Until this year, my answer would have been 'no', despite the fact that Al Stewart is, bar none, my favorite musical artist ever. But, now that Cat Stevens has been inducted, I have to wonder -- if he's HHROF worthy, then how can Al Stewart, who has had a brilliant 50-year career as a pioneer of folk-rock, not be? I'm quite a big fan of Stevens as well, but if you put their resumes side by side, I think AS easily has the edge.

At the end of the day, however, I think this is yet another example of the HOF's congenital inability to set consistent standards for induction. There's no rhyme nor reason to their choices. I imagine that now that Stevens is in, fans of Tom Waite, John Hiatt, LWIII, Harry Chapin, and plenty of others are muttering, "Wait a sec, if Cat Stevens is in......"

Posted by njns on Friday, 08/15/2014 @ 18:33pm

Very interesting fellow. Sort of a history teacher who put his lessons to music. He was friends with many prominent people including Yoko Ono and Paul Simon and worked with Jimmy Page, Richard Thompson and Ian Anderson. Also a very important figure in the late 60s British folk movement. Played at the first Glastonbury Festival in 1970.

Posted by Zechariah on Saturday, 04/9/2016 @ 01:13am

He certainly should be; he knows everyone ,and is a better singer-songwriter than many who are there. I would love for this to happen,but I am not expecting it to. He isn't easy to classify,and the R and r like labels.

Posted by Libby Esther Berman on Wednesday, 11/24/2021 @ 21:03pm

It's another failure by those who are nominator's and voters that Al Stewart isn't in the RRHOF.
If you listen to his music it's Legendary music, it's not like some of those who have been inducted.
I remember listening to morning radio and they would make fun of groups like Kiss and Joan Jett
yet they are in the RRHOF. I don't think they should be there but I don't have a vote.

Posted by John Olivarez on Thursday, 01/27/2022 @ 07:43am

Certainly he SHOULD be there; but they are immensely playing favorites there, if KISS can get in, and quality can't. Longevity matters. Quality matters. A devoted fan base matters. Al Stewart still takes risks- listen to ' Class of '58'.

Posted by Libby Esther Berman on Friday, 02/11/2022 @ 12:15pm

Al Stewart is unique. His music is different because everything stems from historical events. Who else writes this way? The music he makes is engineered to perfection . If you hear his music on the.radio , you turn up the volume. He is 78 so all of his peers were so famous that he goes somewhat unnoticed as a super star. Music was so much better back then. He gets my vote!

Posted by Jim coleman on Friday, 11/29/2024 @ 17:53pm

Hall of Fame? No. He wouldn't sell any tickets or have any relevance to a modern TV audience.

Songwriter Hall of Fame? Absolutely worthy. And they should hurry up while he's alive.

Posted by Jim C. on Wednesday, 07/9/2025 @ 23:03pm