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| Elvis receives the Sorry-We-Didn't-Give-You-More-Of-These Award. |
Rock & roll has always had a contentious-at-best relationship with the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences' Gramophone Award, known simply today as the Grammy.
With the exception of a few AM-friendly rockers (namely Bobby Darin), rockers failed to regularly receive Grammys until The Beatles (yet another breakthrough they helped usher for the music industry). In 1964, they were the first real rock band to win a major Grammy (Best New Artist) & in 1967, they became the first rock group to win Best Album (for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band).
That same year, Elvis won his first Grammy, which like the other two competitive Grammys he won in his lifetime, was for gospel. (Although to their credit, the Grammys rectified this by giving him a Lifetime Achievement award in 1971 at age 31, which still makes him the youngest recipient of the award to date).
As with so much else, Elvis set the trend. Many of the most influential rockers' first Grammy was a Lifetime Achievement Award: Chuck Berry (1984), The Rolling Stones (1986), Jimi Hendrix (1992), Little Richard (1993), Buddy Holly (1997), Sam Cooke (1999), Bob Marley (2001), The Who (2001), & Led Zeppelin (2005), to name but a few. Jerry Lee Lewis & Carl Perkins each won a Grammy for the spoken word category for an interview record that went along with their Class Of '55 Sun reunion record; Jerry Lee got his Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, while poor Carl is still waiting on his. Even a group as revered & tame as The Beach Boys didn't win a Grammy until their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001, & the only one they've won since was a historical award for The Smile Sessions in 2011.
But basically anyone before The Beatles--or wilder than The Beatles--never had a chance. If you wanted a Grammy in rock's peak years, you basically had to be a Beatle or be Simon &/or Garfunkel.
Alongside the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Grammys have rectified the situation with the Grammy Hall Of Fame (GHOF) Award, established in 1973 for significant recordings that are 25 years or older & have stood the test of time. If you count these as proper Grammy awards, then The Beach Boys, The Who, & Led Zeppelin were inducted into the GHOF before receiving their Lifetime Achievement Grammys.
The first rock song to be inducted was Bill Haley & His Comets' "Rock Around The Clock" in 1982. It was followed by Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" in 1986 & Fats Domino's "Blueberry Hill" in 1987. The following year, Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" & Chuck Berry's "Maybellene" were inducted. Although more songs trickled in, it would another decade before rock was truly being represented in the GHOF.
For the rock albums, The Beatles led the way again, with Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band being inducted in 1993 & Abbey Road in 1995. The Genius Of Ray Charles followed in 1997. But 1998 was the breakout year, with some 60 rock entries, including some of the cornerstones of the music: The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, James Brown's Live At The Apollo, & Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. From thereon out, it's been increasing returns, as the Grammys have been quietly building up their own canon of popular music.
Since a full list of the entries are somewhat tricky to find--Wikipedia splits them up between 4 pages while the Grammy website lists them by title instead of artist--I included a full list below, including the entries made earlier this year. I plan to update this each year going forward.
Along with each entry, I put the year in which it was inducted, since that can give an idea of rank of importance as to an artist's catalog. It's interesting to see what got in before other things, & how long it took. I also went with a very broad definition of "rock," including early influences like Robert Johnson, Jimmie Rodgers, & Lead Belly, & pioneers like Muddy Waters, Hank Williams, & Howlin' Wolf. Basically, if they're in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, either as a main entry or as an "early influence," I included them here.
Finally, there is a surprising amount of overlap between the albums & songs inducted. In some cases, it's understandable because the Grammy powers-that-be often get their feet wet with a song, but then follow it with an album, as the artist is presumably seen as safer (& more influential) over time. Such is the case with The Doors, who had "Light My Fire" inducted in 1998, followed by their debut album, which includes "Light My Fire," in 2002. For cases such as these, I put an asterisk after the song.
More bizarre is when a song is inducted after the album is already in The Grammy Hall Of Fame. Such is the case for Carole King, whose Tapestry was inducted in 1998. However, her songs "You've Got A Friend" & "It's Too Late" were then inducted in 2002 & 2003, respectively, even though they both appear on Tapestry. I find these situations to be redundant, so I put two asterisks after them.
(By the way, there is one case--so far anyway--of a song & an album it's on being inducted the same year: In 2012, Furry Lewis's "Kassie Jones" was inducted the same year as The Anthology Of American Folk Music, where it appears on the first volume. For this instance, I put three asterisks after the song.)
So what follows is the complete list of The Grammy Hall Of Fame, beginning with the albums & followed by the singles.
After complete GHOF list are 50 recommendations for another 25 albums & 25 singles that should be included. The biggest culprit I hope to see remedied in the near future is the lack of rap albums in the former category. The smart money says that next year should see Public Enemy's It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back inducted (at the very least), but with the Grammys you never know.
The Albums.
