Can You Name These '70s Singer-Songwriters?

Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Name These '70s Singer-Songwriters?
Image: Wiki Commons by Rob Bogaerts / Anefo / Dutch National Archives

About This Quiz

Ask almost anyone about music in the '70s, and you're likely to get a one-word reply - disco. And sure, "Saturday Night Fever" and The Bee Gees definitely had their moment. OK, a few years of chart dominance, but disco certainly wasn't the only music that mattered during the decade. In fact, this genre fanned out as quickly as it seemed to take over the airwaves, fading almost to obscurity by the early '80s.

Yet, even as disco has failed to find any real mainstream success since its late-'70s peak, other genres from the decade continue to find new fans even half a century later. Take, for instance, the singer-songwriters who competed for shelf space with disco albums at the local record store. Many, like Carole King, James Taylor and Paul Simon, have gone to produce countless hits and become some of the most revered names in music.

Seventies singer-songwriters are particularly captivating in retrospect when you consider how much music has changed since then, with many chart-topping pop acts of the 21st century relying on mass-produced tunes churned out by "hit factories" a la Max Martin and similar songwriting specialists. While these tunes certainly are successful in many cases, they don't always have the emotion and authenticity of the singers delivering songs they've written themselves, based on their own lives and experiences.

Think you can name the biggest singer-songwriters of the '70s? Prove it by acing this quiz!

Bruce Springsteen
Wiki Commons by Columbia Records
Even people who've never been to Jersey like this "Born to Run" singer. Remember his name?
Bruce Springsteen
Elton John
Paul McCartney
Nick Drake
Elton John
Wiki Commons by Bert Verhoeff / Anefo / Dutch National Archives
Do you know which of these '70s idols teamed up with Bernie Taupin for decades of songwriting success?
Elton John
Bruce Springsteen
Gordon Lightfoot
Jackson Browne
Dolly Parton
Wiki Commons by RCA Records
Yeah, Whitney Houston's version was a smash success, but do you know which of these ladies wrote "I Will Always Love You" in the '70s?
Carole King
Karla Bonoff
Linda Ronstadt
Dolly Parton

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Carole King
Wiki Commons by Capitol Records
Aretha Franklin wouldn't have been such a "Natural Woman" without this artist, who penned the song. Can you name her?
Joan Baez
Joni Mitchell
Carole King
Dolly Parton
Paul Simon
Wiki Commons by Dutch National Archives and Spaarnestad Photo
He split with Art Garfunkel in 1970 and launched a successful solo career. Who is this musician who released the album "Graceland"?
Townes Van Zandt
Paul Simon
Neil Diamond
Randy Newman
Joni Mitchell
Wiki Commons by Paul C. Babin
Hailing from Saskatoon, who is this singer-songwriter who penned beloved tunes like "Both Sides Now" and "Big Yellow Taxi?"
Joni Mitchell
Kate Bush
Loretta Lynn
Janis Ian

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Stevie Nicks
Wiki Commons by Ueli Frey
We'd never get to sing the words "Rhiannon, will you ever win?" without this Fleetwood Mac member. Who is she?
Phoebe Snow
Joni Mitchell
Carly Simon
Stevie Nicks
Tom Petty
Wiki Commons by ABC / Shelter Records
If your best memory of this artist is his song "American Girl" playing during "Silence of the Lambs," it might be time to check out his other work.
Neil Diamond
Paul Simon
Tom Petty
Bruce Springsteen
James Taylor
Wiki Commons by Columbia Records
Name this singer-songwriter, who had his first major hit with Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" in 1971.
James Taylor
John Denver
Gordon Lightfoot
Bob Seger

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Kris Kristofferson
Wiki Commons by Magna Artists
In addition to a successful career in music, this singer-songwriter won a Golden Globe for his role in "A Star is Born." Who is he?
Willie Nelson
Todd Rungren
James Taylor
Kris Kristofferson
Jackson Browne
Wiki Commons by William Morris Agency
After a decade in the music business, which of these artists released the poignant "Running on Empty" in '77, reflecting upon life on the road?
Jackson Browne
Bob Dylan
Tom Waits
Elton John
Harry Nilsson
Wiki Commons by RCA Records
Without him, we wouldn't know to "put de lime in de coconut," but do you know his name?
Boz Scaggs
Neil Diamond
Harry Nilsson
Don McLean

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Cat Stevens
Wiki Commons by A&M Records
Born Steven Demetre Georgiou and later known as Yusuf Islam, what name did this artist use during the early '70s?
Stephen Stills
Townes Van Zandt
Van Morrison
Cat Stevens
Neil Young
Wiki Commons by F. Antolín Hernandez
Choose the correct name for this fourth member of Crosby, Stills and Nash. He joined the band in '69.
Dan Fogelberg
Neil Young
Dan Fogelberg
Bruce Cockburn
Bob Seger
Wiki Commons by American Talent International / Capitol Records
Remember the name of this Silver Bullet Band leader, who co-wrote The Eagles' "Heartache Tonight?"
Paul McCartney
Tom Petty
Jackson Browne
Bob Seger

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Jim Croce
Wiki Commons by ABC Television
His career was cut short by a 1973 plane crash, but can you name this "Time in a Bottle" singer?
Don McLean
Jim Croce
Boz Scaggs
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Wiki Commons by Warner Bros. Records
His 1967 single "Brown Eyed Girl" was a huge success, but can you name this artist born in Northern Ireland as George Ivan?
Harry Nilsson
Bob Dylan
Van Morrison
Kris Kristofferson
Leonard Cohen
Wiki Commons by Roland Godefroy
A poet and writer before moving into music to make money, name this singer-songwriter who gave the world "Hallelujah."
Leonard Cohen
Cat Stevens
Willie Nelson
Gordon Lightfoot

