Donovan (born May 10, 1946) is a Scottish folk-rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter who released his first two albums in 1965 on Pye, followed by a prolific run of titles on Epic between 1966 and 1976. After a self-titled one-off on RAK in 1977, he released a further round of albums on RCA during the […]
Shelagh McDonald (born 1948) is a Scottish singer/songwriter who released two albums on B & C Records in 1970 and 1971 Discography: Shelagh McDonald Album (1970) Stargazer (1971)
Gerry Rafferty (1947–2011) was a Scottish musician and songwriter who emerged in The Humblebums, a folk duo with future comedian Billy Connolly. The pair released two 1969–70 albums, which presaged Rafferty’s 1971 solo debut Can I Have My Money Back? In 1972, Rafferty teamed with longtime friend Joe Egan in the art-pop/folk combo Stealers Wheel, […]
Al Stewart is a Scottish singer/songwriter who emerged from the British folk boom of the mid-1960s. He debuted with the 1967 orchestral-psych album Bed Sitter Images, his first of five albums on CBS, culminating with the lavish 1972/73 works Orange and Past, Present and Future. His 1975 release Modern Times marked his first collaboration with […]
Chris De Burgh (born Oct. 15, 1948) is an Irish singer/songwriter with a recording career that dates back to the mid-1970s. Since that time, he has released more than 20 studio albums. His most successful periods include the conceptual/orchestral works that he issued on A&M between 1974 and 1979, followed by his art-pop/folk-rock material for […]
Jonathan Kelly (born July 8, 1947) is an Irish singer/songwriter who was active between the late 1960s and mid-1970s. He first emerged in beat combo The Boomerangs, which issued the single “Dream World” on Pye in 1966. He was next found in the momentary trio Humpy Bong, which also featured ex-Bee Gee Colin Petersen and […]
Peter Allen — aka Peter Richard Woolnough (Feb. 10, 1944 — June 8, 1992) — was an Australian pianist, singer, composer, and showman, best known internationally through his songwriting partnership with Carole Bayer Sager that yielded hits for Melissa Manchester (“Don’t Cry Out Loud”), Rita Coolidge (“I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love”), and Christopher […]
Terry Callier (May 24, 1945 — Oct. 27, 2012) was an American singer/songwriter from Chicago whose songs appear on 1970s albums by Jerry Butler, Dee Dee Sharp, and The Dells. Singed to Cadet as a solo artist, he released three well-regarded albums: Occasional Rain and What Color Is Love (both 1972) and I Just Can’t […]
Rupert Holmes (born Feb. 24, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, producer, playwright, and screenwriter with a career in entertainment that dates to the late 1960s. Starting as a hit-writer for The Cuff Links and The Buoys, he emerged as a recording artist with a string of production-pop albums during the second half of […]
Phoebe Snow (July 17, 1950 — April 26, 2011) was an American singer/songwriter from New York, best known for the songs “Harpo’s Blues” and “Poetry Man” from her 1974 debut album. Between 1976 and 1978, she released four albums on Columbia. She was born Phoebe Ann Laub to Merrill and Lili Laub, a Jewish couple […]
Mossy Davidson — Mairiis Kilcher (born 1942) — is an American singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Homer, Alaska, who released the double-album NorthWind Calling on self-press North Woods in 1977. Discography: NorthWind Calling (2LP, 1977 • Mossy Davidson’s Alaska)
Henry Gaffney (March 8, 1949 — May 23, 2010) was an American singer/songwriter from Brooklyn who released the album Waiting for a Wind on RCA in 1976, followed by On Again Off Again on UA-subsidiary Manhattan in 1978. Discography: Waiting for a Wind (1976) On Again Off Again (1978)
Harry Nilsson (June 15, 1941 — Jan. 15, 1994) was an American singer/songwriter from Brooklyn. Nilsson was born Harry Edward Nilsson III on June 15, 1941, in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. His paternal grandparents were circus performers who did “aerial ballet,” the title of his second proper album. He was especially close to his maternal grandparents; his […]
Michael Franks (born Sept. 18, 1944) is an American singer/songwriter from La Jolla, Calif. Discography: Michael Franks (1973) The Art of Tea (1975) Sleeping Gypsy (1977) Burchfield Nines (1978) Tiger in the Rain (1979) One Bad Habit (1980) Objects of Desire (1982) Previously Unavailable (1983) Passionfruit (1983) Skin Dive (1985) The Camera Never Lies (1987) […]
Melissa Manchester (born Feb. 15, 1951) is an American singer/songwriter who released two albums on Bell Records in 1973/74, followed by nine albums on Arista between 1975 and 1983. She first emerged under the auspices of Barry Manilow and Bette Midler and co-wrote many songs with Carole Bayer Sager. Manchester’s best known songs include “Don’t […]
