The Miracles and The Marvelettes still haven't made it, but so be it. This crowd isn't too bad, which is a polite way of saying it could have been worse.
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rodneydaut 5 months, 2 weeks ago
A Look At The RRHoF Class Of 2012
Really enjoyed the video clips included in this blog. I love Itchycoo PARK and have heard it many times, but never saw the band play it either live or on TV. Loved hearing the Freddie King bits... oh how cool it would be to see live vedio of these recordings.
psychoteacher 5 months, 2 weeks ago
A Look At The RRHoF Class Of 2012
This 40 year old video is justification enough for the Faces entry.
The Faces - I'm Losing You by eltonb
and according to Ian McLagen Rod is actually going to be there. I like his take on the whole thing...
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/faces-and-small-faces-keyboardist-ian-mclagan-talks-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-induction-20111207
douglas 5 months, 2 weeks ago
A Look At The RRHoF Class Of 2012
I agree with Ian about the two Faces being completely different bands, and I also think maybe they should have been submitted for inclusion separately. Without Steve Marriott (who died in '91) I'm a little afraid that the Small Faces will be submerged in the induction ceremony. And I hope Ronnie Lane looks down from above with a smile.....
psychoteacher 5 months, 2 weeks ago
A Look At The RRHoF Class Of 2012
I would say that there is a "Slim Chance" about Ronnie Lane, but talk about a forgotten figure that really diserves to be there. An intresting irony about Glenn Matlock being his replacement is that Steve Jones and Paul Cook of The Pistols were heavily influenced by Faces and some of their early equipment was stolen from the band.
douglas 4 months, 4 weeks ago
A Look At The RRHoF Class Of 2012
I mentioned my concerns that Rod would steal The Faces thunder. A good example would be the jock on KEYK-FM who said she would "....play a song by a new inductee into the RRHoF....". Turned out to be Rod doing "Downtown Train".
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