We cover a lot of different types of music at American Songwriter. However, we know the heart of our readership is in classic rock, country, and folk-rock with incredible songwriting. So, we put together a Spotify playlist packed with the songs and artists our readers at American Songwriter love. From classic rock to folk-rock goodness, let’s take a look at a few of the musicians that we know our readers always have on repeat.
Check out the ultimate American Songwriter playlist below, and keep reading for highlights on some standouts among the best of the best:
Videos by American Songwriter
1. Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan makes our American Songwriter playlist with classics like “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”, “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” and “Blowin’ In The Wind”. These three hits are just a small handful of songs that exemplify Bob Dylan’s next-level songwriting abilities. Whether he was crafting protest songs or folk-rock tunes that tugged at the heartstrings of listeners, Dylan changed the standard of songwriting throughout the latter half of the 20th century.
2. Eagles
Eagles are still around today, but nothing quite tops their releases from the 1970s. Country rock wasn’t a new thing back in the day. Though, nobody was penning hits and crafting addictive melodies with a country rock vibe quite like the Eagles. “Take It Easy”, “Peaceful Easy Feeling”, and “Life In The Fast Lane” is essential listening for any fan of country rock and narrative songwriting.
3. Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
The late great Tom Petty was another major figure in country rock songwriting, as well as roots rock and heartland rock. “I Won’t Back Down” is probably his most well-known hit on a global level, but tracks like “You Don’t Know How It Feels” and “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” boasted songwriting that challenged the norms of censorship in the 1990s with their egregious (though poetic) descriptions of drug use.
4. Bruce Springsteen
Our American Songwriter playlist wouldn’t be quite right without a healthy dose of Bruce Springsteen. “Thunder Road”, “Born To Run”, and “Atlantic City” are our top picks from two of Springsteen’s greatest albums: Born To Run and Nebraska. These three songs are the most sonically Springsteen songs of his career. And the relatable, middle-class-anthem energy of those tracks has aged pretty well today.
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