Aerosmith, Solomon Burke, Flamingos, Michael Jackson, Queen, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Ritchie Valens
What say you folks to this year’s class?
Aerosmith - getting to be a bit of yawn in their old age. I liked them better when Tyler and Perry were still known as “The Toxic Twins.” “Sweet Emotion,” “Train Kept A’Rollin,” “Back in the Saddle Again” - yes. “Angel,” “Dude Looks Like a Lady,” “Love in an Elevator” - no, for God’s sake, no.
Solomon Burke - love it when R&B performers get the recognition they deserve. Van Morrison cited him as a big influence, so that’s a good enough endorsement for me.
Flamingos - not familiar enough with them to have any opinion.
Michael Jackson - a black boy grows up to be a white man/woman hybrid. Talented? Sure. Creepy? Absolutely.
Queen - Had all of their albums up to “The Game” then lost interest. Brian May is a vastly underated song writer but has rightly been recognized as a unique guitar stylist (not to mention that he built the Red Special by hand, even going so far as to hand mill the frets and wind the pickup coils himself. I can see him taking a gazillion hours to get his guitar part just right). “Its Late” from News of the World has to be my favorite.
Paul Simon - Always struck me as someone that it would fun to just hang out with. “Hey Paul, lets go grab a beer and watch the ball game. By the way, do you think you could play ‘Kathy’s Song’ for me?” And he do it, just to be nice. Loved him on Saturday Night Live in the turkey outfit.
Steely Dan - Finally, finally, finally got the Grammy they so richly deserve (but not for the album that deserved it - Aja.) Some summer night soon put “Babylon Sisters” on the stereo, sit out on the deck and watch the fireflies start to light, have a good drink in hand, ahh. Life is good, no?
Ritchie Valens - I don’t know about this induction. Was he that much of a factor or, did the fact that he died with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper make his induction a fait accompli?
Please, feel free to pull up a chair and discuss this among yourselves.