So what is soft rock after all? Is it the music strictly defined by some definitions that place its origins back in the late sixties tie it primarily to Southern California ("L.A. sound") and is mostly done by singer-songwriters or bands that created subtle, gentle sounds, often dominated by acoustic instruments and orchestration?
Or is it something that they later on started calling adult contemporary (with the adult being the keyword there), and even yacht rock - music that along with rock elements included quite a bit of pop, soul, and lighter shades of jazz?
Well, frankly it is probably all of those things and a sound that is tied in its origins to big names in modern music from The Beatles and Bee Gees to Elton John, The Carpenters and The Eagles, and many others. The key element, of course, is the softer side of sounds, but with a distinct substance that doesn’t turn a song into musical wallpaper.
Five soft rock albums you should not be ashamed to listen to
So many great artists have touched upon it, or worked within that sound, along with the above-mentioned. The list includes Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Carole King and so many more, creating so many great and well-known songs and albums within the genre.
Yet, there is quite a number of albums that fall within soft rock (or pop if you will), that have been forgotten, never got the acclaim they deserved, or need to get a more favorable assessment. Here are five of my personal soft rock favorites that should get more love.