Titles By Isaac Hayes, Beastie Boys Among 2021 Grammy Hall Of Fame Inductees

A musically-diverse collection of 29 singles and albums made the cut.

Published on

December 21, 2020

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The Grammy Hall of Fame has announced its 2021 inductees. Among the broad range of 29 singles and albums are recordings by the Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam, Issac Hayes, Billie Holiday, and Linda Ronstadt.

Now in its 48th year, the Grammy Hall of Fame reviews single and album recordings that are at least 25 years old, and exhibit qualitative or historical significance. Recordings are reviewed by a committee of professionals from all branches of the recording arts, with final approval by the Recording Academy’s National Board of Trustees. The Grammy Hall of Fame currently includes 1,142 titles.

Among the 2021 titles is Isaac Hayes’ landmark, 1969 LP, Hot Buttered Soul, and the Beastie Boys’ 1986 debut, Licensed to Ill. Pearl Jam’s 1991 debut, Ten, is also included, as is Peter Gabriel’s best-selling 1985 LP, SO.

Additional albums include the 1966 hard-bop classic, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at “The Club,” from saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, as well as John Mayall and the Bluesbreaker’s 1966 blues-rock classic, Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton. Bruce Springsteen’s 1973 debut, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., also made the cut, as did Linda Ronstadt’s 1987 collection of traditional Mexican Mariachi music, Canciones de Mi Padre.

A variety of singles were also announced, including The Village People’s enduring 1978 disco anthem, “Y.M.C.A.,” Journey’s legendary “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and Billie Holiday’s 1952 recording of “(In My) Solitude.” The Soul Queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas, is also among the inductees, with her 1964 cover of “Time Is on My Side.” Her R&B release came out just months ahead of The Rolling Stones’ version.

Also notable is Édouard-Léon Scott De Martinville’s “Au Clair De La Lune,” the earliest-known recording of a person singing. The French folk song was captured in 1860 on a phonautogram – the first-known sound recording device, invented by Scott De Martinville.

Scroll down to view a full list of 2021 Grammy Hall of Fame inductees. For more information, visit the official website.

2021 GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Inductees

“AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE”
Édouard-Léon Scott De Martinville
Single

BLUES BREAKERS
John Mayall With Eric Clapton
Album

CANCIONES DE MI PADRE
Linda Ronstadt
Album

“CLEAN UP WOMAN”
Betty Wright
Single

“COPENHAGEN”
Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra
Single

“DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’”
Journey
Single

“FREIGHT TRAIN”
Elizabeth Cotten
Single

GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK, N.J.
Bruce Springsteen
Album

HORSES
Patti Smith
Album

HOT BUTTERED SOUL
Isaac Hayes
Album