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Bob Dylan
Wiki Commons by Chris Hakkens
Can you guess which singing and songwriting icon was born Robert Allen Zimmerman?
Bob Dylan
Paul Simon
Neil Young
Van Morrison
Gordon Lightfoot
Wiki Commons by City of Toronto Archives
Choose the correct name for this Canadian crooner, who has written songs for everyone from Elvis Presley to Eric Clapton.
Warren Zevon
Gordon Lightfoot
Bill Withers
Bobbie Gentry
Tom Waits
Live In Person / BBC
Who is the artist shown here, who is perhaps best remembered for the 1974 tune "The Heart of Saturday Night?"
Van Morrison
Jim Croce
Nick Cave
Tom Waits

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Don McLean
Wiki Commons by Herbert S. Gart
He was so much more than "American Pie," but can you name this singer-songwriter who took his Chevy to the levy back in '71?
Randy Newman
Don McLean
John Lennon
James Taylor
Townes Van Zandt
Wiki Commons by Michael Schwarz
If you love the country classic "Pancho and Lefty," you have this songwriter to thank. What's his name?
Townes Van Zandt
Stephen Stills
Leonard Cohen
Randy Newman
Dan Fogelberg
Wiki Commons by Epic Records
All five of this singer-songwriter's studio albums went platinum in the '70s. Who is this "Same Old Lang Syne" singer?
Todd Rundgren
Dan Fogelberg
Bill Withers
Bob Seger

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Warren Zevon
Wiki Commons by Jimmy Wachtel for Asylum Records
Do you know which of these singer-songwriters penned "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me" for Linda Ronstadt?
Woody Guthrie
Kris Kristofferson
Warren Zevon
Bob Dylan
Neil Diamond
Wiki Commons by Jessie Eastland
Which "Sweet Caroline" singer also wrote "I'm a Believer" for The Monkees?
Boz Scaggs
Neil Diamond
Jackson Browne
Stephen Stills
Bill Withers
Wiki Commons by Columbia Records
"Ain't No Sunshine" without this '70s singer, but can you ID him?
Bill Withers
Kris Kristofferson
Tom Petty
Townes Van Zandt

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Loretta Lynn
Wiki Commons by Gene Pugh
Hailing from Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, who is this "Coal Miner's Daughter?"
Nanci Griffith
Joni Mitchell
Loretta Lynn
Dolly Parton
Jimmy Buffett
Wiki Commons by Taps staff
You've probably spent some time searching for a long lost shaker of salt thanks to this "Margaritaville" artist. Who is he?
Willie Nelson
Bob Dylan
Warren Zevon
Jimmy Buffett
Nick Drake
Wiki Commons by Island Records
Though not successful during his lifetime, who is this "Pink Moon" songwriter who died in 1974?
Neil Young
Dan Fogelberg
Nick Drake
Tom Waits

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Danny O'Keefe
Wiki Commons by Signpost Records
Bob Dylan teamed up with this artist to write "Well, Well, Well." Who co-wrote this song along with many other tunes?
Johnny Cash
Danny O'Keefe
Leonard Cohen
Willie Nelson
Jim Krueger
Howard Roseman via YouTube
Dave Mason had a huge hit in '77 with "We Just Disagree," but do you know which artist wrote this tune?
Jim Krueger
Willie Nelson
George Michael
Cat Stevens
Phoebe Snow
WNET / rdeal1999 via YouTube
Name this female singer-songwriter who had her greatest chart success with "Poetry Man" in 1975.
Linda Ronstadt
Phoebe Snow
Judy Collins
Carole King

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Stephen Stills
Wiki Commons by Omroepvereniging VARA / Beeld en Geluid Wiki
Part of Buffalo Springfield, which of these artists later wrote "Love the One You're With?"
Tom Petty
Warren Zevon
Bob Seger
Stephen Stills
Karla Bonoff
Wiki Commons by Karla Bonoff
Which of these songwriters is credited for three songs off Linda Ronstadt's 1976 album "Hasten Down the Wind?"
Joan Baez
Phoebe Snow
Karla Bonoff
Janis Ian
Todd Rungren
Wiki Commons by Mitchell Weinstock
Whose 1972 album "Hello, It's Me" appeared on the album "Something/Anything?"
Paul Simon
Kris Kristofferson
Todd Rundgren
Bill Withers

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Randy Newman
Wiki Commons by GaHetNa (Nationaal Archief NL)
Now he's mostly known for scoring Disney-Pixar films, but which of these musicians got his start as a '60s songwriter?
Townes Van Zandt
Randy Newman
Buddy Holly
James Taylor
Paul Davis
DL Minier via YouTube
Guess which of these artists wrote "You're Still New to Me" for a duet with Marie Osmond in 1986.
Paul Davis
Cat Stevens
Jackson Browne
Dan Fogelberg
Linda Ronstadt
Wiki Commons by Rob Bogaerts / Anefo / Dutch National Archives
Perhaps not a true singer-songwriter, who is this artist, whose talent lay in her ability to cover songs and make them her own?
Loretta Lynn
Carole King
Linda Ronstadt
Joni Mitchell

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Boz Scaggs
Rebeat Digital GmbH, Warner Chappell, AMRA, CMRRA, LatinAutor, ASCAP, Spirit Music Publishing, Global Music Rights LLC
Part of the Steve Miller Band, which of these acts won a Grammy for the song "Lowdown" in 1977?
Jimmy Buffett
Boz Scaggs
Don McLean
Elton John