When Soft Rock Ruled the Earth

[@alanbescan4311]

Great choices! I have all of the albums since they came out and still listen to them. I'm your age group ( 71 ). Another favorite group of mine is The Ozark Mountain Daredevils- especially the 1st three albums. Wonderful songwriters and sounding! I really got into their music after seeing them at a taping of the Don Kirshner's Rock Concert in Long Beach in 1974 while in the Navy.

[@kevinsmith8328]

Great picks. Wonderful time in music for me. Love this era of singer songwriters. I got to listen to many styles of music in 74 thru 78 in the USAF . Most guys had a nice stereo systems and their record collection was interesting to me, since I was from Spokane, Wa. Thanks, N.M.

[@douglasweston126]

I saw America at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester just before their 1st album came out. Three guys , three guitars & three voices. Brilliant - oh yeh - lets not forget the songs. Been hooked ever since. John Hall - I got into Orleans through the song "Dance With Me" - and have a few of their albums. At the end of the day, its just great songs and great playing.

[@johnmoore5098]

Although we adopted him in Canada and loved him as one of our own, Jesse Winchester was the embodiment of a true southern gentleman. His performance in Elvis Costello's tv variety show Spectacle brought both Elvis and Neko Case to tears. I defy anyone with a heart to watch him sing here and not feel the same.

[@ronaldhitchings1847]

I had the first America album because of our mutual connection as military dependents. As you may have gathered from previous posts, I lived in Marin during that period. A friend of mine who was stationed at an Air Force Base near Sacramento knew the original drummer of America. They were playing at, I think, the Berkeley community theater early 1972. Anyway, the drummer let us in back stage. However, he didn't coordinate it with the other guys. So they were not very happy to see us. Maybe it was that superstitious thing. They put us off to the side of the stage. Great show, but we never spoke to the other three guys. It was OK. Never held a grudge. Still love that first album. An honorable mention for a good yacht album is Loggins and Messina "Full Sail" from 1973.

[@roberthurley1685]

When the pardon came through, Jesse did a concert in Burlington, VT which was said to be his first show back in the states, great performer - of course the highlight was singing "Yankee Lady" - he'd lived in Vermont for a minute before Canada. One of my favorite concerts ever.

[@petesacco3255]

I am an old man like you and I have every one of those albums the America album jumps out because it was so interesting with the strange chord progressions they were using.. I saw America four times and the very first show they ever performed when that album came out

[@rekodo_intl]

Love your stories about music. Music is the soundtrack to our young lives.

[@mazzysmusic]

Yes it is

[@zuni1919]

Great pulls! Especially impressed by the Jimmy Buffett one. Cheers

[@kingofallmediums2123]

1972 you graduated 👩‍🎓 high school, Mazzy! Not college! 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😂😂😂😂😂

[@kevenbarrett8316]

I can’t believe it, I’ve watched a bunch of your videos and this is the one where I have most all of the records! I see these as more of a singer songwriters group. The song Come Down in Time from Elton, should be on everyone’s list as a most beautiful song ever written.

[@rockandrollderelict]

As always, well done. I love, Used To Be A King off of Graham’s album. Two more to be considered, of course, Jackson Brown, Saturate Before Using and Jesse Colin Young, Song For Julie. Cheers!

[@williamcardina89]

These are just great records Plain and Simple Just like the Ry Cooder recordings!

[@AlterMann57]

This is such an enjoyable video, and I have almost all of the albums you featured here. The Elton John Tumbleweed Connection album was such a triumph for Elton John in his career. The songs on that album were done so well in the studio, but when he did them live they took on a different light. The soft rock music was pretty darn good. I'd also mention the early albums by Dan Fogelberg, they were pretty good albums.

[@user-mp5id8tb2m]

Great pics and especially Souvenirs by Dan Fogelberg is worth mentioning. -Marjet

[@VinylLatte]

Great list of great records! Carly has some sexy album covers, doesn’t she? 😉 Thanks for sharing!

[@bryandelph3221]

Muskrat Love was written by Willis Alan Ramsey. Also a great album.

[@criscrisler8604]

Met Jesse Winchester in Knoxville the year before he died. He was gracious and spent time with my wife and me after the show. His music was prevalent in my life and his albums were the soundtrack of our burgeoning romance and eventual marriage. The texture of his voice and his songwriting, both lyrically and melodically, were warm and personal and full of grace and humor. “All of your stories, forever and ever…”.