AC/DC: Back In Black (2013)
The Allman Brothers Band: At Fillmore East (1999)
The Anthology Of American Folk Music (2012)
Joan Baez (2011)
The Band: Music From Big Pink (1998)
The Band (1999)
The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds (1998)
The Beatles: Meet The Beatles! (2001)
The Beatles: A Hard Day's Night (2000)
The Beatles: Rubber Soul (2000)
The Beatles: Revolver (1999)
The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1993)
The Beatles ["The White Album"] (2000)
The Beatles: Abbey Road (1995)
Blood, Sweat & Tears: Child Is The Father To The Man (1999)
Blood, Sweat & Tears (2002)
David Bowie: The Rise & Fall Of Ziggy Stardust... (1999)
James Brown: Live At The Apollo (1998)
The Byrds: Sweetheart Of The Rodeo (2000)
Johnny Cash: At San Quentin (2004)
Ray Charles: The Genius Of (1997)
Ray Charles: In Person (1999)
Ray Charles: Genius + Soul = Jazz (2011)
Ray Charles: Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music (1999)
Chicago: The Chicago Transit Authority (2014)
The Clash: London Calling (2007)
Leonard Cohen: Songs Of (2015)
Elvis Costello: My Aim Is True (2007)
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Cosmo's Factory (2014)
Crosby, Stills & Nash (1999)
Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young: Deja Vu (2012)
Cream: Disraeli Gears (1999)
Derek & The Dominos: Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (2000)
The Doors (2002)
Bob Dylan: Bringing It All Back Home (2006)
Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited (2002)
Bob Dylan: Blonde On Blonde (1999)
Bob Dylan: Blood On The Tracks (2015)
The Eagles: Desperado (2000)
The Eagles: Hotel California (2008)
Earth, Wind & Fire: That's The Way Of The World (2004)
Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (2003)
Aretha Franklin: I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (2009)
Aretha Franklin: Amazing Grace (1972)
Marvin Gaye: What's Going On (1998)
Marvin Gaye: Let's Get It On (2004)
The Grateful Dead: Workingman's Dead (1999)
Woody Guthrie: Dust Bowl Ballads, Volumes 1 & 2 (1998)
Hair: Original Broadway Cast (2006)
The Harder They Come Soundtrack (2008)
George Harrison: All Things Must Pass (2014)
Jimi Hendrix: Are You Experienced (1999)
Jimi Hendrix: Axis: As Bold As Love (2006)
Jimi Hendrix: Electric Ladyland (1999)
Whitney Houston (2013)
Michael Jackson: Off The Wall (2008)
Michael Jackson: Thriller (2008)
Jefferson Airplane: Surrealistic Pillow (1999)
Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, et al.: Wanted! The Outlaws (2007)
Billy Joel: The Stranger (2008)
Elton John (2013)
Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (2003)
Janis Joplin: Cheap Thrills (2007)
Janis Joplin: Pearl (2010)
Albert King: Born Under A Bad Sign (1999)
Carole King: Tapestry (1998)
B.B. King: Live At The Regal (2006)
Kraftwerk: Autobahn (2015)
Kris Kristofferson: Kristofferson (2014)
Lead Belly: Negro Sinful Songs (1998)
Lead Belly: Midnight Special (2002)
Led Zeppelin [I] (2004)
Led Zeppelin [IV] (1999)
Little Richard: Here's Little Richard (2013)
Love: Forever Changes (2008)
Bob Marley & The Wailers: Catch A Fire (2010)
Bob Marley & The Wailers: Exodus (2006)
Curtis Mayfield: Super Fly (1998)
Joni Mitchell: Blue (1999)
Joni Mitchell: Court & Spark (2004)
Van Morrison: Astral Weeks (1999)
Van Morrison: Moondance (1999)
Willie Nelson: Red Headed Stranger (2002)
Willie Nelson: Stardust (2015)
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Will The Circle Be Unbroken? (1998)
Pink Floyd: The Dark Side Of The Moon (1999)
Pink Floyd: The Wall (2008)
The Police: Synchronicity (2009)
Prince: 1999 (2008)
Prince: Purple Rain (2011)
John Prine (2015)
Bonnie Raitt: Nick Of Time (2015)
The Ramones (2007)
The Rolling Stones: Beggars Banquet (1999)
The Rolling Stones: Let It Bleed (2005)
The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers (1999)
The Rolling Stones: Exile On Main St. (2012)
Santana (2012)
Santana: Abraxas (1999)
Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack (2004)
The Sex Pistols: Never Mind The Bollocks (2015)
Still Crazy After All These Years (2003)
Paul Simon: Graceland (2012)
Simon & Garfunkel: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme (1999)
Sly & The Family Stone: Stand! (2015)
Sly & The Family Stone: There's A Riot Goin' On! (1999)
Phil Spector: A Christmas Gift For You (1999)
Dusty Springfield: Dust In Memphis (2001)
Bruce Springsteen: Born To Run (2003)
Bruce Springsteen: Born In The U.S.A. (2012)
Steely Dan: Aja (2003)
James Taylor: Sweet Baby James (2002)
Traffic: Mr. Fantasy (1999)
U2: The Joshua Tree (2014)
The Velvet Underground (2008)
The Weavers: At Carnegie Hall (1998)
Junior Wells: Hoodoo Man Blues (2008)
The Who: Tommy (1998)
The Who: Who's Next (2007)
Stevie Wonder: Talking Book (1999)
Stevie Wonder: Innervisions (1999)
Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life (2002)
Woodstock: Music From The Original Soundtrack & More (2014)
Neil Young: After The Gold Rush (2014)
Neil Young: Harvest (2015)
Frank Zappa: Freak Out! (1999)
The Singles.
