I’ve never visited a Hall of Fame, but I’d like to. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame would be first on my itinerary, but I suspect that I’d be disappointed. I’ve seen Elvis’s motorcycle and The Who’s Quadrophenia Lambretta. I’ve had lunch with Roger Earl, the man behind “Slow Ride’s” thunderous beat. I’ve even been on a movie set with the legendary Iggy Pop.

I guess my point is that even if my experiences might have gotten me a little closer to its chewy nougat center, rock and roll is an approachable art form. It exists in bars, clubs, and garages as well as stadiums. You can find it for free wherever there are speakers, and inevitably those speakers are the real rock and roll hall of fame. Elvis’s motorcycle looks like a motorcycle, but Elvis wailing “Little Sister”? There’s only one of those (okay, there are a lot of recordings–work with me here).

Halls of fame are hunting lodges filled with mounted heads. The radio (and its internet equivalents) is the wide open forest teeming with wild animals who inspire fear, awe, and curiosity. On second thought, I think I’ll pass on visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and just fire up my turntable.

Anyway, songs for halls:

“Dance Hall Days,” Wang Chung.

“City Hall,” Tenacious D.

“Funk-A-Hall-Licks,” Bernie Worrell.

“Hall of Mirrors,” Siouxsie and the Banshees.

“Hall of the Mountain King,” The Who.

“Livin’ On Newton Hall,” Toy Dolls.

“Sam Hall,” Johnny Cash.

“5 1/2 Minute Hallway,” Poe.

There you have it: Eight songs about halls but not the Hall. What did I miss? I’m listening.