[@ballstadt]

Jimmy Buffett was always a great storyteller and songwriter - Come Monday is just a perfect example. Struck gold with a cheesy hit and ran with it. But if you dig into any of his albums, there are some gems.

[@louismartinez7387]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane Mazzy....as a boomer, I too remember all of these wonderful artists and their profound musical contributions...very fortunate to have been there!

[@donniet8953]

Mazzy, great list and comments. My list might include most any of Cats Stevens albums. Perfectly played, sung and produced. We all jumped on that Peace Train.

[@TheAgeOfAnalog]

Some of my favorite records, especially Carly Simon's Anticipation and Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection.

[@casablanca2745]

Great trip down memory lane. To borrow a line from Bob Seger, I pulled those old records off the shelf. When I opened my Jonathan Edwards gatefold, (which I haven’t played since the college years in the 70’s) seeds rolled out onto my carpet. Laughed out loud! Thanks Mazzy, guess I’ll lay around the Shanty and put a good buzz on.

[@vintagevinylvets1187]

A great time in music. Loved these albums and a couple I hadn’t heard. Thanks Mazzy!🙏🏻🎧

[@marksaleski9890]

Oh man, I loooove that Jonathon Edwards record! It was really huge in Maine when I was growing up. Also: saw him open for Orleans at the University of Maine. True story!!

[@paavoviuhko7250]

I turned 21 in July of 1970 so I strongly connect with these albums. In those days owning a stereo system was essential and these albums were the vital ammo for firing up the collective feelings. These make me relive my early university years living in residence. Nothing else quite manages to recover those times. Thanks for the video.

[@patriciablyler6484]

Another great video! Love the singer/songwriters of the 70’s! I was familiar with all of the artists/records except for Jesse Winchester. Damn it Mazzy! Now I have to go and seek out his records!

[@VincentBautista365]

I'm on day two of your San Francisco trip! Enjoying the drive and your stories. Thank you, for all the wonderful sight seeing. 😉

[@gazzap6776]

Hi Norman. Great topic. The period you refer to was important to me because it was when I was 11-15 years of age. Many of those 'soft rock' songs.. I would first hear released playing thru my crappy AM radio or my basic 'Sansui' stereo system... Yet they were great despite the low-fi sound that I was hearing. They were part of the diverse mix of music released during the 70's that I was listening to and learning about at that time. All the best. GAZ (Melbourne/Australia)

[@LLYMYNT]

Good mentions a a few I have including Carole King, Graham Nash and Elton John. Always liked the soft rock genre. Also liked Dan Folgelberg, just recently got his greatest hits.

[@albarton7189]

Excellent video, Mazzy! My heart stopped beating for a few seconds when you held up “Hobo’s Lullaby”. You picked some great albums in this video, but you only scratched the surface. I’d add JJ Cale’s “Naturally”, Michael Martin Murphy’s “Blue Sky Night Thunder”, Pure Prairie League’s “Bustin’ Out”, Cat Stevens’ “Tea for the Tillerman”, and Al Stewart’s “Year of the Cat”. Keep up the great work Mazzy.

[@jodygoeler586]

Great picks. Definitely records that helped shape my love of music and recordings.

[@spectrum_archives]

Paul Simon’s debut has been on my wantlist for a while, I’ve just never come across a decent copy. That song ‘Me & Julio down by the schoolyard’… Funny thing: NY band !!! (Chk chk chk) made a great post-punk-funk song titled ‘Me And Giuliani Down By The School Yard (A True Story)’. I love music references like that!

[@Hunt4disc]

In 1971 the first record I ever purchased was Sweet Baby James. I was 15 years okd and listend to KSAN. I discoverd alot of talented artist. Back then they played deep cuts and unfamiliar artist. I'm still looking searching for good singer/songwriters.

[@RichStrickler]

This is my right in my wheelhouse. Love the soft rock era. I never cared about being hip, I dug the music. You showed some wonderful albums. Thanks for highlighting this music.

[@glenn171]

Muskrat Love was written by Willis Alan Ramsey.

[@mcgillga]

Yes. The big hit was the cover by The Captain and Tennille. But I love Willis's version. The first (only) album by Willis Alan Ramsey is a classic. One of my all time favorites. Every song on the album is fantastic. I've had on vinyl and two different CDs. Steve Hoffman remastered one of the CD versions. I used to see Willis perform in Dallas (his hometown) in 1973 and 1974 in a small club called the Rubyiat. At the time Michael (Martin) Murphey also played there a lot. Great video on some classic albums @Mazzy.