ABBA: Dancing Queen (2015)
The Animals: The House Of The Rising Sun (1999)
The Animals: We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (2011)
Fontella Bass: Rescue Me (2015)
Shirley Bassey: Goldfinger (2008)
The Beach Boys: In My Room (1999)
The Beach Boys: California Girls (2010)
The Beach Boys: Good Vibrations (1994)
The Beatles: I Want To Hold Your Hand (1998)*
The Beatles: Help! (2008)
The Beatles: Yesterday (1997)
The Beatles: Eleanor Rigby (2002)**
The Beatles: Strawberry Fields Forever (1999)
The Beatles: Penny Lane (2011)
The Beatles: Hey Jude (2001)
The Beatles: Let It Be (2004)
Chuck Berry: Maybellene (1988)
Chuck Berry: Roll Over Beethoven (1990)
Chuck Berry: Johnny B. Goode (1999)
Big Maybelle: Candy (1999)
Bobby "Blue" Bland: Turn On Your Love Light (1999)
Booker T. & The MG's: Green Onions (1999)
The Box Tops: The Letter (2011)
Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats: Rocket "88" (1998)
Big Bill Broonzy: Key To The Highway (2012)
James Brown: Please, Please, Please (2001)
James Brown: It's A Man's Man's Man's World (2010)
James Brown: Papa's Got A Brand New Bag (Part 1) (1999)
James Brown: I Got You (I Feel Good) (2013)
James Brown: Get Up--I Feel Like Being Like A Sex Machine (2014)
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: East-West (1999)
The Byrds: Mr. Tambourine Man (1998)
The Byrds: Turn! Turn! Turn! (2001)
The Byrds: Eight Miles High (1999)
Glen Campbell: Gentle On My Mind (2008)
Glen Campbell: By The Time I Get To Phoenix (2004)
Glen Campbell: Wichita Lineman (2000)
Cannon's Jug Stompers: Walk Right In (2007)
The Carpenters: (They Long To Be) Close To You (2000)
The Carpenters: We've Only Just Begun (1998)
Leroy Carr: How Long, How Long Blues (2012)
The Carter Family: Wildwood Flower (1999)
The Carter Family: Keep On The Sunny Side (2006)
The Carter Family: Can The Circle Be Unbroken (1998)
Johnny Cash: Folsom Prison Blues (2001)
Johnny Cash: I Walk The Line (1998)
Johnny Cash: Ring Of Fire (1999)
The Champs: Tequila (2001)
Gene Chandler: Duke Of Earl (2002)
Harry Chapin: Cat's In The Cradle (2011)
Ray Charles: I've Got A Woman (1990)
Ray Charles; What'd I Say (Part 1) (2000)
Ray Charles: Georgia On My Mind (1993)
Ray Charles: Hit The Road Jack (2013)
Ray Charles: I Can't Stop Loving You (1962)
Ray Charles: America The Beautiful (2005)
Chubby Checker: The Twist (2000)
Chic: Le Freak (2015)
The Chordettes: Mr. Sandman (2002)
The Chords: Sh-Boom (2008)
Eric Clapton: I Shot The Sheriff (2003)
Petula Clark: Downtown (2003)
Patsy Cline: I Fall To Pieces (2001)
Patsy Cline: Crazy (1992)
Jimmy Cliff: Many Rivers To Cross (2011)**
The Coasters: Yakety Yak (1999)
Joe Cocker: With A Little Help From My Friends (2001)
Eddie Cochran: Summertime Blues (1999)
Judy Collins: Both Sides Now (2003)
Sam Cooke: You Send Me (1998)
Sam Cooke: A Change Is Gonna Come (2000)
Alice Cooper: School's Out (2015)
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Proud Mary (1998)
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Fortunate Son (2014)
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Ohio (2009)
The Crystals: He's A Rebel (2004)
Bobby Darin: Mack The Knife (1999)
Spencer Davis Group: Gimme Some Lovin' (1999)
Desmond Dekker & The Aces: Israelistes (2007)
John Denver: Take Me Home, Country Roads (1998)
Derek & The Dominos: Layla (1998)*
Jackie DeShannon: What The World Needs Now Is Love (2008)
Bo Diddley: Bo Diddley (1998)
Bo Diddley: Who Do You Love? (2010)
Dion & The Belmonts: I Wonder Why (1999)
Dion: Runaround Sue (2002)
Bill Doggett: Honky Tonk (Parts 1 & 2) (1998)
Fats Domino: Ain't It A Shame (2002)
Fats Domino: Blueberry Hill (1987)
Fats Domino:Walking To New Orleans (2011)
The Doors: Light My Fire (1998)*
The Doors: Riders On The Storm (2010)
Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters: Money Honey (1999)
The Drifters: There Goes My Baby (1998)
The Drifters: Save The Last Dance For Me (2001)
The Drifters: On Broadway (2013)
The Drifters: Under The Boardwalk (2014)
Bob Dylan: Blowin' In The Wind (1994)
Bob Dylan: The Times They Are A-Changin' (2013)
Bob Dylan: Mr. Tambourine Man (2002)*
Bob Dylan: Like A Rolling Stone (1998)*
The Eagles: Hotel California*
Earth, Wind & Fire: Shining Star (2008)
The Everly Brothers: Bye Bye Love (1998)
The Everly Brothers: All I Have To Do Is Dream (2004)
The 5th Dimension: Up-Up & Away (2003)
The 5th Dimension: Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) (2004)
The Five Satins: In The Still Of The Night (1998)
Roberta Flack: Killing Me Softly With His Song (1999)
The Flamingos: I Only Have Eyes For You (2003)
Tennessee Ernie Ford: Sixteen Tons (1998)
The Four Tops: Reach Out I'll Be There (1998)
Aretha Franklin: Respect (1998)*
Aretha Franklin: Chain Of Fools (2001)
Aretha Franklin: A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like) (1999)
The Bobby Fuller Four: I Fought The Law (2015)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell: Ain't No Mountain High Enough (1999)
Marvin Gaye: I Heard It Through The Grapevine (1998)
Marvin Gaye: Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (2002)**
Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive (2012)
Bobbie Gentry: Ode To Billie Joe (1999)
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five: The Message (2012)
Al Green: Let's Stay Together (1999)
Al Green: Take Me To The River: 2011)
Arlo Guthrie: Alice's Restaurant (2002)