Lori Lieberman (born Nov. 15, 1951) is an American singer/songwriter who released four 1972–75 albums on Capitol Records and a 1978 fifth on Millennium. After a 16-year break from recording, she returned with three ’90s-era albums on Pope Music. Since 2003, she’s issued CDs on self-press Drive On Records. Her debut album features the earliest […]
Laura Nyro (Oct. 18, 1947 — April 8, 1997) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist from the Bronx. She debuted with the album More Than a New Discovery on Verve Folkways in 1967. She then signed to Columbia and released four albums between 1968 and 1971, culminating with a collaborative disc with soul trio […]
Harry Chapin (Dec. 7, 1942 — July 16, 1981) was an American singer/songwriter from Brooklyn. Discography: Heads & Tales (1972) Sniper and Other Love Songs (1972) Short Stories (1973) Verities & Balderdash (1974) Portrait Gallery (1975) On the Road to Kingdom Come (1976) Dance Band on the Titanic (1977) Living Room Suite (1978) Sequel (1980)
Harriet Schock is an American singer/songwriter from Dallas. Discography: Hollywood Town (1974) She’s Low Clouds (1974) You Don’t Know What You’re in For (1976)
Gary Ogan is an American singer/songwriter from Portland, Ore., who emerged in partnership with musician Bill Lamb on the 1972 Elektra release Portland. In 1977, he issued a self-titled album on Leon Russell’s Paradise Records label. His third album, Let Go the Heart, appeared on small-press Seagull Records in 1982. Gary Ogan taught himself to […]
Billy Joel is an American pianist, singer, and songwriter from the Bronx who released the album Cold Spring Harbor on Family Productions Inc. in 1971, followed by 11 studio albums on Columbia between 1973 and 1993. Prior to his solo career, he recorded two albums with psych-rockers The Hassles, which splintered into the 1970 hard-rock […]
Carly Simon (born June 25, 1945) is an American singer/songwriter from the Bronx who released eight albums on Elektra between 1971 and 1979, followed by a round of titles on Warner, Epic, and Arista during the subsequent decade. Simon was born Carly Elisabeth Simon on June 25, 1945, in the Bronx. She is the third […]
Barry Manilow (born June 17, 1943) is an American singer, pianist, songwriter, producer, and arranger from Brooklyn. He debuted with two 1973/74 albums on Bell Records, which spawned the hits “Could It Be Magic” and “Mandy.” Between 1975 and 1984, he released eight studio albums and two live sets on Arista. His most prolific chart […]
Gilbert O’Sullivan — Raymond Edward O’Sullivan (Dec. 1, 1946) — is an Irish singer/songwriter from Waterford; raised in Swindon, England, from age 11-onward. He initially recorded as “Gilbert,” issuing two 1967/68 singles on CBS and a third on Major Minor in 1969. Between 1971 and 1977, he released five proper albums under his full name […]
Bruce Cockburn (born May 27, 1945) is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Ottawa, best known for a long string of albums on the True North label, starting in 1970. His biggest hits include “Wondering Where the Lions Are” and the politically-charged “If I Had a Rocket Launcher.” He was born in Ottawa, Ontario, the son of […]
Mick Softley (Sept. 26, 1939 — Sept. 1, 2017) was an English singer/songwriter from Woodford, Essex, who released the album Songs for Swingin’ Survivors on Columbia in 1965, followed by three albums between 1970 and 1972 on CBS and a further pair of titles during the late 1970s on self-press Doll Records. He was born […]
Laurie Styvers was an American singer/songwriter who recorded an album with the London-based folk-pop band Justine in 1970. As a solo artist, she released two albums on Chrysalis/Warner between 1971 and 1973. Discography: Spilt Milk (1971) The Colorado Kid (1973)
Shawn Phillips (born Feb. 3, 1943) is an American singer/songwriter from Fort Worth, Tex., who released two albums on Columbia in 1965/66, followed by nine albums on A&M between 1970 and 1977. During the early 1980s, he issued two albums with the space-rock trio Cosmic Debris. Discography: I’m a Loner (1965) Shawn (1966) Contribution (1970) […]
Bill Puka is an American pianist and singer-songwriter who released a self-titled album on Columbia in 1970. The Album Puka signed with Columbia and recorded an album of his own songs, comprised of voice, piano, and light string accompaniment. Bill Puka appeared in November 1970 (US, Canada). It features 10 songs, including such titles as […]
Joan Armatrading (born Dec. 9, 1950) is a U.K.-based singer/songwriter originally from the island of Saint Kitts in the Lesser Antilles. Between 1972 and 1992, she released 14 albums on A&M. She enjoyed some of her greatest success with a string of Glyn Jones-produced albums during the mid-to-late 1970s. Discography: Whatever’s for Us (1972) Back […]
