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15 Aug 08 - 08:54 AM (#2414495) Subject: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto Who would you say is your own personal favorite song writer? I know this one can get sticky so it is just about your own personal favorite. Why are they your fav. I love a great lyricist and I love discovering new ones (new to me). Townes Van Zandt and Steve Earle are 2 of my faves for Folk and Country. Tom Waits is one of my all time favorites Nick Cave, Gordon Lightfoot, John Prine, There are more but I have to jump off of here and feed my little boy. |
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15 Aug 08 - 08:56 AM (#2414498) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Mr Happy Mr Happy |
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15 Aug 08 - 08:57 AM (#2414499) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Will Fly Richard Thompson, Randy Newman. Both able to create whole, believable lives in 5 minutes. |
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15 Aug 08 - 08:59 AM (#2414504) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Volgadon Vladimir Vysotsky. |
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15 Aug 08 - 09:08 AM (#2414513) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto Mr.Happy I was going to put that and you beat me to the draw lol |
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15 Aug 08 - 09:26 AM (#2414529) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Mark Ross Woody Guthrie, Utah Phillips, Hank Williams, Paul Siebel. Mark Ross |
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15 Aug 08 - 09:33 AM (#2414537) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto OMG I feel like I have commited a major sin on my behalf. Hank Williams was not on my list. My coffee must have not kicked in yet lol I love Hank. I love Woody as well but i cannot believe I left Hank off my list. Utah I am not that familiar with I know the name and that is about it. |
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15 Aug 08 - 09:34 AM (#2414538) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: frogprince Put a gun to my head and demand just one name, and I guess it would have to be Tom Paxton. But I woulddn't want to live in a world without the songs of Woody, Utah, Hank, Townes, and quite a few others. |
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15 Aug 08 - 09:41 AM (#2414541) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: jacqui.c Utah Phillips, Mike O'Connor, Jeri. |
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15 Aug 08 - 09:47 AM (#2414545) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Dani Top of my head? Woody Guthrie, Bruce Springsteen. Dani |
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15 Aug 08 - 09:50 AM (#2414550) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: pdq Gordon Lightfoot, Robert Earl Keen, Jr. and Guy Clark are some of them. Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter collaborations will be around as long as will Hank Williams and Bob Dylan songs. |
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15 Aug 08 - 10:05 AM (#2414561) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto AH man Robert Earl Keen Jr. yeah he rocks. Did you ever hear his song Christabel? I love that song can't remember off the top of my head what cd it is on No Kinda Dancer maybe. He is great Bigger Piece of Sky was like the soundtrack for my brother and me back when we were always on the road. I wore out 4 copies of that cassette. |
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15 Aug 08 - 10:14 AM (#2414572) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Sailor Ron Trad & his brother Anon |
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15 Aug 08 - 10:20 AM (#2414579) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Puck I very much admire Dave webber. |
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15 Aug 08 - 10:32 AM (#2414587) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Wesley S A few would be Guy Clark, Tom Paxton, Lennon and McCartney, Tim O'Brien and Jimmie Rodgers. |
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15 Aug 08 - 10:36 AM (#2414591) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto Sailor Ron who is Trad and his brother Anon? That is a total new one on me. Thanks for your post this is why I wanted to post this. |
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15 Aug 08 - 10:42 AM (#2414595) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: open mike Laurie Lewis, Kate Wolf, Nanci Griffith, Christine Lavin, Kristina Olsen, (equal time for the distaff side!) and Tom Russell. |
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15 Aug 08 - 10:43 AM (#2414596) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: pdq I think all folkies should try to get a copy of Bob Gibson's last recording "Making A Mess...The Songs Of Shel Silverstein". It has the most perfect Country backup musicianship (thanks to Shel) and a diversity of songs that is hard to believe. Steve Goodman's songs maybe be best when done by Steve Goodman. Same with John Prine. But I prefer Dylan songs done by someone else, at least after 1975 when his voice became an instrument used to inflict pain. |
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15 Aug 08 - 11:06 AM (#2414616) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Marion Stan Rogers, Jed Marum, Bill Gallaher, James Gordon, Utah Philips. Aside to Open Mike - it genuinely pains me that the distaff side isn't represented on my short list. But I simply haven't yet found a woman songwriter who I deeply admire for a large number of songs or who inspires me to emulate her, although there are several individual songs written by women that I admire. Oh well, at least there's some national loyalty in my tastes, in that 3 of the 5 above are Canadian. Marion |
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15 Aug 08 - 11:10 AM (#2414618) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jerry Rasmussen Got several here: in no particular order. Paul Simon: while his excessive cleverness turns me off on occasion, So many of his lines stick in my head: "Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance," "Still crazy after all these years," and countless others. I love his stuff from Graceland (of course) but his career spans much of the history of rock and roll. Randy Newman: Newman creates a whole short story in three or four verses. His songs are often visual, which is a special gift. Greate melodies and arrangements that sound Turn- of-the-Century. Gordon Bok: Gordon is one of those songwriters who is very much of a time and place. Gordon brings you home, in his songs. His voice and guitar are mesmerizing, and an important element of the song. Bob Dyer: Not well known, from Boonville, Missouri. We lost Bob this year, and it was a sad loss, indeed. Bob was another writer who created a believable universe. Most challenging, his songs mostly created vignettes and tall tales from a time before any of us were born. No one captured life on the Mississippi and the Missouri River like Bob did. And most likely never will I'd go along with many other names listed above, but these are personal favorites, as requested. Jerry |
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15 Aug 08 - 11:11 AM (#2414619) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: PoppaGator Can't argue with any of the above. I'll mention that I agree with pdq about Hunter and Garcia, which is probaly a minority opinion hereabouts; I think too many old-fogy folkies dismiss the Grateful Dead out of hand, without ever bothering to listen. (Not everyone, of course, but too many.) Jerry was an extremely accomplished bluegrass picker before electrification, with a vast knowledge of tradtional song, and Robert has always exhibited a unique ability to rework time-honored phrases and images in new patterns, creating original songs with very deep roots reachng back through centuries of English-language balladry. No females mentioned except in that one post by a woman (one I had thought was a guy for years because of her psudonym). I'm kinda surprised she didn't include a personal favorite, and perhaps the greatest of them all, Lucinda Williams. |
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15 Aug 08 - 11:15 AM (#2414623) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto Yeah you can't leave out Lucinda she is great. Thank you PoppaGator for adding her in the mix. |
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15 Aug 08 - 11:23 AM (#2414629) Subject: Lyr Add: YOUR MIND IS ON VACATION (Mose Allison) From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego One of my all-time favorites is Jazz/Blues performer and composer Mose Allison. Some of the most pungent and clever lyrics I've heard are his. Once example: YOUR MIND IS ON VACATION You sittin' here and yakkin' right in my face, I guess I'm gonna have to put you in your place. You know if silence was golden, You couldn't raise a dime, Because your mind is on vacation and your mouth is workin' overtime. You quotin' figures and droppin' names, You tellin' stories about the dames You're over-laughin' when things ain't funny You tryin' to sound like you're big money, You know if talk was criminal, You'd lead a life of crime, Because your mind is on vacation and your mouth is workin' overtime. You know that life is short, Talk is cheap; Don't be makin' promises that you can't keep. You don't like this little song I'm singin' Just grin and bear it, All I can say is if the shoe fits wear it, If you must keep talkin' Please try to make it rhyme, Because your mind is on vacation and your mouth is workin' overtime. |
