Who's the best songwriter?

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 02:17 PM

I don't agree regarding the Dylan melodies. Many fine melodies there. That doesn't mean, however, that you will hear him sing those melodies in concert! Specially not nowadays, with his voice 3/4 gone.

To hear the melodies, listen to the original recordings or listen to other singers doing the same songs...as in the case of Joan Baez's collection of Dylan tunes called "Any Day Now". All kinds of great melodies there.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 02:35 PM

Still, his melodies can't match those of el ted.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: GUEST,IMHO
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 08:24 PM

Farewell, Angelina
Love is Just a Four-letter Word
Tamborine Man
Every Grain of Sand
Love Minus Zero, No Limit
Tomorrow is a Long Time
Like a Rolling Stone
Just Like a Woman

I suppose I could consult some CD covers for more titles, but the above demonstrate the man's ability to marry words and melody.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: AllanW
Date: 10 Jul 04 - 04:24 AM

Ray Davies. Hey, I'm English, he writes about home.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: del boy
Date: 10 Jul 04 - 05:07 AM

its got to be Neil Young so meany songs over the years BEST NEW SONG WRITER RYAN ADAMS

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 04:13 AM

Syd Barrett
and
Bob Dylan
and
me

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: GUEST,Arne Langsetmo
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 11:15 PM

I'd have to agree with a number of people above (particularly
those that said there's no one "best song writer"; depends
on my mood and what genre I'm looking for as to who is currently
my favourite). But there's one who hasn't been mentioned above,
who, if you look at the acclaim they get through other
folk performers covering their songs (not counting such pop artists
as the Beatles and Dylan), should by all rights be on the list
up there, along with Seeger, McColl, and Malvina Reynolds:

Bruce "Utah" Phillips

Just MHO.

Cheers,

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: GUEST,woodsie
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 12:45 AM

Good to see Syd Barrett and Roy Harper get a mention in this thread!
Bob Dylan must go down in history as being one of the last century's finest writers of pop/folk songs. Garcia/Hunter (Grateful Dead) wrote some pretty good folky/americana stuff. Phil Ochs wrote some good (non protest) songs - "Changes" springs to mind. Ray Davies was/is a genius. But there again that's just my taste - and that's constantly changing - Oh yeah don't forget Jack Bruce/Pete Brown and all those great Cream songs.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 03:41 PM

Best is impossible - everyone's tastes vary. Though there are some great ones in the thread I am surprised John Stewart is not there - maybe his early association with the Kingston Trio is too much for some traditionalists but for me [and for my American friends] he is the one who hits the right spot.

Eric

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: GUEST,scouse
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 04:11 PM

No one's mentioned John Gorka.......... so I will. Beauuuuuuutiful lyrics and what a voice.. as aye, phil

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: GUEST,Ira
Date: 01 Aug 04 - 08:40 PM

Kate Wolf. She combines great warmth and intelligence in a very sincere and personal way.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: GUEST,Guest - Ri Ra
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 09:31 PM

Haven't any of you heard of TOM RUSSELL?

IMO Tom Russell is the best singer/songwriter alive and on tour today. Do yourselves a favor - check out his website and go hear him. He has toured with guitar wizard Andrew Hardin for several years.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 10:15 PM

Tom Russel is indeed a great songwriter, and deserves mention here.

My vote is still for Bob Dylan, though.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: Peace
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 10:19 PM

What he said.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: lucky_p
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 10:23 PM

I think it has to be Bob Dylan. He is the Picasso of music -- he took all of it in an entirely new direction that, to me, will never be repeated.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: GUEST,junior
Date: 24 Sep 04 - 02:59 PM

I think that Kanye West is the best song writer.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 24 Sep 04 - 06:20 PM

Van Morrison

Steve Earle

Bob Dylan

Townes Van Zandt

Johnny Mercer

Merle Haggard

Joni Mitchell

Burt Bacharach

Woody Guthrie

George Gershwin

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: s6k
Date: 24 Sep 04 - 06:48 PM

no one will beat Bob Dylan.

but also people to note are John Lennon, Leonard Cohen, Roger Waters

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: sharyn
Date: 24 Sep 04 - 11:44 PM

Best? Best? I always get excited when I hear there is a new release by Richard Thompson, Chris Smither, Carol Denney, Lyle Lovett, Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman. And I think Dylan is a brilliant songwriter -- not all the time, but no one is brilliant all the time. Leonard Cohen is quite good, and is always releasing new versions of things (he rewrites obsessively). Lucinda Williams, Iris DeMent, Laurie Lewis. Kate Rusby sometimes does brilliant rewrites and sometimes writes total crap, in my opinion. There are a lot of very good songwriters in the world and a lot of very bad ones, too. Oh yeah, and someone should have mentioned Jean Ritchie by now and Debbie McClatchy -- sometimes one song is all it takes.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: s6k
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 05:15 AM

tracy chapman, richard thompson, i should have mentioned these, there are quite a few greats, a lot of goods, and a lot of bads too

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 05:03 AM

Richard Thompson.

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: s6k
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 05:33 AM

westlife

Subject: RE: Who's the best song writer?
From: woodsie
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 07:00 AM

Dave Kenningham - hands down!!!

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 09:58 AM

The one with the most Industry Awards!

"He who dies with the most toys wins!"