[@Onteo1]

Great picks I have most of these having grown up in that time. Shanty from Johnathan Edward’s lp has been used on a rock station for 40+ years as the “Friday” song kicking off the weekend.

[@Brewin62]

Great albums! An era when craft and melodicism ruled.

[@Thejazzfan66]

Hi Mazzy; thank you for putting in the time and effort that you put into your videos. I’ve learned about a lot about music, including musicians that I thought I already knew about. Lately, I’ve become very interested in the career of the late groundbreaking producer Tom Wilson. While I’ve heard about legendary producers like George Martin, Phil Spector, and even the period when Brian Wilson began to produce music The Beach Boys, there is not a lot that is said about Tom Wilson. I think that people might like to know how he produced some of Dylan’s early albums, how his work with Simon & Garfunkel basically gave them their first number one hit, how he produced Zappa and the Mothers first album, how it’s rumored that he did the production of the Velvet Underground’s classic debut., The Blues Project. And that’s not counting the jazz records he produced. As a fan of your channel, I don’t think I’ve seen a video on record producers, but I’d like to see if you would make an exception and consider Wilson as a topic. Have a good one!

[@mazzysmusic]

I love Wilson’s work. Maybe at some point I’ll pull some of his recordings together.

[@FotogInkArt]

Some of my favs. I love soft rock. Nostalgia.

[@franksmusic2880]

I have lots of those soft rock records, even us R&B soul guys love that kind of music once in a while. I’m only a few years younger than you. I was buying a lot of these albums as they were being released from 1971 to 73. Crosby Stills & Nash 1977 self titled album fits in perfect.

[@luytondriman6236]

Excellent overview of soft rock (light rock) gems ! many of these albums are my favourites from that era and this is my best genre anyway ! how about a part two Mazzy ??

[@bigedhaaheo]

Aloha Mazzy, Great 10 record albums. In the early 1970's I had all these record albums your showing. I didn't get into that Jesse Winchester record album but I had a copy . I really liked that Elton John tumbleweed connection Lp. Burn down the mission was my favorite on that record album.

[@Thejazzfan66]

Growing up, my dad had some…complex attitudes towards music. As a devout Christian, he had issues with secular music. Yet, he had 8-tracks by Glen Campbell, and soft music like Carpenters and Stephen Bishop. I never talked about this with my brother (RIP). I wish we’d talked about it…

[@elliottcrews4997]

NIce look at a great era of music. It is indeed sad that these artists are so underappreciated by later generations.

[@cheapcheerfulrecordcollect8071]

Quick story. I started college in 1967 at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. The big band on campus was The Headstone Circus. Lead singer, Jonathan Edwards. A couple of years later they split for Boston, changed the name of the band to Sugar Creek and put out an album. I had a copy, but lost it through moves, marriages etc. When the album didn’t go anywhere, the group split up and Jonathan recorded the album you showed. Fast forward to today and Jonathan now lives just south of here. Have run into him and reminisced about mutual friends from back in the day. He’s still touring around and always puts on a great show. In 1985 he put out a nice album with the country band The Seldom Scene. Definitely worth looking for.

[@christopherrigby2798]

Beyond the emergent Glam Rock of this country, much of which I loved what fits under the early 70's singer-songwriter/soft rock boom made an impression on me, the first single I bought with my pocket money was James Taylor's You've Got A Friend and I listeneed to many of these artists including Bread too. It must of stuck a chord with a number of people as in the mid 70's during a national Bread strike, "The Sound of Bread", a compilation of theirs was a massive seller! I'd wager many people have broader tastes than are commonly assumed and appreciate slower, more reflective styles as much they may other things.

[@patbarr1351]

I was basically a penniless high school student in that period, so several of Mazzy's picks were public library checkouts for me. I bought *Tumbleweed Conn* a few years ago & rescued it from neglect on my shelf after so many people recommended it. I'm warming up to it now! I have Greg Penny's remix to 5.1 on SACD which sounds great.

[@ShamrocknRecords]

Great choice of records there Maz. Hobo’s Lullaby is my fav Arlo record as well. I think Buffett’s masterpiece is A1A but I am a huge fan of his and love that record as well. It’s so funny how that Carole King record used to be in every dollar bin and now I see it going for $15. That record is hip and cool. But I think most of these are. Duncan is probably my favorite Paul Simon song along with “Late in the evening”. And Tumbleweed is exquisite.so underrated. Cheers ☘️

[@tomedmonson501]

Great music, great records, and a great video Mazzy. You could do three or four more videos on this theme, and not cover all the similarly great music from the early 70s.

