Rock Hall Names New Inductees

Written by Jon Williams

Last week the 2019 slate of inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was announced. This year’s class comprises seven bands and solo acts: Stevie Nicks, Janet Jackson, Def Leppard, the Cure, Radiohead, Roxy Music, and the Zombies. The induction ceremony will be held on Friday, March 29, 2019, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Here is a brief look at each of the acts joining the ranks of the Hall’s famous and influential members.

Stevie Nicks is the first woman to be inducted twice, as she is already included as a member of the band Fleetwood Mac, inducted in 1998. Her solo career, which is being honored this time around, began with the release of the album Bella Donna in 1981. Driven by the hit “Edge of Seventeen” as well as collaborations with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (“Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”) and Don Henley (“Leather and Lace”), it hit number one on Billboard’s album chart. Since then, she has continued to tour and record with Fleetwood Mac while maintaining a stellar solo career as well, releasing eight studio albums under her own name, most recently 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault in 2014.

Janet Jackson will take her place in the Hall alongside her famous brothers as a member of this year’s class—the Jackson 5 were inducted in 1997, and Michael Jackson joined as a solo artist in 2001. From an obviously musical family, Janet’s entrance into the world of entertainment actually started with acting. Still, she couldn’t escape the world of music, beginning her recording career as a teenager. Her breakout came with her third album, Control, released in 1986, shortly before her 20^th birthday. She has gone on to record eleven albums, with the most recent being 2015’s Unbreakable.

Def Leppard was one of the biggest rock bands in the world in the 1980s, but they have refused to be defined or constrained by the “hair metal” label. Forming in the late ‘70s, their debut album On Through the Night came out in 1980. Pyromania (1983) and Hysteria (1987) were two of the biggest albums of the decade, dominating the charts and spawning a number of singles. The band suffered through such tragedies as drummer Rick Allen losing his left arm in a car accident and the passing of guitarist Steve Clark, and their star dimmed as pop metal declined in popularity as grunge ascended. Nevertheless, they have persevered, continuing to tour and record to this day. Their latest album, the self-titled Def Leppard, came out in 2015.

The Cure formed around the same time and have undergone a number of lineup changes in their forty-plus years, with frontman Robert Smith being the only constant member. Their debut album, 1979’s Three Imaginary Boys, kicked off a rather prolific career that saw them release thirteen albums in thirty years, culminating in 2008’s 4:13 Dream (currently unavailable). While the Cure has not released an album since then, the band has been touring, and there are plans to record and release new music in 2019 in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of their debut.

Radiohead is the “newest” act of this group, forming in 1985 and bursting onto the scene with the single “Creep” in 1992. That landed on their 1993 debut album Pablo Honey, the first of their nine albums, the newest of which is 2016’s A Moon Shaped Pool. The band has continued to experiment and evolve throughout their career and the accolades have followed, winning the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album three times. Their most recent release is a 20^th anniversary edition of their 1997 album OK Computer with new tracks, and members Jonny Greenwood and Thom Yorke have also gained acclaim in the world of film music.

Roxy Music is a highly influential art rock band that came together in 1970 and released their self-titled debut album in 1972. Their recording career lasted just ten years, but they put out eight albums in that time, the last being Avalon in 1982. Since then, the band has been an on-again off-again venture, with the individual members often contributing to lead singer Bryan Ferry’s solo albums. That was the case with 2010’s Olympia (currently unavailable), originally conceived as a Roxy Music album and even featuring Brian Eno for the first time since 1973’s For Your Pleasure, but eventually released under Ferry’s name.

The Zombies are the oldest act joining the Hall in 2019, forming in 1961. The band put out just two albums in the 1960s—their 1965 debut and 1968’s Odessey and Oracle. They disbanded around the time of that second album’s release and didn’t reunite until 1991, when they recorded the album New World (currently unavailable) and then split again. Singer Colin Blunstone and keyboardist Rod Argent got back together in 1999 and have continued to tour and record since, with their most recent album being 2015’s Still Got That Hunger.

In 2019 these musicians will cement their legendary status as they join the ranks of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and your music-loving patrons will want to discover or re-discover their catalogs. Make sure you have plenty of their incredible tunes available—use the links above or SmartBrowse on our website to find their albums as well as concert films and other related media we have available.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Announces 2018 Induction Class

Written by Jon Williams

Early yesterday morning, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the bands and musicians to be inducted into its hallowed halls this coming year. It must have been a tight race: among the acts that didn’t make it this year are Radiohead (in their first year of eligibility), Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, and LL Cool J. Those that did make it in, on the other hand, are as follows:

Bon Jovi won a fan poll on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s website, which garnered them an extra vote toward induction. They’re the “newest” band in this year’s class, with their self-titled debut album releasing in 1984. They hit it big in the heyday of hair metal with 1986’s Slippery When Wet, with hits like “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer” propelling the album to 12x Platinum status. They’ve been going strong ever since, adjusting their rock sound over the years and releasing a total of thirteen studio albums to date, with the most recent being last year’s This House Is Not for Sale. Speculation has already begun that original members Richie Sambora and Alec John Such will reunite with the rest of the band for the induction performance.