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: Melani
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 03:02 PM

Eric Bogle, Stan Rogers, Bob Franke, followed by Gordon Bok. My personal opinion, not to be regarded as fact unless you happen to agree.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: Eye Lander
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 03:20 PM

Mike Harding has written some wonderful songs

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: Eye Lander
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 03:21 PM

not saying he's the best, but really like his stuff

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: pdq
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 07:42 PM

To my Honorable Mentions let's add:   

Mike Cross

Guy Clark

Robert Earl Keen, Jr.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 07:49 PM

Can't believe I've wasted five minutes of my life reading this and another 30 seconds posting.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 11:05 PM

Yeah. How are you EVER going to get that 30 seconds back?

Maybe you should consider suing for damages.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST,Dallas Guest
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 02:01 AM

Ellis Paul.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST,Gene Burton
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 12:56 PM

In all likelihood, the best songwriter is some guy unheard-of outside his home town, whose music none of us will ever get to hear. Sorry if this sounds unduly pessimistic, but it's a fact that (due to the vagaries of chance, luck and capitalism) many of the best songs never even get recorded, let alone commercially released. That said, of all the songwriters who've had the good fortune to be widely heard of; these are in my view deserving of particular attention:-
Bob Dylan
Leadbelly
Bert Jansch
Richard Thompson
Cyril Tawney
Bill Monroe
Morrissey (yeah, seriously!)
Nick Drake
Jackson C. Frank

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST,nemter
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 05:30 AM

Some great songwriters that I don't think have been mentioned yet:

Richard Shindell
Dave Carter
Greg Trooper
Leon Rosselson
Buddy and Julie Miller
David Francey

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 05:35 AM

I sing for old folks most days and not many of those songs would be known by them - a few Hank Williams maybe, one or two Beatles.

As you say Gershwin and Cole Porter haxve written some quite popular ones. I suspect most people know a few Les Reed and Harlan Howard songs without realising it.

Harry Warren though scores as does Jerome Kern.

Top though, I'd place the lyricist Dorothy Field. I ain't going to tell you. You check her out - don't worry - you know ALL her songs!

Call yourself a feminist and you don't know about Dorothy - that lady with the long list of women writers.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 08:11 AM

gershwin, Irving Berlin,Gershwin, Lennon McCartney, Dylan, Cohen, Hank Williams, Goffin King, Bruce Cockburn..........on and on Gershwin.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 08:29 AM

Don"t Forget Gordon Lightfoot, Laura Smith,Hank Snow, Wilf Carter,Gene Maclellan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell. Ian Tyson, Leonard Cohen,Sylvia Tyson, Stan Rogers,K D Lang,Bruce Guthro, all from the great whire North..and oh yea..Paul Anka

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: 14fret
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 11:48 AM

No such thing but.... of the living.... Randy Newman takes some beating.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: pdq
Date: 24 Oct 04 - 01:35 PM

Hank Williams get nominated several times on this thread. Here is a site that seems to support that opinion:

                                           The Cover Site

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 24 Oct 04 - 01:49 PM

Lots of good suggestions. They're all here! Hank, Lennon, Macca (but Lennon IS better), Willie, Lightfoot, Neil Young, NIck Drake... but Dylan would probably be my pick. I love his lyrics...

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 24 Oct 04 - 06:34 PM

So many people putting on such long lists, seems to prove you can't have a favourite. A song by a particular singer at a particular time is "favourite". Kind of makes a thread like this irrelevant, don't you think???

threads like this could be seen by outsiders to be divisive. We as "folkies" should pull together and celebrate what wonderful talent we have in our midst, not segregate.

Just my opinion of course!!

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: mg
Date: 24 Oct 04 - 07:56 PM

I don't think it is irrelevant and I don't think it is divisive and I personally have no problem at all having favorite singers, songs etc. I make decisions very easily. And don't change them very much. I enjoy reading other people's favorites, and of all the things in this world of woe to worry about, worrying about what outsiders think of someone's list of favorite songwriters is really close to the bottom of my list. mg

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST,MurkeyChris
Date: 24 Oct 04 - 08:21 PM

For me, no-one beats Richard Thompson.

Chris

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 12:11 AM

Well, there's so many to choose from...So i'm just going with me. I've decided that if i'm going to be a rock star and have drugs and money and groupies, i'd better develop and ego, and quick.....

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 12:27 AM

I think the "observer" is correct. Do you realize how much real down to earth talent we have around this site. This is the best forum on the Net for music fans. As opposed to the umpteen sites dedicated to the Britney Spears' and "Nu Metal" sites that pollute the internet... but anyway, this has become a favorites list, which goes to show how many diverse (and wonderful) opinions we have here.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 06:55 AM

I agree with Blissfully Ignorant apart from one small fact that I am the best song writer. I'm normally quite humble about these things but I hadn't realised there was so much competition!

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: brid widder
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 01:33 PM

Jake Thackray.. Paul Simon... and Bill Caddick... but it's horses for courses

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: Dagmar
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 03:17 PM

Well, he is hard to categorise, but I have to add Shawn Phillips here...

by the way ... he is on a concert tour in Germany this november .. any fans check his web site www.shawnphillips.com

Dagmar

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: GUEST,Jane
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 05:23 PM

Has anybody ever heard of Mary Gauthier? Definitely worth checking out!

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: ClearMorning
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 08:11 PM

Gordon Lightfoot has written hundreds of great songs.

Subject: RE: Who's the best songwriter?
From: Folk Form # 1
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 10:24 PM

Hoagy Carmichael and Fats Waller