Fred Neil

Fred Neil is most famous for penning "Everybody's Talkin'," which became a massive hit when Harry Nilsson recorded the tune for the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack. Unfortunately, this overlooks Neil's subtle but profound influence on West Coast folk rock. The dreamy detachment and quasi-Indian vibes of the Jefferson Airplane, CSN&Y, Tim Buckley, etc., can be traced back to the music collected on The Many Sides of Fred Neil. This is some truly haunting music, as if the man who made it was nothing more than a mirage.