CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Class 2021 is an embarrassment of riches. There are 13 inductees this year, including 12 artists with a collection of landmark albums and brilliant songs that make for the perfect playlist heading into the Oct. 30 ceremony in Cleveland.
Our annual list of the best songs from the year’s induction class is, not surprisingly, more loaded than usual. Not only did we include the finest work from this year’s inductees in the “Performer” category (Tina Turner, Jay-Z, The Go-Go’s, Carole King, Foo Fighters and Todd Rundgren). But we also featured artists in the specialty categories as well, given the amount of classic songs artists like Kraftwerk, LL Cool J, Gil Scott-Heron and Billy Preston have released.
50. Foo Fighters - “Monkey Wrench”
“Everlong” and “My Hero” were such juggernaut rock songs, it’s easy to forget the first single from Foo Fighters’ “The Colour and the Shape” was “Monkey Wrench.” It isn’t the most complex rock song, but it may be the track that best represents the awesome elements of the hard hitting, ‘90s alt-rock that moved us out of the grunge era.
49. Gil Scott-Heron - “Home is Where the Hatred Is”
Scott-Heron may be known as a poet. But he showed tremendous musicality in his finest work. “Home is Where the Hatred Is” remains one of Scott-Heron’s most well-known songs. But it wasn’t a hit upon its release. A cover version later became an R&B hit for Esther Phillips. Decades later, Kanye West would sample “Home Is Where the Hatred Is” for the interlude “My Way Home” on No. 1 sophomore album “Late Registration,” further cementing Scott-Heron’s influence on hip hop.
48. Todd Rundgren - “Couldn’t I Just Tell You”
Not surprisingly, this isn’t the last time you’ll see a song from Todd Rundgren’s brilliant album “Something/Anything.” “Couldn’t I Just Tell You” feels like it could be a hit today with its amazing acoustic guitar intro. It’s one of the finest power-pop tunes of its era.
47. Jay-Z - “Can I Live”
For hip-hop heads and Jay-Z diehards, this is the peak of Shawn Carter. “Can I Live” features the slickest rhymes of his career with the first verse ranking among the finest moments of Hov’s career. “Can I Live” wasn’t a single. But it looms large on Jay-Z’s masterful debut “Reasonable Doubt.”
46. Kraftwerk - “Numbers”
No Kraftwerk song has been sampled or covered more times than “Numbers” (an impressive feat when you’re talking about one of the most sampled acts in music history). “Numbers” may be an electronic song but it’s very much rooted in funk and the kind of drumbeat that drove b-boys wild as hip hop was still in its infancy.
45. Charley Patton - “Mississippi Boweavil Blues”
“Mississippi Boweavil Blues” is an example of deep delta blues with the godfather of the genre Patton singing about the boll weevil, a beetle that feeds on cotton buds and flowers, that destroyed the cotton industry before the Great Depression. Patton witnessed this first hand. “Mississippi Boweavil Blues” is blues storytelling at its finest.
44. Carole King - “Jazzman”
Three years after the release of the emotional tour de force that was “Tapestry,” Carole King was having a lot more fun. “Jazzman,” the biggest hit from 1974′s “Wrap Around Joy,” was a tribute to saxophonist Curtis Amy, the former musical director for the Ray Charles band who played on “Tapestry.” Appropriately the tribute gets a series of amazing solos from Tom Scott.
43. Tina Turner - “We Don’t Need Another Hero”
Following the success of the “Private Dancer” album, Tina Turner was at the peak of her powers. Thus, the team behind “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” was willing to double down on her. Not only did Turner sing the soaring hit ballad, “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” for the film. She also starred alongside Mel Gibson in the film. The song would receive Grammy and Golden Globe nominations while serving as proof that few could match Turner’s star power in the mid-1980s.
42. Foo Fighters - “The Pretender”
“The Pretender” isn’t shy about its desire to be epic. It even rips off the guitar melody to “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” to kick things off. The song also embodies what Foo Fighters have been for the last 15 years of their career. Foos is a band that won’t ever surrender or be going anywhere anytime soon.
41. Gil Scott-Heron - “Pieces of Man”
So, this is what it feels like to be a man apart. “Pieces of a Man” is delivered from the perspective of a son whose father has a breakdown after losing his job: “I saw the thunder and heard the lightning/And felt the burden of his shame...” It’s a heartbreaking song that remains relatable today.
