Rock Hall Revisited: Class of 1986

Decided to do this for a bit of fun, kill time, and thought some of you might be interested. So here we go with the Class of 1986, as voted by YOU, yes you.

Here’s how this works:

1. 18 acts are nominated, with 7 being inducted.
2. We are still following the 25 year rule, meaning an artist is eligible 25 years after the release of their first record
3. Every artist has no more than 15 years to make the bill, and after, they are cast aside. The collective voice has voiced their thoughts: you’re not Hall of Fame worthy.
4. If you can, elaborate on how and why you voted the way you did.
5. If an artist you are passionate about does not make the cut whatsoever, it isn't the end of the world, in the end, the music itself and how you or others relate to it is what matters.

 

Elvis---a bunch of great 50s rock n roll on Sun and RCA..... The only real measuring stick to compare to Beatlemania for many many years...
Chuck Berry--- The oh so essential guitar licks and suck a prolific songwriter..

It was quick and easy deciding this, even with so many greats to go against.

 

Who were the other five you voted for?

 

Johnny Ace Essential Tunes:

Johnny Ace - Never Let Me Go
JOHNNY ACE My Song JUN '52

 

Elvis
Buddy Holly
Chuck Berry
Ray Charles
Little Richard
Smokey Robinson & Miracles
The Drifters

I think my top 5 are no brainers - they are the foundation stones of rock and roll, and I still enjoy listening to the music they created. The last 2 are personal favorites. Smokey is a musical genius and the Drifters were amazing.

 

Info on Nominees as a refresher:
Johnny Ace:
Johnny Ace - Wikipedia
Chuck Berry:
Chuck Berry - Wikipedia
Bill Haley & His Comets:
Bill Haley - Wikipedia
Bill Haley & His Comets - Wikipedia
Buddy Holly & The Crickets:
Buddy Holly - Wikipedia
The Crickets - Wikipedia
Ray Charles:
Ray Charles - Wikipedia
The Coasters:
The Coasters - Wikipedia
Sam Cooke:
Sam Cooke - Wikipedia
Bobby Darin:
Bobby Darin - Wikipedia
The Drifters:
The Drifters - Wikipedia
The Flamingos:
The Flamingos - Wikipedia
Marvin Gaye:
Marvin Gaye - Wikipedia
Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps:
Gene Vincent - Wikipedia
Hank Ballard & The Midnighters:
Hank Ballard - Wikipedia
The Midnighters - Wikipedia
Jerry Lee Lewis:
Jerry Lee Lewis - Wikipedia
Little Richard:
Little Richard - Wikipedia
Elvis Presley:
Elvis Presley - Wikipedia
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles:
Smokey Robinson - Wikipedia
The Miracles - Wikipedia
Jackie Wilson:
Jackie Wilson - Wikipedia

 

I guess WE kind of goofed in not including either James Brown, Bo Diddley, the Everly Brothers or Fats Domino.

Better luck next time...

 

Also, who did you vote for?

 

Elvis - Duh

Chuck Berry - Pure Rock 'n' Roll.

Buddy Holly - So many classic songs. Taken way too early.

Bill Hayley and the Comets - "Rock Around the Clock", enough said.

Ray Charles - That voice can make a grown man cry.

Jerry Lee Lewis - Forever cementing the piano into Rock 'n' Roll

The Drifters - Fantastic group with so many classic hits. "Under the Boardwalk", a personal favorite.

 

Chuck Berry
Buddy Holly
Ray Charles
Elvis
Jerry Lee
Smokey Robinson
Sam Cooke

I picked the ones that I thought had the most impactful and best careers, of this group. My last one in was Sam Cooke - could easily have gone with Marvin Gaye there.

 

I only voted for 2........but here would make 7

Buddy Holly and the Crickets
Little Richard
Bill Haley and the Comets
Jerry Lee Lewis
Gene Vincent and the blue caps

This vote goes mostly to the fact that these players played actual rock n roll.
There were some great non rock n roll choices as well. Guess I'm just not down with the loose definition of rock n roll. Little Richard I would rate with Chuck Berry and Elvis..

 

It's probably worth noting who was actually inducted into the Hall in the inaugural Class of 1986 in real life:
Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Elvis Presley

That was 10 inductees and it's an unimpeachable list. The remainder of the '50s and early '60s greats (with a few exceptions) got inducted the next year, in 1987. That year had 15 inductees.

For this exercise, I voted for these 7:
1. Chuck Berry
2. Elvis Presley
3. Ray Charles
4. Sam Cooke
5. Little Richard
6. Jerry Lee Lewis
7. Buddy Holly and the Crickets

 

Chuck Berry - the guitar hero prototype
Buddy Holly - just a great bunch of songs and sound
Ray Charles - it's Ray, he could be on any list for anything
Sam Cooke - one of the purist singers
Little Richard - my favourite rock and roll singer. i think he is responsible for a lot of the heavy metal vocalists, with his b@lls out delivery
Jerry Lee Lewis - i preferred his country stuff, but a huge part of the original rock and roll movement
Elvis Presley - i mean it's Elvis. if he had not gone into movies i feel he would have been even bigger in music

 

A no-brainer for me. No way I could bypass any of these.

No. 1: Gene Vincent, with or without the Blue Caps

The others in no particular order:
Buddy Holly
Chuck Berry
Little Richard
Elvis Presley
Jerry Lee Lewis
Bill Haley & his Comets

@Jeff Carlson I see you got it right

 

WHERE ARE THE MOODY BLUES!!!!!?????????
ARRRGGGGGHHHHHH!

kidding!

 

Chuck, Buddy, Ray, Sam, Little Richard, Jerry Lee and of course Elvis.

Five pure rockers, including two of the best songwriters in the genre ever and three prodigiously talented performers, plus two crossover artist that had massive impact on rock'n'roll. Easy-peasy.

 

1. Elvis
2. Chuck Berry

These two are no brainers - the big bang of Rock N' Roll, and it's poet laureate.

3. Little Richard
4. Buddy Holly
5. Jerry Lee Lewis

If you could add Fats Domino and the Everlys to these five, you'd have all of the major artists of Rock's first generation.

6. Ray Charles
7. Sam Cooke

Perhaps more Soul than Rock N' Roll, but undeniable major influences on the music of the era. It was hard to choose between Sam and Smokey for the last spot, but Sam is just closer to my heart.

 

I'm shocked Marvin Gaye barely got any votes.

I picked:
Gaye
Elvis
Ray Charles
Sam Cooke
Smokey
Chuck Berry

 

Berry
Holly
Cooke
Gaye
Presley
Lewis
Richard

 

Elvis
Chuck
Buddy
Ray
Sam
Jerry Lee
Little Richard

 

Elvis
Buddy Holly
Chuck Berry
Ray Charles
Marvin Gaye
Sam Cooke
Little Richard

 

Now this guy, he got it

 

Any list that doesn’t include Elvis, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis is objectively wrong. From there it’s more difficult to say who is most deserving, but I would probably say Ray Charles and Sam Cooke out of those.

 

Chuck Berry Essential Tunes:

Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode
Chuck Berry Route 66

 

I picked Marvin Gaye. Not one of those other artists interest me in the slightest. Are others merited for inclusion? Yes, but not in MY rock 'n' roll hall of fame.