A few to consider for 2013.

"Angel in Blue" is enough to get J. Geils in for me. But like much of their compatriots of the early 80's who tunred their 70's solid success, built on touring and good rock albums, J. Geils are considered sellouts. Groups such as Reo Speedwagon (the most similar to J. Geils), The Tubes, Foreginer, Journey and almost everyone else of the 80's pop explosion became huge draws and sold millions of records but are deemed in retrospect not cool enough for the hall! I agree with DDT in that this is nonsense. Just because a group goes pop does not make it crap. All these darling critical groups who couldn't sell a record would love to be playing to m ore than a roomful of industry insiders and close personal friends. Isn't that why they make the music?

Top of my list for most overlooked are The J. Geils Band, Graham Parker (solo or with The Rumour) and Squeeze. Let's see if any are nominated for the Class Of 2013.J Geils Band: They were finalists in 2011 and I hope the Screening committe reconsiders thei candidacy. Nothing said rock and Roll in the 1970s like the frantic, three- pronged sonic attack of J. Geils (Guitar), Magic Dick (Harmonica) and Seth Justman (Organ).Graham Parker: I know he once did a song that attacked the Rock HOF and halls of fame in general, but that was 20 years ago and it's no reason to exclude him from the HOF for a bonus track that most people today don't even know exists. A great, great singer/songwriter who is not afraid to bare his soul, and does a credible job on harmonica and guitar also. Age has not diminished Parker's terrific voice and vocal style either. He and The Rumour have reunited to appear in a Judd Apatow directed movie that will be released in December 2012. A new album with the Rumour will be out coinciding wih the movie's release and hopefully they'll tour together in 2012-2013 also. Parker has done some fine solo work, but the entire group deserves HOF honors.Squeeze: It's too bad creative differences split up the songwriting team of Chris Difford and Glen Tillbrook and forced the dissolution of one of the '70s and' 80s best English bands. If they had remained together another five to eight years, we wouldn't be having this discussion - they'd have already been inducted nto the HOF. Squeeze featured witty, literate lyrics, that were somehow down to earth as well. Tillbrook was among the very finest rock vocalists of his era and a double threat - an outstanding lead guitarist as well. They also use a couple of outstanding keyboardists such as Jools Holland and Paul Carrack to round out their sound. Much like the wonderful work of Steve Naive with Elvis Costello & The Attractions, the top-notch organ & piano playing in Squeeze helped separate them from all those 'guitars only' bands.

Unless you reached mega-stardom, the 80's will be entirely ignored by the rpesent voting group. Which means Squeeze does not have a chance, despite being better than a lot of the bands that received more press tha they did. The thing that bothers me about the J. Geils Band is they are unfortunately best known to the general public for Centerfold and Freeze Frame, two songs I absolutely hate. They were so much better before they "broke through." Great party band, legendary live act. Some said J.Geils received that nomination because Peter Wolf is everyone's friend. While that may be, the had the chops to deserve induction, imho.Graham Parker may have the resume that could get in. I'll leave it at that without really offering m opinion on him anymore than he is really talented.

Nice summation, Phillies Archivist. Welcome aboard.As much as I love Geils, really like Parker, and like Squeeze, I think all three are borderline candidates although I wouldn't howl if any or all of them were inducted.During Squeeze's heyday, Difford and Tillbrook were being compared to Lennon and McCartney, which is a fair comparison since their songs always struck me as clever but glib, much like the Beatles'. Stuff like "Cool for Cats" and "Up the Junction" I really enjoy, but stuff like "Black Coffee in Bed" is too precious for my liking. Your mileage may vary. I agree with Knuckles's assessment--in the US, Squeeze is best-known for "Tempted" (which Paul Carrack sang), not enough to avoid being ignored.Similarly lacking in recognition is Graham Parker, whom I always include in the late-'70s English "(somewhat) angry young man" triumvirate that includes Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson. With Elvis already in, and with Jackson at least notching a couple of US hits amid his stylistic schizophrenia, Parker seems to be the odd man out despite his admirable passion and integrity--Squeezing out Sparks, for example; while I don't agree with the politics of "You Can't Be Too Strong," for instance, it is a powerful song and a great example of his talent.Geils has been a favorite for years, and I do think that it was one of the most underrated bands of the '70s. I respectfully disagree with Knuckles here: Geils just kept getting better as a band as they went on. Yeah, when they went to EMI they became more pop, but, really, Peter Wolf's pop sensibility was apparent even in their early covers of "Homework" and "Southside Shuffle," so their chart success with "Centerfold" (which I love) and "Freeze-Frame" (not so much) shouldn't be a surprise nor considered a "sellout"--they should have had a bigger hit with the gorgeous "Surrender" from their last Atlantic album, Monkey Island, which also featured one of their hardest blues-rockers, "Somebody," along with their statement of purpose, "Wreckage." (No comment on the title track unless you really like The Island of Dr. Moreau.)Magic Dick's harmonica brilliance alone should push Geils into the Hall--he might be Little Walter's greatest disciple (check out his Bluestime stuff with J. Geils too)--but let's not overlook the Danny Klein-Stephen Jo Bladd rhythm section: the second half of "Give It to Me" has got to be the toughest groove in early-'70s American hard rock (with some nice wailing by Magic Dick too). And that hard-rock underpinning survived on the EMI albums too, not just "Love Stinks" but "Come Back," "Sanctuary," "Rage in the Cage," and the scorching "Flamethrower" (I've spent my whole life looking for one) as well.Again, all three are borderline in my book but the Hall has certainly inducted worse.

