The Best of 70s Folk Music
Contents
A blog dedicated to the best of 70s folk music. Featuring artist spotlights, album reviews, and more.
The Proliferation of Singer-Songwriters
The Rise of the Singer-Songwriter
The 1960s were a turbulent time politically and socially, and the results of that turmoil were reflected in the music of the decade. The singer-songwriter became a force to be reckoned with in the music industry, as artists such as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Carole King created songs that spoke to the experiences of a generation.
The 1970s saw the continued rise of the singer-songwriter, as folk music made a comeback in popularity. James Taylor, Jackson Browne, and Carly Simon were just a few of the artists who found success with their introspective and personal songs. The singer-songwriter became a dominant force in popular music, and their influence can still be felt today.
The Proliferation of Singer-Songwriters
The early 1970s saw a proliferation of singer-songwriters, many of whom were influenced by the folk music of the 1960s. This new wave of singer-songwriters included such artists as James Taylor, Carole King, Jackson Browne, and Joni Mitchell, who helped to define the sound of the decade.
The popularity of singer-songwriters also led to the rise of the lyricist as a separate profession. Many of the most successful songs of the 1970s were co-written by a singer-songwriter and a lyricist, often with input from other songwriters as well. This new collaborative approach to songwriting helped to create some of the most iconic songs of the decade, including “Wild World” by Cat Stevens, “You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King, and “Yesterday” by The Beatles.
The New Folk Movement
A new generation of folk singer/songwriters emerged in the late 60s and early 70s, carrying on the tradition of using music to comment on the world around them. This new folk movement was defined by its opposition to the Vietnam War, as well as its championing of the counterculture and environmental causes. Some of the most iconic folk songs of the 20th century were born of this movement.
The Rise of the New Folk Movement
The New Folk Movement of the 1970s was a revival of traditional and contemporary folk music. The movement began in the United States and spread to other countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom.
The New Folk Movement was a reaction against the commercialization of folk music in the 1960s. musicians such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Pete Seeger were no longer able to make a living from their music. They were replaced by pop stars such as Simon and Garfunkel and The Kingston Trio.
The new generation of folk musicians were inspired by Dylan and Baez, but they also drew from other sources, such as rock music. The result was a more eclectic sound that was sometimes referred to as “folk-rock.” Some of the most popular artists of the New Folk Movement were James Taylor, Carole King, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Neil Young.
The New Folk Movement had a strong political element, particularly in the United States. Many of the songs were protest songs against the Vietnam War or against racism and sexism. The movement also inspired a number of environmentalist groups, such as Greenpeace.
The New Folk Movement and the Proliferation of Singer-Songwriters
The New Folk Movement of the 1970s was a direct outgrowth of the earlier folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s. Building on the work of such artists as Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Joan Baez, the New Folk Movement featured a new generation of singer-songwriters who were influenced by traditional folk music but who also injected their own personal experiences and perspectives into their songs.
The proliferation of singer-songwriters in the 1970s led to a wide diversity of sounds and styles within the folk genre. While some artists, such as James Taylor and Carole King, blended folk with other genres such as pop and rock to create a more mainstream sound, others, such as Bob Dylan and John Prine, stuck closer to traditional folk roots. The result was an explosion of creativity within the folk genre that produced some of the most timeless and beloved songs of the twentieth century.
The Singer-Songwriter in the 1970s
The singer-songwriter became a prominent figure in the music scene of the 1970s. This was a time when the personal and the political were often intertwined in the singer-songwriter’s songs. The singer-songwriter’s lyrics often expressed the feelings and concerns of a generation that was coming of age during a time of social and political turmoil. The best of 70s folk music captured the zeitgeist of the decade and continues to resonate with listeners today.
The Proliferation of Singer-Songwriters in the 1970s
The 1970s were a unique and special time for music. One of the most important and defining genres of the decade was singer-songwriter folk music. This type of music placed an emphasis on the individual songwriter and their personal stories and experiences. The lyrics were often introspective and personal, dealing with topics such as love, loss, and politics.
The popularity of this genre exploded in the 1970s, with many talented songwriters emerging on the scene. Some of the most iconic and popular singer-songwriters of the decade include James Taylor, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, and Gordon Lightfoot. These artists helped to define an entire generation with their music.
The singer-songwriter folk music genre was hugely influential in the 1970s, and its effects can still be felt today. The intimate and personal nature of the songs resonated with many people, and the genre continues to be popular even now. If you’re a fan of folk music, then you owe a debt of gratitude to the singer-songwriters of the 1970s who helped to make it what it is today.
The New Folk Movement and the Proliferation of Singer-Songwriters in the 1970s
The New Folk Movement of the early 1960s brought an increase in the number of singer-songwriters performing their own material in folk clubs and coffeehouses. This proliferation continued throughout the 1970s, as singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and Jackson Browne achieved mainstream success.
The popularity of singer-songwriters in the 1970s was due in part to the confessional nature of their lyrics and the intimate feel of their live performances. The confessional style was popularized by artists such as James Taylor and Carly Simon, who wrote about personal experiences in a direct and relatable way. The live performances of singer-songwriters often featured just the artist and a guitar or piano, which created a feeling of intimacy that was appealing to many listeners.
The 1970s were also a time when many social issues were being brought to the forefront, and singer-songwriters used their music to address these issues. Songs like Dylan’s “Hurricane” and Browne’s “For Everyman” spoke to racial injustice, while Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” brought attention to environmental concerns. These songs helped to raise awareness of important issues and gave voice to those who might not have otherwise been heard.
The singer-songwriter movement of the 1970s had a lasting impact on both folk music and popular music. The confessional style of songwriting and the intimate feel of live performances continue to be significant elements in both genres. And the social consciousness that was so prevalent in 1970s folk music has also carried over into contemporary music, with many artists using their platform to address important issues facing our world today.
The Best of 70s Folk Music
The best of 70s folk music was a time when the genre was just starting to take off. Singer-songwriters like James Taylor and Carole King were becoming popular, and the genre was starting to become more mainstream. Folk music in the 70s was a time of transition, and it produced some of the best music of the genre.
The Best of 70s Folk Music – The Proliferation of Singer-Songwriters
The early 1970s were a fertile time for folk music. The singer-songwriter boom was in full swing, and many of the biggest names in folk were releasing some of their best work. The Best of 70s Folk Music gathers together seventeen essential tracks from this groundbreaking era.
Among the artists represented are James Taylor, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. These are the songs that defined a generation – imperishable classics like “Fire and Rain”, “You’ve Got a Friend”, “The Circle Game”, and “Our House”. This is the sound of an era when folk music was at its commercial and artistic peak – a must-have collection for any fan of 70s folk.
The Best of 70s Folk Music – The New Folk Movement
The Best of 70s Folk Music – The New Folk Movement occurred during the 1970s and saw a revival in interest in folk music. This was partly due to the success of The Beatles and Bob Dylan, who had both incorporated folk music into their own styles. The new folk movement developed as a reaction to the commercialization of folk music, which had led to a decline in its popularity. Musicians such as John Denver and James Taylor helped to bring folk music back into the mainstream, and the genre continues to enjoy popularity today.