My Ten Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs: Doobie Brothers (#2)

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This is it for the “rock” acts, because the final act is a pop superstar. As the Hall of Fame has inducted other pop superstars that gives me the right to say this act belongs, too. Of course, I have the right because it’s just my opinion! Today’s act might cause a little controversy, so here we go. #2: Doobie Brothers What controversy? A lot of people are probably going, “No way! They’re already in!” It’s pretty obvious that they do belong, isn’t it. But they aren’t in. Why? Well, other than the perplexing voting of the people who do the inducting..... If I had to venture a guess as to what’s keeping them out, I think it would be the “two-part” career the Doobie Brothers enjoyed. The “early era,” which featured Tom Johnston as primarily vocalist, seemed to be a little more rocking. The “later era,” with Michael McDoobie, ahem, McDonald, handling the lion’s share of the lead vocals, was more “commercially” oriented. As with the TV arguments (Munsters vs. Addams Family, Bewitched vs. I Dream of Jeannie), most people have a definite preference of which era they prefer. (Early era for me, thank you.) And, of course, critics being critics, the Hall of Fame — which would make you think, based on the word fame, that they exist to reward success — seems to have a negative attitude toward “sell-outs.” So “they” (the critics/voters) don’t like the McDonald era? I don’t like it nearly as much, but it’s about fame, not personal preferences. (They seem to forget that when they put people like Tom Waits in. ) The Doobie Brothers, per Wikipedia, have sold over 40 million albums. That’s over three times what two inducted acts combined have sold. What more do they want? A letter from Epstein’s mother???? A great Doobies song: