A large number of country-pop and soft rock songs fit into the singer-songwriter classification — that is , songs written and recorded by the same person . Some of the most successful singer-songwriter artists were Jackson Browne , Eric Carmen , Jim Croce , John Denver , Steve Goodman , Arlo Guthrie , Joel , Dave Mason , Don McLean , Joni Mitchell , Paul Simon , Taylor and Neil Young . Some artists — including King , Kris Kristofferson and Gordon Lightfoot — had previously been primarily songwriters but began releasing albums and songs of their own . King 's album '' Tapestry '' became one of the top-selling albums of the decade , and the song " It 's Too Late " became one of the 1970s biggest songs . McLean 's 1971 song " American Pie , " inspired by the death of Buddy Holly , became one of popular music 's most-recognized songs of the 20th century , thanks to its abstract and vivid storytelling , which center around " The Day the Music Died " and popular music of the rock era
the death of Buddy Holly
The Day the Music Died
Music history of the United States in the 1970s