My Ten Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs: The Smiths (#8)

Take a bow, then take a hike. I like your way of thinking! Hope you’re feeling well today!

@JohnRoberts — standing on the turnpike, thumb out to hitchhike, take you to Kentucky right away.....

@FourWalls I prefer hitchin' a ride to a hike.

Honestly I think that halls of fame (especially this one) should break down their inductions to “eras” or decades. The Country Music Hall of Fame does that, in a way: they have one “veterans era” (pre-1970) inductee and one “modern era” inductee. Aside from the Rock hall’s other problems (I had an unsavory thought when I saw that one of the board members passed away from “dementia”...along the lines of, “That explains how the Replacements got nominated!” [and I love the ‘Mats, as you know]), they are probably trying to induct too many people. I think the Football hall has a rule that they must induct at least four people every year. That will eventually lead to some third-string quarterback who threw a touchdown pass in a meaningless game at the end of the season being inducted. Likewise, I’ve seen lists online where people list 200 acts who “should be in the Hall of Fame,” and they’re jokes (much worse than the ones I’m making here on my list). One list had — no kidding — Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton listed as “should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.” Um.....NO. They are enshrined where they should be enshrined. I think all of the music halls of fame have problems, which are magnified to people such as you, JJ, Scott, and myself who are more “students” of music than a casual “fan.” The Rock hall’s issues seem to be much worse because that’s the most popular form of music. And, as I said earlier (when I get to the number one person you’ll scream “no way, Jose-phine!”), they’ve set a precedent that it would be hard to stop unless they simply kick everybody out and start over. But the Rock hall told everyone how ridiculous their inductions were going to be when they started in 1986 and didn’t induct the Beatles until 1988, and didn’t induct the Stones until 1989.

@FourWalls I once read that an act or performer becomes eligible 25 years after the release of their first album (like the baseball wait of 5 years after retirement) so that would explain the Beatles (1st album "Please Please Me" in 1963 plus 25 years is 1988; so that makes sense in many cases like that). Plus they took care of appropriate business in the early years with Elvis, Chuck etc . There is no excusing the Linda wait (remember Glenn stated she have gone in the same year as them) or even Heart. Obvious prejudices abound beginning with Rolling Stone magazine's control. Jann Wenner had a feud with Linda for some reason and that explains that. I guess getting Parkinson's forced the issue. Rolling Stone magazine loathed 80s new wave alternative thus you don't see Smiths, Duran Duran etc. Mick Jones of Foreigner supposedly contacted the committee asking why the band didn't even merit consideration and he was informed never under any circumstances would Foreigner ever be inducted. Football and basketball are too loose and generous in whom is deemed hall of fame caliber. Baseball is much stricter and rightly so and even then some dubious get in. I thought the Country HOF was spot on in inductees and no questionable types (based on my limited knowledge of country); it was inductee year order I questioned. The R&R HOF got it right the early years when it was easy to get all the known legends in. Now it's practically a farce.

@JohnRoberts — I’ve frequently said that it should be more accurately named “the hall of Jan Wenner’s Pets.” And there are goofs in the country HofF. I once asked my dad if I was missing something in George Morgan’s career. He thought and then said, “he was never very big. He only had two hits.” Yet he’s in. Mac Wiseman? NO WAY on this or any other Earth he should be in the country music side. He was ALWAYS a bluegrass musician, and he was the 4th act inducted. Rightly so. He was inducted in Nashville to leave someone else out.