The 31st Annual Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony happens tonight in New York City.
Deep Purple recorded “Smoke on the Water” for their 1972 album “Machine Head.” There’s a good chance you may recognize this song based on the opening guitar riffs alone, which ranks No. 4 in Total Guitar Magazines Greatest Guitar Riffs Ever. The song itself topped U.S. charts at No. 4, and No. 2 in Canada.A number 1 from their album “Chicago X,” “If You Leave Me Now” was released in 1976. It was the group’s first No. 1 hit and topped charts for two weeks. It was also the band’s biggest hit world, with the song topping charts in Australia, Canada, The Netherlands and the UK. It reached No. 2 in Belgium, New Zealand and Sweden, and No. 3 in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, and No. 4 in Norway.Probably Steve Miller’s most recognized single, “Fly Like an Eagle” was released in 1976 and reached No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. It climbed to No. 2 in Canada. The song is also a favorite for other acts to cover, including Vanilla Ice, The Neville Brothers, Yolanda Adams and others all either sampling or singing it in its entirety. It’s also a favorite in product commercials.Cheap Trick released “The Flame” in 1988 on their “Lap of Luxury” album. The hit song immediately reached number one on the American Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the charts in Australia and Canada, and reached 11 in New Zealand.“Rock’n Me” was written by Steve Miller for the Steve Miller Band. The song went #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #1 in Canada and #11 in the UK. it was released in 1976.Elvis was called the “King” for a reason, and when Cheap Trick released their “Don’t Be Cruel” cover in 1988 it was just as popular. The band’s version of the hit reached No. 4 on the charts.“Fuck tha Police” is a protest song off the group’s “Straight Outta Compton” debut album. It ranks 425 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It reached 25 on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Song chart in 2015 after the band’s biography movie was released.Also from their “Straight Outta Compton” debut album, “Express Yourself” was released as the last single in 1989 and reached #26 in the U.K. that September.“Straight Outta Compton” is also the name of their debut album released in 1988, ruffling feathers of law enforcement in the process. It debuted at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart–in 2015, after a film biography was released about the band. What gives? At the time of their debut, they were deemed too volatile for airwaves despite mass popularity.“I Want You to Want Me” comes from Cheap Trick’s second album, “In Color” released in 1977. It reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, but rocks fans in the Netherlands, Belgium and Japan thought it was No. 1 worthy. I was also No. 3 in Canada.The power ballad “Look Away” by Chicago is their seventh song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard chart in 1988. What makes it so special? It finished No. 1 in 1989 too. It also reached No. 1 in Canada, and No. 10 in The Netherlands.“Hard to Say I’m sorry” was released in 1982, where it topped the Billboard 100 chart for two weeks. It was also their first No. 1 hit since “No Tell Lover” debuted in 1978.The British hard rock band covered “Hush” on their 1968 debut album, and peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100 that September.Neil Diamond first recorded “Kentucky Woman” in 1967, followed by Deep Purple in 1968. It reached #38 on the Billboard Hot 100, #21 in Canada and #27 in Australia.The song “Take the Money and Run” is also featured on his “Fly Like an Eagle” album. It reached #11 in the U.S., and you may also spot in it a commercial or two.
