My top choices not yet mentioned, alphabetically:
Abba-Have been nominated, and gave the 70's such a wonderful, pleasing tone all over radio throughout the world. The 2 guys may have controlled the whole project, but their great soft rock/pop/easy listening/disco blend should be worth consideration.
B-52's-Were they on the ballot last time (the first time they could qualify)? It must be understood they were quite goofy, but they made 80's new wave simply FUN.
Blondie-Another early force of new wave, surprised they didn't go in alongside Elvis Costello and Talking Heads. Plus many forget they had four #1's from 1979-81. What more to say--they belong.
Jackson Browne-I believe nominated as long as 6 or 7 years ago, and he's still not in. A great talent in singing/songwriting to say the least.
Jerry Butler-The Impressions are in. Curtis Mayfield solo is in. Even similar R & B performers are in like Solomon Burke. PLEASE, why NOT Jerry? LONG overdue.
Glen Campbell-Probably in the Country Hall, but had a great run of pop hits from 1967-1978. To me, almost the same caliber as Neil Diamond, not to mention a prominent session guitarist and vocalist-hey, he sings lead on the "heavily-favored-by-the-Click" "My world fell down" by Sagittarius, unquestionably one of the 60's best that's still too overlooked. Give Glen a shot.
Cheap Trick-Maybe in the same boat as REO and Styx, but they were a notch above in producing a wonderful, unique power-rock sound. Excellent songwriting, unforgettable guitar chords, and most of all, still around.
Cher-OK, I could get laughed on this, but just one word--LONGEVITY. She has been a force in the music scene for a very long time, and she should be at least CONSIDERED.
Chic-After Mr. Mellencamp, my 2nd most-wanted pick. No one, and I mean, NO ONE gave disco music a well-polished, greatly-orchestrated sound. Nile's guitar and Bernard's bass just had such a groove. Andyes, I was QUITE disappointed they failed entry after first year of nomination. And YL never added them to their big list of music acts for reference. Even the three guys gave the rock project Power Station some ATTITUDE. Now with both Bernard and Tony gone, I will take MAJOR stands, possibly online petitions to get Chic in the Hall ASAP!!! And since the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" sampled Chic, it's only fair Chic go in before the rap pioneers. PLEASE, CHIC MUST GO IN!!!!
Foreigner-just, plain, in-your-face, no-nonsense rock the way it's meant to sound. Many know how much I've always liked them. Lou's voice was simply multi-faceted, and Mick Jones was a very underrated guitar genius. I'll be waiting every year just to see them FINALLY nominated...
Peter Frampton-He's been around a long time, even in early groups like the Herd and Humble Pie. I thought "I'm in you" was a GREAT change of pace. Been rockin' with the best for over 35 years--please agree with me.
J. Geils Band-A great harmonica-boogie blues band that's nothing short of a glaring omission. Always loved their music.
Genesis-Sorry, Sat, but these guys need SERIOUS consideration before Yes, even Tull and ELP. Maybe a bit commercial in the 80's, but they were a fantastic progressive group in the Gabriel era when they were certainly more unique. I'm amazed they hardly ever get mention. VERY long overdue.
Lesely Gore-Defined (in a way) the "girl group" sound of the 60's. Many different types of tunes in her hit career, I can't figure out why she hardly ever gets considered. She is NOT just "It's My Party", critics!
KC & the Sunshine Band-2nd to Chic with giving disco an original sound. Could be laughed on, but they had many tunes so many of us kids danced to! KC wrote the first GREAT, TRUE disco song, "Rock your baby" by George McCrae, an eternal critical fave.
Kraftwerk--Simply put, gave synth music its early origins. Yet I feel Depeche Mode will go in before them, and that would be a gross overlooking by critics, since the Mode have often stated they WERE influenced by Kraftwerk!
Gordon Lightfoot-A most unique folkish singer, should be considered in the same camp as Jim Croce. He's been in the scene so long, I don't know why he doesn't get thought about too much. Maybe hard-nosed critics dismiss him as too mellow.
Marvelettes-If Martha & the Vandellas are in, why not them? They DID have Billboard's first pop #1 hit on a Motown label after all! Should be considered even before Mary Wells.
Don McLean-So overlooked today it's not funny. People just want to remember him for "American Pie" and it's a major shame. So much more to this guy. Another of the great 70's singers/songwriters. Please consider.
John Mellencamp-Was he nominated last time? Anyway, he would complete the hat trick of those "All-American" rockers. First Bruce, than Bob Seger. He should be in VERY soon, no exceptions. Next year would be most wonderful.
Steve Miller Band-I'm very surprised few people ever want to even think of him in the Hall. A most unique bluesy guitar talent, not to mention all the hits. His college cohort, coming up soon, are just among the very elite. LONG overdue.
Monkees-According to my book, they're NOT in??!!
Extremely hard to fathom, despite their comic antics. I'm getting into their many album cuts, and there's much more creativity beyond the hits. i'M very AMAZED THEY'RE NOT THERE--IN NEXT YEAR OR WE'LL BE IN A BALL OF CONFUSION! (sorry caps)
Ohio Players--one word--FUNK. No one did it like them in the 1970's. Will be surprised if like groups get in before them, like Cameo and the Gap Band, yet the Bar-Kays did have longevity...
Alan Parsons Project--although primarily a studio outfirt, Mr. Parsons, simply put, is an understated studio wizard.
So many different styles in their music. Would be ecstatic to see them in, but it could take a while...
Boz Scaggs-I think this choice is obvious. I've never heard any critical backlash against this man, he writes most of his own music, and he developed an unmatched singing/songwriting style in the 70's. He was on hiatus for some of the 80's, otherwise he's had quite a career for over 35 years. My 3rd most wanted choice, very glaring omission myself.
Neil Sedaka-all right. Laugh. But he's had a deserved long career of music, and a top-notch songwriter/pianist. He's MUCH more deserving than other teen idols, even Freddy Cannon and Lou Christie. Hey, Bobby Darin went in back in 1990!
Steppenwolf-the American equivalent of Deep Purple in some ways; early popular pioneer sound of hard rock. And classics to boot. Can't understand it.
Van Halen-this could be laughed at as well, but more deserving than REO. In-your-face hard rock sound, Eddie and Diamond Dave are wonderful characters just in themselves. Their brand of rock that sounded rather "loud" in the 70's was accepted well by the masses in the 1980's.
Steve Winwood-nothing short of a glaring omission. At least one of my top 5 most wanted, with performances in all those groups, especially Traffic and Blind Faith. A most fantastic distinctive keyboard player. Must go in shortly, and VERY shortly.
--whew--
Extremely hard to fathom, despite their comic antics. I'm getting into their many album cuts, and there's much more creativity beyond the hits. i'M very AMAZED THEY'RE NOT THERE--IN NEXT YEAR OR WE'LL BE IN A BALL OF CONFUSION! (sorry caps)
