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British/Irish singer-songwriters

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Van Morrison

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Irish

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in group "Them"

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had the hit "Gloria"

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1968 album: Astral Weeks

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experimental

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1970 Moondance

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1971 album: Tupelo Honey

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Cat Stevens

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1977 changed his name to Yusef Islam

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early 1970s radio played a lot of Cat Stevens even in the States

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1971 Tea for the Tillerman

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1971 Teaser and the Firecat

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1971 Peace Train

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1971 Morning has Broken

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features a classical piano introduction by Rick Wakeman of Yes

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Rick Wakeman was offered position in David Bowie's band The Spiders from Mars but turned it down to be in Yes

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Elton John

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real name: Reginald Dwight

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most important of the British singer song-writers

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wrote with lyricist Bernie Taupin

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auditioned for two progressive rock bands and failed

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King Crimson

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Gentle Giant

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wrote songs together with Bernie Taupin

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prolific

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writing songs for other people

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worked for Dick James

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had earlier published Beatles music

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1969 Empty Sky, first solo album

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not released in U.S. until 1975

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1970 Album: Elton John

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first in U.S.

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went to #4 because of "Your Song"

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launched Elton John in the U.S.

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very prolific

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1973 Goodbye Yellowbrick Road

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seventh studio album

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double album, and there's not a bad song on the album

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Bennie and the Jets

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Candle in the Wind

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Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting

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Canadian singer-songwriters

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Joni Mitchell

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comes out of folk background

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spent time in Detroit in club

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moved to Los Angeles, became part of the Laurel Canyon scene

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started out writing songs for other people

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wrote #8 hit for Judy Collins, "Both Sides Now" (1967)

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like Dillon

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1970 Ladies of the Canyon

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"Big Yellow Taxi"

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1971 Album "Blue," song "River"

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delicate arrangement

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1974 Court and Spark

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Help Me (I think I'm falling in love again)

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Neil Young

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Buffalo Springfield out of Los Angeles

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Crazy Horse

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did an album with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

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1970 third solo album: After the Gold Rush

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Southern Man, became a staple on FM radio

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referenced later in Sweet Home Alabama

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"Southern Man don't need you anyhow"

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they were offended by the way in which Neil Young seem to characterize Southerners

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1972 Harvest, album

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Heart of Gold

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The Needle and the Damage Done

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often thought of as an American song writer since so much of his career was focused around Los Angeles