Who's the best songwriter?

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 07:26 PM

Definitely surprised to see Syd here. If he got himself together, he would've been one of the greats....

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: s6k
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 07:19 AM

how could i forget Syd

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST,Robert J. Harper
Date: 09 Dec 04 - 11:25 PM

Jimmy Fortune is the best songwriter by far, His Gospel c/d I believe ,just released will even captivate the nonbeliever,you can see for yourself if you go to www.jimmyfortune.com and listen his awsome songs I believe and cool country sunday.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: beetle cat
Date: 09 Dec 04 - 11:33 PM

sydney carter.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST,Countryman2002
Date: 17 Dec 04 - 09:15 AM

Bob Marley is the best songwriter ever!

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: EagleWing
Date: 17 Dec 04 - 01:09 PM

The list seems divide between those who CAN think of a "best songwriter" - but with little agreement as to who it is (other than el ted, of course) and those who know there is no such thing so they give a long list of candidates.

I've actually enjoyed the 10 minutes or so reading this but, unless I missed it, no-one has mentioned Matt McGinn. He may not be the best because no one is but he certainly deserves a mention. Also, what about Johnny Handle, Alistaire Claire and Leon Rosselson?

(And absolutely no-one has mentioned Rolf Harris :-) )

Frank L.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 17 Dec 04 - 07:57 PM

Joe Ely - Butch Hancock of course - all that stuff
doodle Owens did some nice stuff for Moe Bandy
George Jones had his good days and Dolly Parton of course.
Joni Mitchell , natch.and nobody writes about England as well as Ralph McTell

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: number 6
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 12:04 AM

Townes Van Zandt
Tom Waits
Jimmy Webb
Brian Wilson

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: John C.
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 12:59 PM

I admit I've just skimmed through this but I've only counted 3 mentions of Ewan MacColl in 158 postings. C'mon! What is wrong with the world?! Far too many modern songs seem to me to be introspective twaddle but Ewan wrote wonderful songs of universal appeal and relevance.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: Cruiser
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 01:34 PM

For folk songwriting: Stephen Collins Foster

His poverty and suffering never allowed him to receive professional acclaim commensurate with the quality of his compositions. The "Ethiopian songs" were some of his best.

For pure Country:    Hank Williams Sr.

For Popular Music:   John D. Loudermilk

Cruiser

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: cptsnapper
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 04:42 PM

Judy Collins, Chris Simpson of Magna Carta, James Taylor, The McGarrigles, Steve Goodman, Chuck Berry, Clifford T. Ward

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: MojoBanjo
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 07:25 PM

The person who, at a particular point in your life, speaks to that life in song.

For me, that has been Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, and hundreds of nameless blues and folk musicians who inherited a song, buffed it up a bit, and sent it on its way down the river.


Brian

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 08:52 PM

faves........ harry warren, loudon wainwright, macca and bruce.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: ev
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 01:10 PM

I see here amongst the folkies et all, there was ONE mention of Paul Simon..?
Sheesh.
Too New Yawk, Maybe?
No mention of Ellington?
and what does it say about a writer who's output is more palatable from the mouths of others than his own? Gotta be something to the SONGS, ya think? Given a choice between seeing Bob Dylan perform or seeing ... say, Robyn Hitchcock perform an evening of Dylan songs -- I'd go for Robyn with out a doubt! =)

The best songwriter is subjective, according to your own exposure and sophistication and conceit, so in effect this whole thread is masturbatory. With quite a bit of brown nosing.
shower time, and my soap's on a rope, TY. (flutters lashes)
Now -- give me the REAL skinny by which I can learn to understand who you are and what has influenced you... oh wait. There's another thread for that.
(nasal voice)Nevermind.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 10:46 PM

Conor Oberst, aka Bright Eyes

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST,Sidewinder.
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 02:02 AM

Top 10 list seems the best way -apologies for the repetition but most of you are discerning music fans.

1) Lennon & McCartney.
2) Bob Dylan.
3) Chuck Berry.
4) Smokey Robinson.
5) Tom Waits.
6) Stevie Wonder.
7) Buddy Holly.
8) Hoagy Carmichael.
9) Robbie Robertson.
10) Cat Stevens.

Just missing out;

Robert Johnson.
Woody Guthrie.
Leadbelly.
Willie Dixon.
James Brown.
John Prine.
Carole King & Gerry Goffin..
Jeff Barry & Ellie Grenwich.
Phil Spector.
David Bowie.
Joe Strummer.
Leiber & Stoller.
Pomus & Shuman.
George Michael.
Holland, Dozier, & Lamont.
Freddy Mercury.
Van Morrison.
Bacharach & David.
Norman Whitfield.
Joe Mercer.
Irving Berlin.
Cole Porter.
Neil Young.
Otis Blackwell.
Jesse Stone.
Bob Marley.
U2.
STING.
etc. etc. etc.

Regards.

Sidewinder.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: jaze
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 06:56 PM

The late great Kate Wolf belongs way up on the list.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 04:57 PM

Maybe not the best, but personal favorites?
Mary chapin Carpenter
Shawn Mullins

Guess I'm a little bit Country, and a little bit Rock and Roll. ;(