I have been excited about the new Wanda Jackson ever since I heard she was working with Jack White. I already loved her but I knew she could be even better with the help of Jack White! Jack White is, of course, from the White Stripes, who are now officially broken up. Not that Wanda really needed Jack White -- she was putting out some of the best rockabilly and country albums way before he was even born. She is the Queen of Rockabilly, after all! But I knew that he could be bring that greatness out of her once again. It had been a while. Jack White already helped Loretta Lynn make an amazing album a couple of years back, so we knew he could do it. Both Loretta Lynn and Wanda Jackson are two of my favorites! I obviously don't like anything new that comes out in the world of country but I have always loved the country music of the 50's and 60's. Wanda Jackson got her start back in back in the 50's, back when Rockabilly was very popular but there were not really a whole lot of women putting out rockabilly records. This is why she is known as the first woman of rockabilly. She paved the road for many who followed her. She later moved on to putting out more country albums and eventually gospel albums, but on this new album she is putting out the great rockabilly that made her famous. This is good stuff!

The 2009 nominations for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum were announced this week. Nine artists were chosen, though only five will be inducted in next year’s ceremonies.

Jeff Beck
Chic
Wanda Jackson
Little Anthony and the Imperials
Metallica
Run-D.M.C.
the Stooges
War
Bobby Womack

Ballots will be sent to more than 500 voters, most of whom are music industry executives and Hall of Fame members. The new inductees for the 24th Annual Induction Ceremony will be announced in January 2009. The ceremony will be held on April 4 at historic Public Hall in Cleveland, Ohio, the museum’s home, instead of at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York where 21 of the previous 23 events have taken place. To be eligible for nomination into the Rock Hall, an artist must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.

Also, for the first time ever, tickets to the ceremony will be made available to the public.

I’ve never quite figured out what the criteria is for being elected to the Rock Hall of Fame. Personally, I still can’t believe that the Zombies or T-Rex or Tom Waits or MC5 or the Beastie Boys or Quincy Jones aren’t in the hall. What the hell, I might as well add Dr. John, Tim Buckley, Robert Wyatt/Soft Machine, Tim Hardin, Brigitte Fontaine, John Fahey, Pentangle, Jimmy Ricks and the Ravens, Tommy James, Television, Nico, Gabor Szabo, Richard and Mimi Farina, einstuerzende neubauten, Young Marble Giants, Pearls Before Swine, Pere Ubu, Link Wray, James Blood Ulmer, Throbbing Gristle, Sandy Bull, Derek Bailey, Tiny Grimes, Can, Nina Simone, Exuma, Lenny Breau, Sonny Sharrock…