With a string of straight forward Rock albums in the 80’s Bryan Adams felt like a breath of fresh air to many disillusioned music listeners who struggled to identify with the New Wave sounds or Heavy Metal that seemed to split the music world. Adams was a safe option and maybe that would become a problem for Adams later. As other genres emerged, Adams embraced a very safe form of Soft Rock and the pock marked Canadian was churning out more elevator standards than Rock songs. Should the Hall look at his 80’s work alone he would have a better shot then if they look at his post “Robin Hood” work.

The muddled history of the Crystals prevent them from a higher ranking (and potential induction as it may have turned out) but it does not take away from some of the brilliant material that the Phil Spector produced girl group had. Their best known hit was actually sung by Darlene Love and credited to the Crystals which naturally created tension when they had to perform songs that they didn’t sing. This may be confusing the Hall as per their induction as we admit it baffled us where to rank them.

The Bullet Points:

Eligible Since:

1988

Country of Origin:

U.S.A. (New York City)

Nominated In:

Never

NIHOF’s Favorite Album:

He’s A Rebel (1962)

NIHOF’s Favorite Song:

The interesting case of one of the great guitarists who was too Rock for Country and too Country for Rock is that of Lonnie Mack. Mack was a guitar virtuoso who drew from Country, Rock, R&B, Rockabilly and Blues and created some of the most brilliant instrumentals in the early 60’s. Mack’s unique sound may have been too early for its time, as he struggled to find an audience that understood his music. Lonnie was also a decent singer capable of delivering a soulful voice that again didn’t match the way he looked or the audience of the early 60’s. Perhaps in another time Mack could have been a superstar, but maybe his pioneering work might find the Hall.

Although the bulk of the Post Punk bands came from England, a great one came out of Boston that was as dark and complex as any other Post Punk band out there at the time. With a style considered unorthodox (though everything they did was carefully considered) they have been called one of the more important acts in American Alternative music in the early 80’s. With an endless list of acts who cited them as influential, their legacy is still growing though the odds of them being officially anointed as the American Joy Division still seems a ways away, let alone any kind of recognition in Cleveland.