[@lionelmcvinyl9027]

awesome Norm 👍my kindda music🎶🎶 great presentation too

[@pdd60absorbed12]

Tea for the Tillerman could have fit in there too maybe.

[@BomBoo-rn8gj]

Jesse Winchester was always a favorite, I'm looking back now..."One day I'll be an old gray grandpa, All the pretty girls will call me "sir, "Now, where they're asking me how things are, Soon they'll ask me how things were" Jesse Colin Young...kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3KuXp16aZZjmLc

[@chrisnicol1644]

Mas... I recently bought Jessie Winchester Live at The Bijou Cafe, 1977... What a good set...

[@garycornell6433]

Excellent all time classic records that will stand the test of time!

[@Rosyglowofchristmas]

Andy Pratt-Resolution is an all out classic and apparently one of Chrissie Hynde's favourite albums of all time.

[@brianlehman710]

Pure Prairie League

[@alanartme1]

You're the first person in a very long time to mention Jonathan Edwards' "Sunshine". Great song. Never played anymore anywhere! Sad. I'm your age, and I'm curious, toward the end of that song, it always sounded like the DJ was segueing to a Santana song with Santana sounding organ. To this day, it still sounds like that way to me. Same for you? If not, listen again to the last 30 seconds, you'll never hear it the same again...(...Oh no!!...Black Magic Woman again!!)

[@larrysmith5249]

I bought America’s first album when it came out, after hearing ‘Horse With No Name’ (reminds me of my senior year in high school). I initially hesitated because the back cover did not list ‘Horse With No Name’ on the track listing. However, when I got home and played it - it was on the record.

[@onsenkuma1979]

When I was 15 and into heavy rock and blues, my younger sister bought 'On the Water' by Bread. 'Make it With You' was everywhere on the radio that summer, and I HATED it. But the album as a whole was great - the songwriting, the singing, the playing. Like mid-'70s Chicago, their albums were overshadowed by radio-friendly ballads that gave a one-sided impression of the band.

[@jimfiscus1248]

Good choices Mazzy but you forgot Judee Sills. Maybe some other time.

[@mazzysmusic]

Didn’t forget her. I wasn’t into her back then 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Not to make you feel old but these were all the records I inherited from my parents :-) (and love and thank them for it!) Regarding your James Taylor Carley Simon claim to fame, I lived next door to their kids for a few years in Boulder, haha :-) Also a question. Are you familiar with Greg Brown’s music? 🎼 be if my all time favorite folk singers and song writers. Seems right up your alley. (Might be keen to check out that early Jimmy Buffet, thanks for rec.)

[@Texeq]

Great stories! Great albums, all of them! And the Orleans connection - cool. By the way I never mistook Horse With No Name for Neil Young. Never. They sounded nothing alike to my ears. Remember...soft rock / yacht rock still rules.

[@neilbruce4201]

Talking about London, several of these albums have strong London links, including America, James Taylor and Anticipation.

[@freddieblue6351]

Horizon by The Carpenters is a masterpiece well above the genre.

[@audiomojo2074]

Great picks !

[@Badger_Watch42]

Nice selection, I would swap Paul Simon's debut for Still Crazy After All These Years because it's awesome! It's hip to be square

[@catherine6653]

I like singer song writer music. I saw the Arlo Guthrie record at Golden Oldies Records last month. I bought Fairytale by Donovan instead.

[@edwardbibbins4647]

With you all the way on these Mazzy. Good job!

[@91pastor]

Another enjoyable video Mazzy. I could relate to all the albums you chose. Horse With No Name isn't actually on the original US release, am I right?

[@davidschecter5247]

Great video. For me, Bread was as good as any "soft rock" band and better than most. Two superb songwriters, brilliant musicians, and they could rock out, too. It's too bad their harder songs weren't released as singles -- the closest they got to that was "Let Your Love Go," written by David Gates. But seeing as Gates' ballads were so loved and popular, it's understandable.

