Rock and Roll Hall of Shame Part One

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Lots of groups that I personally believe should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, are not. Some are obscure bands and musicians who have never been nominated, and others who have gone past the nomination period. Please note that none of the artists listed here are in any particular order.

Yes
Yes was a progressive rock group whose average song had a length of twenty minutes. They were often regarded for their “mystical and cosmic lyrics.”  In one twenty minute Yes song, the listener is able to distinguish between numerous styles of music including rock, classical, jazz, and folk. Their songs also had complex vocal arrangements. Yes’s album Tales From Topographic Oceans was inspired by interpretations of footnotes of the Shastric scriptures within Paramahansa Yogananda’s biography. A simple listener cannot understand the music in the album, in order to understand the true meaning of the album one must read their lyrics and thoroughly analyze them. If you enjoy thoroughly analyzing poetry, as well as lyrics, than Yes is the band for you.

Roxy Music
Roxy Music is a band that is impossible to categorize. Each album brought something new to the new group and had something in it that was never done before. If the strange noises Roxy Music made would be coalesced into a song, it would probably most likely resemble their song Virginia Plane. Virginia Plane has strange chirping sounds coming from an oboe, motorcycle noises, and synthesizer strangeness. Their lead vocalist, Bryan Ferry, had a remarkable voice. His voice is most accurately described as, “If Hubert Humphrey became a rock star, he would be Bryan Ferry.”  Everyone has heard at least one sound from former Roxy Music member, Bryan Eno. T he Windows computer program start-up sound was made by him, which only slightly describes one of his many odd sound effects.

T.Rex
T.Rex is sometimes regarded as a one hit wonder of the early 70s, with their song Bang a Gong (Get It On). The group’s influence spans beyond music to fashion. When an average person discusses glam rock (which was rock music that involved the performers dressing in shiny and interesting clothing) they would say David Bowie was the man to first put glitter on his face and wear an outlandish costume.  In reality it was Marc Bolan, T.Rex’s front man who introduced Bowie to glam rock. Marc Bolan essentially made an entirely new style that was not just new in fashion, but also in demeanor.  Glam rock would later popularize what people currently refer to as the bisexual chic of the 70s. Unfortunately, Marc Bolan died before he reached 30, and the group was never really able to escape England’s underground music scene. However, the group did influence and achieve more than they do get credit for, the real king of glam isn’t David Bowie or Elton John, it is and always be Marc Bolan.

Next issue, I will be discussing more artists that I believe should be nominated and have not, so please stay tuned.