Dire Straits got their start a bit earlier, but, like Bon Jovi, enjoyed their greatest success in the 1980s. Formed by brothers Mark and David Knopfler in 1977 with a pair of friends, the band released Dire Straits (containing their knockout first single “Sultans of Swing”) and Communique before the decade was out. The 1985 album Brothers in Arms, on the strength of “Money for Nothing” and its ultra-popular music video, became the first million-seller in the compact disc format, and also won two Grammy Awards. They released just one album after that, 1991’s On Every Street, although principal member Mark Knopfler has enjoyed a very successful solo career since then.

The Cars’ induction brings them full circle—singer Ric Ocasek and bassist Benjamin Orr originally met in Cleveland in the 1960s. The Cars came together in 1976, and they took off with their 1978 debut album, which included the hits “Good Times Roll,” “My Best Friend’s Girl,” and “Just What I Needed.” They released six albums before the band’s breakup in 1988. Founding member Orr passed away in 2000, but the remaining members reunited for the 2011 album Move Like This (currently unavailable on CD, but available digitally on hoopla). Like Knopfler and Dire Straits, Ric Ocasek has also had success as a solo artist.

The Moody Blues have their origins more than a decade before, coming together in 1964. After one album as an R&B outfit of sorts, they hit their stride with the landmark prog rock album Days of Future Passed (containing their biggest hit, “Nights in White Satin”) in 1967. Although they’ve been through a number of lineup changes, they’ve been quite prolific, with sixteen albums to their credit. The last was 2003’s Christmas-themed December, perfect for this time of year, but the band has continued to tour, and to release compilation and live albums.

Nina Simone sadly passed away in 2003, but will play a large role in the 2018 induction nonetheless. Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon, she adopted her stage name as a small-time singer in 1954. She became a full-fledged member of the civil rights movement with her 1964 live album Nina Simone in Concert (available on hoopla) and incorporated that message into her music going forward. She put out an incredible number of albums, both studio and live, and has influenced a generation of musicians, from the Beatles and David Bowie to Aretha Franklin and Lena Horne to Elton John and more. Whoever performs in her stead at the induction ceremony, it’s sure to be an incredible show.

As these stellar musicians are enshrined into the pantheon of rock legends, patrons are sure to crave their music, whether to relive classic sounds they’ve loved for years or to dig into these incredible discographies for the first time. Be sure to check out this collection of essential albums we’ve put together, and SmartBrowse each of them on our website to find even more.

Rock Hall Nominees Named

Written by Jon Williams

Nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2014 have been announced. It’s a diverse list that features grunge pioneers, glam superstars, hip-hop legends, disco dynamos, and more. The full list includes: the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chic, Deep Purple, Peter Gabriel, Hall & Oates, Kiss, LL Cool J, the Meters, N.W.A., Nirvana, the Replacements, Linda Ronstadt, Cat Stevens, Link Wray, Yes, and the Zombies.

Of course, not all of these bands and artists will make it, deserving though they may be. Inductees will be determined by a panel of 600 voters, among them music critics and industry insiders, as well as previous inductees. In addition, fans have a chance to vote at rockhall.com/vote.  The top five vote-getters from the list above will be tallied into an official ballot that will count as one of the 600 votes to determine the inductees.

The winners will be inducted in April of 2014 in New York (the Hall itself is in Cleveland, Ohio). The induction ceremony includes a concert that has, over the years, turned into quite an event unto itself, featuring performances by and collaborations among music legends. The ceremony and concert will be broadcast on HBO.

Artists are eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first single. This is Nirvana’s first year of eligibility. The 2013 class was made up of Heart, Albert King, Randy Newman, Public Enemy, Rush, and Donna Summer.

SmartBrowse 'Rock and Roll Hall of Fame' on our website for more CDs from previous nominees and inductees, as well as CDs and DVDs from induction concerts.

Midwest Tape at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction took place on Saturday April 14, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. This year’s inductees included Guns ‘N Roses (minus Axl Rose whose absent was covered highly by the media), the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys, Donovan, and Laura Nyro.

