THE 1970s: The Singer/ Songwriter Era. 
The countdown of the decade's 200 Most Essential Songs continues this weekend.

THE  1970s The present countdown every weekend looks back on the songs that were the most influential and fundamental of the Seventies. Each week, there will be a focus on a key genre of that decade. Accompanying each theme, there will be a list of songs to explore. While not an exhaustive list, the songs included offer a greater appreciation of that style.

THE SINGER/ SONGWRITER ERA The early rock pioneers such as Chuck Berry wrote their own songs. Ray Charles did the same for the first fusions of gospel and rhythm & blues. Buddy Holly continued the tradition, crafting his own pop/ rock hits. The Beatles led other groups such as The Rolling Stones and The Who in the 1960s in creating whole albums of original compositions. As that decade came to an end, singer/ songwriters were on the rise. They charted regularly with their self-penned songs. These artists included Neil Sedaka, Paul Simon, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Neil Diamond and - most notably- Bob Dylan. The latter raised the bar, tackling social commentary in a more accessible way. The folk era made stars out of Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell.  As the 1970s commenced, there was a lucrative market for singer/ songwriters. James Taylor, Elton John, Billy Joel, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Barry Manilow, Harry Chapin, Cat Stevens, Carly Simon, Don McLean, Melissa Manchester and Randy Newman emerged during the decade. Carole King, who had served an apprenticeship at Tin Pan Alley's Brill Building, scored a massive hit with her 'Tapestry' album.  Singer/ songwriters crossed over to the pop audience from a range of genres. Country music offered Glen Campbell, John Denver, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. Disco had Donna Summer. R&B gave us Al Green and Bill Withers. Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye took soul into more serious social issues with their landmark albums. Adult Contemporary offered The Carpenters, Gilbert O'Sullivan and Eric Carmen. Hard rock had epics from the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Who and Pink Floyd. Alice Cooper followed, adding horror. Despite attracting ridicule from some commentators, punk and new wave served up its notable singer/ songwriters including Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson and Paul Weller.  The singer / songwriter trend opened doors for the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Rickie Lee Jones, Kate Bush, Jackson Browne and Joan Armatrading. EXPLORE FURTHER: Hurricane BOB DYLAN Taxi HARRY CHAPIN 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover PAUL SIMON Sweet Baby James JAMES TAYLOR Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ELTON JOHN Wild World CAT STEVENS The Ghetto DONNY HATHAWAY Cat's In The Cradle HARRY CHAPIN Daniel ELTON JOHN Hard Rock Cafe CAROLE KING Vincent DON McLEAN Say Goodbye To Hollywood BILLY JOEL I Will Always Love You DOLLY PARTON Who Is He and What Is He To You? BILL WITHERS All By Myself ERIC CARMEN Alone Again, Naturally GILBERT O'SULLIVAN Village Ghetto Land STEVIE WONDER Alison ELVIS COSTELLO The Man With The Child In His Eyes KATE BUSH Prove It All Night BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Knocks Me Off My Feet STEVIE WONDER Chuck E's In Love RICKIE LEE JONES The Load Out / Stay JACKSON BROWNE Show Some Emotion JOAN ARMATRADING Lean On Me BILL WITHERS  Slip Slidin' Away PAUL SIMON That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be CARLY SIMON