Woody Guthrie: This Land Is Your Land (1989)
Merle Haggard: Mama Tried (1999)
Bill Haley & The Comets: Rock Around The Clock (1982)
Slim Harpo: I'm A King Bee (2008)
Wyononie Harris: Good Rockin' Tonight (2009)
Wilbert Harrison: Kansas City (2001)
Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze (2000)**
Jimi Hendrix: All Along The Watchtower (2001)**
Jimi Hendrix: The Star-Spangled Banner (2009)
Buddy Holly: That'll Be The Day (1998)
Buddy Holly: Peggy Sue (1999)
John Lee Hooker: Boogie Chillun (1999)
Johnny Horton: The Battle Of New Orleans
Son House: My Black Mama (Parts 1 & 2) (2013)
Mississippi John Hurt: Frankie (2011)*
Janis Ian: At Seventeen (2008)
Janis Ian: Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking) (2002)
The Impressions: People Get Ready (1998)
The Isley Brothers: Shout--Part 1 (1999)
The Isley Brothers: Twist & Shout (2010)
Mahalia Jackson: Precious Lord, Take My Hand (2012)
Mahalia Jackson: Move On Up A Little Higher (1998)
Mahalia Jackson: His Eye On The Sparrow (2010)
The Jackson 5: I Want You Back (1999)
The Jackson 5: I'll Be There (2011)
Elmore James: Dust My Broom (1998)
Etta James: The Wallflower (Roll With Me Henry) (2008)
Etta James: At Last (1999)
Jan & Dean: Dead Man's Curve (2008)
Blind Lemon Jefferson: Match Box Blues (1999)
Jefferson Airplane: White Rabbit (1998)*
Billy Joel: Piano Man (2013)
Billy Joel: Just The Way You Are (2004)*
Elton John: Your Song (1998)*
Blind Willie Johnson: Dark Was The Night--Cold Was The Ground (2011)
Robert Johnson: Cross Road Blues (1998)
Robert Johnson: Sweet Home Chicago (2014)
Janis Joplin: Piece Of My Heart (1999)*
Janis Joplin: Me & Bobby McGee (2002)*
Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five: Caldonia Boogie (1998)
Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five: Choo Choo Ch'Boogie (2008)
Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five: Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens (2013)
Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five: Let The Good Times Roll (2009)
Bill Justis & His Orchestra: Raunchy (1998)
B.B. King: 3 O'Clock Blues (2014)
B.B. King: Everyday I Have The Blues (2004)
B.B. King: The Thrill Is Gone (1998)
Ben E. King: Spanish Harlem (2002)
Ben E. King: Stand By Me (1998)
Carole King: It's Too Late (2003)**
Carole King: You've Got A Friend (2002)**
Freddy King: Hide Away (1999)
The Kingsmen: Louie, Louie (1999)
The Kingston Trio: Tom Dooley (1998)
The Kinks: You Really Got Me (1999)
Gladys Knight & The Pips: Midnight Train To Georgia (1999)
Lead Belly: Goodnight Irene (2002)
Led Zeppelin: Whole Lotta Love (2007)
Led Zeppelin: Stairway To Heaven (2003)**
Brenda Lee: I'm Sorry (1999)
Peggy Lee: Fever (1998)
Peggy Lee: Is That All There Is? (1999)
John Lennon: Imagine (1999)
Furry Lewis: Kassie Jones (2012)***
Jerry Lee Lewis: Whole Lot Of Shakin' Goin' On (1999)
Jerry Lee Lewis: Great Balls Of Fire (1998)
Little Richard: Tutti-Frutti (1998)*
Little Richard: Long Tall Sally (1999)*
Little Richard: Lucille (2002)
Little Walter: Juke (2008)
The Lovin' Spoonful: Do You Believe In Magic (2002)
The Lovin' Spoonful: Summer In The City (1999)
Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers: Why Do Fools Fall In Love (2001)
Loretta Lynn: Coal Miner's Daughter (1998)
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Free Bird (2008)
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Sweet Home Alabama (2009)
Uncle Dave Macon: Keep My Skillet Good & Greasy (2007)
The Mamas & The Papas: Monday, Monday (2008)
The Mamas & The Papas: California Dreamin' (2001)
Bob Marley & The Wailers: One Love (2007)
Bob Marley & The Wailers: Get Up, Stand Up (1999)
Bob Marley & The Wailers: No Woman, No Cry (2005)
Martha & The Vandellas: Dancing In The Street (1999)
The Marvelettes: Please Mr. Postman (2011)
Percy Mayfield: Please Send Me Someone To Love (1999)
Don McLean: American Pie (2002)
Memphis Jug Band: Stealin', Stealin' (2013)
The Meters: Cissy Strut (2011)
Mickey & Sylvia: Love Is Strange (2004)
Emmett Miller & His Georgia Crackers: Lovesick Blues (2007)
Roger Miller: Dang Me (1998)
Roger Miller: King Of The Road (1999)
The Mississippi Sheiks: Sittin' On Top Of The World (2008)
Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys: Blue Moon Of Kentucky (1998)
Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys: Mule Skinner Blues (2009)
The Moody Blues: Nights In White Satin (1999)
The Moonglows: Sincerely (2002)
Van Morrison: Brown-Eyed Girl (2007)
Willie Nelson: Always On My Mind (2008)
Willie Nelson: On The Road Again (2011)
Aaron Neville: Tell It Like It Is (2015)
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Mr. Bojangles (2010)
The O'Jays: Love Train (2006)
Roy Orbison: Only The Lonely (Know How I Feel) (1999)
Roy Orbison: Crying (2002)
Roy Orbison: Oh, Pretty Woman (1999)
The Orioles: Crying In The Chapel (2008)
Dolly Parton: Jolene (2014)
Dolly Parton: I Will Always Love You (2007)
Charley Patton: Pony Blues (1999)
Les Paul & Mary Ford: How High The Moon (1979)
The Penguins: Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) (1998)
Carl Perkins: Blue Suede Shoes (1986)
Peter, Paul & Mary: Blowin' In The Wind (2003)
Wilson Pickett: In The Midnight Hour (1999)
Wilson Pickett: Mustang Sally (2000)
The Platters: Only You (1999)
The Platters: The Great Pretender (2002)
The Police: Roxanne (2008)
Elvis Presley: That's All Right (1998)
