Soft Rock Hits (any era)

[aliceanne]

Jefferson Starship “Miracles”. ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” is soft rock to me. I don’t feel a dance beat even though it is always classed as disco. Kansas “Dust in the Wind”.

I use the term soft rock for soothing or relaxing popular music as opposed to hard rock which has a pounding beat, discordant sound. I think of ballads as being deeply emotional, while soft rock is haunting or melancholy. Bubble gum has teenage themes and catchy hooks.

 

[paskatefan]

Can we broaden the category by saying "pop music hits?"

 

[Cachoo]

I'm happy to change the title to pop hits or gold...but can the title be changed after all of this time?

 

[easilydistracte]

Player "Baby Come Back"

Whenever I hear that song, I'm reminded of "She's Gone" by Hall & Oates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87Q042KlxI4

. . .
To me bands like The Association never did any rock songs.
. . .

Not even "Along Comes Mary"?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lba1JnNiyBY


Soft Rockabilly??:
"All I Have to Do Is Dream" by the Everly Brothers:

All I Have To Do Is Dream (1958 #1Pop; #1Country Billboard chart hit; #1UK)

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises All I Have To Do Is Dream (1958 #1Pop; #1Country Billboard chart hit; #1UK) · The Everly Brothers · Boudleaux ...

www.youtube.com

A few songs from before the term "Soft Rock" was generally used:
The Beatles:
"Till There Was You": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHAqAO7w8M8
"If I Fell": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_80s6S_7Vw
Gerry & The Pacemakers:
"Ferry Cross the Mersey": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os4_U3_L5nY
"Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKta_gRc2gA
The Beach Boys:
"Don't Worry Baby": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9E1by7PocE

Finally, three personal favorites:
"Groovin'" by The Young Rascals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=falI0baGhBQ
"Ventura Highway" by America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RbvGllJGxw
"Reminiscing" by Little River Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBETVhHpcPk

Yes, it's all Pop.

 

[shan]

@easilydistracte I love that song by Hall and Oates! Thanks for reminding me.

 

[taf2002]

Not even "Along Comes Mary"?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lba1JnNiyBY

Absolutely not!

 

[paskatefan]

I'm happy to change the title to pop hits or gold...but can the title be changed after all of this time?

I don't know, but let's keep the discussion going!

 

[Cachoo]

The Beach Boys were mentioned and I remember how perfect I thought "God Only Knows" was at the time it was released and then again as the closing tune for "Love Actually." Beautiful song (and I love their "Wouldn't It Be Nice?" too.)

 

[Simone411]

One of my favorite bands besides Fleetwood Mac is Jefferson Starship. When MTV first aired on TV, they showed so many videos, and I've found several of Jefferson Starship (official videos). So this is Jefferson Starship day for me.

Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now

Sara

We Built This City

Miracles

Stranger

Runaway

Winds Of Change

With Your Love

It's Not Enough

Jane

Count On Me

No Way Out

White Rabbit - (originally Jefferson Airplane)

Somebody To Love - (originally Jefferson Airplane)

Save Your Love

I could go on and on. Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship had a history of top 10 songs.

 

[Jot the Dot Dot]

Rush Yes, the kings of Progressive Hard Rock could also churn out soft ones!

The Pass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTHJv3SAMBY
Tears https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRDFuD-3B48
Tai Shan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6Npd1drDVA

 

[PRlady]

I love You Can Do Magic by America.

AndGames People Play - Alan Parsons Project.

And pretty much everything from the Gin Blossoms, I loved their harmonies. Especially Found Out About You

 

[aliceanne]

“Kokomo“ by The Beach Boys. “Killing Me Softly” Roberta Flack. “You and Me, and the Rain in the Roof” Lovin’ Spoonful. “Follow Me” Uncle Kracker.

Soft rock often gets dissed for being lightweight, but sometimes you just want to feel simple emotions. Life isn’t all Sturm and Drang.

 

[easilydistracte]

@easilydistracte I love that song by Hall and Oates! Thanks for reminding me.

You're welcome! "She's Gone" is one of my all time favorites!

Absolutely not!

Acknowledged!


