Who's your personal favorite song writer

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Jackaroodave
Date: 20 Jun 17 - 03:31 PM

Chuck Berry

Traditional, Anon; blues, Willie Dixon (though I've read--I forget where--that he might not have actually written all the songs credited to him.)

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 20 Jun 17 - 06:55 AM

Another Towns Van Zandt fan here, I once interviewed him for a mag and found him a real gent an d one of the nicest people I ever met. I'd also champion Hank Williams Snr and Pete St John

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jun 17 - 09:35 PM

Despite being a dyed in the wool English traditional-style music enthusiast, something about Al Stewart's lyrics just seems to grab my attention. I don't know why.
Friends look through my record collection and see his recordings placed amongst the sundry Leader and Topic labelled albums and are more than a little bemused....

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Roz
Date: 19 Jun 17 - 05:46 PM

We gotta get Pheobe Snow on the list! And don't forget the wonderful Michael Hurley!

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST,Jerome Clark
Date: 18 Jun 17 - 08:13 PM

Tradition, followed in no order other than alphabetical by Norman Blake, Willie Dixon, Rayna Gellert, Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, Percy Mayfield, James Talley, Richard Thompson, Ian Tyson, Gillian Welch, Robin Williamson

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: robomatic
Date: 18 Jun 17 - 07:51 PM

Being a patriotic American, I have to report a tie between an Englishman and a Canadian:

Richard Thompson, and the late Stan Rogers

I'll give honorable mention to Randy Newman, Tom Russell, and Bill Staines

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST,DTM
Date: 18 Jun 17 - 12:44 PM

Most of the above would be in my overall choice however I'd single out the following as my tops -

Tom Waites
Cole Porter
Michael Marra
Tilbrook/Difford (Squeeze)

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jun 17 - 09:54 AM

Kate McGarrigle, Anna McGarrigle, Joni Mitchell,Kate Bush, Neil Young.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 07:42 PM

Nick Currie/Momus surpasses everyone for his sublimely elegant serpents tongue, second for me comes melodic cynic Morrissey, and then I also love the charmingly smart lyrics of Stereolab - seem to have a slight infatuation with French electronica of late too, which may or may not be pertinent..

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Robo
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 05:08 PM

Just got through reading the entire list . . . can't believe I'm the only Ray Davies fan!

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 03:30 PM

Jim White - the Southern Gothic influence, with a slice of absurdism on the side. Think William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Harry Crews and Samuel Beckett set to music.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_White_(musician)

Warren Zevon

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: pdq
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 03:02 PM

Is anyone on Mudcat willing to sell me (or trade) a copy of Eric Bogle's "Endangered Species"?

Please PM if you are interested. I have tons of trade material.

Import price on eBay is out of my league.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 03:00 PM

Dorothy Field

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Elmore
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 02:57 PM

Still, he's been an Australian citizen since 1982.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: eddie1
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 02:21 PM

Topical Tom.
I totally agree on Eric Bogle but, although he has lived in Australia for a long time - he's Scottish!

Eddie

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Robo
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 01:48 PM

Guy Clark would be at or very near the top, along with John Prine . . . and Ray Davies!

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: topical tom
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 01:41 PM

I believe that the word artistry of the Australian folk singer Eric Bogle has been unsurpassed to date. "No Man's Land","And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" and "A Reason For it All" are superb examples of his great artistry with words. There are many, many more.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Elmore
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 12:28 PM

Attn: PDQ The Carol McCord to whom you refer is Carol McComb. Kathy and Carol will be appearing at Freight and Salvage in Berkley, Ca. in either April or May.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: pdq
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 11:38 AM

Several people have suggested Emmylou Harris as one of their favorite songwriters on this thread, but she has never written a known song in her life.

Neither has Linda Ronstadt, although she has a couple of courtesy co-write credits, probably because she botched the words in recording the songs and asked for credit for the new lyrics.

Some ladies who write well are Gail Davies (married to one of Earl Scruggs sons) and Carol McCord (once part of Kathy and Carol). Also Toni Brown and Terri Garthwaite (both former Joy of Cooking founders).