Elvis Presley: Heartbreak Hotel (1995)
Elvis Presley: Hound Dog (1988)
Elvis Presley: Don't Be Cruel (2002)
Elvis Presley: Are You Lonesome Tonight? (2007)
Elvis Presley: Suspicious Minds (1999)
Procol Harum: A Whiter Shade Of Pale (1998)
Professor Longhair & His Blues Scholars: Tiptina (1998)
Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody (2004)
Queen: We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You (2009)
Ma Rainey: See See Rider Blues (2004)
Johnnie Ray: Cry (1998)
Otis Redding: I've Been Loving You Too Long (2011)
Otis Redding: Try A Little Tenderness (2015)
Otis Redding: (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay (1998)
Lou Reed: Walk On The Wild Side (2015)
Charlie Rich: Behind Closed Doors (1999)
The Righteous Brothers: You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (1998)
The Righteous Brothers: Unchained Melody (2000)
Marty Robbins: El Paso (1998)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Shop Around (2006)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: You've Really Got A Hold On Me (1998)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: The Tracks Of My Tears (2007)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: The Tears Of A Clown (2002)
Jimmie Rodgers: Blue Yodel (T For Texas) (1985)
Jimmie Rodgers: In The Jailhouse Now (2007)
Jimmie Rodgers: Blue Yodel #9 (Standing On The Corner) (2007)
The Rolling Stones: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (1998)
The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women (2014)
The Ronettes: Be My Baby (1999)
Diana Ross & The Supremes: Where Did Our Love Go? (1999)
Diana Ross & The Supremes: Stop! In The Name Of Love (2001)
Diana Ross & The Supremes: You Keep Me Hangin' On (1999)
Run-D.M.C.: Walk This Way (2014)
Sam & Dave: Soul Man (1999)
Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs: Wooly Bully (2009)
Pete Seeger: We Shall Overcome (1999)
Pete Seeger: Where Have All The Flowers Gone (2002)
Del Shannon: Runaway (2002)
The Shirelles: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (1999)
Carly Simon: You're So Vain (2004)
Simon & Garfunkel: The Sounds Of Silence (2004)
Simon & Garfunkel: Mrs. Robinson (1999)
Simon & Garfunkel: Bridge Over Troubled Water (1998)
Sister Sledge: We Are Family (2008)
Percy Sledge: When A Man Loves A Woman (1999)
Sly & The Family Stone: Dance To The Music (1998)
Bessie Smith: Downhearted Blues (2006)
Bessie Smith: St. Louis Blues (1993)
Bessie Smith: Empty Bed Blues (1983)
Hank Snow: I'm Movin' On (2000)
Dusty Springfield: The Look Of Love (2008)
The Staple Singers: Unclowdy Day (1999)
The Staple Singers: I'll Take You There (1999)
The Staple Singers: Respect Yourself (2002)
Edwin Starr: War (1999)
Steppenwolf: Born To Be Wild (2002)
The Sugarhill Gang: Rapper's Delight (2014)
James Taylor: Fire & Rain (1998)
James Taylor: You've Got A Friend (2001)
The Temptations: My Girl (1998)
The Temptations: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (1999)
Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Strange Things Happening Every Day (2014)
Them: Gloria (1999)
B.J. Thomas: Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head (2014)
Rufus Thomas: Walking The Dog (2002)
Big Mama Thorton: Hound Dog (2013)
Big Joe Turner: Shake, Rattle & Roll (1998)
Ike & Tina Turner: River Deep, Mountain High (1999)
Ike & Tina Turner: Proud Mary (2003)
Tina Turner: What's Love Got To Do With It (2012)
The Turtles: Happy Together (2007)
Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons: Big Girls Don't Cry (2015)
The Ventures: Walk--Don't Run (2006)
Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps: Be-Bop-A-Lula (1999)
Jr. Walker & The All-Stars: Shotgun (2002)
T-Bone Walker: Call It Stormy Monday (1991)
War: Low Rider (2014)
Billy Ward & His Dominoes: Sixty Minute Man (2015)
Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over (2000)
Dionne Warwick: Walk On By (1998)
Dionne Warwick: Alfie (2008)
Muddy Waters: I Feel Like Going Home (2010)
Muddy Waters: Rollin' Stone (2000)
Muddy Waters: (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man (1998)
Muddy Waters: Got My Mojo Working (1999)
The Weavers: Goodnight Irene (2006)
Mary Wells: My Guy (1999)
Bukka White: Fixin' To Die (2012)
The Who: My Generation (1999)
Hank Williams: Honky Tonkin' (2015)
Hank Williams: Lovesick Blues (2011)
Hank Williams: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (1999)
Hank Williams: Hey Good Lookin' (2001)
Hank Williams: Jambalaya (On The Bayou) (2002)
Hank Williams: Your Cheatin' Heart (1983)
Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys: Steel Guitar Rag (2011)
Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys: San Antonio Rose (2015)
Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys: New San Antonio Rose (1998)
Jackie Wilson: Lonely Teardrops (1999)
Jackie Wilson: (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher (1999)
Bill Withers: Ain't No Sunshine (1999)
Bill Withers: Lean On Me (2007)
Howlin' Wolf: Smokestack Lightning (1999)
Stevie Wonder: For Once In My Life (2009)
Stevie Wonder: Superstition (1998)
Stevie Wonder: You Are The Sunshine Of My Life (2002)
Tammy Wynette: Stand By Your Man (1999)
The Young Rascals: Groovin' (1999)
Top 25 Albums That Should Be Included In The GHOF.
1. Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley. The
King Of Rock & Roll has NO ALBUMS in the Grammy Hall Of Fame.
