Who's the best songwriter?

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:57 PM

I guess Jeremy Taylor is my favourite but Paul Metsers has written some beauties too - Farewell to the gold for example.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:57 PM

james keelaghan

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 06:41 PM

Don't see Allan Taylor on the list yet, certainly a contender, as is Robin Laing.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,patriot1314
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 07:14 PM

I have to agree with those who said Robert Burns, but I can't believe Jimmy McCarthy hasn't been mentioned yet

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Bill D
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 07:28 PM

well, freda, the right answer is, that there IS no one right answer....but any list without Craig Johnson on it is incomplete...(Stick the name in the search box)

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 08:18 PM

10th best--- Mace Cohn
9th best---- Robert Johnson
8th best---- Hank Williams
7th best---- John Lennon
6th best---- Patti Griffin
5th best---- Mark Germino
4th best---- Steve Earle
3rd best---- John Prine
2nd best---- Paul Siebel.......















Best---- Bob Dylan

Thats my take on it...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Bill D
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 08:41 PM

ahhh, Bobert!...(and Little Hawk, too).... such a BIG difference between 'best' and 'most well-known writer who influenced YOUR generation and hit it big with a couple of well-placed poems chanted in nasal tones to a clunky guitar'.....but far be it from ME to critique the taste of others...*sly grin*

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 09:40 PM

Another great thread.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: kendall
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 10:08 PM

Way too subjective

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

Dylan is the best that I have ever heard. Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, The Glimmer Twins, Lennon & McCartney (let's not forget George Harrison's contributions) have all been mentioned here but I would include them on my list. Let's not forget the other Willie, Willie Dixon who wrote so many of the Chicago Blues classics that were recorded by Muddy, Howlin Wolf, Little Walter etc. Robert Johnson
seems to be absent from this list. I'm surprised that Bill Monroe hasn't been mentioned yet. Carter and Ralph Stanley wrote some beauties.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,Ingrid Frances Stark
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 02:39 AM

Gilbert and Sullivan. I'm pretty sure Sullivan wrote the lyrics and Gilbert did the score.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Cats
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 02:56 PM

Jon Heslop really has to be up there as well. He writes some stunning songs.. Last Fisherman, Old Soldiers, Lifeboat Prayer, Cheap Boats, and we keep finding songs of his labelled as Trad (who is also a great writer.) Where there is a song session it's a good bet you'll hear a Heslop song.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 03:44 PM

No, Ingrid, Gilbert did the lyrics and Sullivan did the music: he did some other great stuff without Gilbert too!

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Beer
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 05:19 PM

Bob Dylan
Kris Kristofferson
John Prine
Gordon Lightfoot
Hank Williams

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: freightdawg
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 08:30 PM

Okay, ready to add my 2 cents:

Can't argue with McCartney, Lennon, et. al. I don't like some of their music, but you cannot argue that the Beatles will go down in history for, among all the other things, great lyrics.

And I was going to add Gilbert and Sullivan, thanks for sorting out who did the lyrics and who did the score.

A couple of other names that I do not immediately remember as being listed: Roy Orbison and Paul Simon. The sheer volume of Simon's work is amazing.

A couple of lesser lights, although no less in quality, would be Harold and Don Reid and Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers. For years the SB's virtually owned the country music awards as the best group, and one of their songs was usually up for best song. Jimmy Fortune has written some of the most beautiful love songs ever recorded.

And last, and tied at number one on my list (with several others), is John Denver. To make #1 on my list the writer would have to have a large volume (no one hit wonders), have demonstrated an ability to handle different subject matters, be able to cross, at least marginally, some "genre" lines, and be able to speak to many different people on different levels. Hence, McCartney and Simon, but also Dylan, and Lightfoot. Denver is so often "dissed" because people only remember "Rocky Mountain High" or "Take Me Home Country Roads." It is fascinating to see how Denver's work changed through the years, just as his life changed and his emphasis changed. Denver could work with several different styles, although the one he prefered, and the one he was best at, was what he referred to as "Western Songs," the songs that were inspired by and came from a love for, the American west.

(P.S. Can't someone tell me why Hank Williams keeps showing up? I'm not trying to start a fight, but I would like someone to share a "why.")

