Interesting, I'm a pop music geek and I've actually thought about this before, and I think you can almost make a case. The problem with Neil is he didn't die at 27. Most of the stuff he did after the Hot August Night double-live album is schmaltz. But he wrote some decent rock/pop tunes up til then. Working against him: he gave in to Don Kirschner and pimped tunes to the Monkees. Decent tunes, but a sellout (other Brill Building folk like Goffin/King and Mann/Weil wouldn't do it. Kirschner was kinda teh debil.) Working for him: appeared in "The Last Waltz" (!) and Robbie Robertson produced the "Beautiful Noise" album. Also, Rick Rubin tried to do for him recently what he did for Johnny Cash. And he's had songs covered by acts like UB40 ("Red Red Wine") and Urge Overkill ("Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon"). His influence is semi-wide, that's a factor. Not everyone in the HOF is pure rock-and-roll (see: Leonard Cohen, Miles Davis). I think Neil's early body of work could get him in.

Did see him live at the Greek on a hot August night (1986). Good show.

He sure as hell belongs in there as much as Madonna does.

Money talks.

/...but it can't sing and dance and it can't walk.

he is one of the great songwriters, and he was a relatively important influence on rock and roll, he hung and sang with a lot of the big names. I say he belongs in.

What Confabulat said. The Hall of Fame has no shame.

/I'd vote for Neil way before Madonna.

As a songwriter, I'd let him in.

Peaceboy: Interesting, I'm a pop music geek and I've actually thought about this before, and I think you can almost make a case. The problem with Neil is he didn't die at 27. Most of the stuff he did after the Hot August Night double-live album is schmaltz.

This bears repeating. I went to a concert about 6 years ago. When he sung anything that was post-HAN, you could hear crickets in the audience. Best live album by anyone ever.

And I totally, completely and utterly hate hyperbolae

Bob Down: When he sung anything that was post-HAN, you could hear crickets

Except maybe some Jazz Singer stuff

..and the Rubin album was excellent, IMO.

Check out the duet version of "Delirious Love" with Brian Wilson for proof.

I don't see why a club dedicated to "rock" that allows in rappers, jazzers, pop divas, and folkies should exclude Neil Diamond.

While we're on the subject, why the hell hasn't Kraftwerk been inducted? They're responsible for the rise of synthesizers that have defined pop music since 1980 or so.

/Did I just answer my own question?

musicky: I don't see why a club dedicated to "rock" that allows in rappers, jazzers, pop divas, and folkies should exclude Neil Diamond.

Because people like Miles Davis, Robert Johnson, and Leonard Cohen have all had a large influence on rock music. I can't really see that with Neil. It's obvious he had a tremendous influence on the singer/songwriter genre, and a decent influence on popular music in general, but how was rock and roll significantly affected by his career?

None of this matters, though, because the Rock HoF has zero credibility. They'll induct Madonna, but continue to ignore Iggy Pop, KISS, the Monkees, and every prog rock band that isn't Pink Floyd.

Earguy: As a songwriter, I'd let him in.



I'll leave you IN!!!

He should be in there simply for Hot August Night, still one of the best live albums ever, although I disagree with the time frame of when the schmaltz set in. Beautiful Noise was pretty decent and Love At The Greek was a respectable live album although it couldn't touch HAN. After that the schmaltz began. But yeah--if Madonna's in he should be too.

/have owned HAN in one form or another since I was 9
//now 41

The Band sure respected him enough, he was one of their guests for The Last Waltz. And he was one of the main songwriters for A&M in the late 50's/early 60's along with Carol King and Jerry somebody.

Take a look at the inductee list from the past 20 years. They don't limit their choices to Rock & Roll acts.

If they let Simon & Garfunkel in there, then Neil Diamond is fair game.

Not sure what is more pathetic, the fact that the Rock and Roll HOF even exists, or that someone is lobbying for induction.

He belongs in, but so do Jethro Tull . . .

NEWSFLASH - The R&R Hall of Fame isn't just for R&R! Hasn't been for DECADES. Start your own museum, or continue to whine in futility.

THIS JUST IN - The stars on the Walk of Fame are PURCHASED.

Peaceboy: But he wrote some decent rock/pop tunes up til then. Working against him: he gave in to Don Kirschner and pimped tunes to the Monkees. Decent tunes, but a sellout (other Brill Building folk like Goffin/King and Mann/Weil wouldn't do it. Kirschner was kinda teh debil.)

Actually, the Monkees did tunes by Goffin/King and Mann/Weil as well. Goffin/King even co-wrote a tune with Nez for their first album ("Sweet Young Thing").

/Let Neil into the Hall.
//The Monkees too.

I'm OK with putting him in the HOF. If Madonna gets in, putting Neil in is a no-brainer.

Grandmaster farking Flash is in the R&R HOF for chrissake!!

Madonna is in there. Nuff said.

I fully and clearly remember years ago when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame first began that that I knew on a yearly basis I would be pissed off and disappointed with their selections.

I knew it would be a scam of arbitrary crap and insulting snubs.

Each and every single year this is confirmed.

Screw 'em.

If you are a musician,songwriter or simply a person of taste,
you know who should be recognized and who shouldn't.

Neil belongs in there a hell of a lot more than some other folks who are in (James Taylor? Jacksone Browne?) but his exclusion is by no means the most egregious.





