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2026 Hall of Fame Rant - Published 2/25/26.

As my dear Facebook family and friends know, I always try to keep my posts light and fluffy - no politics and no religion. Once a year, however, I allow myself a rant when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominations come out. Well, it's that time again so here it goes: The Black Crowes, Oasis, Phil Collins, Billy Idol, INXS, Iron Maiden and Luther Vandross are all extremely well-deserving and I wish them the best. Mariah Carey, Melissa Etheridge, PINK, Sade and Shakira are all forces of nature as well, even though, when I think of them, rock doesn't come to my mind. Jeff Buckley, with all due respect, recorded one album and his only "hit" was a Leonard Cohen cover. Joy Division/New Order - I'll let you be the judge. Lauryn Hill, New Edition and Wu-Tang Clan - I'll let Gene Simmons answer, "hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". Meanwhile, The Monkees are still not in the Hall, even though Micky Dolenz is the only member...
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"Please Come to Boston" by Dave Loggins.

OK, boys and girls, more 70s one-hit wonders: This Tennessee-born (hint, hint!) singer/songwriter was touring with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band when they visited three cities where he had not been before. They inspired him to write and perform his only solo hit, an easy-listening 1974 soft-rock ballad which defined his career. A plea to a woman to join him in those three cities. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts. Grammy-nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Artist? Song? Answer: "Please Come to Boston" by Dave Loggins. In 1984, he topped the Country charts with "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do", a duet with Anne Murray, but "Please Come to Boston" was his only solo hit. Curiously, the song is "almost" autobiographic in the sense that there was no woman - he "made her up" to intensify the feeling of longing. Fond memories of listening to it during my sophomore year of med school in Philly. Covered ...
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"Wishing You Were Here" by Chicago.

This one was suggested by someone very dear to me but, at her request, she will remain anonymous: OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: Composed by Peter Cetera, this wistful 1974 Chicago soft-rock ballad speaks of longing, absence and missing a loved one. The late great Terry Kath sings lead vocals and Cetera does the bridge. One of the very few Chicago tunes where Kath plays bass and Cetera guitar. The Beach Boys were recording in an adjacent studio so Carl and Dennis Wilson, as well as Al Jardine, added backup vocals. #11 Billboard Hot 100, #9 Cash Box, #1 Easy Listening. Song? Answer: "Wishing You Were Here" by Chicago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj3TOw8DIDw&list=RDJj3TOw8DIDw&start_radio=1
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Jim "Roger" McGuinn.

OK, boys and girls, the 60s live on: This Chicago native cut his teeth at the Old Town School of Folk Music. He played banjo and guitar with The Limeliters, the Chad Mitchell Trio and Bobby Darin. After watching "A Hard Day's Night" in '64, he tried to find a 12-string Rickenbacker like George's "with the pointy cutaways" but couldn't. He had to settle for a "blonde" 360-12. It was stolen and auctioned in England for $100,000. Artist? Answer: Jim "Roger" McGuinn. He has been my guitar hero since I first heard him in '65. And the rest, as they say, is jingle-jangle... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0Jg4S9R-44&list=RDO0Jg4S9R-44&start_radio=1
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"The Immigrant" by Neil Sedaka.

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: This touching 1974 Neil Sedaka/Phil Cody ballad is arguably Sedaka's most socially-conscious song. It peaked at #22. Dedicated to John Lennon as a protest against the government's refusal to grant him permanent resident status. Song? Answer: "The Immigrant" by Neil Sedaka. Part of Neil's "return" in the 70s. A little pitch for him - one of my all-time favorite artists: He's STILL not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Here's the link to sign the petition. http://www.sedaka.be/neil_sedaka_petition/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VGd7pDHtIA&list=RD3VGd7pDHtIA&start_radio=1
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Christopher Cross.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 80s: This singer/songwriter/guitarist was the first artist to win all 4 General Field Grammys ("The Big Four") in one night - Record, Album and Song of the Year, as well as Best New Artist. He won 5 Grammys that night. He also won an Oscar and a Golden Globe. (Norah Jones came oh so close in 2003!) Artist? Answer: Christopher Cross. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJS1rFQBhyU&list=RDDJS1rFQBhyU&start_radio=1
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"Lonely Teardrops" by Jackie Wilson.

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: This 1958 Gordy/Gordy/Davis R&B classic was first recorded by Detroit native "Mr. Excitement" in '59. It topped the R&B/Soul charts and peaked at #7 on Billboard's Hot 100. Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and is ranked #308 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In September of 1975, while performing at the Latin Casino in NJ, the artist suffered a stroke and collapsed on stage as he sang this song right after delivering "...my heart is crying.". Song? Artist? Answer: "Lonely Teardrops" by Jackie Wilson. Was he cool or what?! AND he COULD dance - SO SMOOTH!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nEfuE8Pw4U
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