The 1960s saw the rise of the singer/songwriter, a rarity before that. The early part of the decade brought onto the scene the poet troubadours and folk artists, a precursor to the 70s realists singer/songwriters like Lobo, Melanie, James Taylor, and Lou Reed. In the 60s the songs were idealistic and held the promise of peace and love. In the 70s the songs were grittier and began to reflect life more realistically. The songwriters of the 70s wrote songs of everyday life with no particular idealism in mind. The folk singers held lofty images in their songs of war and peace, and loving one another. In the 70s singers sang of life on the road or in a bar. Very different imagery. However, it all had to start somewhere and the 60s spelled the end of Tin Pan Alley and Motown, such places where songwriters churned out hits for other singers and they stepped out onto the stage and sang their own songs the way they were intended to be heard. Below is a list of some of the best of the 60s singer/songwriters.
- Bob Dylan (Mr. Tambourine Man)
- Cat Stevens (Father and Son)
- Gordon Lightfoot (Sundown)
- Gram Parsons ($1000 Wedding)
- Harry Chapin (Taxi)
- J. J. Cale (Call Me The Breeze)
- Janis Ian (At Seventeen)
- Jerry Jeff Walker (Mr. Bojangles)
- Jim Croce (Operator)
- John Martyn (May You Never)
- John Prine (Dear Abby)
- Joni Mitchell (Conversation
- Loudon Wainwright III (Motel Blues)
- Neil Diamond (I am ... I Said)
- Neil Young (Only Love can Break Your Heart)
- Paul McCartney/John Lennon (for The Beatles)
- Paul Simon (Cecilia/Scarborough Fair)
- Phoebe Snow (Poetry Man)
- Stephen Stills (Love the One You’re With)
- Tim Hardin (Reason to Believe)
- Todd Rundgren (I Saw the Light)
- Tom Rush (No Regrets)
- Tom Waits (I Hope that I Don’t Fall in Love with You)
- Van Morrison (Into the Mystic/Brown Eyed Girl)
- Warren Zevon (Carmelita)
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