Freightdawg

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 08:36 PM

Dr Bob Dylan.

Hank Williams keeps showing up because he has to, not because he deserves to.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 11:36 PM

Wow

There is an astounting amount of crap listed in this thread

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 05 Jul 04 - 07:12 PM

There is an astounding number of great songwriters mentioned in this thread (too few of them female!), but still no one has seen fit to refer to Brian McNeill who must be one of the most consistently quality songwriters, unlike e.g. Eric Bogle, whose output sprinkles some pretty dire lyrics among the greats!

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: MichaelM
Date: 05 Jul 04 - 07:25 PM

The best songwriter is Time.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Jul 04 - 08:07 PM

it sure upsets me to have to agree with anonymous 'guest', but this one time, I will. (even though it can't spell.."astounting amount of crap")

Too many folks are confusing 'famous' (or infamous) and 'well-promoted' with 'good'...In fact, some of those mentioned HAVE written 'some' pretty good things, but c'mon...

...and no one has even mentioned Dave Goulder or Graeme Miles or Gordon Bok or.....27 others.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Jul 04 - 09:20 PM

And William Shatner- surely he writes songs?

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Jul 04 - 09:28 PM

no, but he (Shatner) has murdered several songs. Between him and Leonard Nimoy, they have "gone where no singer has gone before".

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Bo Vandenberg
Date: 05 Jul 04 - 10:53 PM

The most recent one and the oldest one still enjoyed.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: BO in KY
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 12:09 AM

Charles Wesley, followed closely by Isaac Watts....



in more recent centuries, Bill Staines has written some classic stuff, and a tip of the cap to Harry Chapin

BO

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Amos
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 12:13 AM

If we're gonna get serious, now, some of Christine Lavin's certainly qualify her. And I second some of those votes for Prine. But you aren't going to find "a" best.

A

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Day_Tripper
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 02:44 AM

I have to vote forMcCartney/Lennon. A large portion of their music is almost genius.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 06:01 AM

I don't believe there's a best either, but whilst we're creating a list I notice that no one's mentioned Rory McLeod.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: burntstump
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 07:10 AM

Don't forget GUY CLARK!

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 07:46 AM

The 'best' songwriter is the one who floats yer personal boat.
Mine are:-

1) His Majesty Stan Rogers
2) Archie Fisher
3) Maggie Holland (she's a female BTW!) :0)
4) Allan Taylor
5) Sally Barker (ex-poozies and another female) :0)
6) Kylie and Emma Bunton (they don't write songs but they do float my boat) :0)

Johnny :0)

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 08:20 AM

Issac McKittery. And it's that time of year again!

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,An English Patriot
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 08:33 AM

Tony Hatch

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Chris Green
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 12:35 PM

If he'd got around to setting anything to music it'd be William McGonagall. Or do I mean Robert Burns? I always get the two confused!

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,Cornflake
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 05:46 PM

Townes Van Zandt.

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,Wilbur Forthright
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 07:06 PM

I am the best song writer.

I have never released an official recording, and almost no one has ever heard of me, but I am the best. I do not plan to ever release a commercial recording, because I detest commerciality. Still, I am the best.

Now this should be very pleasing to those among you who have posted in OUTRAGE over various famous people, like Bob Dylan or Hank Williams whom others have dared to praise as great songwriters.

Yes, you can rest assured that the well known singers in the music business do not in any way approach the abilities of someone like myself, someone the music industry has never seen fit to promote in any way whatsoever.

In fact, if you got to know my unrecorded and unreleased music you would soon glow with the inner awareness that only YOU and a CHOSEN FEW in the great, stupid crush of humanity could possibly be cool enough to even know about, let alone appreciate, my greatness. You would feel very special...like you do now...but even more so.

But it would get out of hand if too many people got to know about me. Then I'd become "popular" (shudder!). I would be seen as a "sellout" or a "phony" or a "hack", like Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, and all those other sellouts.

So be glad that I have remained obscure and given the world almost nothing, despite my great potential. I'm a lot like you. Love me.

- Wilbur Forthright, the world's greatest songwriter

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Amos
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 07:16 PM

Oh, Little Hawk, stop acting like Bearded Bruce.