40. LL Cool J - “Rock the Bells”
If “I Need a Beat” and “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” laid the blueprint for the new-school rap sound LL Cool J and Rick Rubin were going for, “Rock the Bells” perfected it. Everything comes together on the song, from the DJ scratches and the Roland TR-808 drum machine mastery to LL’s braggadocio rhymes and aggressive swagger.
39. The Go-Go’s - “Vacation”
The Go-Go’s second album, “Vacation,” wasn’t as well-received as its predecessor “Beauty and the Beat.” Much of that had to do with the band moving into more mainstream territory. It’s hard to gather much punk influence out of the title track. Yet, that doesn’t mean it’s not great. The catchy “Vacation” was a summer smash in 1982 for a reason.
38. Kraftwerk - “Europe Endless”
One of Kraftwerk’s simplest tracks, while also one of its most iconic. “Europe Endless” is the 10-minute opener to the band’s masterpiece “‘Trans-Europe Express.” And it’s truly a thing of beauty, built around a back-and-forth melody that celebrates Europe in all its glory.
37. Jay-Z - “Where I’m From”
Jay-Z’s first album, “Reasonable Doubt” didn’t make the mainstream statement he had hoped. Thus, its follow-up, “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1,” leaned more radio-friendly sounds. However, towards the album’s end, we get “Where I’m From,” a vivid tale about life where Jay-Z grew up that stakes his claim as New York’s rap king: “I from where n****s pull your card and argue all day about / Who’s the best MC’s, Biggie, Jay-Z, and Nas.” It’s a bold move, but “Where I’m From” firmly justifies.
36. Billy Preston - “Nothing from Nothing”
It only takes a few seconds into “Nothing from Nothing” to realize Billy Preston was a unique artist. Whose choice of instrument for a potential pop hit is a saloon piano? “Nothing from Nothing” is the kind of song that makes you move every time you hear it. It became Preston’s second chart-topper (the first one is coming later) and was etched in history when Preston performed the song on “Saturday Night Live” during the show’s first-ever musical performance.
35. Todd Rundgren - “International Feel”
Todd Rundgren was sick of writing super-catchy pop songs following his most successful album “Something/Anything.” Thus, he embarked on “A Wizard, a True Star,” an experimental album driven by Rundgren’s experimentation with psychedelic drugs. The album’s opening track “International Feel” is spaced-out song with synths that blast all over the place. Rundgren may have insisted he was sick of writing catchy pop tunes. But “International Feel” comes with copious amounts of pop-savvy.
34. Kraftwerk - “The Robots”
Anyone who has seen a Kraftwerk concert knows the peak moment comes during “The Robots” when the group’s robot alter-egos take over the set. Kraftwerk liked to play with the idea of artificial intelligence and whether we’re controlling technology or technology is controlling us. It’s a high-concept by today’s standards, let alone 1978.
33. LL Cool J - “I’m Bad”
The opening is iconic. Someone comes over a police scanner warning to “Be on the lookout for a tall light-skinned brother with dimples, wearing a black Kangol, sweatsuit, gold chain, and sneakers...” That man is LL Cool J, who then proceeds to tell us just how amazing he is (“No rapper can rap quite like I can/I’ll take a musclebound man and put his face in the sand!”). After four and a half minutes of the most forceful rhymes of LL’s career, who was going to argue with him?
32. Foo Fighters - “Times Like These”
“Times Like These” is a song about the trials and tribulations that make you more appreciative of the good times. Dave Grohl wrote it during a time when his band appeared to be falling apart. In that sense, “Times Like These” is Foo Fighters’ version of U2′s “One.” Only Grohl’s track rocks hard right from the onset with one of the band’s most iconic openings and a chorus just about everyone – fan or not – knows the words to.
31. Carole King - “I Feel the Earth Move”
For all the slow-burners that stand out on “Tapestry,” Carole King’s landmark album opens with the irresistible pop-rock of “I Feel the Earth Move.” It’s the opening statement for an album that takes you on a roller coaster of emotions. Paired with “It’s Too Late” as a single, “I Feel the Earth Move” would conquer the charts, taking King from songwriting sensation to pop star.
30. Tina Turner - “The Best”
Tina Turner’s version of “The Best” was destined to be used in commercials, from a rugby league to Pepsi. Songs don’t get more universal. Bonnie Tyler sang it first a year earlier. However, as is the case with most Turner interpretations, it eventually belonged to Tina. In Tyler’s version, the instrumentation is a bit overpowering. But nothing can overpower Turner’s voice, especially a drumbeat that is perfect for her signature strut during live shows.
