Okay, I've reached a point in my musical explorations where I've been listening to the most experimental avant-garde progressive extreme shit I can get my hands on for years, but I've come back around to a point where I feel like I've been neglecting a lot of great music that is more traditional in structure, more immediately accessible/melodic, and focuses more on writing memorable "songs" in the popular sense. Now that I've revealed that I enjoy Elton John in another thread this shouldn't come as too much of a shock.

But seriously, I obviously listen to the "big name" groups, but I feel like there are plenty of artists I'm forgetting that are worth listening to, particularly in the R&B/Soul world, but also country and plain old-fashioned melodic pop/rock.

I'm sure I'll have heard a lot of the suggestions that'll come out of this, but I'm hoping there will be some that I don't know and some that I've forgotten.

I know this is sort of wide-open and vague, but anything you can think of that fits the above, I'd appreciate it.

Smokey Robinson
Marvin Gaye
Sam Cooke
Otis Redding
Norman Whitfield
Sylvia Moy
Jeffrey Bowen
Jim Colyer
Johnny Bristol
Henry Cosby
Brian Holland-Lamont Dozier-Edward Holland Jr. aka Holland-Dozier-Holland
Barrett Strong

I'm hoping this is someone other than who I'm thinking.

Country:

Hank Williams
Johnny Cash
Jim Colyer
Merle Haggard
Loretta Lynn
Willie Nelson
Waylon Jennings
Buck Owens
Bobby Braddock
Kris Kristofferson
Dolly Parton
Fred Rose

In any case, I'm glad that I'm at least down with more than 50% of each list, but there are some that I'm not familiar with, so thanks.

I like how Jim is placed somewhat higher in country.

In addition to Satch's list, which includes Mr Jim Coyler, perhaps the greatest artist of our time, within country I'd like to mention these two great artists:

Mr Jack Scott. A forgotten master of vocal range. He ranks rather high in my country list, likely within the top 5. 'Burning Bridges' is a beautiful song. His version of 'Cool Water' is magnificent.

Mr Marty Robbins. The storyteller who recorded my favourite country album of all time, Gunfighter Ballads & Trail Songs. 'Big Iron' is perhaps the coolest country song ever recorded. Not that I'm taking anything away from Mr Cash, but Mr Robbins was the master country storyteller.

May I also mention Mr Jim Reeves. His voice will speak for itself. Pure wonderment.

Also to add to Satch' awesome R&B/Soul list, Mr Al Green and the obscure greatness of Darondo. His album Let My People Go is a forgotten classic that all of us should own.

Peter Gabriel
Stephen Sondheim
Stevie Wonder (Get Original Musiquarium, now)
Paul Simon (post & Garfunkel, see: Graceland)
The Smiths
Joni Mitchell
Ben Folds Five
Earth Wind and Fire
Nat King Cole
Billy Joel
David Bowie
Bruce Springsteen
The Beach Boys

Go hogwild.

Any 80s tune written by Giorgio Moroder.

I'm happy to say that of the artists in TheZola's list, only Mr. Green is represented in my collection - so, big props to TheZola for pointing me to some new artists.

As for Ratt In Clothes' suggestions, Peter Gabriel is a big no thanks. Stevie Wonder is already in my short list of the supremely awesome. As for the Smiths, I'd rather eat cement than listen to anything relating to Morrissey. I've got the Beach Boys & Paul Simon covered. The rest are good suggestions that I'm obviously aware of but have yet to bother delving into, so thanks.