Who's the best songwriter?

Subject: Whos the best song writer?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 09:45 PM

I thhink its Eric Bogle, or Ricghard Tohmson,
waht you think?

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 10:06 PM

"Traditional" always wins the prize, if I'm the judge. Otherwise, Barry Manilow.
-Joe Offer-

Did I say Barry Manilow? Actually, if I were honest, I'd probably say Cole Porter or the Gershwins.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Bert
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 11:02 PM

ME of course!

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Bert
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 11:03 PM

Of course Amos is better than I am but just don't tell anyone.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Amos
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 11:08 PM

I dunno -- I've had a few Challenges where I was openly passed by with my doors rattling. But once you enter the range of Ep[titude I am of a mind that this is not a wise or enlightening question.   There are a dozen really excellent songwriters on this site, and probably a hundred who haven't dropped by, just in the folk and folkoid categoriew!

A

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 11:08 PM

it ain't no contest!

what artist has had more songs he wrote recorded by more
artists - in nearly every country in the world?

what artist has had more artists have hits of his songs than
any other artist in the world?

HANK WILLIAMS

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Amergin
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 11:28 PM

that Nathan Tompkins guy is the best...

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 11:31 PM

Abner Triplenight.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 11:39 PM

Can't say, but if you ask me who breathes in and out the best I'd say Sandra Bullock every time.

Don

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Gurney
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 02:12 AM

'Best' is hard! 'Favourite' is easy, the late Jake Thackray.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,weerover
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 03:41 AM

Robert Burns

wr.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: el ted
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 03:52 AM

me. no contest.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 05:56 AM

Shades of elementary school, when I could tell you who was my "First-best", "Second best" and "Third best friend."

So, who is best, Cole Porter (with a nod to Joe Offer) or Bob Dylan?

Which is the cutest animal, a kitten or an orangutan?

"Best" is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy too subjective, and impossible. I go with Gurney. Favorite is a better adjective.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Rasener
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 07:16 AM

Dave Evardson who is appearing at Market Rasen Folk Club tonight with his missus Julie.

'Lincolnshire Family' was written by Dave which is based on a Latvian refugee's view of starting a new life in Lincolnshire in the late 1800s. It won first prize in the 2002 BBC Radio Lincolnshire "Write a Song for Lincolnshire" contest.

Much of their material is derived from the lives and work of people they have known who earned their living from fishing and its related trades.

Dave's own songs have been taken up and recorded by well-known singers such as Vin Garbutt "The Forty Thieves" and Johnny Collins "The North Wall". Loncolnshire singers John Conolly, Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher also have Dave's songs in their repertoires.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,GUESTBAILLIE
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 07:38 AM

Tom Bliss, listen to his song 'The Violin' and weep...

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: VIN
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 07:52 AM

I reckon one of the best over the years must be Roy Harper tho he probably won't get the due recognition 'til he's long gone, bit like Nick Drake and others.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Bert
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 07:57 AM

Hmmm, GUEST of 3:41 has a point. It's hard to beat Ol Hank.

But there's other good uns out there. Willie Nelson, Gordon Lightfoot, Woody Guthrie, Ewan McColl, Eric Bogle.

And there's a hell of a lot of good songs that go unnoticed on the Mudcat challenge site.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 08:04 AM

Jim White...the best unknown songwriter alive and working today.

Honorable mention: John Prine

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: kendall
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 08:27 AM

Define "Best".

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: el ted
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 08:31 AM

nope... you are all wrong, it's me.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 08:37 AM

what genre? what era? lyrics or melody? arrangement? what time of day? what setting?

*so* subjective

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 08:59 AM

Sir P.Macca

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 09:09 AM

1 : excelling all others ex. the best student
2 : most productive of good or of advantage, utility, or satisfaction ex. what is the best thing to do

From Merriam Webster's online dictionary

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Once Famous
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 10:34 AM

If "best" is because the songs capture the spirit of the human experience, have existed for multi-generations and held up well (timeless), and can be sung and interpretated well by others than the songwriter himself, than Hank Williams stands at the top.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 10:48 AM

Glad to see Hank Williams mentioned here. It's impossible to have any one answer to a question like that, but every time I listen to Hank I'm overwhelmed by his genius.   I think Woody Guthrie is in the running, too.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 10:59 AM

Does it include instrumentals? If not then it has to be anything by Hull's own 'Crack Town'.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: breezy
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 11:11 AM

someone who communicates and is at ease with expressing themselves in words and has a masterful grasp of the language.

there are numerous names that come into mind. so here are a few

Stan Rogers Canada

Marcus Turner New Zealand

Jez Lowe England

George Papavgeris Greece

There are others that are yet to gain wider acclaim like Mike Deavin, Ben Campbell who sets Graham Searle's words to music

Mick Ryan

Harvey Andrews

Vin Garbutt

But there are some singers that write shite and think they are good

Its when other performers adopt your songs then you know that you've done something well.