Going off topic for a few minutes, say 25 minutes, more or less. These songs are most definitely not "soft rock":

Cream--"Sunshine of Your Love": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt51rITH3EA
Blood, Sweat & Tears--"Blues Part 2": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpMoYTTO1k8

Iron Butterfly--"In A Gadda Da Vida": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv1k4Dug7_8 (Single version; original was ~17 minutes long!)
Chase--"Get It On": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4QBZanJKyA


Anyway, back on topic. . .

Ultimate slow dance song:
Spandau Ballet--"True": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR8D2yqgQ1U

 

[Simone411]

Adding Seals & Crofts, another favorite band.

King of Nothing

Get Closer

Castles in the Sand

Summer Breeze

Hummingbird

Diamond Girl

I'll Play For You

We May Never Pass This Way Again

You're the Love

 

[Cachoo]

I remember a movie called "One on One" that featured a song from Seals & Crofts called "This Day Belongs to Me" that I really enjoyed. "Summer Breeze" can take me back to the summer days of my youth. Time melts away with that song.

 

[pat c]

Air Supply - All out of Love

Olivia Newton John - Have you ever been Mellow

 

[easilydistracte]

Maria Muldaur--"Midnight at the Oasis": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlrKETxwRvM
[Great melody, great arrangement, great production, great performances by the musicians and vocalist. Unfortunately, lyrics that were probably thought of as catchy and cute when this song was released could currently be regarded as perpetuating stereotypes .]

Incomparable:
Michael Jackson--"Rock With You": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtHRyy5LODE

Feeling good:
Earth Wind & Fire--"September": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ter0p_iyIxk

 

[Simone411]

Going with America today. Listened to many of their hits on Keel 71 A.M. in the 70's and 80's

Daisy Jane

Sandman

Ventura Highway

I Need You

A Horse With No Name

You Can Do Magic

Lonely People

Sister Golden Hair

Adding one more I forgot about.

Muskrat Love

Tin Man

 

[PeterG]

Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes

 

[Susan1]

Going with America today. Listened to many of their hits on Keel 71 A.M. in the 70's and 80's

Daisy Jane

Sandman

Ventura Highway

I Need You

A Horse With No Name

You Can Do Magic

Lonely People

Sister Golden Hair

Adding one more I forgot about.

Muskrat Love

Tin Man

Sandman is one of my favorite songs of all time.

 

[once_upon]

I was reminded of Blackbird by Paul McCartney in something I read yesterday.

 

[Cachoo]

I was listening to sports talk on AM radio and flipped over to some unknown station God knows where in small town Kansas and they were playing Ambrosia's "Biggest Part of Me." I forgot all about Ambrosia. I enjoyed a number of their hits.

 

[Susan1]

Lots of choices besides this one I've been listening to -

Oldies 1967-68 - Listen to Free Radio Stations - AccuRadio

A golden age of AM Top 40

www.accuradio.com

 

[meggonzo]

Meet Me Halfway - Kenny Loggins

 

[PeterG]

Toni Childs - Don't Walk Away

 

[Cachoo]

Toni Childs - Don't Walk Away

OMG...loved that and adored her Walk and Talk Like Angels....

Toni Childs Walk And Talk Like Angels

via YouTube Capture

youtu.be

 

[Simone411]

Heard this earlier today on 95.7 The River. The song was released in 1979 by the Atlanta Rhythm Section.

Spooky

 

[Susan1]

Heard this earlier today on 95.7 The River. The song was released in 1979 by the Atlanta Rhythm Section.

Spooky

That version sounds almost exactly like the original by the Classics IV from the 60's

 

[Simone411]

I was going through my 45 records collection last night when I came across a great hit song by Dionne Warwick & The Spinners. It topped the charts in 1974 in the Pop category. I always felt it was more or less Pop/Soft Rock. To me, it's one of the classics.

Then Came You

 

[Cachoo]

I was going through my 45 records collection last night when I came across a great hit song by Dionne Warwick & The Spinners. It topped the charts in 1974 in the Pop category. I always felt it was more or less Pop/Soft Rock. To me, it's one of the classics.

Then Came You

I ADORED that song. I still love it. I didn't always like The Carpenter's musical choices. But did I cherish Karen Carpenter's voice. She left too soon. Here is "Superstar":

Carpenters - Superstar (Official Video)

Music video by Carpenters performing Superstar. (C) 1985 A&M Records #Carpenters #Superstar #Vevo

youtu.be