The Grammy Hall of Fame has announced their inductees for 2013. Its interesting to me the songs who seemed so inconsequential to me had such impact on the world at large.
Twenty seven songs in all are added to the Grammy Museum including ‘The Times They Are A Changi’n,” 1964’s Dylan classic, along side Whitney Houston and AC/DC? Apparently it is tradition to permit a wide range of styles and this year is certainly no different.
"With the Grammy Hall of Fame celebrating 40 years, it's especially important to note that these entries continue the tradition of inducting a wide variety of recordings that have inspired and influenced both fans and music makers for generations," said Neil Portnow, the Recording Academy's President and CEO. "Memorable for being both culturally and historically significant, we are proud to add them to our growing catalog of outstanding recordings that have become part of our musical, social, and cultural history."
That’s the biggest ball of words that say nothing that I have seen in a long time but its best to quote the big shots. There are currently 933 songs that have been nominated over the years. Those inducted are ultimately chosen by the Recording Academy’s National Board of Trustees.
Lets put it this way. Last year the songs inducted were Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A., Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream Speech," and Bill Cosby's 1964 comedy album I Started Out As A Child.
I guess I will never quite understand the Grammy's. But here is a nice cut and paste list of the tunes that have gotten a nod. Kudos to you all. What a fascinating playlist this makes.
- "Act Naturally," Buck Owens (Capitol, 1963)
- "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens," Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five (Decca, 1946)
- "Allons à Lafayette (Lafayette)," Joe Falcon (Columbia, 1928)
- Back In Black, AC/DC (Albert/Atlantic, 1980)
- Band on the Run, Paul McCartney and Wings (Apple, 1973)
- "Bonaparte's Retreat," W.H. Stepp (Library of Congress, 1937)
- Crosscurrents, Lennie Tristano Sextet (Capitol, 1949)
- "El Día Que Me Quieras," Carlos Gardel (Paramount, 1935)
- Elton John, Elton John (Uni Records, 1970)
- Foggy Mountain Banjo, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs And The Foggy Mountain Boys (Columbia, 1961)
- Here's Little Richard, Little Richard (Specialty, 1957)
- "Hit The Road Jack," Ray Charles (ABC-Paramount, 1961)
- "Hound Dog," Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton (Peacock, 1953)
- "I Got You (I Feel Good)," James Brown (King, 1965)
- John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman, John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman (Impulse!, 1963)
- Lost In The Stars, Original Broadway Cast (Decca, 1949)
- Mingus Ah Um, Charles Mingus (Columbia, 1959)
- "My Black Mama [Parts 1 & 2]," Son House (Paramount, 1930)
- "Near You," Francis Craig and His Orchestra (Bullet, 1947)
- "On Broadway," The Drifters (Atlantic, 1963)
- "Piano Man," Billy Joel (Columbia, 1973)
- "Stealin' Stealin'," Memphis Jug Band (Victor, 1928)
- That Nigger's Crazy, Richard Pryor (Partee/Stax, 1974)
- "Theme From 'New York, New York'," Frank Sinatra (Reprise, 1980)
- "The Times They Are A-Changin'," Bob Dylan (Columbia, 1964)
- "The Titanic," Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman (Okeh, 1924)