That should be rectified immediately--especially since the excellent Here's Little Richard
was recently added. One could argue for his post-Army Elvis Is Back! or
his post-comeback From Elvis In Memphis, & those should
probably be inducted in time. To begin though, the GHOF should induct
his first album, which is also not coincidentally rock & roll's
first LP masterpiece. It is also one of the few '50s rock albums
(besides Here's Little Richard) to regularly make the Top Albums lists to the present day. Your move, GHOF.
2. Aretha Franklin: Lady Soul. Despite
a healthy representation of The Queen Of Soul, this album, which many
consider her masterpiece, is conspicuously absent. Even though I believe
that I Never Loved A Man The Way I Loved You is the better LP, the two are a critical pair of aces, like The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper & Abbey Road. Both should be included, stat.
3. Otis Redding: Otis Blue: Otis Sings Soul.
Another unfathomable MIA from the classic soul canon. Otis Redding
created the most consistently-excellent studio albums of any '60s soul
artist, yet not a single one has been included in the GHOF. This one,
surely his best, should be the first--God knows it's included virtually
every where else that music is measured, ranked, & crowned.
& with any luck, it'll be his first album entry of many.
4. Public Enemy: It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back.
The GHOF's biggest oversight so far is the lack of any rap albums
inside of their hallowed hall. This, generally considered rap's finest,
should be the first. It was the only rap album to make the top 100 of
Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time list & is hailed
by people who don't usually listen to rap music. Despite what the song
on the album says, you should believe the hype.
5. Patti Smith: Horses. As
Patti Smith goes from punk rock poetress to latter-day stateswoman of
postmodern rock, her masterpiece surely deserves inclusion. Female
performers like Carole King & Joni Mitchell have always been
more of the Grammys' speed, but they can't ignore this album, especially
as they induct other postmodern triumphs like The Ramones & Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols.
6. R.E.M.: Murmur.
How is it that U2 has an album in the GHOF & R.E.M. does not
yet? The GHOF should start with this, which is as good as a place as any
to pinpoint the beginning of college rock--which later morphed into
alternative rock & then indie rock. With all of the kudos it's
won upon its initial release & ever since, it's shocking that it
even needs to be included on this list.
7. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.
OK, I guess I can see that Paul McCartney has a solo album in the GHOF,
but George Harrison too?! That's not to say that The Cute One &
The Quiet One don't deserve to get in, but just that The Witty One
should've already been there to meet them! Plastic Ono Band is
generally considered one of the most artistically-realized albums of any
artist, let alone one of the most revered rock legends of all-time.
Kinda makes you want to sing, "I don't believe in Grammys..."
8. Led Zeppelin II.
Zeppelin's best studio album outside of the untitled fourth album.
They've already inducted "Whole Lotta Love"--shouldn't they do the rest
of the album to match?
9. Bob Dylan: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. The GHOF has been curiously slow in inducting the Dylan classics--Blood On The Tracks
wasn't added until earlier this year. His vastly influential early folk
records deserve a nod & this by far the best & most
iconic one; it almost plays like a greatest hits of his early years.
10. Buddy Holly: The "Chirping" Crickets. Buddy Holly is perhaps the most influential rocker who is the least represented in the GHOF--actually, he's tied with Jerry Lee Lewis, with 2 songs each. However, unlike The Killer, Holly released a classic album in the 1950s: His stunning debut which Greil Marcus has aptly dubbed "a '50s Rubber Soul."
10. Buddy Holly: The "Chirping" Crickets. Buddy Holly is perhaps the most influential rocker who is the least represented in the GHOF--actually, he's tied with Jerry Lee Lewis, with 2 songs each. However, unlike The Killer, Holly released a classic album in the 1950s: His stunning debut which Greil Marcus has aptly dubbed "a '50s Rubber Soul."
11. Guns N' Roses: Appetite For Destruction. It's
already shaping up to be one of the most best & most
influential albums of the 1980s. & after Led Zeppelin &
AC/DC have been inducted, this LP seems inevitable--why not make it
sooner rather than later?
12. The Velvet Underground: Loaded.
The Velvets' last gasp was a last grasp at commercialism, as Lou Reed
crafted FM hits like "Sweet Jane" & "Rock &
Roll"--although it would take a few decades before they reached FM
radio. If The Velvet Underground & Nico played like a
sprawling roadmap to underground rock's endless possibilities, this
played like a guidebook to getting the underground above ground.
& bands have been listening--& cribbing from it--ever
since.
13. Eric B. & Rakim: Paid In Full. Rap's most influential album is also one of the masterpieces of the 1980s. If Public Enemy's It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is like rap's Sgt. Pepper, this is like rap's Pet Sounds, offering the possibilities that would be essential for every masterpiece to build on. It would make a fitting first rap album to make the GHOF.
13. Eric B. & Rakim: Paid In Full. Rap's most influential album is also one of the masterpieces of the 1980s. If Public Enemy's It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is like rap's Sgt. Pepper, this is like rap's Pet Sounds, offering the possibilities that would be essential for every masterpiece to build on. It would make a fitting first rap album to make the GHOF.
14. Talking Heads: Remain In Light.
New York's artiest are freed by punk, create dance music that the cool
kids can dance to, & then take on the world, one rhythm at a
time. What's not to love? Generally considered the finest album by one
of the most influential groups of the era.
15. Simon & Garfunkel: Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Overall, the GHOF has gotten things remarkably right in the album side
of their inductions, with the shocking exception of Simon &
Garfunkel. For some reason, it was decided that Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme deserved induction (um, okay) over the more influential & celebrated Bookends & Bridge Over Troubled Water. That was over 15 years ago now & we're still waiting for another to join it. Why not start with Bridge Over Troubled Water, if not their greatest album (it's a toss-up between it & Bookends), certainly their most iconic & successful? Then is it possible for Bookends to tag out Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme? Just asking.
