Soft rock

Soft rock
Stylistic origins	Rock, pop rock, rhythm and blues, folk rock, rock and roll, smooth jazz
Cultural origins	Late 1960s
Typical instruments	Electric and acoustic guitar, bass guitar, twelve string guitar, drums, piano, synthesizer
Mainstream popularity	1970s to the 1980s
Other topics
Adult contemporary music

Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music (often combined with elements from folk rock and singer-songwriter pop) to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes saxophones. The electric guitars in soft rock are normally faint and high-pitched.

History

Neal Schon, only member of Journey to play on every one of their albums

From the late 1960s it became common to divide mainstream rock music into soft and hard rock,^[1] with both emerging as major radio formats in the US.^[2] Soft rock was often derived from folk rock, using acoustic instruments and putting more emphasis on melody and harmonies. Major artists included Carole King, Cat Stevens and James Taylor.^[3] It reached its commercial peak in the mid- to late 70s with acts like Billy Joel, Chicago, America and the reformed Fleetwood Mac, whose Rumours (1977) was the best-selling album of the decade.^[4] By 1977, some radio stations, like New York's WTFM and WYNY, had switched to an all-soft-rock format.^[5] By the 1980s, tastes had changed and radio formats reflected this change, including musical artists such as Journey.^[6][7] The genre evolved into what came to be known as "adult contemporary" or "easy listening", a categorization that bore less overt rock influence than its forebear.^[8]

See also

• Power ballad
• Adult contemporary music
• Yacht Rock

Soft Rock portal

References

1. ^ R. B. Browne and P. Browne, eds, The Guide to United States Popular Culture (Popular Press, 2001), ISBN 0879728213, p. 687.
2. ^ M. C. Keith, The Radio Station: Broadcast, Satellite and Internet (Focal Press, 8th edn., 2009), ISBN 0240811860, p. 14.
3. ^ J. M. Curtis, Rock eras: interpretations of music and society, 1954-1984 (Popular Press, 1987), p. 236.
4. ^ P. Buckley, The Rough Guide to Rock (Rough Guides, 3rd edn., 2003), p. 378.
5. ^ C. H. Sterling, M. C. Keith, Sounds of Change: a History of FM broadcasting in America (UNC Press, 2008), pp. 136-7.
6. ^ "Journey: The band who did not stop believing". BBC News. November 12, 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11733277. Retrieved December 6, 2010. 
7. ^ "10 Best Soft Rock Ballads". Made Man. http://www.mademan.com/mm/10-best-soft-rock-ballads.html. Retrieved December 6, 2010.  “Journey fans can easily list a dozen soft rock ballads from the band...”
8. ^ C. H. Sterling, M. C. Keith, Sounds of Change: a History of FM broadcasting in America (UNC Press, 2008), p. 187.