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15 Aug 08 - 11:28 AM (#2414634) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: MMario PopaGator - I saw at least 5 women mentioned. Personal favorites: I'd have to go with Mike Campbell Jed Marum Jeri Andrew McKay |
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15 Aug 08 - 11:34 AM (#2414638) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: john f weldon Good answer, Sailor... ...I like the guy wrote "Twa Sisters" around 800 AD. Also Alan A'Dale who was clearly a real person, even if Robin Hood wasn't. I'll put in a word for the funny folk... Noel Coward Gilbert and Sullivan Tom Lehrer The Berrymans ...I usually prefer a good laugh to a lot of angst. |
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15 Aug 08 - 11:36 AM (#2414639) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Marion Poppagator, Jacqui C. also listed Mudcatter Jeri, who is a woman. Do you know if Lucinda's songs can be heard online anywhere? Or for that matter, can any of Jeri's songs be heard online? Marion |
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15 Aug 08 - 11:40 AM (#2414643) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto www.myspace.com/lucindawilliams Here is her myspace link. www.lucindawilliams.com That is her website |
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15 Aug 08 - 12:00 PM (#2414661) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Marion Thanks Jayto. But, are you able to hear any of the songs on her homepage? I clicked on about a dozen song titles at random and just got "N/A" written beside them. I don't know if that's because I don't have some player installed or if they're not meant to be playable files. I did find the four songs that she has on myspace. I think the difficulty that I've had in finding a female songwriter to add to my favourites list is that I have a strong preference for songs that tell stories about other people, preferably real people. The five guys I listed above (Stan Rogers, Jed Marum, Bill Gallaher, James Gordon, and Utah Phillips) all concentrate on other people's stories, mostly based in real history, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of women writing on these topics. The women writers I've heard seem to concentrate more on their own feelings and relationships - that's true of most male songwriters, too, but then most male songwriters aren't on my favourites list either. |
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15 Aug 08 - 12:02 PM (#2414663) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Azizi My personal favorite songwriter? Bruce Murdoch See this post for examples of verses from Bruce's "Matters of the Heart" CD that I consider to be skillfully, and beautifully crafted. thread.cfm?threadid=112880&messages=285#2412361 There are other Bruce Murdoch songs from his other recordings that are my favorites. Among them are "Plains of Jericho", "Maximeline", "Come Across To You", "If I Had Wings", and "My Country Tis Of Thee". Switching genres, I also believe props should be given to these two great gospel songwriters: Thomas Dosey {I particularly love Precious Lord, Take My Hand and Peace In The Valley} and Rev. James Cleveland {my favorites are Peace Be Still and I Stood On The Banks [of Jordan]. |
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15 Aug 08 - 12:08 PM (#2414672) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: open mike http://www.lucindawilliams.com/ her collection Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is a classic. oh, and Wendy Waldman, and Carol Elliot, and Mary McCaslin, and...Sarah Elizabeth Campbell...and Anne Hills, Cindy Mangsen, Kathy Mattea, Joan Baez, Julie Gold, Dolly Parton, Sally Van Meter, Dar Williams, Lucy Kaplansky..... Karla Bonhoff and Julie Miller and Tammy Fassaert and k.d. lang |
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15 Aug 08 - 12:28 PM (#2414684) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,number 6 Wendy Waldman ... I went to a songwriter's workshop of hers .. a wonderful person and yes a damned good songwriter. On the female side of songwriters I'll put in a plug for Patty Griffin and the late Laura Nyro. biLL |
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15 Aug 08 - 12:36 PM (#2414694) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto I used to play guitar for Patti Griffin. She has one of the strongest voices live I have ever heard. I remember the first time I met and heard her. It was in a little club in South Nashville called Jack's Guitar Bar. Steve Earle was part owner for a while it was a cool little place with a ton of good writers and musicians always hanging out. I had a standing Monday night gig with a buddy of mine Chris Knight. Patti had came to town working on her first CD. She liked Chris's writing (all I did was play guitar at the time) and she came out to catch us live. In between sets she got up and did a few songs and I was blown away. She pretty much pinned me against the back wall with her very first note. Her voice is powerful live really strong and rich. I remember I would always get her to do The Cat's Out of the Bag. I used to love to hear her do that song. I remember she was so shy it was funny. Everytime anybody would say something to her she would look like she was about to crawl under the table but when she took the stage she owned it and the crowd. She is amazing. |
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15 Aug 08 - 12:42 PM (#2414701) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: PoppaGator Jayto: Your clickable links didn't work for me, but they did work when I copied-and-pasted them into my browswer address line. That means they're correct as far as they go, but are incomplete. It took me a while to learn the correct procedure for Mudcat "blue clickies." The trick is to copy the COMPLETE web address, including the "http" prefix. If you start off with the "www" part, it doesn't work. I now always actually go to the desired site to highlight and copy the entire address that appears on the address line. It's been a long time since I learned to work it properly, so I don't remember all the details of my early failures to create working links. I think some of my efforts used to link to incorrect pages within Mudcat. I believe inclusion of the full "http://..." is necessary to get outside Mudcat and onto the World Wide Web. Thanks for the research, at any rate, and for making the effort. You already seem like an old-timer around here; it's a bit difficult to realize you're still a "newbie," at least in some regards, and could use a little help here and there, learning to navigate the small details... |
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15 Aug 08 - 12:45 PM (#2414707) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto Thanks for letting me know. Yeah I am still trying to get the hang of the site. This is the first community site I have ever really been active on. So this is a new experience all the way around for me. |
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15 Aug 08 - 12:52 PM (#2414715) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Little Hawk I like Bob Dylan the best of all, but I also like a whole lot of others and I think they're all absolutely wonderful, such as... Gordon Lightfoot Leonard Cohen Buffy Sainte-Marie Jackson Browne Joni Mitchell Mary Chapin Carpenter Shawn Colvin Ian Tyson Al Stewart Jagger and Richards David Bowie Van Morrison Loreen McKennit Enya Chris Smither Carly Simon Joan Baez Really, the list goes on and on. There are a lot of great songwriters out there. |
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15 Aug 08 - 12:57 PM (#2414722) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Arkie Many good ones listed already. Several who will get my attention whenever they have a new recording are: Iris DeMent Beth Nielsen-Chapman James Keelaghan Charley Sandage (a local writer, musician, educator, who frequently writes many songs about actual events or real people. |
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15 Aug 08 - 01:23 PM (#2414765) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: SouthernCelt Just off the top of my head: Ian Tyson, Gordon Lightfoot, Jed Marum, Robert Earl Keen, Jr., Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Slaid Cleaves, Dan Fogelberg, Pat Sky, John Prine... Better stop before I fill up the page... SC |
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15 Aug 08 - 01:23 PM (#2414768) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Me! |
