Seventies Singer-Songwriters

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(Vocals, b. 1938) This smooth-voiced performer from West Virginia broke through with ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ from the album Just As I Am (1971). His songs have been recorded by countless artists ranging from Grace Jones’s version of ‘Use Me’ to British pop band Mud’s cover of ‘Lean On Me’. ‘Lovely Day’ has been a Top 10 hit twice for Withers in the UK, the second time, in 1988, after its use ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Guitar, vocals, 1945–81) The man responsible for popularizing reggae worldwide, Bob Marley’s career began in 1963 in the original Wailers, a six-piece vocal group, later slimmed to a trio, operating out of Kingston, Jamaica and enjoying great success locally. In 1969, Marley worked with producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, who introduced him to the Barrett brothers – Aston (Family Man) on bass and Carlton (drums) – who would become a vital component ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Guitar, vocals, b. 1949) Hailed as the new Dylan after two albums, Springsteen fully realized his potential with the widescreen Born To Run (1975). Managerial problems delayed Darkness On The Edge Of Town (1978), a more sombre but no less compelling work. The double album The River appeared in 1980 followed by the stark, pessimistic Nebraska in 1982. 1984’s Born In The USA catapulted Springsteen into the mainstream, selling 14 million copies ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Piano, vocals, b. 1942) A graduate of New York’s Brill Building school of songwriting, King teamed up with lyricist and future husband Gerry Goffin to compose many 1960s smashes for other artists, although ‘It Might As Well Rain Until September’ was a hit for King under her own name in 1962. Goffin and King split up in 1967 and she recorded one album as part of a trio, The City. Her solo ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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From a shy piano player, Elton John became one of the most extrovert performers of the 1970s. He has sold over 250 million records worldwide and is now almost a national institution. Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947, he won a part-time piano scholarship to London’s Royal Academy Of Music at the age of 11. By the time he left school in 1963 to work for a music ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Guitar, singer-songwriter, b. 1954) One of new wave’s most celebrated songwriters, Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus) initially portrayed himself as an angry, revenge-obsessed young man before steadily maturing into a genre-straddling elder statesman. His cheeky appropriation of the name ‘Elvis’ was in tune with the iconoclastic mood of 1977, when his debut album My Aim Is True was released. Temporary backing band Clover were superseded by The Attractions – Bruce Thomas ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Guitar, vocals, 1943–2001) Harrison initially became the most successful solo Beatle with the blockbuster triple album All Things Must Pass (1971) and the transatlantic chart topper ‘My Sweet Lord’. George diverted himself into raising funds for the disaster in Bangladesh with an all-star charity gig at New York’s Madison Square Garden in August 1971. The event was commemorated in the triple live set Concert For Bangladesh (1971). He resumed his recording ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Saxophone, vocals, b. 1942–2008) This soul singer from Tennessee began his musical career as a saxophonist for Stax Records studio band The Mar-Keys. The album Hot Buttered Soul (1969) was his commercial breakthrough and Hayes became internationally famous with the soundtrack to the film Shaft (1971), the style of which anticipated disco. After leaving Stax, his records were less successful and he filed for bankruptcy in 1976. He later voiced the ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Guitar, singer-songwriter, b. 1948) Discovered by The Beatles’ Apple label, for whom he recorded his first album in 1968, Taylor moved back to America to seek a cure for heroin addiction. He signed to Warner Bros and unleashed the three-million-selling Sweet Baby James in 1970, featuring the No. 3 single ‘Fire And Rain’. Although his early work typified the sensitive early 1970s singer-songwriter, 1977’s JT displayed a more upbeat approach. His ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Guitar, vocals, 1940–80) Lennon’s post-Beatles solo career began with John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970), a harrowingly honest record inspired by the Primal therapy that Lennon was undergoing. Imagine (1971) featured his best-loved song (not released as a UK single until 1975) and was a more sugar-coated affair. The double album Sometime In New York City (1972) featured politically charged lyrics and received a hostile reception. The workmanlike Mind Games (1973) was ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Guitar, vocals, 1948–2009) A Scottish singer-songwriter (real name Iain McGeachy) who mixed folk, blues and jazz and developed his trademark guitar sound by use of the Echoplex, a tape delay machine, Martyn made his debut with 1968’s London Conversation and after two albums with then wife Beverly, he released the seminal Solid Air (1973), a prototype ambient album. On 1980’s Grace And Danger Martyn made the transition from solo artist to ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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‘Lovin’ You’, 1975 Having virtually retired in the early 1970s, Epic Records slowly restarted Riperton’s career in 1973, having her record backing vocals for Stevie Wonder, followed by recording her own solo album, Perfect Angel (which featured Wonder as co-writer and musician), and releasing a string of singles, which culminated in 1975’s No. 1 hit, ‘Lovin’ You’. Despite a respected recording career that started with Rotary Connection in the late 1960s, ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Guitar, vocals, b. 1945) This highly respected Canadian musician first came to prominence in 1967 as a member of Buffalo Springfield. Young’s solo career began in 1969 with Neil Young. For his next album, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969), he recruited Danny Whitten (guitar), Billy Talbot (bass) and Ralph Molina (drums), collectively known as Crazy Horse. Shortly afterwards, Young joined Crosby, Stills and Nash for an album and tour. 1972’s country-tinged ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Guitar, singer-songwriter, 1948–74) Although he only produced three albums before his untimely death from a drug overdose, posthumously he has become one of the most beautifully introspective and melancholic artists to come out of the 1970s. Signed to Island records at just 20, there was high hopes for the talented singer-songwriter. Whilst he was still studying at Cambridge University he released his debut, Five Leaves Left (1969), which showcased his immense ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
158 Words Read More

‘Spirit In The Sky’, 1970 A UK and US No. 1, ‘Spirit In The Sky’ was Greenbaum’s first solo hit after performing in some short-lived groups, and a number of singles from the Spirit In The Sky LP came to very little. Intended as a commentary on contemporary religious beliefs, it was to be his only hit. Further singles, and 1972’s Petaluma LP, were failures, though Greenbaum would become a manager ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
107 Words Read More
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