Outside Counsel

This year's nominees for the Rock'n'Roll HOF once again illustrate how the institution is flawed: ABBA, Darlene Love, Donna Summer, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, KISS, Laura Nyro, LL Cool J, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Chantels, The Hollies and The Stooges. What kind of a list is this? Is there anyone on it that deserves to be enshrined in a Hall of Fame? ABBA sold a ton of records, and remain a force. (I once met their lawyer at a conference. He was pretty modest about it, but a client like that is obviously pretty nice to have.) The Chantels were great, but great like Dom DiMagio, not great like Joe. The Hollies are an interesting problem-- bigger in the UK than here, they still scored several big hits stateside. "Bus Stop" and "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" are pretty great. I suppose they deserve to be thought of as more than a second-string BeeGees, but not much more. It is not clear to me which Genesis we are talking about. Peter Gabriel Genesis? Phil Collins Genesis? Rutherford and Banks Genesis? In order, overblown, should have been run out of town on a rail, and who? I guess it doesn't make any difference which Genesis: I vote No. Donna Summer? Sure, why not? KISS? Hey, if they are going to let them in, let 'em in with ABBA. Jimmy Cliff? You can't be serious. Peppers? On what possible basis can that case be made? Stooges? Absolutely. Innovative and influential, they belong. Plus, having them around shows up KISS for what they really are. Hard to believe Laura Nyro isn't already there, and too bad she isn't alive to be inducted. I plead ignorance with respect to LL Cool J. Darlene Love and Donna Summer are both worthy candidates.

My ballot: KISS, Stooges, Nyro, Summer, Love and ABBA.