A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD: In case you missed it, Isaac's essay of Black Sabbath's merits for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame gradually veered into a discussion of whether Bill James' "Keltner List" could be modified for such purposes, and, if so, how 2005 nominees The O'Jays would fare. Loyal reader and resident musicologist Bob Elwood took up the challenge:

Adam had suggested that I analyze whether the O’Jays belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame using the so-called “Keltner” list, which is usually used to evaluate whether a given baseball player belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The “Keltner” list was developed by famous baseball analyst Bill James in his 1985 Bill James Baseball Abstract. Adam was kind enough to adapt the questions on the list so they make more sense for a musical artist.

1. Were the O’Jays ever regarded as the best band in pop music? Did anybody, while they were active, ever suggest that the O’Jays were the best band in pop music?

I think you have to answer this one no. Then again, we might want to ask Justin Timberlake for his opinion.

2. Were the O’Jays ever the best band in pop music in their genre?

An intriguing question. From 1972 through 1989, the O’Jays put together a string of ten songs that went to #1 on the R&B charts, five of which hit the top 10 on the Billboard charts. Four of these hits are masterpieces that have truly stood the test of time: “Backstabbers” (#1, R&B, #3 pop, 1972), “Love Train” (#1 R&B, #1 pop, 1973), “For the Love of Money” (#3 R&B, #9 pop, 1974), and “I Love Music” (#1 R&B, #5 pop, 1975).

Let’s stipulate that the relevant genre is 1970’s soul music, prior to disco. Are there other solid contenders to claiming the top spot in that genre? The Spinners had only 6 #1 songs on the R&B charts. Although they had more songs hit the pop charts than the O’Jays did, both groups had the same number of top ten pop hits. More importantly, I think the O’Jays have stood the test of time better than the Spinners.

The Stylistics? Betcha by golly, no.

The Delfonics? They didn’t blow my mind this time.

The Isley Brothers? This old heart of mine just isn’t going to pick them over the O’Jays. Anyway, the Isleys are already in the Hall.

The Chi-Lites? Have you seen them? Tell me have you see them?

Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes? Bad luck, that’s what they got, that’s what they got.

The Manhattans? Let’s just kiss and say no way.

The Average White Band? Go ahead and cut the cake, but the O’Jays were better.

The Staple Singers are another strong challenger. Frankly, I’d take the opening of “I’ll Take You There” over any segment of the O’Jays music. But I’ll give the nod to the men from Canton, Ohio on the basis of their entire body of work. By the way, the Staple Singers are already in the Hall.

Three solo artists are clearly superior to the O’Jays in this genre. All three are already in the Hall of Fame and two of them are generally considered geniuses: James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and Al Green.

So I guess I would say that if we limit this question to bands, we can answer yes, but if we include solo artists, the O’Jays rank fourth.

3. Did the O’Jays have an impact on a number of other bands?

The O’Jays were one of the earliest and most successful of the “Philly sound” bands. The “Philly sound” clearly had a huge impact on many other bands. But most people give credit for the success of that sound to the various producers, writers, and arrangers, notably Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, and Thom Bell. This is a chicken and egg problem. I am inclined to say that the O’Jays had an important impact on other bands, but not a profound one.

Do we get to count Gerald Levert’s success here? I need “closure.”

4. Were the O’Jays good enough that they could play regularly after passing their prime?

The O’Jays formed in 1958, nearly 50 years ago. Their first hit was in 1963 and their most recent hit was just last year (2004’s “Make Up”, which hit #74). They had #1 hits spanning a 17-year period. They deserve a yes on #4.

5. Are the O’Jays the very best band in history that is not in the Hall of
Fame?

I don’t have the energy to do this systematically, but, much as I love the O’Jays, I doubt that they are the very best band in history that is not in the Hall. Not sure who I would place ahead of them, though.

6 Are most bands who have comparable records in the Hall of Fame?

I more or less covered this in #2 and I think you would have to say yes on this question.

7. Do the band's records meet Hall of Fame standards?

I bet that the average inductee had more Top 40 Billboard hits than the O’Jays had, but the O’Jays are in the right ballpark. The O’Jays clearly had more Top 40 hits than many inductees.

8. Is there any evidence to suggest that the band was significantly better or worse than is suggested by its records?

Well, there was that period when Eddie Levert lost three full seasons because he was in the Air Force during the Korean war (joke).

9. Is it the best band in its genre who is eligible for the Hall of Fame?

Yes. See #2.

10. How many #1 singles/gold records did the O’Jays have? Did they ever win a Grammy award? If not, how many times were the O’Jays nominated?

One song hit #1 on the Billboard charts.

Ten songs hit #1 on the R&B charts. Six gold singles. One album hit #1 on the pop album charts. Four albums hit #1 on the so-called “black charts.” At least four gold albums. Not a single damned Grammy award (not sure if they were ever nominated).

11. How many Grammy-level songs/albums did the O’Jays have? How many Rolling Stone covers did they appear on? Did most of the bands who played in this many Rolling Stone covers go into the Hall of Fame?

Let’s just say that I believe that artists in the O’Jays genre are under-represented on Rolling Stone covers.

12. If this band was the best band at a concert, would it be likely that the concert would rock?

Hell, yeah! They are a wicked good band in concert.

13. What impact did the band have on rock history? Was it responsible for any stylistic changes? Did it introduce any new equipment? Did it change history in any way?

See # 2. I don’t think we can really say much on this subject.

14. Did the band uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider?

No major scandals as far as I know. During one concert, I saw Eddie Levert invite an attractive woman in the audience to participate in some “affectionate” behavior with him. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Conclusion: The O’Jays deserve positive answers on nearly all of the “Keltner” list questions. INDUCT.

And, indeed, they were inducted this year.

If you have a band you'd like to run the Keltner List on, email it to me. Any suggestions for further modifications of the List? Bring it on.