NO ... HE'S NOT QUITE HALFWAY THERE .... (NO-OH! SHOULDN'T HAVE A PRAYER!): While voting remains open, the trends have been pretty consistent. Based on 63 voters, and with the RRHOF generally requiring 50% support to induct the top 5-7 names, the ALOTT5MA readership would only induct the Beastie Boys (57), Tom Waits (49) and Neil Diamond (42). Bon Jovi (31) falls just shy of 50% with LL Cool J (22) and Alice Cooper (20) respectably thereafter, and no other artist has more than 20% support.
We'll be doing some more Keltner pieces over the next few weeks -- I'll take on Jewish Elvis, and there's been a request for the not-short-listed Hall and Oates. But if you voted for Donna Summer (11), Darlene Love (10), Dr. John (8), Chic (5), Donovan (5), The J. Geils Band (5), Laura Nyro (5), Joe Tex (3) or Chuck Willis (1), you've got a perfect opportunity now to convince us why you're right and we're philistines.
I voted for Darlene Love because I'm a huge sucker for her annual Christmas performance on David Letterman. I'm also such a big fan of the Phil Spector Christmas album that I think anyone who had anything to do with its creation - and didn't later get charged with murder - deserves enshrinement (though I realize that would exclude the chief contributor). She also has the endorsement of Bruce Springsteen. Doesn't that count for something?
ReplyDeleteI would have voted for Hall and Oates. Blue eyed soul was awesome.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of Bon Jovi getting 6 times the number of votes as Chic is proof either that the readership of this blog is whiter than white or has the narrowest definition of Rock 'n' Roll imaginable. On Nile Rodgers' rhythm guitar influence and ability alone they belong, but you add in their output (not just the big hits on Hits Vol.1, but the amazingly supple "hits" of their late period), productions by Chic (Sister Sledge, Diana Ross) and Nile Rodgers' production history (Bowie's Let's Dance, Madonna's Like a Virgin, Duran Duran The Reflex, B-52's Cosmic Thing). Bon Jovi and Alice Cooper more deserving? Just because they play a narrow definition of rock and roll? Very sad.
ReplyDelete1. Yes, we're pretty darn white.
ReplyDelete2. I think there's a definitional question -- is this the Chic-as-band honor, or can you fold into it everything that Rodgers (and to a lesser extent Edwards) did afterwards? Obviously, the case is much stronger with the latter.
1. Adam, don't get me wrong, I love this site (thanks to Alan Sepinwell for sending me here). But votes like this or the coverage of John Hughes' death are indicative of writers and a readership with blinders on. I believe you said that "every member of my generation knows what the phrase 'A John Hughes Movie" means", which is a statement of amazing insularity. He may have been the voice of middle to upper class white boys of the Eighties (which includes me), but that hardly constitutes a whole generation of people.
ReplyDelete2. Which brings us back to Bon Jovi and Alice Cooper, or even Tom Waits. Not one of these artists has the influence of Chic (the first few years of Rap is filled with Good Times rips and samples). And Nile Rodgers' solo productions are only interesting as arguments for people who think Chic were "just disco." Not one of those albums he produced constitutes the artists best work, but they were hits with people outside Chic's normal audience, which is why they are thought to strengthen the case for Chic.
3. Most importantly, the lyrics from Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments:
<pre>ROCK 'N ROLL HALL OF FAME
Bombs away on the Rock 'n Roll hall of fame
Even if I get indicted I'd probably feel the same
I don't want to see Eric Clapton's stuffed baby
I don't want to see the shotgun of Kurt Cobain
Bombs away bombs away
Cleveland's cool, Cleveland's cool
I don't want to see the liver of David Crosby
I don't want to see all the drugs I couldn't take
I don't want to see collector scum pay
Blow it up, blow it up
Blow it up before Johnny Rotten gets in
Blow it up before Paul Westerberg sits in
Blow it up before Steve Albini gives a speech
Bombs Away Bombs Away
</pre>