The final backing band I’ll cover as part of my look at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2012 is also the most egregious oversight.
The Miracles were Motown’s signature act, putting more than 50 songs on the Billboard charts, including sixteen in the Hot 100 Top 20.
And while Smokey Robinson was the lead singer and principal songwriter for the band, it was very much a band. Robinson didn’t embark on a solo career until he had released 17 albums over 12 years with The Miracles.
Given that Robinson didn’t put out his first solo album until 1973, his 1987 induction into the Hall of Fame without The Miracles was against the Hall’s own rules. He argued for their inclusion at the time, as did a host of fans, critics, and music industry professionals, but to no avail.
Another controversy arose when The Miracles were finally inducted in 2012 because Robinson was not included in the lineup (the same was true of the frontmen of all the backing bands inducted that year). Arguably, Robinson should be in the Hall twice, once for his solo career and once for his work with The Miracles.
As botched as all of those inductions were at the Hall’s inception, it’s good that they finally got around to correcting the mistakes more than 25 years later. The sad part is many of the band members didn’t live to see it happen.
When I became of age, my mother called me to her side
She said, “Son, you’re growing up now
Pretty soon you’ll take a bride”
And then she said
[Verse 1]
Just because you’ve become a young man now (Man now, ooh)
There’s still some things that you don’t understand now (Stand now, ooh)
Before you ask some girl for her hand now (Hand now, ooh)
Keep your freedom for as long as you can now
[Chorus]
My mama told me, you better shop around (Shop, shop around, uh huh-huh-huh)
Woah yeah, you better shop around (Shop, shop around)
[Verse 2]
Oh, there’s some things that I want you to know now (Uh huh, ooh)
Just as sure as the wind’s gonna blow now (Uh huh, ooh)
The women come and the women gonna go now (Uh huh, ooh)
Before you tell ’em that you love ’em so, now
[Chorus]
My mama told me, you better shop around (Shop, shop around, uh huh-huh-huh)
Woah yeah, you better shop around (Shop, shop around)
[Bridge]
Try to get yourself a bargain, son
Don’t be sold on the very first one (On the first one, oh)
Now, pretty girls come a dime a dozen
Try to find you one who’s gonna give you true loving
[Verse 3]
Before you take a girl and say, “I do” now (Uh huh, ooh)
Make sure she’s in love with you, now (Uh huh, ooh)
My mama told me, you better shop around
[Bridge]
Try to get yourself a bargain, son
Don’t be sold on the very first one (On the first one, oh)
Pretty girls come a dime a dozen
Try to find you one who’s gonna give you true loving
[Verse 4]
Before you take a girl and say, “I do” now (Uh huh, ooh)
Make sure she’s in love with you now (Uh huh, ooh)
Make sure that her love is true now (Uh huh, ooh)
I’d hate to see you feeling sad and blue now (Uh huh, ooh)
[Chorus]
My mama told me, you better shop around (Shop, shop around, uh huh-huh-huh)
[Outro]
Uh huh, don’t let the first one get you (Shop, shop around, uh huh-huh-huh)
Oh no, ’cause I don’t wanna see her with you (Shop, shop around, uh huh-huh-huh)
Uh huh, before you let her hold you tight (Shop, shop around, uh huh-huh-huh)
Oh, make sure she’s alright (Shop, shop around, uh huh-huh-huh)
Uh huh, before you let ’em take your hand my son (Shop, shop around, uh huh-huh-huh)
Understand my son, be a man my son (Shop, shop around, uh huh-huh-huh)
I know you can, my son, I love you (Shop, shop around, uh huh-huh-huh)
Shop around, come on, come on
Meet Me In Montauk 
Wow! Leaving Smokey out of the “corrected” induction is even dumber than not including the Miracles in the first place!
I agree with Dana!