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST,Fyldeplayer
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 11:06 AM

Ron Sexsmith
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Darrel Scott
Steve Knightley
Beatles
Brian Wilson
Squeeze
Many I haven't heard - no doubt some great material has been written in the time I scrolled down this lengthy thread.
My choices because the 'idea and melody' would hold up without a big production. God Only Knows has a decending phrase that would touch anyone.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Elmore
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 11:03 AM

Leo Kretzner(Bold Orion), because he used to live around the corner from me, Chuck Hall(Angels, and Love Comes to the Simple Heart), because he forced his autograph on me, and Debby McClatchy, because she put a new tune to the old chestnut, Amazing Grace.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Mar 12 - 06:23 PM

200!

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Crowhugger
Date: 22 Mar 12 - 05:41 PM

Me too re-enjoying this thread. Bookmarked it this time around so I can go explore all the ones I'm not so familiar with.

Many of my faves have been mentioned:
Joni Mitchell
Cole Porter
Kristina Olsen
Gordon Lightfoot
John Prine
Irvin Berlin
Jane Siberry
Neil Young
Toni & Terry Garthwaite
Jann Arden
Jackson Browne
Ian Bell
those who wrote for Grateful Dead
and uncountable others.

Not mentioned are a couple of friends of an old friend:
Tom Burns
the late Pete Wail

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Little Hawk
Date: 22 Mar 12 - 05:38 PM

Just lately? Lynn Miles.

Other favorites of longstanding: Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Al Stewart, Jackson Browne, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Joan Baez (who did write some great stuff, although she's known more for doing cover tunes), Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Ian Tyson, Tish Hinojosa, Gordon Lightfoot, Willie Nelson.

And I like my own songs a lot. I'd have to, being very close to them.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Bert
Date: 22 Mar 12 - 04:24 PM

I've been enjoying this thread again. But there is one that has been overlooked.

From the number of times that I find myself singing "That's not my Colorado" I have to include our own katlaughing.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Mar 12 - 03:35 PM

Blind, one-armed, Willie Higginthorp. Tha Lancashire coal miner and blues sing who wrote such classics as "When I'm in love I can't shit" and "Stuff it up your bum, Flossie, it's only fromage frais." It is said that the former was recorded by Gracie Fields and Hollywood magnate Sam L Goldwyn bought the rights. It was never released apparantly. The second was thought to be a refelction on the raging recession that dominated the 1930s but no-one could ever quite figure out why.

DtG

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 22 Mar 12 - 08:55 AM

Dylan, Cohen, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Lennon& McCartney ,Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Van Morrison...loads more, but these are a fwe of my favourites.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 07:52 AM

i dont have one

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Musket
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 05:25 AM

Certainly Tom Paxton, Ewan McColl, Harvey Andrews et al, as writers of nice songs that many can perform in folk clubs and the simplicity of the songs make them accessible for all.

Jake Thackray was a wordsmith and no mistake, not just the funny ones either.

In other fields, Ian Dury, Paul Weller and similar songwriters wrote my life for me, and in the States, Kris Kristofferson wrote the life I dreamed of.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 05:06 PM

Henry Clay Work
Stephen Foster
Ewan MacColl

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: autolycus
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 06:07 AM

Please forgive me for my inappropriate list - Gershwin, Rodgers, Porter, Berlin, Kern, Harry warren, Frank Loesser, Hoagy and Jules Styne.

In the folk field, I too am very fond of the twins Anon. and Trad.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 05:35 AM

Me......that way I can say exactly what I want, the way I want to say it!

I once had another musician ask me that once...and while I was thinking about it for a moment, he jumped all over me...."YOU ARE" he blurted..and...I never forgot that.

GfS

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST,Larry Saidman
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 05:05 AM

Well Shel Silverstein's certainly up there.

But for me right now it's a tossup between Mickey Newbury and Craig Finn (of The Hold Steady).

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: alanabit
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 04:05 AM

I probably should know more of the writers, who have been mentioned here.
I had the good fortune to see Pete Morton in action again on Friday. His cheerful optimism won over a German crowd of all ages very quickly. I was struck by the precision of his lyrics (as I always have been) and the jaunty, singable tunes.
Two of my favourites, who have not been mentioned here - possibly because people do not associate them with "serious" songs - are Shel Silverstein and Tom Lehrer. Silverstein had a preoccupation with offbeat characters, but there was always a kindly eye watching their eccentricities. George Papavgeris among others here, has already commented elsewhere on the dazzling lyrical pyrotechnics of Lehrer.
My favourite songwriter, whom I have seen close up, is still Bill Boazman, although sadly, he no longer performs his own beautiful songs.
I have also come to admire the classic songwriters of the first half of the last century. A quick perusal of the writers mentioned so far does not find George Gerschwyn, Noel Gay, Richard Rogers, Lorenz Hart, Henry Mancini, Noel Coward or Cole Porter. I was a little surprised that they did not figure highly in anyone's lists.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST,Iona
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 12:11 AM

Bob Nolan for me! Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer, Tommy Makem, etc. etc.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 05:46 PM

Everybody who has been named in this thread is my favorite depending on the time of day and mood I'm in.