16. The Clash: The Clash. Now that both The Ramones & Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols
have been inducted, it's time for the third great founding punk
document, The Clash's self-titled debut. Otherwise, the Grammys might as
well make "I'm So Bored With The U.S.A." their anthem.
17. Run-D.M.C.: Raisin' Hell. They've already inducted the trailblazing single "Walk This Way" (even the Grammys couldn't deny THAT), but the album from which it came also merits inclusion. The definitive album by the definitive group of rap's "golden age," these are the Adidas-clad beats & rhymes that launched a thousand MCs. With mic in hand, they come to command, indeed.
17. Run-D.M.C.: Raisin' Hell. They've already inducted the trailblazing single "Walk This Way" (even the Grammys couldn't deny THAT), but the album from which it came also merits inclusion. The definitive album by the definitive group of rap's "golden age," these are the Adidas-clad beats & rhymes that launched a thousand MCs. With mic in hand, they come to command, indeed.
18. Black Sabbath: Paranoid. Heavy
metal gets a bad rap, but frankly the likes of Metallica &
Megadeath should get in, especially after hard-rock bands like Led
Zeppelin & AC/DC have paved the way. Let's just make sure that Paranoid is first.
19. The Stooges: Fun House.
Iggy Pop's finest hour, which is to say it's easily proto-punk's finest
hour. Where psychedelic rock doubles back on itself & plummets into
the deep dirt of the earth. With a squawking saxophone.
20. The Beastie Boys: Paul's Boutique. Yet another rap masterpiece that deserves to be the first to be inducted. But whereas It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, Raising Hell, & Paid In Full are excellent primarily for their stone-cold rhymes, Paul's Boutique taps into a wonderland of sampling that has been rarely been matched--& given the copyright laws that have since been put in place, probably never will. & with samples from The Beatles' Abbey Road, Curtis Mayfield's Superfly, The Harder They Come Soundtrack, Led Zeppelin's IV, & more (see if YOU can spot them!), this is easily the album that samples the most GHOF albums.
20. The Beastie Boys: Paul's Boutique. Yet another rap masterpiece that deserves to be the first to be inducted. But whereas It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, Raising Hell, & Paid In Full are excellent primarily for their stone-cold rhymes, Paul's Boutique taps into a wonderland of sampling that has been rarely been matched--& given the copyright laws that have since been put in place, probably never will. & with samples from The Beatles' Abbey Road, Curtis Mayfield's Superfly, The Harder They Come Soundtrack, Led Zeppelin's IV, & more (see if YOU can spot them!), this is easily the album that samples the most GHOF albums.
21. The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society. The
Kinks have exactly one entry in the GHOF--their brain-explodingly
influential single "You Really Got Me." OK, I get it. That song best
encapsulates how they took 2-chord hard rock to its only logical
conclusion--which is to say, proto-punk (& as some like to tell it,
proto-metal). But there was a whole second act to The Kinks' career of
wistful British nostalgia that in time has proven nearly as influential.
This album is the quintessential entry--just check out everything that
goes on in the song "Village Green."
22. Television: Marquee Moon. One
way that punk could have gone--stripped-down & painfully elegant,
yet drawn out in winding jams. Either way, it was a cornerstone LP of
the punk era, & one of the best-received albums of that (or any
other) era.
23. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band: Trout Mask Replica.
1960s Art Rock at its finest, dissident, post-bop arrangements lunging
out at each other while Captain Beefheart held everything together with a
rasped shout that he borrowed from Charley Patton. Everything that
postmodern rock ever tried to be was showcased here--a rare double-album
with not a second of wasted space, a statement so complete &
profound it encompassed a world unto itself.
24. Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation.
As Kurt Cobain would tell you, no Sonic Youth, no Nirvana. The
statesman pioneers of alternative rock, they set the sonic soundscape
that everyone--from The Pixies & My Bloody Valentine through
Pavement &, of course, Nirvana have been copping ever since. &
on top of that, they've outlived nearly all of them. This is their
masterpiece, although there are probably 2 or 3 others nearly as worthy
for the GHOF. All in good time.
25. The Grateful Dead: American Beauty. Along with Workingman's Dead (which is in the GHOF), American Beauty is one of the great pairs of 1-2 rock triumphs (Sly & The Family Stone's Stand! & There's A Riot Goin' On! is another) that will have fans endlessly debating which is the "better" album. While the main rock intelligensia gives Workingman's Dead the
edge, I favor this, if only because it's a breezier listen--& in so
being, evocative of everything The Grateful Dead are supposed to be.
Top 25 Songs That Should Be Included In The GHOF.
1. The Beach Boys: Surfin' U.S.A.
Out of all the singles acts of the rock age, The Beach Boys are in the
worst shape, represented only by "Good Vibrations," "California Girls,"
& "In My Room," the latter of which, while great, hardly
deserves to be in such company. Songs like "I Get Around" &
"Help Me, Rhonda" would be better choices, but best of all would be
"Surfin' U.S.A.," which captures their early appeal like "I Want To Hold
Your Hand" did for The Beatles & "(I Can't Get No)
Satisfaction" did for The Rolling Stones.
2. Elvis Presley: Can't Help Falling In Love.
Although he already has 6 songs in the GHOF, Elvis is a singular figure
who deserves more. One could make as good of argument for "Mystery
Train," "It's Now Or Never," or "Burning Love," but "Can't Help Falling
In Love" has had an unique afterlife as his most downloaded single in
the digital age. Plus, it's beautiful.
3. Chuck Berry: Rock & Roll Music.
Chuck Berry only has 3 songs on the list, all of which are
worthy--"Maybellene," "Johnny B. Goode," & "Roll Over
Beethoven"--he should have more. "Rock & Roll Music" would be
his next most essential song--the fact that The Beatles covered it puts
it a notch above "Sweet Little Sixteen."
