Yesterday's New York Times profiled the continuing political career of John Hall, the former guitarist for '70s act Orleans (you may remember their hit "Still the One," aka "The song that made you buy a Burger King chicken sandwich in 1992"). Last week, the New York congressman became "the first bona fide rock 'n' roll musician in the House of Representatives," and his discography both helped and hurt his efforts to be taken seriously:

Mr. Hall, who won a crowded primary for the Democratic nomination, began with a campaign fund of $57,000 to [opponent Sue W. Kelly]'s $900,000. But having famous friends didn't hurt.

"I didn't have Exxon or Mobil, but I had Jackson and Bonnie and Pete," Mr. Hall said. Their concerts in the Hudson Valley area not only raised money — Mr. Browne's netted $100,000 in two days — but also generated publicity.

Mr. Hall, who is usually serious and low-key, became emotional when talking about the relationship between music and politics. "Jackson sang a song, 'Waiting Here for Every Man,' " Mr. Hall said, his voice catching as he referred to Mr. Browne's "For Everyman," "which I remember from his first album, a song that struck me as being about the lethargy and apathy and fatalism of most Americans while they wait for someone to please sort out this mess."

The campaign was intense. At one point, an unsigned flier circulated with the message: "John Hall, wrong for America." It featured Mr. Hall from his rock days, long-haired and bare-chested.

Mr. Rock 'n' Roll Goes to Congress [NY Times]

Lost amid the clutter of yesterday's major-race election results was the fact that Democrat John Hall—the former lead singer of '70s soft-rock band Orleans—managed a narrow victory over his Republican opponent in New York's 19th District race. Hall co-wrote hits like "Still The One," "Dance With Me," and "Maybe I Shouldn't Be Posing Shirtless With A Bunch Of Other Band Members," and used to write for Crawdaddy magazine. In fact, he's still functioning as a music critic of sorts, according to an Editor & Publisher profile from a few months back:

In the final days of the 2004 presidential campaign, Hall saw a clip from a Bush rally in Columbus, Ohio, aired on Lou Dobbs' CNN show and was appalled to hear "Still the One" playing in the background at the event. His permission to use it had not been sought or given. After wide press coverage via the AP, the Bush campaign promised to cease and desist. So John Hall can make one claim most already-elected Democrats cannot: He got President Bush to back down at least once.

Alas, Bush got him back earlier this year, when he trumpeted his new scaled-back immigration with a the similar-sounding jingle "Still The Juan."

Cricket.

Rock Star Runs for Office: From Soundchecks to Sound Bites [Editor & Publisher]
Musician Defeats Republican In New York [AP]