Oh yeah, don`t forget about Jim Croce who was like a Buddy Holly for the `70`s. The early `70`s that guy absolutely ruled music, I think his entire recording career lasted less than 3 years, yet he had one #1 hit after another seemingly every few months. One thing that sticks in my mind is hanging out one time with my older brother at this pinball arcade in the midwest, and practically every song being played on the jukebox was a Jim Croce song, not because it was a Jim Croce tribute jukebox, but because he had that many hits going on all at once. "Operator" "I got a name" "Bad Leroy Brown" "Superman" "Time in a bottle" "Love you in a song" "Don`t mess around with Jim".. Freggin` incredible.
The guy lost in the shuffle with Croce was his guitar player and collaborator [Marty Muhl- something]. Before they hooked up Croce was going nowhere. Don't know if he co-wrote, helped with the arrangements or what. But Croce took off once he joined up. He died in the same plane crash.