4. The Beatles: She Loves You. The
Beatles are well-represented, but "She Loves You" deserves to be among
the selections. It is the single that ignited Beatlemania in England
(like "I Want To Hold Your Hand" did in America) & is the most
exuberant of their early singles.
5. The Troggs: Wild Thing. Jimi
Hendrix wasn't kidding when he called this song the unofficial anthem
of the US & UK before he went into it at the Monterey Pop
Festival, even if no one took him seriously at the time. Of course, he
was right. Using the same progression as "Louie Louie," The Troggs'
definitive garage rock stomper is one of the most famous songs of its
era--& a telling forerunner of punk.
6. The Chantels: Maybe.
As the song that launched the girl group era, it should get in for
historical significance alone, but it is also not coincidentally simply a
breathtakingly beautiful performance.
7. The Beastie Boys: Fight For Your Right To Party. The Declaration Of Independence for the most influential white rap group of all-time.
8. The Kinks: Waterloo Sunset. The
Kinks deserve more than just a single song in the GHOF & this
is the most quintessentially British song from the seminal band of the
British Invasion. It is also one of the highest-ranking songs of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs Of All-Time list not to be inducted.
9. Joy Division: Love Will Tear Us Apart.
The most influential band of the postpunk era with their immortal
single, a lyric that like the band was dead-on-arrival,
uncharacteristically wrapped in a shimmering work of beauty.
10. Buddy Holly: Not Fade Away.
Like Elvis & Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly deserves more
representation in the GHOF. After "That'll Be The Day" & "Peggy
Sue," this is probably his most influential song--& the most
important song to future the Bo Diddley beat outside of, well, Bo
Diddley's "Bo Diddley."
11. Ruth Brown: Teardrops From My Eyes. They
called Atlantic Records "The House That Ruth Built" since she was their
first reliable artist & the one who single-handedly saved the
then-fledgling label from bankruptcy. This was her first monster hit,
but more importantly, it holds up as a great record outside of its
historical significance. They called her Miss Rhythm, but I always think
of her as the 1950s Aretha Franklin.
12. Chic: Good Times.
A great disco song by a seminal disco band, but it should get in if
only for providing the hook for The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's
Delight"--& roughly 58,473.6 other rap songs.
13. Lloyd Price: Stagger Lee. How
is it that no version of the quintessential American bad man ballad has
been inducted outside of an album? Of the literally hundreds of
versions, Lloyd Price is the best--& the only one to reach #1 on
the Billboard pop charts.
14. Big Star: September Gurls. Post-Beatles power pop in its platonian form by the most influential group your parents have probably never heard of.
15. Donna Summer: Love To Love You Baby.
The archetypal disco record, made by one of the genre's seminal
artists. Her recent death sped her into the Rock & Roll Hall Of
Fame, but the GHOF, not so much. This needs to be fixed.
16. Rod Stewart: Maggie May. Actually, his entire Every Picture Tells A Story
should be inducted, but "Maggie May" is the album's--&
Rod's--most iconic moment. Lester Bangs literally wrote a novel about
it. That alone should guarantee its greatness on any scale.
17. Tom Petty: American Girl.
Americana so jingle-jangly good that Roger McGuinn swore he must've
written it when he first heard it. Sorry Roger, that's just the
instantly-classic sound that Tom Petty hits when he's at his
finest--& he's never outdone this one.
18. Faye Adams: Shake A Hand.
Along with The Orioles' "Crying In The Chapel" (which was inducted in
2008), one of the founding songs of soul music, as hailed by Peter
Guralnick's definitive study of the music, Sweet Soul Music. The
song was also a founding record for rock & roll, eventually
covered by Little Richard & Elvis Presley, at the opposite ends
of their careers. By the way, Faye Adams still lives in Newark, NJ, at
the age of 91. Shouldn't she get this honor before she passes away?
19. David Bowie: Heroes. One
David Bowie album just ain't enough. "Heroes" is often considered his
finest song as a vocalist & songwriter, & it is one of
the few songs in the Top 50 of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs Of Rock & Roll to not already be in the GHOF. Plus, U2's The Joshua Tree aside, it's the quintessential Brian Eno production.
20. Dick Dale: Miserlou.
You know it as the opening of Pulp Fiction. It's the signature hit of
Dick Dale, The King Of Surf Guitar, who single-handedly invented the
rapid, double-time picking of all surf guitar since. Not only that, but
it's a strong case for rock's finest--& funnest--instrumental.
21. Bob Marley: Redemption Song. A beautiful posthumous anthem from reggae's once & always king.
22. Hank Ballard & The Midnighters: Work With Me Annie. One
of at least 50 "first" rock & roll records, this one was one of
the raciest. (The other most racy, Billy Ward & His Dominoes'
"Sixty Minute Man" was inducted earlier this year.) It also spawned one
of the first waves of answer records, one of which, "Dance With Me Henry
(The Wallflower)" launched the career of a young Etta James.
23. Sinead O'Connor: Nothing Compares 2 U.
O'Connor took Prince's song & turned it into a chronicle of a
relationship bettered only by Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through The
Grapevine" (which was inducted in 1998). If you forget how powerful this
song was, listen to it again. Better yet, watch the iconic video.
24. 96 Tears: ? & The Mysterians. Along
with The Kingsmen's "Louie, Louie" (inducted in 1999), one of the great
garage rock anthems--it sounds like garbage, but that's the point,
wonderful, wonderful garbage.
25. Elton John: Tiny Dancer. If you don't like this song, you probably don't like pop music.
Over the years, I plan to keep this list up-to-date, keeping a tab on what has been added & updating my lists to what should be added.
So Grammy votes, please take note--& feel free to bookmark this page.
Over the years, I plan to keep this list up-to-date, keeping a tab on what has been added & updating my lists to what should be added.
So Grammy votes, please take note--& feel free to bookmark this page.