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15 Aug 08 - 02:25 PM (#2414810) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Add 2: Travis Edmonson and John Stewart |
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15 Aug 08 - 02:32 PM (#2414812) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Roger in Baltimore Lots of my favorites already listed. Certainly John Prine and Guy Clark will always get a listen from me. Just wanted to add Tim Wallace from out Ohio way. I've only heard one tape of his work, but the man can right a very funny song with a great imagination. Roger in Baltimore |
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15 Aug 08 - 02:35 PM (#2414813) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Acorn4 Roy Harper in his heyday. |
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15 Aug 08 - 02:48 PM (#2414820) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,cStu Gillian Welch Mike Scott Leiber and Stoller |
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15 Aug 08 - 02:48 PM (#2414821) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Mark Ross Haywire Mac McClintock, Hank Snow, Pete Seeger, Bill Monroe, Sara Carter, Wilf Carter(Montana Slim), Rosalie Sorrels, Anne Feeney, Hell, the list could go on forever............. Mark Ross |
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15 Aug 08 - 02:56 PM (#2414826) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: frogprince On the distaff side? Mary Chapin Carpenter, Cindy Mangsen, Anne Hills, Kitty Donahoe...plenty more there, too. |
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15 Aug 08 - 03:02 PM (#2414831) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: olddude For me it just seems to move day to day based on the music I am listening to. My taste goes all over the field. Some of my favorites Lightfoot absolutely Joni Mitchell Tom Waits, Oscar Brown Jr. Phil Ochs John Prine Also like country like Hank Williams LeadBelly Murdoch without a doubt list just goes on and on depending on the mood - what I am playing or listening to new one is Dave Van Ronk (thanks to Ditty) |
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15 Aug 08 - 03:04 PM (#2414832) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Spot Allllooo everybody... Favourite songwriter...? Dave Walmisley (ex -Risky Business UK!) Bloody excellent writer, first class player,ace singer and a real nice guy!! Not recognised half as much as I think he should be.... :-) Regards to all, as ever...Spot |
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15 Aug 08 - 03:37 PM (#2414860) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Joe G Robb Johnson Jez Lowe Tom Bliss John Tams George Papavergis Roger Waters (the Pink Floyd years) Jim Boyes (for Jerusalem Revisited) I'm sure I have forgotten some |
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15 Aug 08 - 03:39 PM (#2414863) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Joe G I knew I'd forgotten someone Roger Davies |
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15 Aug 08 - 03:55 PM (#2414870) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Mike in DC Attention must be paid to Dave Carter, perhaps in the "most outstanding body of work written in a relatively short period" category. Sort of the Sandy Koufax of songwriters. Mike |
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15 Aug 08 - 03:58 PM (#2414872) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Francy Woody Guthrie...Hank Williams......Merle Haggard........Townes Van Zandt....Tom Russell......David Olney....Kris Kristofferson...Joni Mitchell......Eliza Gilkyson........Silvia Frickett........Marty Robbins.....Frank of Toledo |
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15 Aug 08 - 04:01 PM (#2414876) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: topical tom Eric Bogle has a great mastery of words and rhyme but I also like Tom Paxton, Stan Rogers,David Massengill,Garnet Rogers, Utah Phillips,Pete Seeger, and the list goes on and on..... |
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15 Aug 08 - 04:07 PM (#2414885) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Arkie The list could go on and on. Some others in the country vein who produced good songs over a considerable period of time are: Merle Travis Harlan Howard Felice and Boudleaux Bryant Lefty Frizzell Hank Thompson Willie Nelson Marty Robbins Roger Miller Tony Joe White Dolly Parton Kris Kristofferson |
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15 Aug 08 - 04:23 PM (#2414901) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Mrs Scarecrow Bill Caddick , Jon Heslop, George Papavgeris (not sure if I spelt thet right) Dave reader, Gilly Kemp, Anne Lister, and then on a broader scale Joni Mitchell ,Leonard Cohen, Ian Anderson but the problem is as soon as some one mentions another name or sings another song I would say oh and them as well, really the favourite is going to depend on my mood at the time it may even be me |
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15 Aug 08 - 04:33 PM (#2414915) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Silver Slug So many favourites, (note the proper spelling!) including Lennon/McCartney for simple tunes like Things We Said Brian Wilson, God Only Knows - simple yet beautiful Neil Young, Graham Nash, Steve Stills and Dave Crosby for Deja Vu Paul Simon - For Emily... will always move me Fairport Convention for Babbacombe Lee Guy Garvey - songs which have stopped me in my tracks over the last few months. Kirsty McColl - tragically no longer with us. "I fell out of favour with Heaven somerwhere and I'm here for the hell of it now" |
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15 Aug 08 - 04:37 PM (#2414918) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: mg wHO IS Guy Garvey? Perhaps we are long-lost cousins. I was trying to think of more women too. Certainly Judy Small, Linda Allen. Lady Christina Oliphant? Do I have her right. Lots of Scots classics. Certainly Dolly Parton. Sylvia Tyson came up with one stunning song to me..Truckers' Cafe. Sometimes they might be really well known for only a few songs..Mary Benson with Sail Away. Linda C. of B.C. on Canning Salmon. My favorite is Gordon Bok and Robert Burns and Stephen Foster. mg |
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15 Aug 08 - 04:44 PM (#2414923) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: The Sandman Richard Grainger,Bert lloyd,Ewan MaCColl,Dick Miles,Alan Smethurst,Tom Lehrer,Lennon and Maccartney,Stephen Foster,John Conolly. |
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15 Aug 08 - 05:25 PM (#2414963) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Brakn Probably Loudon Wainwright. Love Bruce and Hank as well. |
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15 Aug 08 - 05:33 PM (#2414971) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto You are my kinda person Arkie GREAT list. |
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15 Aug 08 - 05:40 PM (#2414974) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Silver Slug wHO IS Guy Garvey? Perhaps we are long-lost cousins. He fronts a British Indie band called Elbow. Excellent musicians, sometimes wonderful lyrics and melodies, brilliant live, and a crap name which should ensure that they don't get the recognition they deserve. Still, the're good enough for me! |
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15 Aug 08 - 05:44 PM (#2414977) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: George Papavgeris Thanks Joe and Mrs Scarecrow, you put me with esteemed company indeed!. Mine are: Rob Johnson Leon Rosselson Stan Rogers Eric Bogle Sydney Carter Jez Lowe Cyril Tawney Dave Webber the whole bunch of the Cornish songwriters and going off-centre a bit: Billy Joel Mark Knopfler Angelo Branduardi |
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15 Aug 08 - 05:57 PM (#2414988) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Elmore Bob Franke, Enoch Kent,Kate Wolf |
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15 Aug 08 - 06:59 PM (#2415018) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Art Thieme Hoagy Carmichael! Art Thieme |
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15 Aug 08 - 07:10 PM (#2415027) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Acorn4 In the current crop of singer/songwriters, Richard Shindell. |
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15 Aug 08 - 07:29 PM (#2415046) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Phil Edwards I assume we get Dylan free, like the Bible and Shakespeare on Desert Island Discs. After Dylan, Robyn Hitchcock; after him, Peter Blegvad. I'd also recommend Hilary Bichovsky, Carl Corbett, Richard Frisson, Mark Greer, Mark Simpson and Copland Smith (in alphabetical order) - none of them's particularly famous, but they're all fine songwriters. |
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15 Aug 08 - 08:38 PM (#2415080) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,cStu Peter Blegvad the cartoonist? |