29. The Go-Go’s - “Head Over Heels”
“Head Over Heels” is proof The Go-Go’s weren’t just part of the punk or new wave trend. As the popularity of those genres faded a bit, The Go-Go’s were still making excellent pop music. A catchy keyboard sound drives “Head Over Heels” into soaring territory. The song peaked at 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming yet another hit for the band.
28. Jay-Z - “Dead Presidents”
“Dead Presidents” should have been the song that immediately cemented Jay-Z as an all-time great. Looking back, those smooth mafioso rhymes (“I dabbled in crazy weight without rap, I was crazy straight/Partner, I’m still spending money from ‘88...”) are next level. However, when Hov and Dame Dash submitted the song to radio, DJs flipped the release to the other side, putting the club-anthem “Ain’t No N****” into heavy rotation instead. A new version of “Dead Presidents” would show up on Jay-Z’s debut album “Reasonable Doubt” as the standout track on an absolute classic. Hov has gone on to some great things in his career. But nothing encapsulates his appeal more than “Dead Presidents,” a signature anthem that even future foe Nas couldn’t resist.
27. Todd Rundgren - “I Saw the Light”
Todd Rundgren didn’t need any help creating a brilliant and endlessly catchy pop song. Not only does he deliver one of his best vocal performances on “I Saw the Light.” He also plays every instrument. “I Saw the Light” kicks off Rundgren’s classic album “Something/Anything” and became an AM radio staple throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
26. Billy Preston - “Will It Go Round in Circles”
“I’ve got a song, I ain’t got no melody...” The opening lyrics to Billy Preston’s 1973 No. 1 hit came from a throwaway comment Preston made to songwriting partner Bruce Fischer. With that as the starting point, Preston and Fischer came up with one heck of a soulful melody that would give Preston the first chart-topper of his career, taking him from session player for bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to a true pop star.
25. Randy Rhoads - “Dee” (with Ozzy Osbourne)
“Dee” wasn’t the kind of track you would expect from a heavy metal guitarist known for dazzling technical skills that could rival anyone, including Eddie Van Halen. But Randy Rhoads was versatile. He also had a background in musical theory. By including “Dee,” we’re cheating on our rules a bit as it’s technically an “Ozzy Osbourne” song included on “Blizzard of Ozz.” But the 50second, fingerpicking instrumental is all Rhoads, written as a moving tribute to his mother Dolores.
24. Kraftwerk - “Neon Lights”
You’ll find that most of the descriptions accompanying Kraftwerk entries on this list start with how innovative a song was. “Neon Lights” was also ahead of its time. But, more than anything, it is an example of how great the band members were as songwriters. “Neon Lights” is a blissful track about night in the city so divine and majestic even U2 covered it.
23. Foo Fighters - “My Hero”
Thunderous drums kick off one of the greatest intros in rock and roll history. Foo Fighters’ “My Hero” is completely over the top. But Dave Grohl always wears his heart on his sleeve and “My Hero” is one of his most personal records. The genius lies in how he takes such a bombastic song and makes it feel so intimate. It’s the kind of song that can make you cry, while also serving as the anthem for a movie like “Varsity Blues.”
22. Carole King - “You’ve Got a Friend”
We veered away from songs Carole King wrote but didn’t perform the signature version of. That’s the only reason classics like “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “One Fine Day,” “Up on the Roof” and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” didn’t make the cut. James Taylor’s version of “You’ve Got a Friend” was a big hit. But King’s version is more moving and impactful. There’s a desperation in her voice (and a dramatic feel to the instrumentation) that makes the song’s sentiment truly hit home.
21. Gil Scott-Heron - “Whitey on the Moon”
As you might guess by the title, Gil Scott Heron’s iconic 1970 spoken word poem “Whitey on the Moon” was controversial. But Scott-Heron never shied away from making a statement he believed in regardless of the reaction. Structure-wise, “Whitey on the Moon” is pure genius, critiquing all the money the United States spent in trying to get an astronaut on the moon while Black Americans lived in poverty.
