3 Singer-Songwriters Who Wrote Their Biggest Hits in the 1960s (And You Might Have Forgotten About Them)
An American Songwriter feature revisits three singer-songwriters who wrote some of the biggest and most enduring hits of the 1960s, arguing that their contributions have faded from popular memory despite the songs themselves remaining well known. The piece highlights how these writers shaped the decade's folk, pop and psychedelic rock sounds, both through their own recordings and songs later popularised by other major artists.
The article profiles Donovan, known for "Sunshine Superman" (1966), "Mellow Yellow" (1966) and "Atlantis" (1968); John Sebastian, who wrote Lovin' Spoonful classics including "Do You Believe In Magic" (1965) and "Summer In The City" (1966); and Tim Hardin, whose compositions became hits for others, such as "If I Were A Carpenter" (a Bobby Darin hit) and "Reason To Believe" (later recorded by The Carpenters and Rod Stewart).
– Donovan wrote "Sunshine Superman", "Mellow Yellow" and "Atlantis" between 1966 and 1968
– John Sebastian penned Lovin' Spoonful hits like "Do You Believe In Magic" and "Summer In The City"
– Tim Hardin wrote songs made famous by others, including Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash and Rod Stewart
- Feature revisits three 1960s singer-songwriters behind now-overlooked hit songs
- Covers Donovan, John Sebastian and Tim Hardin's key compositions
- Notes Hardin's songs became hits mainly for other performing artists