A

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 07:25 PM

You're just jealous, cos you never even heard of Wilbur Forthright. :-) I pity you. (heh!)

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,Puffenkinty
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 08:24 PM

Tom Paxton!

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: GUEST,Margret RoadKnight
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 08:25 PM

Best? always/too subjective,
but not previously mentioned and certainly amongst my favourites -

Oscar Brown Jr
Mose Allison
Malvina Reynolds
Johnny Mercer
and the brilliant John Shortis
(latter Australian - I've recorded dozens of his songs)

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Shula
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 01:39 AM

I think Joe Offer is right to revise his choice. Cole Porter has my vote, too. To nit-pick a bit, shouldn't this thread be called "favourite" song writer, rather than "best." The former cannot be "wrong;" the latter can never be proved "right."

Hello, again!

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:02 AM

Shula!!! {{{big hug)))....hello, you!

Subject: RE: Whos the best song writer?
From: jack halyard
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 05:04 PM

As a songwriter about whom some rather excessively nice things have been said, I'm not keen on hyperbole. personally, the last song of Dylan's I liked was "the times they are a changing" but there's a large number of people who will disagree with me. The "best" must be subjective. As writers I put people such as Ewan McColl, Stan Rogers,
and Cyril Tawney high on my list of role models, but I don't have a "best". Has anybody mentioned Australia's John Dengate? His song "Carlingford" still brings me close to tears after about fifteen years of singing it and his poem "The Lanes of Wooloomooloo" is up alongside Kipling in its portrayal of the victims of war.
Folk music, to me is not about competition, it's about singing and the "Best" music to me is that made by forty or so voices making a great chorus work hard.
                            Jack Halyard

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

Who's the 'best' song writer ?

Step right up.............Mr Tom Waits

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: Janice in NJ
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 06:52 AM

Al Gore. He wrote Barbara Allen right after he invented the Internet.

By today's Republican standards, the Democratic lies of Al Gore and Bill "I never had sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky" Clinton seem so quaint, almost charming.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: Shula
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 07:42 AM

Dear Janice in NJ,

Bit of a cheap shot, that. Got an alternative choice on topic?

Shula

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: Hawker
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 09:33 AM

Have we mentioned Keith Marsden or John Connolly?
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: matai
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 10:13 AM

Patti Smith
Heather Nova
Joni Mitchell
Joan Baez
Suzanne Vega
Lucinda Williams
Tanita Tikaram
Joan Armatrading
Toni Childs
Carole King
Janis Ian
Kathryn Tait
Indigo Girls
Lorina Harding
Dolly Parton
Kate Wolf
Judy Small
India Arie
Michelle Shocked
Tracy Chapman
Bonnie Rait
Delores O'Riordan
etc,etc,etc,

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 12:54 PM

I agree with many of your choices, Matai, but...not a single male songwriter on your entire list???? I thought that only some males suffered from this kind of gender-exclusive listening pattern, but I guess I was wrong. :-)

Seriously. I once asked several male friends to list the "ten greatest" songwriters they could think of between 1960 and 1980. Not one of them had any females on the list except me...and I'm male. I had 2 females on my list. If it was after 1980 I would've have more of them.

And how about Shawn Colvin and Mary Chapin Carpenter and Tish Hinojosa?

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: GUEST,plum
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 06:00 PM

The problem with Dylan is that a lot of his melodies aren't great. Some are good, like all along the watchtower which is very nice and moody. And undoubtedly he's one of the best lyricists.

But surely good songwriting is about more than good lyrics, and I don't really know if we can call Dylan the best songwriter (and this is coming from a Dylan fan), when some of his tunes are so dire. He can't even get a good one when he steals it from someone else, eg blowin' in the wind.

And having seen him live last month, every song had the same tune of one note repeated with the last syllable going up a few notes. And I know thats to do with performing and not songwriting, but I consider good songs to have a great melody, eg waterloo sunset, great delivery, eg northwest passage, and great lyrics too. And as far as I see it, a lot of Bob's songs only fall into the last category, so I don't think we can really call him the best songwriter. Sorry Bob.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: el ted
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 09:01 AM

You are all wrong, it's me.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: el ted
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 09:01 AM

oh, 100 by the way.