The ‘80s: Our Listeners Punch the HOF Ballot
Dave and Milt reveal the listeners’ survey-driven top 10 forgotten ’80s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-worthy artists, noting the oddly neat result that—like the ’70s episode—about 10 acts clear a “put them in” majority threshold.
The B-52s brought the beehives, The camp, the kitsch, the fun,
But was weirdness enough when all was said and done?
Steve Winwood had that golden voice, From Traffic to MTV,
“Higher Love” was cool but twice-inducted? Must he be?
Then Mötley Crüe came crashing in, With hairspray, booze and flame,
They filled arenas, scared your mom—But does excess equal fame?
Tracy Chapman, quiet and fierce, Had songs that cut straight through,
“Fast Car” somehow never gets old- is her résumé enough for you?
Toto had chops to spare, “Africa,” “Rosanna,” too,
The session-player super-team—Though critics often said, “Not you.”
Eric B. & Rakim changed how rappers rap, Rakim rewrote the rules,
Their influence towers over their charts—Does innovation trump record sales and pools?
Rick Springfield was Jesse’s jealous friend, A heartthrob with a hook,
He had more hits than some recall— But does the Hall give soap stars a look?
The Smiths inspired gloomy souls With Morrissey and Marr,
Influential? Undeniably. But four albums—does that get you far?
Bryan Adams rocked the summer nights, With raspy, fist-pump flair,
A mountain full of radio hits— Is that true rarefied air?
DEVO wore the flowerpots, And warned that we devolve,
Can they whip the Hall of Fame? A mystery to solve.
Don Henley left the Eagles’ nest and did some solo stuff;
“Boys of Summer,” “Dirty Laundry” Hmmm - is it enough?
Sonic Youth made guitars sound Like power tools from Mars,
Alt-rock owes them plenty—But are they truly stars?
Huey Lewis & The News had heart, and hooks galore,
In the 80s they were everywhere—can they knock down the door?
Scorpions rocked us like a hurricane, And whistled winds of change,
Would seeing them enshrined be juuust a little strange?
The Bangles walked like Egyptians and harmonies were their ace,
More than just an ’80s novelty—Though longevity hurts their case.
Robert Palmer dressed impeccably, And made addiction chic,
Soul, rock, funk and Power Station—But too brief and sleek?
Kenny Loggins owned the cinema: “Footloose,” “Danger Zone,”
But solo Hall credentials? That’s harder to condone.
INXS had Hutchence, And Kick was wall-to-wall,
A global band with sex and hooks—Is it now time for the Hall?
Tears for Fears ruled everybody’s world, With brains behind the sheen,
Big songs, ambitious albums—But is their catalog pristine?
And finally there’s Sting, all tantric cool, With jazz where rock had been,
The Police already punched his ticket— Can Gordo punch it again?
Topics
01:29 Survey SAYS…
04:09 The Final Countdown
04:30 Starting With A Bang(le)
07:43 INXS INdaHOF? … not yet
10:35 Be Originals. Be Standouts. B-52s.
14:24 Toto Rides the Yacht
18:25 This Was Supposed to be the Summer of Bryan!
23:37 Show Steve Some Higher Love
25:36 Frampton: Show Him the Way
26:28 Loggins. He’s All Right…
29:09 Did I Say Messina?
30:14 Building the Perfect Henley Debate
32:50 Huey Wants A New Plug
35:30 Also Ran Rundown
37:06 Are You Smiths or Are You Out?
38:53 The Sting of #1