The sold out room of fans got to see not only the inductees but also their very famous presenters, some of whom performed. Green Day took the stage to introduce Guns ‘N Roses. John Mellencamp introduced Donovan by raising a copy of Donovan’s “Fairy Tale” album that he bought 47 years ago as a child. LL Cool J introduced the Beastie Boys and told the audience he first thought of them as “punks,” a comment which filled the room of 6,000 fans with laughter. Comedian Chris Rock had the privilege of introducing the Red Hot Chili Peppers with a hilarious monologue that will all air on HBO Saturday May 5th.

Sadly, not everyone was present. Bette Middler choked up when she introduced the late song writer Laura Nyro. Middler told audience members that Nyro was one of her favorite artists. Laura Nyro, who was famous for her songwriting for Peter, Paul & Mary and Carole King, passed away in 1997 at the age of 49.

The Chili Peppers closed the night performing "By the Way" and "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie.”

Midwest Tape’s own music guru Lisa Bettinger, who is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member, went on Sunday for her annual inductee visit to the museum. Lisa became a member of to the Hall of Fame museum after she found herself traveling to Cleveland two to three times a year to visit.

“It was exciting to see all of the renovations completed,” said Lisa. “They had started off with the new Beatles exhibit. Of course, the Beatles are one of my favorites so that part was a highlight. The museum also expanded their ‘Timeline of Rock’ exhibit to include such styles as heavy metal and early blues.”

In addition to the new inductees, it was also the opening of the new Grateful Dead exhibit. Lisa said there were quite a few Deadheads walking around reminiscing about the Dead’s long, strange trip. Definitely an exciting time to be in Cleveland!

Rock Hall Welcomes The Class Of 2011

A few weeks ago, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced its class of 2011 and, outside of Alice Cooper and Neil Diamond, some casual music fans were left asking “who are these people?”

Tom Waits, Darlene Love, and Dr. John round out the field of five, and while most music experts agree that all of this year’s inductees are deserving of the honor, these musicians aren’t exactly household names. Bigger names such as Bon Jovi, the Beastie Boys, and Kiss will have to wait at least another year to see if they make the cut.

With all due respect to this year’s class, I was not initially convinced that some of the inductees should really be in over a band that, 25 years after their first release, is still the biggest touring act in the country (Bon Jovi), a rap group that helped define the genre (the Beasties), or the band that turned rock music into a marketable commodity—for better or for worse (Kiss).

With this thought burning in my mind, I decided to research exactly what it is that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (or the “Rock Hall,” as it has come to be known) voters are looking for when they place their votes. I did not have to look far—the qualifications are addressed right on the Rock Hall website:

To be eligible for induction as an artist (as a performer, composer, or musician) into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the artist must have released a record, in the generally accepted sense of that phrase, at least 25 years prior to the year of induction; and have demonstrated unquestionable musical excellence.

We shall consider factors such as an artist's musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique, but musical excellence shall be the essential qualification of induction.

So how exactly have Mr. Waits, Ms. Love, and Dr. John met these criteria?

Tom Waits is a highly regarded influence in the music community—while a grossly underrated talent outside of it. The gravel-voiced crooner’s career was born in the early ‘70s, and his ability to paint stark images with his words is matched by few.

Darlene Love’s impact was mainly felt during the ‘50s and ‘60s through her work with Phil Spector and his “Wall of Sound” production. As a backing vocalist, the list of artists that she worked with during this time is a virtual who’s who of the rock & roll and R&B scenes including Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, and Sam Cooke.

In a career that has spanned nearly 60 years, Dr. John—whose musical styling ranges from jazz and blues to rock and pop—embodies the New Orleans music scene. His longevity and innovation are what landed him his spot in the Hall.

The one trait that all three of these talented musicians share is that their contributions and influences are well-documented within the music community (Waits’ emotional vocals have impacted artists ranging from Chris Cornell to Nick Cave; Love’s legacy can be heard in the work of Luther Vandross and Patti LaBelle; Dr. John’s unique sound has influenced the likes of Harry Connick Jr. and G. Love), but in a wider sense, are largely unrecognized.

The criticism of the Rock Hall has long been that popular “big name” artists are often inducted ahead of more talented individuals, and while I take nothing away from this year’s class (they all deserve the accolade), I’m not sure I agree that this is even a problem.

Hasn’t rock & roll always been about the fans? What makes a successful rock band is an intangible quality that many simply refer to as “it.” “It” is what allows the act to connect with its fans, regardless of factors such as technical ability or technique—either an act has “it” or it doesn’t.

A rock act’s musical talent should not be the sole barometer of success, and I’m not sure that the criteria listed above exhibits that philosophy. Rock musicians that challenge us intellectually deserve their due, but let’s not forget the acts that we worshiped when we were growing up—which is why we fell in love with rock in the first place.

For a collection of work from the Class of 2011, click the banner below:


Did the Rock Hall get it right with the class of 2011? Who got snubbed? Who would you have voted in? Let us know in the comments below!