[@gigsfunk]

Great video mate, enjoy these albums myself. Made me think ? I was born in 72 so I’m gonna pull some records from late 70’s to mid 80’s similar age ✌🏻

[@gigsfunk]

Actually a bit later, I just did the maths, looking good old man 🤩

[@MrKelleyzinho]

I’ve got all of these albums and more. I bought them all for a buck in 1980s-90s used bins long before the vinyl resurgence. For me, they serve as an historical archive that I rarely actually listen to. My Gen Z daughters like them in theory but also hardly listen to them. They have their own army of soft singer-songwriters. In retrospect, it’s hard to see this stuff as Rock or even Folk because of their lack of bite. They are accomplished, though, and technically brilliant. I just can’t dis-remember Lester Bang’s famous harangue about James Taylor. Also, they are ground zero for all Boomer piety.

[@contrabandivory]

Amoreena used for the opening of Dog Day Afternoon is the best EJ video.

[@MarcOrtizdeCandia-qi8yb]

Greetings from San Francisco! 10 of 11

[@mazzysmusic]

Back at ya ✌🏼

[@twofromthetrunk9932]

You said it best when you said, “Great Music”

[@stevefender2377]

Willis Alan Ramsey wrote Muskrat Love. Much better LP than America's

[@richardwhite2344]

Enjoyed the video Mazzy. Take care

[@7and12inchvinyl]

We love you Mazz....oh yes we do

[@mazzysmusic]

🤠😎

[@tonyaustin4472]

Mazzy you mentioned Mick Jagger’s name when you talked about You’re so vain’ but it actually was written about Warren Beatty, the actor. :-)

[@mazzysmusic]

Yes I know. Jagger sings on it beggining about halfway through the song.

[@neilbruce4201]

America I believe spent much of their military brat days in the UK, living just outside London. Nick Lowe, I think it was, tells the story of how he'd see them all the time playing small venues. When he stopped seeing them, he asked what had happened to them, having no idea they'd hit it big with Horse With No Name.

[@elvispresleycollectorsgroup]

That’s what its about, just good music - whatever your own plastic soul is

[@glenn171]

Third Down and 110 to Go!!

[@robotubetwob]

You should do a show on all the New Dylans. Do you remember when they were saying Leo Sayer was the New Dylan?

[@TRamone01]

Boomers just won't let go, will they? Tomorrow night, sleepy joe and sleepy don hit the playground. Joni Mitchell's Ladies of the Canyon is a favorite. That's the way I've always thought it should be. Thanks.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

great stuff to fall asleep

[@mazzysmusic]

Good night then

[@willieluncheonette5843]

@@mazzysmusic lol....thanks, mate

[@jimfiscus1248]

Mazzy, is that you holding up a copy of Tom Pettys first album in your 1976 episode about record stores?

[@stephenlegg262]

Never heard of yacht rock in the uk.

[@mazzysmusic]

🤷🏻‍♂️😇

[@giupezio]

from abruzzo, italy - america horse with no name song of my life

[@jackneidinger9544]

I'm proud of myself for never buying a James Taylor record but I don't know why. Probably reviews from certain critics. I'll listen to Sweet Baby James tonight and Tumbleweed Connection to see what I missed. I avoided the Elton album because it was just too brown.

[@markspooner1224]

America were based in England near London.

[@7and12inchvinyl]

Well, at least you know how to hold up album covers properly. Thank you, mazzi

[@MD-wk3gj]

Tapestry could be a greatest hits album although ironically I don’t think I’ve ever heard the song Tapestry besides on the album. Every other song is likely known by people 50+.

[@robinjones6999]

... and the cover of Tumbleweed Connection was shot just down the road from me

[@kingofallmediums2123]

Actually, the group America 🇺🇸 were from military bases in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 😲 😲 😲 😲 😲 😊😊😊😊😊

[@eugenewilliams-ly2rj]

Bread and The Carpenters were from the same era.

[@maheiherp]

this is a very fine vid!

[@danny1959]

America didn’t write a song called “Muskrat Love.” Willis Alan Ramsey did. When the guys from America first met David Crosby, they told him that they loved his music, and he responded “That’s obvious.”

[@dbdigital57]

How can a soft rock list of this sea NOT include BREAD? SMH oh and those “draft dodgers” were, in fact, Draft Dodgers by any definition.

[@chaky1978]

Yesss! Great topic !

[@liberalk78]

"Muskrat Love" is a Willis Alan Ramsey song. NOT written by America

[@mazzysmusic]

Of course as many have said here. But they had the hit made it famous.

[@liberalk78]

@@mazzysmusic Fur Shure