20. LL Cool J - “I Need Love”
Hip-hop love songs are commonplace these days. Yet, when LL Cool J dropped “I Need Love” it was something completely new and refreshing. His commitment to rapping over synths you might find on a New Kids on the Block song is admirable. More impressive is the fact that “I Need Love” is one of the catchiest rap songs of the 1980s with LL Cool J proving no rapper ever oozed with more charisma. “You’re as soft as a pillow and I’m as hard as steel...” You want to roll your eyes. Yet, you can’t help but swoon.
19. Todd Rundgren - “Can We Still Be Friends?”
The biggest tearjerker from “Hermit of Mink Hollow,” an album Rundgren recorded after his breakup with model Bebe Buell. It’s somewhat surprising “Can We Still Be Friends?” wasn’t a huge hit, especially since it’s the kind of song anyone who’s ever been through a breakup can relate to. It still went on to be one of Rundgren’s most covered songs (most notably by Robert Palmer) and was used in the film “Vanilla Sky.”
18. Tina Turner - “Private Dancer”
Believe it or not, “Private Dancer” was supposed to be a Dire Straits song. Mark Knopfler originally wrote it for the band’s “Love over Gold,” but ditched it thinking the lyrics were more suited for a woman. Wise decision. The song eventually worked its way to Tina Turner, who turns it into a mix of cabaret and pop where she fully embodies the role of the title character, slaying the bridge with an incredible vocal.
17. Jay-Z - “Big Pimpin’”
Years before Jay-Z linked up with Houston-native Beyonce, he had another epic Brooklyn-meets-Texas collaboration in “Big Pimpin.’” You could argue Houston rap duo UGK steals the spotlight from Jay-Z. But Hov certainly holds his own, basking in the fact that he has, arguably, the greatest Timbaland beat of all time and one of the biggest hits of his career.
16. Kraftwerk - “Computer Love”
Decades before everyone had a laptop, tablet and smartphone, Kraftwerk predicted just how obsessive personal technology would become on “Computer Love.” Aside from predicting the future, “Computer Love” serves as one of the group’s most intoxicating tracks with its pulsating synths that feel like a sped-up heartbeat.
15. Foo Fighters - “Best of You”
What kind of love song is this? Dave Grohl screams (like, REALLY screams) his declarations on “Best of You” to the point where you imagine the lyrics could only have been written out in caps. “Best of You” has become Foo Fighters soaring stadium anthem with Grohl embodying the overwhelming feeling when love (and the paranoia that comes with it) first hits you.
14. Carole King - “So Far Away”
“Doesn’t anyone stay in one place anymore?” may very well be King’s most iconic prose. On the surface, “So Far Away” is about life on the road. But its also one of the great songs about long-distance relationships. King’s piano and James Taylor’s acoustic guitar provide a sense of beauty, while the former’s voice brings the drama. It’s arguably the best vocal performance of King’s career.
13. The Go-Go’s - “Our Lips Are Sealed”
An opening drum beat that gives way to an amazing guitar part. And it’s all done in under three minutes. “Our Lips Are Sealed” would put The Go-Go’s brand of bratty, girl power power-pop on the map, all while helping set up new wave and pop-punk’s path to the mainstream. Pointing out descendants like Avril Lavigne and No Doubt is easy. But it’s also easy to see The Go-Go’s formula in the simple sounds of early Green Day, Blink-182 and many more bands.
12. Jay-Z - “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)”
Jay-Z’s career can be divided into two parts (and it has nothing to do with his “retirement” in 2004). There’s what came before “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” and what came after. It’s the song that catapulted Shawn Carter to the top of the rap world, filling the role left by his late, great friend The Notorious B.I.G. And all it took was an “Annie” sample that gave teens and their parents (and even grandparents) something to talk about together.
11. Charley Patton - “Pony Blues”
Charley Patton has never been given the same level of praise when it comes to blues history as Robert Johnson. But make no mistake, Patton’s early recordings are just as important as Johnson’s most iconic work. “Pony Blues” is one of 14 songs Patton released on Paramount in 1929. Those tracks stand as some of the most influential recordings in blues history with “Pony Blues” chief among them. What’s most interesting about the song (other than Patton’s distinct voice) is that it doesn’t sound like a blues record. “Pony Blues” is upbeat rather than melancholy. If this list were just about influence, few recordings would rate higher.
10. Kraftwerk - “Autobahn”
It wasn’t until Kraftwerk’s fourth album “Autobahn” where everything truly clicked. Both the album and its stunning title track were the first examples of fully-realized electronic pop music. Edited down drastically to three and a half minutes, the single version of “Autobahn” would give Kraftwerk its first taste of mainstream success in the U.S.