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15 Aug 08 - 08:49 PM (#2415084) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Joe_F I have been compiling a list of songs that are, in some way, magical for me, and looking up (as best I can) their authors, composers, & dates; so I can give a quantitative answer to this question. So far there are 280 songs on the list. Anon. wins hands down, with 99. Runners up are Robert Burns & Rudyard Kipling, with 5 each. Stan Rogers has 4, and Cyril Tawney, Woody Guthrie, and Michael Flanders have 3 each. There are twelve who have 2, and the rest are 1-hit wonders. The median date of composition is 1900. |
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15 Aug 08 - 09:13 PM (#2415117) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Arkie Jayto, nice to get an amen. I am glad to see Sydney Carter and Bob Franke finally make the list. Fred Eaglesmith's name just popped in my head. An exceptional writer. John Williamson from Australia has also written many good songs. There should be more writers from Down Under in this list. I like Kasey Chambers, but more as a singer than a songwriter though she has written some good songs. |
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15 Aug 08 - 10:02 PM (#2415153) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Peace George W Johnson, 1866 I wandered today to the hills, Maggie, To watch the scene below The creek and the creaking old mill, Maggie, As we used to long long ago The green grove is gone from the hills, Maggie, Where first the daisies sprung The creaking old mill is still, Maggie, Since you and I were young. 2. Oh they say that I'm feeble with age, Maggie, My steps are much slower than then My face is a well written page, Maggie, And time all alone was the pen They say we have outlived our time, Maggie, As dated as songs that we've sung But to me you're as fair as you were, Maggie, When you and I were young. As far as I'm concerned, it ain't been equaled yet. |
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15 Aug 08 - 10:08 PM (#2415156) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,DWR Hmmm. For me, personal favorite depends a lot on who I am listening to at the moment. Today, Elizabeth Cook Yesterday, Hugh Moffatt Earlier in the week, Norah Jones, Tom Paxton Actually, I'd stack that list up against most any for listenability over a long period of time. |
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15 Aug 08 - 10:19 PM (#2415162) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST Jesse Winchester |
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16 Aug 08 - 04:38 AM (#2415285) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Phil Edwards cStu - the same. He's a versatile guy. |
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16 Aug 08 - 05:37 AM (#2415296) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: van lingle Dylan, Cole Porter, Robbie Robertson (though I haven't heard any recent stuff of his), Johnny Cash, Blind Lemon Jefferson... |
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16 Aug 08 - 05:38 AM (#2415297) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: van lingle Shane MacGowan |
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16 Aug 08 - 07:17 AM (#2415311) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: kendall Impossible to say. Depends on my mood and I have as many moods as favorite song writers. If I had to name one, Gordon Bok.That's complicated by the fact that he's my oldest best friend as well. Everyone knows I love Utah Phillips' songs, he was also a dear friend. Tom Paxton, somewhere between acquaintance and friend. Dave Mallett also a close friend. Stan Rogers, outstanding song writer. Spent a weekend with him but couldn't call him a friend. Bob Zentz, friend. Seamus Kennedy, friend. Tom Rowe dear friend, now deceased. You have to love such songs as, "Handful of songs" by Jerry Rasmussen. Jim Stewart dear friend.His Marco Polo suite is a masterpiece. |
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16 Aug 08 - 07:18 AM (#2415312) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: kendall I've also been in love with our own KT since I heard her sing. Her song, Old Salt hits home. |
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16 Aug 08 - 08:44 AM (#2415339) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jean(eanjay) Personal favourite male is Shane MacGowan. Personal favourite female is K D Lang. There are many others that I particularly like such as: Bob Dylan Leonard Cohen Johnny Cash Yellowman Bruce Murdoch Bo Diddley . . . |
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16 Aug 08 - 12:18 PM (#2415426) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: john f weldon Oops forget... Yip Harburg (lyrics) Uncle Dave Macon (Folky and funny!) |
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16 Aug 08 - 12:35 PM (#2415435) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: pdq John Hartford, just because he ain't been mentioned yet. He had a unique point of view, to say the least. John Stewart was at least as good a writer than he was a singer/personality. He wrote so many songs that the gems are still, for the most part, not recognized. If I had to pick one, it would be Gordon Lightfoot. But then, Ian Tyson and Steve Goodman would probaly be there some days. And Chris Hillman is almost criminally under-appreciated as a writer, and then... |
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16 Aug 08 - 01:36 PM (#2415499) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Guldhamstern I'm not a very good In no particular order: Roger Waters Bob Dylan Mickey Newbury Leonard Cohen Paul Simon Tom Waits Phil Ochs Neil Young Allan Edwall Allan Edwall (1924-1997) is best known for being an actor, for instance in most of the Astrid Lindgren-movies. His music is not very well known outside sweden. The best swedish lyrics, very witty and clever, often satirical and beautiful at the same time. Dan Anderson (1888-1920) Was more of a poet. But he made music to some of his poems. The most beautiful swedish tunes comes from his poems. |
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16 Aug 08 - 03:02 PM (#2415534) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Singer's Knight Oh gosh, these choices are so hard! First thoughts? Garnet Rogers and Jerry Rassmussen. |
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16 Aug 08 - 04:47 PM (#2415589) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,number 6 Marvin Gaye |
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16 Aug 08 - 04:52 PM (#2415592) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: John Hardly Writers? Stevie Wonder Felix Cavaliere/Eddie Brigatti Hoagy Carmichael James Taylor Carole King Carly Simon (That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be is nothing short of brilliant -- lyrically and musically) Pierce Pettis Paul Simon (charges of light-fingered writing, notwithstanding) Bachrach/David Rodgers/Hammerstein Lennon/McCartney |
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16 Aug 08 - 06:25 PM (#2415654) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: kendall Schubert, Beethoven, Brahms. |
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16 Aug 08 - 07:43 PM (#2415707) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,number 6 They were composers of music Kendall (musical composition) .... they were not songwriters (wrote musical compostion and the lyrics to that music). But ... what the hell, who really gives a rat's ass. biLL |
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16 Aug 08 - 07:48 PM (#2415711) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,number 6 Now kendall, if you had made a note of Amadeus Mozart in you post ... well, I guess he could be classified as a songwriter. ... but ... then again ... as I say .... who really gives a rat's ass. biLL |
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16 Aug 08 - 11:35 PM (#2415825) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Texas Guest I would have many of the above mentioned songwriters on my own list but would add: Michael Smith, Kim Ritchey and Jack Williams. Cheers. |
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17 Aug 08 - 01:03 AM (#2415848) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Ravenheart Jack Hardy. Without him, whole regions of our experience would have no maps to them. |
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17 Aug 08 - 01:52 AM (#2415871) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: eddie1 So many names I have to agree with but three missing so far (I think) Jake Thackray – for looking at the world in a different way from the rest of us. Finbar Furey – if only for his song "Lonely One" which should be compulsory listening for everyone who tours doing gigs. Iain Mackintosh – his "For The Special Friends" is definitely one of these "I wish I'd said that" songs. Eddie |
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17 Aug 08 - 07:10 AM (#2415937) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: kendall Schubert wrote Ava Maria, one of the most beautiful songs ever written. |