Bill Fay is an English singer/songwriter who released a self-titled album on Deram in 1970, followed by Time of the Last Persecution in 1971. Discography: Bill Fay (1970) Time of the Last Persecution (1971)
Tony Hazzard (born Oct. 31, 1943) is an English singer/songwriter from Liverpool who released an album of covers and originals on CBS in 1969, followed by two albums on Bronze between 1971 and 1973. A collaborative album with pop vocalist Richard Barnes appeared on Warner Bros. in 1976. During the 1960s, his songs were recorded […]
Joni Mitchell (born Nov. 7, 1943) is a Canadian singer–songwriter from Fort Macleod, Alberta, with a musical career that spanned nearly five decades, starting in the mid-1960s. Between 1968 and 1971, she released four albums on Reprise Records, followed by six studio albums and two live double-LPs on Asylum between 1972 and 1980. Four further […]
Gordon Lightfoot (born Nov. 17, 1938) is a Canadian singer/songwriter who released five studio albums on United Artists between 1966 and 1970, followed by six albums on Reprise between 1971 and 1976. Six further albums appeared on Warner Bros. between 1978 and 1988. Discography: Lightfoot! (1966) The Way I Feel (1967) Did She Mention My […]
Linda Perhacs (born Sept. 21, 1942) is an American singer/songwriter from Mill Valley, Calif., who released the album Parallelograms on Kapp Records in 1970. The Internet brought the album newfound popularity in the 21st century, prompting further activity from the singer during the 2010s. Discography: Parallelograms (1970) The Soul of All Natural Things (2014) I’m […]
Richard Clapton (born May 18, 1949) is an Australian singer-songwriter from Sydney who released eight albums on Infinity between 1973 and 1980, followed by another round of titles on WEA during the 1980s. Prior to launching his solo career, he did a brief stint as co-vocalist in the brass-rock/soul band Sun during the early 1970s. […]
Cat Stevens (born July 21, 1948) is an English singer/songwriter who was primarily active as a recording artist between 1966 and 1978. Scoring a deal with Decca just shy of age 18, he burst onto Swinging London with the chipper “I Love My Dog” in late 1966. The following year saw back-to-back albums of mostly […]
Bill Withers — aka William Harrison Withers, Jr. (born July 4, 1938) — is an American soul singer from Slab Fork, WV. Discography: Just as I Am (1971) Still Bill (1972) Live at Carnegie Hall (1973) +’Justments (1974) Making Music (1975) Naked & Warm (1976) Menagerie (1977) ‘Bout Love (1979) Watching You Watching Me (1985)
Chris Rea is an English singer, guitarist, and songwriter who released nine albums between 1978 and 1987 on Magnet, followed by further titles on WEA, EastWest, and Jazzee Blue over the subsequent three decades. Rea’s 1989–91 albums The Road to Hell and Auberge both topped the UK Albums Chart and spawned Top 20 title singles. […]
Labi Siffre (born 1945) is an English singer/songwriter, poet, and playwright who was initially active as a recording artist during the first half of the 1970s. Discography: Labi Siffre (1970) The Singer and the Song (1971) Crying Laughing Loving Lying (1972) For the Children (1973) Remember My Song (1975) Happy (1975) So Strong (1988)
Michael Chapman (1941–2021) was an English singer-songwriter and guitarist from Leeds who released four albums on Harvest between 1969 and 1971, followed by five albums on Decca, Nova, and Gama between 1973 and 1977. Over the next two decades, he issued eight albums on assorted indie labels. His songs have been covered by Jan & […]
Harvey Andrews is an English singer-songwriter from Birmingham who released the album Places & Faces on Decca in 1970, followed by the 1972/73 albums Writer of Songs and Friends of Mine on Cube Records. In 1976, he returned with Someday on Transatlantic Records. Between 1980 and 1987, he released three albums on self-press Beeswing Records. […]
Bridget St John — aka Bridget Ann Hobbs (Oct. 4, 1946) — is an English singer/songwriter and guitarist who released three albums on Dandelion Records between 1969 and 1972, followed by a fourth on Chrysalis in 1974. Additional credits from this period include backing vocals on albums by Kevin Ayers and Michael Chapman. In 1975, […]
Nick Drake (June 19, 1948 — Nov. 25, 1974) was an English singer/songwriter and guitarist who released three albums on Island between 1969 and 1972: Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter, and Pink Moon. In 1974, he completed four songs for a proposed album before his death that year from a prescription-med overdose. The songs were […]
Mike Heron is a Scottish singer and songwriter, best known as the co-founder and mastermind of the Incredible String Band. While still a member of ISB, he debuted as a solo artist with the 1971 release Smiling Men With Bad Reputations. His 1977 album Diamond of Dreams features two songs (“Don’t Kill It Carol,” “Stranded […]
