Although Jefferson Airplane is rightfully in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, its offshoot, Jefferson Starship seems quite far away from that accolade. Jefferson Starship actually bore little resemblance to Airplane as they became one of the most successful Arena Rock bands of all time. This change in sound was both good and bad. Good, in that the new version was able to sell more albums and more arena seats than they ever could before. Bad in that Jefferson Starship failed to garner the cultural relevance that they once had. It is the latter point and the fact that Grace Slick and company are already inducted that will likely keep Jefferson Starship from the Hall.

About as acclaimed a songwriter as they come, the music of Lucinda Williams was as meticulous and carefully considered as they came. With heart felt music that was part Country, part Folk, a dash of Alternative and a large helping of Americana, Williams was an original and has received abundant praise through the years, even as high as calling her the “female Bob Dylan”. Williams’ infrequent recordings and her inability to crack the mass populace kept her from becoming a major star, but fame never seemed to be what she sought anyway.

From the musical abyss known as the era between the origin of Rock and Roll and The British Invasion, Bobby Vee was one of that era’s most successful artists. His Brill Building Pop was well crafted and although he was one of that generations “safe artists”, the songs he sang were catchy and still can generate smiles today. Had Vee survived that era (like Anka and Sedaka) he might have a better shot for induction, but if those two can’t get in what chance does Bobby Vee realistically have?

Best known for being one of the primary protest bands against the Vietnam War, Country Joe McDonald was a voice that rang throughout the American counterculture and may have helped define an era. Maybe that’s the problem as music like that does not have a long shelf life and the music which was so topical then seems to have escaped from a time capsule now. Still, the Monterrey and Woodstock connection may help and if there is a more “left” field candidate than Country Joe and the Fish we can’t come up with them.