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17 Aug 08 - 07:20 AM (#2415941) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: kendall Ludwig wrote "Ode to Joy". Beats the hell out of "I love a rainy night." |
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17 Aug 08 - 07:54 AM (#2415949) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,number 6 Ludwig wrote the musical score to 'ode to joy' .... Fredrick Schiller wrtoe the words as a poem. biLL |
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17 Aug 08 - 08:08 AM (#2415952) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,number 6 I sit here corrected (by my wife) and I am in a rather humbled dispostion ... Amadaes cannot be considered a songwriter as he did not write the librettos ... so, alas he is but a mere musical composer. now ... a songwriter not so far as mentioned and I feel should be most certainly be mentioned (as he is a favourite of mine) and that is Jimmy Webb. biLL |
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17 Aug 08 - 10:09 AM (#2416009) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,HiLo In no particular order Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Niel Young, Bruce Cockburn, Van Marrison, Paul MacCartney, Ian Anderson, Hank Williams, Stephen Foster, Stan Rodgers,David Byrne, Rita Mac Niel, Johnny Cash,Eric Bogle, Paul Simon, Jagger and Richards. |
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17 Aug 08 - 10:16 AM (#2416017) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,HiLo Oh how could I forget Richard Thompson....one of the best ever. |
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17 Aug 08 - 10:18 AM (#2416021) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: bankley okay, for lyrics.. my huckleberry friend, Johnny Mercer |
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17 Aug 08 - 10:26 AM (#2416025) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Midchuck Favorite is easy: Tom Russell. Second is very hard. A tie between Utah Phillips Jim Ringer Stan Rogers Ian Tyson Guy Clark Dick McCormack (link; link Andrea Cady (purely personal bias) And probably two or three others that I'll think of as soon as I post this. Peter |
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17 Aug 08 - 11:19 AM (#2416061) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Lucky7s For the ladies, Joni Mitchell, Patti Griffin, and Patti Smith. For the lads, Andy M. Stewart, kinda old school but Leon Russell, and my fave of all time, Arlo Guthrie. I'd second Laura Nyro & John Prine, too. |
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17 Aug 08 - 12:11 PM (#2416094) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Gene Everybody has their favorite songwriters, Hank Williams, Sr. has always been a favorite of mine, but consider the two below. IMHO, two of the greatest songwriters that ever lived. I cannot think of any others that come close to this record of achievement. ============= HARLAN HOWARD "I Fall To Pieces", "Life Turned Her That Way", "Above And Beyond", "I've Got a Tiger By The Tail", "Don't Tell Me What To Do", "Somebody Should Leave", "Somewhere Tonight", "Too Many Rivers", "Why Not Me", "Busted" & "Blame It on Your Heart". Most people knew Harlan Howard by the songs he penned, more than 4,000 of them. In a career that spanned more than six decades, the "Dean of Nashville Songwriters" established himself as one of the greatest and most prolific songwriters of the Twentieth Century. One critic daringly dubbed him the "Irving Berlin of Country" because of the number of classics he added to the annals of country music. More than 100 of his self-penned tunes hit the top ten and his compositions became chart-toppers for artists as diverse as Patsy Cline, Ray Charles, Buck Owens, Dean Martin, The Judds, Reba McEntire, Waylon Jennings, Glen Campbell, and Dolly Parton. But Harlan Howard's friends knew there was more to the man than song titles. Behind his enshrinements in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the CMA Hall of Fame, the National Academy of Popular Music Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame was a complex and unique man, a true interpreter of life well and fully lived. Those fortunate enough to number among Harlan's intimates knew he was born in Detroit and raised on farms in Michigan, but times were tough for a young farm boy in the years following the Depression. He started writing country songs around the age of 12, listening to and loving the Grand Ole Opry, Ernest Tubb and Floyd Tillman. Although he managed to complete just nine years of formal education, he educated himself by reading books – sometimes as many as four and five a day. Harlan moved to Los Angeles in 1955 to pursue his dream of songwriting, where lacking faith in his ability as a songwriter, he took a job as a forklift operator (There were no factories in Nashville). He devoted every spare minute to perfecting the craft of songwriting. He was possessed by songwriting, and each day left the factory with several new songs stuffed in his shirt pocket. "I'd come home from work sometimes with six songs," the writer said. "During that period of time, I never knew there was that much money in songwriting. I was just writing because I loved it. I never thought I'd be able to quit the factory and make a living full-time as a writer." A year after moving to LA, he met Tex Ritter and Johnny Bond and played them some tunes from his cardboard box full of songs. Slowly at first, with their help and that of others such as Wynn Stewart, Bobby Bare and Skeets McDonald, he began to have his songs recorded. His first real hit came in 1959 when Charlie Walker recorded "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down." Shortly after that both Ray Price and the pop singer, Guy Mitchell, put his "Heartaches By The Number" on the top of the country and pop charts simultaneously and his destiny was sealed. Harlan moved to Nashville in 1960, and as the hits began to chart, the legend of Harlan Howard began to soar. A year later, in 1961, his career exploded, and he had as many as 15 songs in the top 40 of the country charts at one time - an amazing feat for any writer and one never since equaled. Harlan began hanging out with the other struggling writers, such as Hank Cochran, Willie Nelson, and Roger Miller at Tootsies Orchid Lounge across the alley from the old Ryman Auditorium, home of the Grand Ole Opry. Patsy Cline was a favorite Opry star who used to stop in between shows. This nucleus would gather wherever there was a guitar and swap their latest songwriting efforts, hoping to plug a few songs to Opry stars. From these late night/early morning "guitar pulls" another Nashville legend was born. Harlan scored hits in the five decades: the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's. Harlan was fond of saying, "The lyrics usually flow easily and often." The "three-chord kid", as he was frequently called, believed country music was mostly lyrical content - about 90% words and 10% melody. He considered his songs his children and tried to find the perfect home for them; crediting much of his success with matching the right song with the right singer. Artists such as Nanci Griffith, Mel Tillis, kd Lang, Collin Raye, and Patty Loveless chose Harlan Howard compositions to establish themselves on country radio. Producers rarely passed up an opportunity to listen to a tune submitted by Howard for fear of missing the next country classic. In the late '80s, Harlan's publisher, Tree, was sold to the foreign conglomerate, Sony. Howard took on a new endeavor and started a small publishing company, Harlan Howard Songs, Inc. With his guidance, several "juveniles" had recent chart-topping successes such as The Chain of Love, Clay Walker; Real Live Woman, Trisha Yearwood; Someone You Used To Know, Collin Raye; and She Was, Mark Chesnutt. His hit by Patty Loveless, Blame It On Your Heart, was named BMI Song of the Year as the most performed country song of 1994. Harlan continued writing well into his seventh decade of life, long after many other writers had begun to relax on their royalties. Howard didn't intend to put aside his pen. "I've been wanting to do this since I was 12, so it's a lifetime hobby and quest," he stated. "I never tire of it. Sometimes I do get burned out temporarily, but I can't imagine not wanting to write one more great song, get one more great record, or work with one more great singer. I like to give artists a song they have to sing the rest of their lives. Songwriting is both my living and my pleasure, so I'm a happy man." On March 3, 2002, Harlan passed away at home with his wife, Melanie, by his side. He was 74 years old. A memorial celebrating his life and songs was held at the Ryman Auditorium. ============ CINDY WALKER Cindy Walker (87), died on March 23 in Mexia, Tex. A country songwriter whose pure, plainspoken lyrics of romance, heartbreak and picturesque prairies were recorded by major artists like Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson, making Top-40 country or pop charts more than 400 times. Until the 1990's, Texas Monthly observed in 1999 it was easier to count the number of country stars who had not recorded Cindy Walker songs than those who had, She had Top 10 hits in every decade from the 1940's to the 1980's. Even as country music veered in louder, brasher directions, her continuing appeal to traditionalists is suggested by Willie Nelson's release of an album of her songs, "You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker." The title song was a hit for Eddy Arnold in 1956, Ray Charles in 1962 and Mickey Gilley in 1981, and was re-recorded by Mr. Charles with Diana Krall for his best-selling 2004 album of duets, "Genius Loves Company." Presley, Van Morrison, Patti Page, Roy Orbison, Kenny Rogers and Emmylou Harris are among others who have recorded the tune. Will some JoeClone straighten up any misalignement of text after posting. Thanks G |