But right now, it's Bob Nolan of the Sons of the Pioneers.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST,Joseph de Culver City
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 04:23 PM

Tim Hardin

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Sookite
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 03:59 PM

A lot of the folks mentioned above.
Got turned on to Richard Shindell a couple of years ago....amazing writer.

Oh...and some guy named Murdoch everybody keeps mentioning.
....got a real fine way with the lyric. That boy just might have a great career ahead of him.

DG

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: boosh
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 01:26 PM

definitely has to be Nick Drake.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Jayto
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 11:46 AM

Darrell Scott
Chris Knight (I am biased I guess lol)
Wayne Hancock

Tom Waits: I know I already put him but I really dig him.

Col.JD Wilkes: Not the deepest but I love the subject matter he always writes about. He finds really obscure things that catches you off guard. Plus he and I are both a Ky col.

Chad Estes: A local writer that is one of the best I have ever heard in my life. He is so shy though I doubt anyone (except for maybe Bankley) will ever hear him. I have tried to get him recorded and out there but he cannot do it. He is the shyest guy I have ever met in my life.

I took him to a get together with some guys that could have helped him in a major way one time. Mid way through the cookout I was talking to the people and couldn't find him. I finally saw his leg sticking out of a bush. He was sitting in the bush drinking a beer. Just his leg stuck out barely enough for me to see him. I walked over and tried to get him to come out and he wouldnt. He is that shy. He has a masters in psychology and is majorly intelligent just socially stupid (I am not talking behind his back I tell him that. I know I am a sweetheart). I managed to get him into 2 bands I put together and he did alright in them once he is onstage. I just wish I could get more recordings.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 11:30 AM

Ian Anderson (the J.Tull one)
Neil Finn
Richard Thompson
Stephen Fellows (of Sheffield) - Who? (you say) - refer to 'Comsat Angels'

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Musket
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 11:25 AM

Despite trying to think of abstract or off the wall songwriters...

I am still in awe of Ewan McColl.

Just listen to "The Joy of Living" and you will see what I mean. Then note how the songs from the radio ballads provide a narrative that sets the scene better than a thousand words.

Oh, and then the love songs.

He may have been an ill tempered old so and so, and his politics never quite swung by mine, but he was the 20th century bard.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Bert
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 11:20 AM

Ah Guest from Sanity! Spoken like true songwriter.

Well there's a load of good ones you all have listed. But Sheesh! You've missed out McGrath of Harlow and Amos, and just take a look at Aine's song page and you won't be able to choose a BEST.

Marion, You need to listen to Hot Soup, Eileen Tipping, and Cheryl Wheeler for aome great women songwriters.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST,Rob the Roadie
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 09:08 AM

Oh forgot to look at this and answer.... so Tattie Bogle she is Angie Wright.
See her at The Birnam Institute Friday March 27 when she will entertain during the interval of two one act plays.

Or at open stages at

Lymm Festival Sunday 28th June

Lomond Festival 24th -26th July

Colonsay Festival 17th - 20th Sept.

She will also be reuniting with Anne Taggart to perform as TAGGART AND WRIGHT and generaly make a nuisance of themselves at The Holmfirth Festival at as many sessions and singarounds as they can during the weekend of 8th -10th MAY.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 06:13 PM

Ok then Rob, wotsername?

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST,Rob the Roadie
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 11:38 AM

I know I am a bit biased here but.......






My Wife.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 08:31 AM

Oh, and Graeme Miles.

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Mrs Scarecrow
Date: 25 Oct 08 - 05:05 PM

You didn't read the whole list Baz I know I put Bill Caddick in in August some time,

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: Acorn4
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 07:28 PM

or Franz Scubert?

Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer
From: GUEST,Dave MacKenzie
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 06:34 PM

Has anyone mentioned June Carter Cash?

And all those people wanting to include Herr Mozart, the man they really meant was Lorenzo da Ponte (and yes, I have sung his work in a Folk Club)