NO STOOGES, NO PEACE!

subby needs to brush up on his pop music history.

Frankly, he apologizes on stage for most of his creative output in the 60s and 70s and I really can't think of anything that is less rock and roll than apologizing for writing shiatty songs.

The Rolling Stones are past the point of apologizing and are edging into a grey area where reparations are going to be necessary but they don't give a fark, sign the check and turn them loose.

Seeing some of the other entries, I have no problem letting him in.

Peaceboy: Working for him: appeared in "The Last Waltz"

Not everyone in the HOF is pure rock-and-roll (see: Leonard Cohen, Miles Davis). I think Neil's early body of work could get him in.



I love the Last Waltz. I always skip Neil and Joni though. 2 artists who shouldn't have been there (hell, even Ronnie Hawkins was embarrassing, but they had to give props to their first frontman).

Anyway, they should change the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame to the "Verizon Wireless/Intel/Chevrolet Popular Music Hall of Fame" because anyone from any genre can get in now.

/reason #232 not to visit Cleveland

Crewmannumber6: The Band sure respected him enough, he was one of their guests for The Last Waltz. And he was one of the main songwriters for A&M in the late 50's/early 60's along with Carol King and Jerry somebody.

He was in the last waltz because he shared managers with The Band. Nothing else.

I would say that Cherry, Cherry, Brother Love's (etc.)..., Solitary Man and Kentucky Woman could be considered rock and roll.

Broktun: Crewmannumber6: The Band sure respected him enough, he was one of their guests for The Last Waltz. And he was one of the main songwriters for A&M in the late 50's/early 60's along with Carol King and Jerry somebody.

He was in the last waltz because he shared managers with The Band. Nothing else.

I thought he was in there because Robbie Robertson was producing his album and actually co-wrote the song he sing, while the rest of The Band didn't want him to be there. I didn't really think he fit in, though he should be in the HoF, no question.

With some of the artists that are in there now, he should be in.

Ray Charles is heavy metal.

spazzhappy
Ray Charles is heavy metal.

...or so they told him...

davezog: I thought he was in there because Robbie Robertson was producing his album and actually co-wrote the song he sing, while the rest of The Band didn't want him to be there.

That is what Levon says in his autobiography, if that serves as confirmation you are correct.

Unaware that defining "Sweet Caroline" as rock music makes about as much sense as dividing by zero

So...is the definition of "rock music" and how does "Sweet Caroline" not fit it?

musicky: While we're on the subject, why the hell hasn't Kraftwerk been inducted? They're responsible for the rise of synthesizers that have defined pop music since 1980 or so.

I think the Hall voters should start choosing inductees based on what would make the biggest train wreck all-star jam session at the end of induction night.

And so...Introducing the Rock Hall of Fame Class of 2009: Neil Diamond, Kraftwerk, the Stooges and King Crimson.

2010: Waylon Jennings, Kool and the Gang, Tom Waits and Genesis.
2011: Jethro Tull, ABBA, the Residents and the Neville Brothers.
2012: Peter Gabriel, the Replacements, the Beastie Boys and Neil Sedaka.

This is fun!

Confabulat: He sure as hell belongs in there as much as more than Madonna does.

FTFY

Gulper Eel: 2012: Peter Gabriel, the Replacements, the Beastie Boys and Neil Sedaka.
This is fun!

Neil and the Beasties would rock da house

yes he deserved to be in there long before asswipes like madonna etc

totally ripped and flyin high a while ago, my music set on Shuffle-

Cracklin Rosie came on AND IT WAS FUKKING FANTASTIC,
just brimming with life and fun

i'd forgotten how good he can be.



/used to have 45 rpm of Red Rubber Ball by Cyrkle (his early band)
//get off my lawn

Why shouldn't he be there? He's written and performed some great songs. Get off your music snobbery high horses, otherwise it would be only Chuck Berry and Elvis in the R&R HOF.

Again, Madonna is in the goddamn hall so at this point, it's pointless to argue about eligibility.

Let's just burn the damn thing down.

Can someone give me 1 good reason why I should care about who's in the R&R HOF?

Even if you haven't followed Diamond's career like I have, if you can read about his career and listen to Hot August Night and NOT realize his influence, you're beyond stupid.

Niel Diamond is one of the best musicians of any time or style. His early stuff was rock and roll, no doubt.
Cherry is one of the best rock songs ever recorded.
The RR hall of fame is a disgrace.
*This opinion if from a die hard deathmetal head and classical music fanatic, of whom Niel Diamond was the soundtrack of his childhood thanks to Mom.*

The last scene of "Saving Silverman", the concert footage of "Holly Holy", should be enough to get him into the hall. That song rocks.

BRENDAN-FACE: He belongs in, but so do Jethro Tull . . .

damn straight tull belongs in. at one point they were bigger than zep.
and as far as diamond...if that pop princess madonna can pose as a rock act and get in then at least diamond who has 100 times more chops as a songwriter *and* is a better singer to boot should get in.

Most 'rock' isn't .

R n R H of F already has enough lame in it. Went a couple years ago and there were 3 floors of u2 but first you had to walk past prince (or what ever he is called at this moment) and Britney Spears clothing to get there. They do have some cool stuff but the amount of suck almost has to be deliberate.

/hate u2
//Walsh was only mentioned in the Eagles stuff
///ran out of slashies or I would go on, oh yes I would