On the other hand, I don't know quite what to make of the R&RHOF having a singles "wing". My initial reaction was that it was far too late. I mean, they already inducted Buffalo Springfield who would have to be the epitome of a band that made one famous single and really nothing else that the average member of the public would know. (And I say this as a person who thinks highly of their second album Buffalo Springfield Again) Derek & The Dominoes as well. A singles category should be for them as much as it is for Steppenwolf, Procol Harum or The Kingsmen, groups who weren't quite worthy of a full on induction and who had to make due with "Born to Be Wild", "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and "Louie Louie" respectively all getting the nod instead. Same goes for The Chantels and their number one hit in Canada "Maybe".
The biggest issue I have with it though is that all they seem to care about is "importance". Perhaps that's the main concern of the Hall's trustees, to acknowledge those who've influenced others. This goes some way to explaining why The Cure and Depeche Mode have both been inducted and why Joy Division/New Order and The Smiths are brought up for possible induction and why Pet Shop Boys are rarely if ever mentioned. Having the seal of approval of Trent Reznor and Billy Corgan can come in handy. (This is why I suspect that Gary Numan stands a better chance of being inducted than the Pet Shops) But at least with groups and artists it's not entirely down to who they influenced
I have no doubt that The Chantels' "Maybe" is an important single. The girl groups of the late-fifties and into the sixties owe a debt to this milestone record. By extension, The Beatles would not have been the same without it. Neither would The Beach Boys. It is part of the foundations of pop music. If an institution like the Rock Hall wishes to honour the contribution The Chantels made with their one major hit then I'm all for it. I'm not sure exactly why they couldn't simply induct them as a group but an honour is an honour.
But is "Maybe" any good? Well, sure. It's perfectly good. The Chantels do some wonderful singing with just the right amount of drama from lead singer Arlene Smith. It's very well written too. Trying to come up with bullet points to knock it is tricky because there aren't flaws as such. But its very importance kind of undermines it. Better songs performed by more capable groups would soon come along and supplant it.
The major knock I have against "Maybe" that it isn't The Bobbettes' "Mr. Lee". To have expected it to match the quality of this CHUM chart topper from late 1957 is a tough ask but I'm not hung up on its importance either. I want to feel engaged by pop records and I want to feel as though there's a reason for me to come back for more. "Mr. Lee" is the sort of song you can never quite rid yourself of. If I'm accompanying my wife round a shopping centre here in Korea or back in Canada or in Thailand or Guam on our travels, I'm likely to tune out "Maybe" if it ever happens to be piped in; whereas 'Mr. Lee" would have me nodding along and smiling to myself as I'm reminded of just how fantastic it is. No, it may not have convinced people to form a band with their school chums nor did it trigger something in aspiring singers and musicians but it did bring out something in at least one listener out there (ie this one): it reminds me of why pop music at its best is the greatest thing in the world.
But, sure, go with the important one.
Score: 6
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