# What are some good 70s esqe folk music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 23, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767 "2004-09-23T22:20:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/1 "2004-09-23T22:20:20Z")
Some of this genre is pretty good i’m finding. I don’t know if it all counts as folk music but to me it denotes acoustic guitar music with pronounced, meaningful lyrics. Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Harry Chapin and the Mamas & the Papas (don’t know if they count) for example. Are there any other good bands or good songs from this genre of music? ---
**Author:** ![Althea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@Althea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Althea)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/2 "2004-09-23T22:32:42Z")
There’s tons of it. Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (although not purely acoustic) are three from that era that spring to mind. A more recent example would be Dar Williams, although she is also not expressly acoustic. Stillwater (or Chris & Johnny, depending on which album you get) is another one that is awesome, if a little hard to find. I’m sure others will be in shortly to chime in; I know there are a lot that I’m forgetting. -Althea ---
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/3 "2004-09-23T22:37:03Z")
Nick Drake. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/4 "2004-09-23T22:37:37Z")
Joan Baez, Gordon Lightfoot, Cat Stevens (ooops), Jose Feliciano ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/5 "2004-09-23T22:38:11Z")
That style is more commonly referred to as “singer/songwriter,” since as you may have noticed, they tend to be lone artists rather than bands. Joni Mitchell is definitely worth a look. You could try Bread, though they’re a little icky for some people’s taste. Who else … Dan Fogelberg, Jim Croce, Jackson Browne, Carole King, Gordon Lightfoot … there’s a lot to choose from, and a lot of one-hit wonders in that style too. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/6 "2004-09-23T22:44:56Z")
Yeah, I listen to Jim Croche, his version of mr. bojangles is the best of all the versions. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/7 "2004-09-23T22:59:50Z")
Townes van Zandt. “Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas” is his best recorded stuff; essential tunes on a real good night. His early albums contain wonderful material but the arrangements are overly orchestrated. And many later releases, especially post mortem, are a bit of a hodgpodge. In “Step Inside This House”\*, Lyle Lovett recorded 2 CD’s worth of covers; songs written by van Zandt & the other (mostly) Texas songwriters who inspired him. It’s a good overview of the Southwestern Branch of the singer/songwriter thing & a fine record in its own right. * * * - Not to be confused with “Slip Inside This House” which rates a whole other entry in the Annals of Texas Music. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/8 "2004-09-23T23:02:28Z")
Don’t forget Don McLean. ---
**Author:** ![JayElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@JayElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JayElle)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/9 "2004-09-23T23:11:52Z")
Kenny Loggins. No, seriously. And John Denver. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/10 "2004-09-23T23:29:49Z")
Though they broke up in '70 (I believe), I think **Simon & Garfunkel** qualifies. And **Paul Simon** certainly does. One that is often forgotten in these lists but remembered instantly when you hear her is **Janis Ian**. There were a lot of one- or few-hit wonders as well. The first two that spring to my mind are **Dan Hill** _(Sometimes When We Touch)_ and the one with the unfortunate stage name (at least I sincerely hope it isn’t his real name), **Gilbert O’Sullivan** _(Alone Again, Naturally)._ ---
**Author:** ![Live\_Better\_Electrically](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@Live\_Better\_Electrically](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Live_Better_Electrically)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/11 "2004-09-23T23:31:05Z")
What about John Prine, Steve Goodman and Loudon Wainwright III? They aren’t smooth and pretty like James Taylor, but they have their charms. More to the point, Frank Christian’s _Where Were You Last Night_ from 1982 is a favorite of mine. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/12 "2004-09-24T01:38:07Z")
The list needs more women. Laura Nyro. Maria Muldahr. Emmylou Harris. Nicolette Sheridan. Wendy Waldman. Kate and Anna McGarrigle. Early Linda Ronstadt. And more Simon & Garfunkelesque duos. Brewer & Shipley. Batdorf & Rodney. Seals and Crofts. Endland Dan and John Ford Coley. Don’t forget the Byrds and the Buffalo Springfield. Which also begat Poco, Loggins & Messina, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas, The Souther Hillman Furay band and eventually the Eagles. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/13 "2004-09-24T01:41:42Z")
**Van Morrison** Moondance (1970) **Simon and Garfunkel** Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) **Carole King** Tapestry (1971) **Joni Mitchell** Blue (1971) **John Prine** John Prine (1971) **Neil Young** Harvest (1972) **Nick Drake** Pink Moon (1972) **Carly Simon** No Secrets (1972) **Sandy Denny** Sandy (1972) **Phoebe Snow** Phoebe Snow (1974) **John Denver** Back Home Again (1974) **Gordon Lightfoot** Sundown (1974) **Cris Williamson** The Changer and the Changed (1975) **Bob Dylan** Blood on the Tracks (1975) **Janis Ian** Between the Lines (1975) **Bruce Springsteen** Born to Run (1975) **Kate Wolf** Back Roads (1976) **Al Stewart** Year of the Cat (1976) **Jackson Browne** Running on Empty (1977) **Joan Armatrading** Show Some Emotion (1977) **Laura Nyro** Nested (1978) **Holly Near** Imagine My Surprise! (1978) **Nanci Griffith** There’s A Light Beyond these Woods (1978) **Rickie Lee Jones** Rickie Lee Jones (1979) ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/14 "2004-09-24T02:54:05Z")
Cashman and West (probably best known for American City Suite) ---
**Author:** ![waits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df788c/32.png) [@waits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waits)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/15 "2004-09-24T03:08:01Z")
Arlo Guthrie. Check out _Hobo’s Lullaby_, _Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys_, or _Amigo_. Gordon Lightfoot. _If You Could Read My Mind_, _Don Quixote_, or _Gord’s Gold_. John Stewart. _Cannons in the Rain_, _The Phoenix Concerts_, or _Wingless Angels_. His best album, _California Bloodlines_, was released in 1968. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/16 "2004-09-24T03:40:45Z")
_Born to Run_??? ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/17 "2004-09-24T03:50:39Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > _Born to Run_??? Yeah…that was a bit on the edge… but the title track has always been a folk song wrapped up with an electric guitar. I was actually thinking Nebraska to begin with but that wasn’t until '82. (I’m reaching here, let’s pretend I didn’t put that one on the list 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/18 "2004-09-24T03:58:59Z")
The Roches (Self titled and _Nurds_) might fill the bill. 1978 and 1980 respectively. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/19 "2004-09-24T04:03:42Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > _Born to Run_… -ny Eggs. As performed on The Christine Lavin Laugh Tracks Bottom Line series from 1996 with artsits such as Dave VanRonk, Tom Paxton, David Buskin, Robert Carlson, Vance Gilbert, The Chenille Sisters, et al. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767/20 "2004-09-24T04:05:52Z")
And if 70’s-esque isn’t carved in stone, Richie Havens ‘Mixed Bag’ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-good-70s-esqe-folk-music/265767.md?page=2)