Without someone as worthy as Randy Bachman not in the Hall, it has become a joke. With a career from Shakin All Over through American Woman and all the BTO stuff as writer, vocalist, producer and lead guitarist, a fifty year career as a 'real' rocker and still going strong. With hundreds of obscure backup vocalists and instrumentalists, that no one can name, already in the Hall, it is a travesty that someone of Bachman's stature, longevity and influence being omitted makes absolutely no sense. I believe it is all about corporate politics. As a rock and roller since the begining I was pleased when a Rock n Roll Hall of Fame was created and in Cleveland, an area I played bass in in the sixties. Since visiting it in the begining I've noticed its gone downhill as it has become a corporate shill job. The ommision of Bachman is just mind-boggling!

2013 (I generally write 2012/2013 to recognise how the voting takes place in the year before the induction) is a year that has the potential to be a turning point as the hip-hop artists of the Bush Senior Era become eligible in large numbers.

Public Enemy and N.W.A. defined the cultural norms of the Bush Senior Era: free sex and free incomes by struggling against the austerity measures of Reagan. Both sold large numbers of records, reaching the Top Ten in America and Europe with albums like Fear of a Black Planet, which inspired much controversy for its political views, as N.W.A. did for their supposed sexism.

It is tough to see how Public Enemy and N.W.A. will not get in straight away in 2012/2013, but The Pixies also sold a lot of records (Doolittle has sold around 1.5 million worldwide) and inspired Nirvana’s grunge-style dynamics. Some doubt the Pixies sold quite enough to have a chance this year, but I think they have a strong chance. Soundgarden, eligible in 2011/2012, became stars of the grunge era with their heavy but unusually melodic rock and serious lyrical themes on 1991’s Badmotorfinger. Apparent not considered last year, it will be interesting to see of Soundgarden become permanently overlooked.

Boogie Down Productions, featuring KRS-One, are anotehr significant Bush Senior Era hip-hop group eligible for 2012/2013 with some chance.

Being from Massachusetts, I must throw a mountain of support for the mighty J.Geils Band. Wolf in his prime was one of the best frontmen in the history of rock and he still kicks it pretty damn well these days. Pete's also buddies with Springsteen & Landua so that might help 'em this time out.

Since my opening salvo is for hometown heroes, I'm amazed that the band Boston is not already in. One of the best-selling debut albums in history, an engineering genius in Tom Scholz, great songs, anthemic arena rockers and umm, what else?.......oh yes, Brad Delp, one of the greatest singers in history. For every supporter of punk crap like Patti Smith (haters...just my opinion here) there is someone like myself who thought she sucked and wonders why her and Lou Reed rate so high on critics lists. Not my cup of tea at all and I have not known anyone personally who likes them in my 50 years on the planet.

Bad Company if for no other reason than one of the greatest rock vocalists of all time, my fave singer Paul Rodgers. The band was great, hard to find a bad song on any of their first 4-5 classic albums and they filled the airwaves and arenas in their prime. I would venture a guess that maybe Jann Wenner got rejected after hitting on Paul Rodgers at some industry event and has held a grudge ever since. No other explanation would make any sense to me.

As always, I gotta pull for Kiss, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Chicago & Rush. The RRHOF will always be a sad joke until these rock giants are rightfully inducted.

Alice Cooper did get in for 2011/2012, but as I have tried to emphasise the next few years will be tougher for established candidates with artists from the rap revolution of the Bush Senior Era becoming eligible, along with commercially successful grunge pioneers.

I was just looking at the 2013 eligible list and noticed the Traveling Wilbury's. Jeff Lynne is the only one in that group who isn't in the Hall yet. They need to show some love for the Electric Light Orchestra.

If seeling records was such an important critera, how the hell did Laura Nyro and Tom Waits get in? Waits I could understand, but nothing will make me understand how Nyro not only got in but was nominated several times before she did.

Public Enemy stands out over NWA simply because the latter never came close to duplicating Straight Outta Compton once Ice Cube left. The P.E. continued to have quality stuff after they broke through.

The most common thing I have seen regarding ELO's candidacy is they were not as good as their predecessor, The Move.

It's high time the 5 Royales just because of other pioneering artists they have elected. They're no less deserving.