The Best of Soft Rock Music

Looking for the best soft rock music? Look no further than our top picks. From Air Supply to America, we’ve got the best of soft rock covered.

The Best of Soft Rock Music: The Beatles

The Beatles were a soft rock band that became one of the most popular and influential bands of all time. They are known for their classic hits such as “Yesterday,” “Let it Be,” and “Here Comes the Sun.” The Beatles’ soft rock sound was a major influence on subsequent soft rock artists.

The Best of Soft Rock Music: The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group’s original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine. The Beach Boys are one of the most influential and commercially successful musical groups of all time. They have sold more than 100 million records worldwide and have had more than thirty-five US Top 40 hits. The Beach Boys were one of the first pop groups to be taken seriously as artists and to be accorded the status of serious composers. This allowed them to experiment musically with a freedom that was not available to most rock bands at the time. They are also credited with helping to pioneer the “California Sound,” which was characterized by its use of close harmonies from vocalists, guitars, and keyboards, surf themes, and a distinctive pop production style.

The Best of Soft Rock Music: Simon & Garfunkel

With a beautiful blend of harmonies and intricate guitar work, Simon & Garfunkel created some of the best soft rock music of all time. Hailing from New York, the duo was made up of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. The two friends first found success with their 1964 debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., which featured their breakout hit “The Sound of Silence.”

Simon & Garfunkel went on to release a string of chart-topping albums in the late 1960s, including Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966), Bookends (1968), and Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970). The duo’s final album, Simon and Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits, was released in 1972 and featured some of their most beloved tracks, including “Mrs. Robinson,” “The Boxer,” and “The Sound of Silence.”

Despite their success, Simon & Garfunkel’s relationship was often contentious, and the duo formally broke up in 1970. They reunited briefly in 1981 for a successful reunion tour, but have not worked together since. In 2003, Simon & Garfunkel were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The Best of Soft Rock Music: The Carpenters

The Carpenters were an American musical duo consisting of brother and sister Karen and Richard Carpenter. They produced a distinct soft musical style, combining Karen’s contralto vocals with Richard’s arrangements, which relied heavily on multitracking and overdubbing.

The Best of Soft Rock Music: James Taylor

There are many different interpretations of what soft rock music is, but generally it is a style that is easy to listen to and has a mellow sound. Soft rock is often thought of as being similar to pop music, but with less emphasis on commercial success and more on musical quality. This type of music often has thoughtful lyrics and a more acoustic sound.

One of the most popular and well-known soft rock musicians is James Taylor. Born in 1948, Taylor was raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He began his musical career in the 1960s, playing folk music in coffeehouses. His self-titled debut album was released in 1968 and includes the hit song “Fire and Rain.”

During the 1970s, Taylor’s career took off and he released a string of successful albums including “Mud Slide Slim” and “One Man Dog.” He also had several hit singles including “You’ve Got a Friend” and “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You).” In 1977, he won a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for his album “JT.”

In the 1980s and 1990s, Taylor continued to release albums and tour extensively. Some of his most popular albums from this period include “Dad Loves His Work” and “New Moon Shine.” He also won several more Grammys and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

James Taylor is one of the most successful soft rock musicians of all time and his songs have inspired generations of listeners. If you’re looking for some great soft rock music to relax to, be sure to check out James Taylor’s extensive catalog of work.

The Best of Soft Rock Music: Eagles

Formed in Los Angeles in 1971, the Eagles created a brand of country-tinged rock that proved immensely popular. The band’s founding members were singer/songwriter Bernie Leadon, singer/songwriter Glenn Frey, bassist Randy Meisner and drummer Don Henley. The Eagles released their self-titled debut album in 1972, followed by “Desperado” (1973), “On the Border” (1974), “One of These Nights” (1975), “Hotel California” (1976) and “The Long Run” (1979). The group disbanded in 1980 but reunited in 1994 for the album “Hell Freezes Over,” which featured the hit single “Get Over It.” In 2007, the Eagles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The Best of Soft Rock Music: Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac is a British-American rock band, formed in 1967 in London. The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the world’s best-selling bands. In 1998, select members of Fleetwood Mac were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2004 the band received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

The band has experienced several lineup changes throughout its history, with a total of five members inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Peter Green (founding member, 1967–70), Danny Kirwan (1971–72), Lindsey Buckingham (1975–87; 1997–2018), Stevie Nicks (1975–87; 1997–2018), and John McVie (1967–present).

The Best of Soft Rock Music: Fleetwood Mac

The Best of Soft Rock Music: Billy Joel

Billy Joel is often thought of as a pop artist, but he has written some of the most iconic soft rock songs of all time. “Piano Man” is one of the most recognized and beloved soft rock songs ever written, and it helped to launch Joel’s career in the 1970s. He followed up with a string of hits throughout the decade, including “She’s Always a Woman,” “Just the Way You Are,” and “My Life.” Joel continued to write and perform soft rock music throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and he remains one of the genre’s most popular artists today.

The Best of Soft Rock Music: Elton John

Elton John has been entertaining fans for over five decades, and his soft rock sound is as popular as ever. Songs like “Your Song,” “Rocket Man,” and “Candle in the Wind” have become classics, and John’s ability to connect with his fans is undeniable. If you’re looking for some of the best soft rock music, look no further than Elton John.

The Best of Soft Rock Music: Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, and conductor. His discography consists of 31 studio albums, 6 live albums, 17 compilation albums, and 57 singles. Throughout his career, he has had 10 songs reach Number One on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. He has sold more than 80 million records worldwide.

Manilow was born Barry Alan Pincus in Brooklyn, New York City. His mother Edna Manilow was a homemaker; his father Harold Pincus was a typewriter salesman; and his grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Russia and Romania. He grew up in suburban Baltimore where he attended Baltimore City College High School. After graduating from high school in 1961 he enrolled at Juilliard School of Music’s Pre-College Division on a scholarship but left after only three semesters to pursue a career in music.

In 1963 Manilow met Bro Herrod, a CBS TV executive, who suggested that he change his name to Barry Manilow. In 1967 he released his first album, “Barry Manilow,” which contained the single “Roses of Picardy.” The album did not sell well but the single caught the attention of Josh Logan, who cast him in the Broadway musical “Harmony.” The show closed after four performances but Manilow’s career was launched.

In 1971 he released his second album, “Barry Manilow II,” which contained his first major hit “Mandy.” The song reached Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for seven weeks. It was the beginning of a long string of hits for Manilow. Other notable songs include “Could It Be Magic,” “I Write the Songs,” “Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again,” and “Copacabana (At the Copa).”

Manilow has been awarded numerous honors during his career including a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement, three Emmy Awards, and 15 gold and platinum albums. He has been married to fellow musician Susan Deixler since 2014.