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17 Aug 08 - 12:14 PM (#2416097) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: dwditty Oscar Brown, Jr. Tom Waits Randy Newman Tim Buckley Mose Allison Billie Holiday (For God Bless The Child - My favorite song of all time) Dan Hicks |
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17 Aug 08 - 01:42 PM (#2416145) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Marymac90 Thanks, Gene, for introducing me to Harlan Howard and Cindy Walker. On the American audiences thread there's been some talk about how "folkies" are divided up into different communities, based on genre, Like trad, Irish, singer-songwriter, blues, bluegrass, contra dancers, etc. One such community that isn't known terribly deeply by most "folkies" is the social change music community. Of course, a fair number of the songwriters mentioned are in that community, but others not mentioned are Charlie King and Fred Small, as well as Joe Hill and John McCutcheon, who has one foot there and one foot all over the map! Other great songwriters that I don't THINK were mentioned (please forgive me if I'm wrong) include: Willie Nelson, Fats Domino, Bruce Cockburn, Bill Staines, Elizabeth Cotten, Tom Lewis, Fats Waller, Steve Goodman, and Lyle Lovett. If you want more info on any of these, please drop a line in the thread. All the best, Marymac |
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17 Aug 08 - 02:44 PM (#2416200) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto Willie Nelson man I don't know how I forgot to put Willie on here. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain makes me melt. I heard it when I was a kid and started crying the only other song I can recall that moved me that hard when I was a kid was If you could read my mind by Gordon Lightfoot. Willie is incredible and such an influence on American music in general. Willie gets respect no matter what scene he rolls in (no pun intended) in the US. Such a cool cat man it is impossible to pput it into words. |
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17 Aug 08 - 03:16 PM (#2416220) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Little Hawk Yeah, I somehow forgot Willie Nelson too. The guy is just incredible, one of the greatest of all time. |
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17 Aug 08 - 03:29 PM (#2416227) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: pdq "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain" is a Depression era song so Willie did not write it. Kinda like "Miss The Mississippi And You" that Emmylou Harris did such a nice version of. Also Depression era retro. |
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17 Aug 08 - 03:32 PM (#2416228) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto Thanks PDQ I didn't know that. Do you recall who did it originally or wrote it? I swear man this is why I think this site is so great. |
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17 Aug 08 - 03:49 PM (#2416237) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: pdq According to AMG it was written by Fred Rose, as in Acuff-Rose Publishing Company. Fred Rose signed Hank Williams as a writer in 1947 where he joined Pee Wee King and others. They taught Hank Williams the art of songwriting. "... Williams signed to MGM in 1947, Rose became his manager and producer, also co-writing classics including "A Mansion on the Hill," "Kaw-Liga," "Crazy Heart," "Settin' the Woods on Fire," "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive," and "Take These Chains From My Heart." Rose also possessed an extraordinary gift for placing Acuff-Rose material..." So, let's extend the list of Country songwriters to Harlan Howard, Cindy Walker, Willie Nelson and Fred Rose. |
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17 Aug 08 - 03:57 PM (#2416241) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Lizzie Cornish 1 In no particular order: Harry Chapin Bruce Murdoch Steve Knightley Ron Bankley Bruce Cockburn Martyn Joseph Loreena McKennitt Dougie McLean Reg Meuross Bruce Springsteen The Oysterband (collectively or individually) Jez Lowe John Tams James Keelaghan Oliver Schroer (whose violin sang Oliver's words) John Denver Stephen Fearing Ashley Hutchings Dave Gibb Noah Zacharin Tom Palmer Mike Silver Joni Mitchell Vinnie James Emmy Lou Harris Fred Small Shania Twain Gordon Lightfoot Sandy Denny Richard Thompson John Mayer ...just for starters.. |
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17 Aug 08 - 04:00 PM (#2416244) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: pdq Slight oops...Fred Rose signed Hank Williams in 1946 and helped him get the MGM recording contract signed the following year. Rose stayed with Hank as manager and co-writer. Fred Rose was "...(along with Williams and Jimmie Rodgers) as one of the first three inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame." |
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17 Aug 08 - 04:24 PM (#2416259) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Gene Burton It's probably been said before, but the reality is the best songwriter is most likely somebody whom none of us has ever heard or ever will. I mean, who knows why the breaks fall as they do? For me, increasingly, the answer is trad. |
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17 Aug 08 - 04:35 PM (#2416266) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Big Al Whittle Wolfgang Winterbottom and his much misunderstood solo album, 'Songs you Can Wipe You Nose On.' Dreadful songs! but what a character! My favourite songwriter. As they said in Rolling Stone, 'a bar of Winterbottom can bring mucus to the driest nostril.....' |
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17 Aug 08 - 04:37 PM (#2416267) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Peace The following will take you to a bio of Fred Rose. But be aware there are pop-ups galore, and if you do not have a good firewall, forget it. I couldn't cut and paste. Sorry. http://www.angelfire.com/me2/kulacoco/rose.html |
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17 Aug 08 - 06:00 PM (#2416318) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto I did not realize Fred Rose wrote that. That is cool Uncle Tupelo had a great song titled Acuff-Rose it was on thier Anodyne CD. Great song but then again it was Uncle Tupelo they were great anyways. Acuff-Rose you talk about a company that shaped Nashville and Country music OMG. |
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17 Aug 08 - 06:32 PM (#2416347) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Peace Yeah. But that was Nashville then. Then there is Nashville now. I think the worlds are different. ?? |
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17 Aug 08 - 06:35 PM (#2416350) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Peace Soory. What I meant was that today it seems like a commercial venture as opposed to a music venture. I quit even knowing how to spell the name when they turned their collective backs on the Dixie Chicks. I expect however that that's just the side of Nashville I see and that your view is both clearer and more well informed. No offense. |
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17 Aug 08 - 06:44 PM (#2416358) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto Hey I know exactley what you mean Nashville is all about image, marketing, hooks,.. everything but talent. It is sickening to me to see the current shape of Nashville. There is an underground scene that is cool though. I just hope it finds a way to surface. I don't see how it can though. It is so political and all about the charts. I got out of the main stream stuff yrs ago (by choice) I just can't stomach it. You are totally right Peace. It doesn't matter where you are you can see it. |
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17 Aug 08 - 09:06 PM (#2416449) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: oldhippie The late Kate Wolf comes to mind as consistantly writing good material. Another consistant favorite is Carolyn McDade. Otherwise, most favorites are for a single particular song. |
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17 Aug 08 - 09:45 PM (#2416467) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: pdq Ian Anderson wrote: Nothing To Say To Cry You A Song Inside Time For Everything? Nothing Is Easy as well as Aqualung, Bungle In The Jungle, Locomotive Breath and dozens more...wow, what an intellect... |
