3 Folk Rock Songs From 1973 That Hinted That the 1970s Were About To Explode
Three folk rock songs released in 1973 offered early signs of the genre’s growing reach and the direction singer-songwriters would take during the decade. Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle with You” and Seals & Crofts’ “Diamond Girl” combined accessible folk influences with pop and rock, while Paul Simon’s “American Tune” turned towards more inward-looking lyrics.
“Stuck in the Middle with You” reached No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. “Diamond Girl” also peaked at No. 6 on the Hot 100 and reached No. 4 on the Easy Listening chart. “American Tune” reached No. 35 on the Hot 100 and No. 8 on Easy Listening, reflecting the songs’ different levels of chart success and crossover appeal.
In short
- Three 1973 songs foreshadowed folk rock’s wider popularity.
- Stealers Wheel and Seals & Crofts both reached No. 6.
- Paul Simon’s song pointed towards more introspective songwriting.
Explained simply
Folk rock blends acoustic instruments and songwriting associated with folk music with the sound and reach of rock and pop. By the early 1970s, singer-songwriters were using that mix in songs that could appeal to radio audiences while exploring a range of moods and subjects.
Stealers Wheel were a Scottish band, Seals & Crofts were an American duo, and Paul Simon was an American singer-songwriter who had previously performed with Art Garfunkel. Their 1973 releases show different approaches within the style: from a buoyant, pop-friendly sound to more reflective writing.
The songs’ chart positions offer one measure of their reach in the United States, with the first two reaching No. 6 on the Hot 100 and Simon’s song reaching No. 35. Their differing placements also show that songs in the same broad genre could find audiences across pop and easy-listening radio.