9. LL Cool J - “Mama Said Knock You Out”
“Don’t call it a comeback!” It’s quite the opening statement. LL Cool J had, indeed, been here for years. But just in case you thought congratulating him on his first hard-hitting rap anthem in over three years, check yourself. “Mama Said Knock You Out” was a lyrically call to arms from rap’s most important solo star of the 1980s ready to conquer yet another decade.
8. Todd Rundgren - “Hello, It’s Me”
Todd Rundgren might scoff at the idea that the first song he ever wrote is his absolute best. But few pop songs, by Rundgren or anyone else, are as affecting as “Hello, It’s Me.” The track was originally the B-side to Rundgren’s band Nazz’s first single “Open My Eyes.” However, the song takes on new life with the tempo kicked up a notch on Rundgren’s “Something/Anything.” A mix of soft rock and blue-eyed soul, “Hello It’s Me” is Rundgren’s masterpiece with incredible replay value.
7. Gil Scott-Heron - “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”
From a musical standpoint, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” is rather minimalistic. The track is driven by congas, bongo drums, subtle bass and a flute. The power lies in Gil Scott-Heron’s voice and the incendiary statements. There’s a reason a half-century after Scott-Heron made it famous, the phrase “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” is still very present in popular culture.
6. Tina Turner - “What’s Love Got to Do with It”
“What’s Love to Do with It” was not written to be autobiographical for Tina Turner. British pop group Bucks Fizz recorded it first. But Turner had the backstory and emotional scars to really drive its message home. “What’s Love Got to Do with It” isn’t her biggest vocal. But it’s one of the most impactful. It’s lust, love and the pain that comes with it. You feel every syllable Turner utters deep in your soul.
5. Jay-Z - “99 Problems”
“99 Problems” was birthed out of Jay-Z’s desire to capture the magic of rap’s golden age. Rick Rubin, the man who established the sounds of modern rap with LL Cool J and Run-DMC, was the obvious choice as a producer. But it was Jay-Z who wound up amazing Rubin. By doing all the character voices in “99 Problems,” Hov left Rubin mesmerized. Fans followed suit.
4. Carole King - “It’s Too Late”
When you look at the early hits Carole King wrote, the best ones are about longing for love or being overcome by its power. Not so much with “It’s Too Late.” The track, which King wrote with Toni Stern, finds its narrator (King) as a spurned lover. It’s a breakup song whose mood is set within the first 10 seconds thanks to an amazing intro piano melody. Not surprisingly, the track would become King’s biggest solo hit.
3. The Go-Go’s - “We Got the Beat”
It’s peculiar to see just how much The Go-Go’s have been overlooked when it comes to the history of new wave. Sure, acts like Blondie, Talking Heads and Cars had showcased important elements of the genre before 1980. But, from a popularity standpoint, The Go-Go’s 1981 album “Beauty and the Beat” took things to the next level. The peak of that remains “We Got the Beat,” a song that would set a new bar and template for new wave, pop-punk and surf rock
2. Foo Fighters - “Everlong”
“Everlong” is a pretty exceptional love song. Dave Grohl wrote the it about the first girl he dated after his marriage fell apart. That moment in his life is key to the song’s appeal. Sonically, “Everlong” feels apocalyptic. Its atmosphere is one of anxiety and fear. You’re meant to get lost in Grohl’s potential nightmare. And yet, lyrically, the song very much captures the awesomeness of newfound love. Those dueling feelings, along with one of the best guitar riffs of the 1990s, make for a magical experience.
1. Kraftwerk - “Trans-Europe Express”
Surprised at the choice for No. 1? You shouldn’t be. Throughout five previous albums, Kraftwerk had proved itself a groundbreaking act and, arguably, the most important artist since The Beatles. However, “Trans-Europe Express,” both the album and single, took music to unforeseen heights.
Kraftwerk was no longer just laying the blueprint for sophisticated electronic music. The German band was breaking new ground in in the industry. That especially became true when Afrika Bambaataa sampled the song for “Planet Rock,” one of the most influential songs in hip hop and dance music history.
It’s no overstatement to say any pop song you found yourself dancing to since the late 1970s owes a debt to the magnificent “Trans-Europe Express,” an experimental track that’s been sampled or covered more than 90 times and still sounds refreshing nearly 45 years after its initial release.
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