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18 Aug 08 - 08:58 AM (#2416741) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: balladeer Memo to Marion: She seems to have disappeared from the Net, but if you're interested in women who write from history, see if you can track down the work of Rosalie Peppard. She's back in Nova Scotia now, but a few years ago she was living and playing in Toronto. Her oeuvre focuses on the lives and historical contexts of mostly unknown Canadian women. She wrote a song called Evangeline that is as good as any song I've heard. Re Nashville. Lots of talented writers there for sure. Kevin Welch and Kieran Kane to name a couple. My favourite writers today are Rick Speyer and Garth Douglas. |
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18 Aug 08 - 09:05 AM (#2416747) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,number 6 I can't disagree pdg ... Ian Anderson is certainly a genius when it comes to songwriting. who else could pen such slyrics as this (one of my favs of his) .... "Heavy Horses" Heavy HorsesIron-clad feather-feet pounding the dust An October's day, towards evening Sweat embossed veins standing proud to the plough Salt on a deep chest seasoning Last of the line at an honest day's toil Turning the deep sod under Flint at the fetlock, chasing the bone Flies at the nostrils plunder. biLL |
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18 Aug 08 - 09:37 AM (#2416773) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Folk Form # 1 Too many to mention. Really, too many. |
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18 Aug 08 - 09:46 AM (#2416777) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Cats Jon Heslop [I'm biased], Mike O'Connor [Crowdercref], Barrie Temple, Lucy Burrow [Hawker] |
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18 Aug 08 - 10:28 AM (#2416805) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Mad Spaniel Neil Young Patti Smith Leonard Cohen Steve Knightley Nanci Griffith Joe Strummer Ian Dury Elvis Costello Guy Clark Lucinda Williams John Tams Harvey Andrews Will that do for now? |
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18 Aug 08 - 10:35 AM (#2416813) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: fat B****rd Lieber and Stoller, Carole KIng, Lennon and McCartney, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits. Many of the lyricists from the prewar 'popular song' era...and a few I'm bound to have forgotten |
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18 Aug 08 - 11:03 AM (#2416827) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Mad Spaniel Oh and Tom Waits Bruce Cockburn Bruce Springsteen Townes Van Zandt Christy Moore Joni Mitchell Pete Shepherd Still thinking |
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18 Aug 08 - 11:36 AM (#2416859) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Skylark John Tams! Robin Laing! |
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18 Aug 08 - 11:41 AM (#2416866) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: pdq John Tams! (?) OK, then here is one you never heard of: Tom Jans |
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18 Aug 08 - 01:19 PM (#2416976) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Marymac90 There was another huge one I kept trying to remember yesterday. I kept singin' to myself "10,00 roads I went down, down, down, and they all lead me straight back home to you..." until finally the name of the late, great GRAM PARSONS percolated through! Others not mentioned on this thread yet, I don't think, are Steve Gilette, Charlie King, and Si Kahn. Marymac |
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18 Aug 08 - 01:26 PM (#2416991) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: mg adding to the list of women, Rita McNeil ?? Listen to it's a working man I am on you tube (bard of cornwall does a nice version) if you haven't heard it. mg |
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18 Aug 08 - 01:45 PM (#2417023) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: M.Ted Most everybody great has been mentioned, as well as some not so great, but I am going to through someone in who should be on the list of the greatest songwriters of the 20th Century, and usually isn't, Vietnam's Trinh Cong Son Even if you don't understand the language, the soul of a ravaged land pours out- The page above is a comprehensive collection of recordings, and lyrics are at one of the links at the top--Many are sung by Khanh Ly, whose voice is perfect for his material-- |
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18 Aug 08 - 01:50 PM (#2417028) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Lenny's mum (inactive) My current favourites at this moment in time are Linda Kelly from Hissy Fit and Michael Forsyth from Copper Kettle, both of whom write some really good moving songs. Then, of course, theres George Papavgeris. There are so many great song writers to choose from. |
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18 Aug 08 - 11:20 PM (#2417437) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: fumblefingers Still Living - Tom T. Hall |
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19 Aug 08 - 01:16 AM (#2417493) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST Dylan for depth and longevity, the Carters, then the Texas songwriters from the 1940's to today. |
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19 Aug 08 - 04:46 AM (#2417541) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: BK Lick Open Mike -- Sally Van Meter is a splendid resophonic and steel-guitar virtuoso, but do you know of any songs she has written? —BK |
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19 Aug 08 - 05:12 AM (#2417554) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Greycap There's a lot to choose from so I'm keeping this one short. Living: Norman Blake, Guy Clark Dead: Hank Williams |
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19 Aug 08 - 06:02 AM (#2417568) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: pdq "Sally Van Meter is a splendid resophonic...but do you know of any songs she has written?" Perhaps open mike was thinking of another member of Good Ol' Persons: Kathy Kallick? |
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19 Aug 08 - 09:00 AM (#2417657) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Stewie Chris Smither, Leonard Cohen, Terry Allen. --Stewie. |
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19 Aug 08 - 10:12 AM (#2417709) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Mad Spaniel Terry Allen, now i had forgotten him thanks for reminder |
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19 Aug 08 - 01:54 PM (#2417890) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: BK Lick "Perhaps open mike was thinking of another member of Good Ol' Persons: Kathy Kallick?" Yep, and I'm thinking maybe Marion should give a listen to my own personal favorite song writer. —BK |
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19 Aug 08 - 08:33 PM (#2418222) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: van lingle If teams are permitted: George and Ira Gershwin Lerner and Lowe Bono and The Edge Lennon and McCartney Brecht and Weill and seconding Ian Tyson and Townes Van Zandt |
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20 Aug 08 - 09:12 AM (#2418566) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Mike Rogers This is tough. I had to sift through a lot of names, including Messrs Kristofferson, Harlan Howard,JR Cash, van Zandt, Guy Clark, Hillman, Earle, Silverstein. McDill and Rushing before returning to my first choice: Hank Williams. |
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20 Aug 08 - 09:41 AM (#2418592) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Arkie Terry Allen certainly needs to be in the mix. I do not know how many of his songs were sung by other artists but he does have a way with words and melody. The first time I heard one of his CDs I played it over and over and over and the other guy in my office did the same thing. One of us had it on the CD player constantly for several weeks. |
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20 Aug 08 - 10:45 AM (#2418652) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,KT Aw, Kendall. Thank you... KT |
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20 Aug 08 - 10:53 AM (#2418660) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Wincing Devil Janie Meneely, without a doubt. She is funny, irreverant & witty. I have seen her scribling away at a Sing, I've listened when she askes "what do you think so far?" and I've mangled her stuff myself, and she appreciates it. };-( |
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20 Aug 08 - 11:46 AM (#2418686) Subject: Lyr Add: THE END OF MY PIRATE DAYS (M C Carpenter) From: akenaton Amazed that there's only one vote for Mary Chapin Carpenter(frogprince). She is, in my opinion, one of the finest writers. Here's two of my favourites. THE END OF MY PIRATE DAYS.