Dan Mckinnon Canada

Tommy Sands Ireland

Robb Johnson Hounslow


JEREMY TAYLOR   is high on my list


How come most have appeared at the St Albans folk-song club?

fridays at the Duke of Marlborough,

Steve Tilston

Ralph whatsisname

Cyril Tawney

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 11:20 AM

GUEST: GUESTBAILLIE - "Tom Bliss, listen to his song 'The Violin' and weep... "

Bet you're a fifty-something female......... (ROFL)

J :0)

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: freda underhill
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 11:24 AM

Paul Spencer and John Warner are both outstanding song writers (+ both Australian)

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 11:48 AM

It's el ted, of course... :-)

Runners-up: Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie, Joni Mitchell, Al Stewart, Gordon Lightfoot, Willie Nelson, Leonard Cohen, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Amos, and me.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: freda underhill
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 11:55 AM

Joni Mitchell, Judy Small.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: pdq
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 12:16 PM

Some candidates from the last forty years:
         Paul McCartney
         Shel Silverstein
         Gordon Lightfoot
         Bob Dylan
Hon. mention:
         Ian Tyson
         Steve Goodman

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: freda underhill
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 12:24 PM

John Lennon.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 12:51 PM

Can't argue about Hank, Dylan, Cole Porter, Gershwin, et al. With so many different genres, styles, etc., there can surely be no one "best" songwriter. However:

Let me add a mention of a favorite contemporary, Lucinda Williams.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 12:53 PM

oh my goodness gracious sakes to mercy! Such a list...and no one got the right answer!

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Amergin
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 01:22 PM

Bill....if you would look at my earlier post you would have seen that i do in fact have the correct answer... ;)

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Padre
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 02:42 PM

Blind Alfred Reed has to be included if only for "Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls?"

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 02:47 PM

No such animal

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 06:14 PM

Let me add Mary Chapin Carpenter to the list.

And for some songs that aren't like anyone else's at all: Tanita Tikaram. She recorded several great albums in the 90's. She has a lyrical approach that is quite unusual and quite good.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: akenaton
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 07:13 PM

Davie Robertson
Rab Noakes...And (sorry el Ted)..Rufus Wainwright,just started listening to his music and although he's a poove,he's bloody brilliant ...Ake

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,Augie
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 07:50 PM

Michael (Peter) Smith

Steve Goodman

Janis Ian

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: freightdawg
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 10:49 PM

Hate to rain on the Hank Williams parade, and maybe I'm just out of it, but what is so enduring about Hank Williams? I actually chuckled out loud when I read the first comment from guest, but then others chimed in. I consider myself to be somewhat of an old classic country and western music afficianado, but beyone "Your Cheatin Heart" and "Hey Good Lookin" I cannot think of any Hank Williams songs, and I really don't think either one of those two was particularly good. I am always up to be educated, so please, enlighten me.

I have to agree with the majority here, in addition to "best" what is meant by "song writer." Is it in reference to lyrics, the poetry and influence of the song, or the way the lyrics and tune are married together? I'd like to see the field narrowed just a little bit before I submitted my ideas. I like many of the names listed, but have a couple that have not been mentioned.

Freightdawg

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Bugsy
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 10:58 PM

No one is "Best", they're all just "Different"

CHeers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,DaveC
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 11:52 PM

Tom Lehrer.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 03:08 AM

Breezy's list gets my vote. Add Burns, Thomas Moore, Eric Bogle and you have a world beating bunch--hard to pick the top notcher, though.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: alanabit
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 03:33 AM

Switch off your radios and televisions and swap a few tapes and CDs with Mudcatters and you will hear more good songs than you have heard in years.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: freda underhill
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 03:36 AM

Bill D - out with it.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:45 AM

Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Hammerstein and Rogers
Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Issac Hayes
Bob Dylan, Ray Davies, Richards and Jagger

...and let us not forget the prolific trad.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,Chongo Chimp
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 09:57 AM

Warren Zevon.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: s6k
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 10:00 AM

GAH, mccartney wasnt as good as lennon.

bob dylan
leonard cohen
john lennon
stevie wonder
joan baez
joni mitchell