![Wings [Concert Poster] (1976)](http://img196.echo.cx/img196/3747/wingcowpalace1vd.jpg)
![Elton John [Concert Poster]](http://img26.echo.cx/img26/4633/eltonjohnposter4np.jpg)
While the term "soft rock" might seem applicable to any rock music that doesn't rely on volume to get its message across, in fact the designation refers to something much more specific.
Soft rock as a genre distinction has come to refer specifically to a style of rock that emerged in the early 70's, both as a reaction against the increasingly heavy music that dominated rock at the time, and also as a reflection of the changing priorities of the Baby Boom in the early 70's. Those who had been weaned on rock music in the 60's were entering their late twenties and early thirties, and many had become domesticated; they had grown up, gotten married, had kids of their own, and had begun careers.
So in one respect, soft rock was music for the uncounterculture; tuneful, hooky, commercial, hummable, inoffensive, non threatening, pleasant. It made the perfect accompaniment for such mundane activities as washing the dishes, making the bed, mopping the floor, folding the laundry, and other domestic chores. It also served as a workplace compromise; it was music that most people could tolerate, but it wasn't something that would dominate. It was music that could recede into the background.
![Barry manilow [Concert Poster] (1976)](http://img26.echo.cx/img26/3493/barrymanilowposter7ii.jpg)
At its heart, it encompassed most of the singer/songwriters of the day, including the likes of James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Al Stewart, among others. It also included melodic bands that used a basic rock lineup of guitar-bass-drums-keyboards but added immense amounts of production in the form of strings, horns, and airy, light backing vocals; including Chicago, Bread, and the Carpenters.
Some artists, like Billy Joel, Paul McCartney and Wings, and Elton John fell somewhere in between. What set 70's soft rock apart from its 60's counterpart, which for lack of a better word is usually just called "pop" is that in the 60's pop existed for those who simply didn't like rock; the 60's pop artists usually were vocalists who were stylistic throwbacks to the pre-rock era. Soft rock developed organically to suit the needs of those who did have rock listening experience; as such, it can be considered a bona-fide rock genre.
![Air Supply [Concert Poster] (1979)](http://img26.echo.cx/img26/3593/airsupplyposter1nw.jpg)
![Chicago [Concert Poster]](http://img196.echo.cx/img196/8931/chicagoposter8mq.jpg)
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Evan
i went to a soft rock concert it was Elton John and next ill go to Billy Joel then James Taylor
2 - Evan
i like 70s soft rock like Bread America Olivia Newton John Neil Young Billy Joel Barry Manilow Boz Scaggs Jackson Browne Chicago Elton John Neil Diamond Leo Sayer Gilbert O Sullivan James Taylor Cat Stevens Gerry Rafferty the Carpenters Captain and Tennille Rod Stewart Neil Sedaka Dave Loggins Jim Croce the Bee Gees John Denver Harry Chapin Dan Fogelberg Seals and Crofts England Dan and John Ford Coley Paul Williams Al Stewart Paul Simon Art Garfunkel Paul Mccartney Lobo Fleetwood Mac Eric Carmen Loggins and Messina Crosby Stills and Nash Abba Three Dog Night Gordon Lightfoot and Hall and Oates
3 - Evan
and i like 80s soft rock like Air Supply Journey Phil Collins Christopher Cross Toto Michael Mcdonald Steve Winwood and Mike and the Mechanics
4 - Evan
i dont play tennis or bowl or do any sport but i dont mind watching someone else do it
5 - Evan
i have got to get that poster of Barry Manilow with Leo Sayer i also got to get that Seals and Crofts and that Elton John poster i saw above
6 - Evan
i got alot of posters of Elton John on my wall but i dont have any posters of Barry Manilow on my wall
7 - Evan
i dont do any sports i just use balls as my playtings
8 - Evan
i have got to get that poster of Barry Manilow with Leo Sayer
9 - Evan
i dont do any sports i only have a ball as my plaything
10 - Evan
i dont do sports not into them
11 - Evan
i got Neil Diamonds new cd Home Before Dark
12 - Evan
i dont like sports
13 - Evan
i will hurt Ryan for messing up my life
14 - Evan
i hope to see Neil Diamond and Barry Manilow in concert
15 - Evan
cool i have not been on here in awhile
16 - Evan
i dont like sports and im not holding no board for Ryan if he kicks me i will spank him
17 - Evan
now im gonna start talking about soft rock i talk about it in my mind and out loud every time
18 - evan
i like sport
19 - Evan
i have now developed a sports inetrest and talking about music all the time not good
20 - Evan
and i overcame my autism i mean it lasted early in last year and the year before but i did not overcome it completely but at least i gained my progress
21 - Evan
and i gained my progress by not talking about the same thing all the time
22 - Evan
anyway i found a soft rock collection that has Neil Diamond but not one that has Barry Manilow
23 - Evan
if Barry Manilow is a soft rock hero put him on a soft rock collection that says soft rock
24 - Evan
well i finally found a soft rock collection with Barry Manilow on it
25 - Evan
and if i dont get to see Neil Diamond at all next year at least i will get to see Barry Manilow