The night is soft and silent, new moon at my door |
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20 Aug 08 - 11:50 AM (#2418689) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: C. Ham All time favorites would have to include: Tom Russell, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Leonard Cohen, Kate McGarrigle, Anna McGarrigle, Bruce Murdoch, James Talley, Tom Paxton, Ian Tyson, Stan Rogers, Dave Van Ronk, Jelly Roll Morton, Brownie McGhee, Utah Phillips, Rosalie Sorrels, John Stewart, Hoagy Carmichael, George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. |
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18 Oct 08 - 05:13 PM (#2469373) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: kendall Kris Kristofersen wrote the best country song ever, Sunday Morning Coming Down. |
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18 Oct 08 - 05:54 PM (#2469407) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Becks My absolute favourite is Ray Lamontagne, I will never tire of his music, songs or voice. |
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18 Oct 08 - 06:31 PM (#2469419) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Dave Hunt Bill Caddick John Tams Kate and Anna McGarrigle Cyril Tawney Richard Thompson |
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18 Oct 08 - 06:57 PM (#2469430) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Little Hawk Another vote here for Mary Chapin Carpenter to be among those I give 10 out of 10. You cannot be a better songwriter than Mary Chapin Carpenter is. |
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19 Oct 08 - 05:20 AM (#2469728) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST Chris Wood and Hugh Lupton Joe Strummer Sydney Carter Bob Dylan Neil Finn Leon Rosselson John Tams |
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19 Oct 08 - 06:25 AM (#2469749) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: John MacKenzie One of my favourite's on Radio4 now, Randy Newman. JM |
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19 Oct 08 - 07:12 AM (#2469771) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: quokka From Australia: Paul Kelly Kev Carmody Eric Bogle Mick Thomas Neil Murray Archie Roach Peter Garrett David Hyams David Bridie Josh Pyke Tex Morton John Schumann Shane Howard Darren Hanlon Mark Seymour and now for the women: Judy Small Margaret Roadknight Kasey Chambers Deborah Conway Vicki Simpson Donna Simpson Mia Dyson Sally Dastey Lisa Miller Jodi Martin Jen Cloher I'll probably think of some more later...if anyone wants to know more about anyone on the list let me know! At least one of the above is an Ozcatter (Mudcatter from Australia) Cheers, Quokka |
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19 Oct 08 - 06:47 PM (#2470280) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Cluin Most of my favourites have already been mentioned, several times even. Except one. John Hiatt. |
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19 Oct 08 - 07:43 PM (#2470318) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Susanne (skw) As has been said by others above, there are too many to mention who have given us songs I wouldn't like having to do without. Among those still with us, some for me stand out by the consistency of quality of their output. Among them are Judy Small, Tom Paxton, Gordon Bok and Brian McNeill. Unless I missed it, Brian doesn't seem to have been mentioned in the present thread, which would seem more than a bit unfair. |
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19 Oct 08 - 09:25 PM (#2470376) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Cluin Willie P. Bennett |
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19 Oct 08 - 10:35 PM (#2470402) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Peader (formerly) of Portsmouth Quick list of folkies: Richard Shindell, Jez Lowe & Ewan MacColl non-folkies: Lennon/McCartney & Elvis Costello |
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20 Oct 08 - 03:22 AM (#2470497) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: RamblinStu There are many very good writers already mentioned in this thread, I would like to add one more. Ron Trueman-Border A man of great talent, if you've not heard his work, check him out.. Stuart Pendrill |
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20 Oct 08 - 05:13 AM (#2470540) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: SunrayFC and interestingly he is performing at the SUNRAY FOLK CLUB, this thursday. Supported by Alex and Noleen. |
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20 Oct 08 - 05:14 AM (#2470541) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: SunrayFC .....and looking through the thread, I didn't get a single mention! Damn! |
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20 Oct 08 - 05:40 AM (#2470548) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: David C. Carter I second Jake Thakray,and add Brell & Brassens. |
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20 Oct 08 - 06:20 AM (#2470566) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: David C. Carter Sorry.That should hav been Brel. |
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20 Oct 08 - 02:27 PM (#2470970) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,dulcimerjohn Dave Cousins..Richard Thompson...Bert Jansch.. |
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21 Oct 08 - 12:47 PM (#2471919) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Once, in a former life conducting wine tastings and dinners, I had a guest speaker from England, one David Symington of the noted family of port wine producers and marketers. He was speaking about old vintage ports when he got a question from a doctor in the audience. The question was, "How long can a vintage port age?" He responded, "That's rather like asking, how long is a piece of string, isn't it?" A little obtuse, no doubt, but the point was made. It would depend on the strength of the vintage and many other variables. When you ask a question like, who is your favorite songwriter or what is your favorite song, it is much the same. My answer would vary with my mood, the season, the setting, the phase of my life in which the songs were most prominent, where I was living and who I was with when I heard them. No list would ever cover all of that, but the responses, above, cover most of them. |
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21 Oct 08 - 01:33 PM (#2471957) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto I have to put Waits on here again. I have been listening to his Orphans cd set alot in the last few days. I just had to mention him again because he deserves it afer that 3-cd set. Amazing simply amazing. |
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21 Oct 08 - 02:19 PM (#2472003) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: frogprince I'm glad Dave Carter got mentioned, too. I had fallen in love with his work from the first I heard it. Dave and Tracey opened for Tom Paxton and Anne Hills at the Ark in Ann Arbor, MI., and we drove the two hours to get there; it was a show I would have happily driven six hours to see; we heard "Gentle Soldier Of My Soul" for the first time that night. Turned on the radio just a few days afterward, and learned that he was gone. |
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21 Oct 08 - 04:01 PM (#2472101) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto I get your point TJ. It almost always depends on all the factors you listed. At the same time though there are certain artists I have came across through the years that just sticks with me. No matter when, where, or what is going on they simply hit me hard. That is basically what I was asking for when I started this thread. I am also looking for names and artists I am not familiar with. Tom Waits, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle,... These guys just speak the same language as my mind and soul. I never waver on these artists be it good times or bad, if I am in the desert or on a beach, no matter where or when. These are the guys that can penetrate my mind and soul with the thoughts and words that pour out of the speakers. |
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21 Oct 08 - 04:08 PM (#2472109) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Dave Illingworth So many good writers that I love have been already mentioned. I was particularly pleased to see one mention (by "Francy") of DAVID OLNEY. A personal favourite. He writes in such a variety of forms:- blues, country, rock'n'roll, folk (some that sound "traditional"). He is a master of putting words in the mouths of different characters, e.g. :- The French prostitute in "1917" The ventriloquist's dummy in "WHO's THE DUMMY NOW" The ass that carried Jesus through Jerusalem in "BRAYS" and loads more. A fine live performer, too. "Arkie" mentioned Aussie songwriters. The late SLIM DUSTY and his wife JOY McKEAN wrote some fine songs about outback characters. Not sure if anyone has mentioned the Irish writer MICK HANLEY - a good singer, too. |
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22 Oct 08 - 11:54 AM (#2472826) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,baz parkes So is it only Dave and I rate Bill Caddick? John Tams Jez Lowe Guy Clarke Emmylou Harris Richard Thompson I just rememebered I don't like singer/songwriters...:-)) Baz |
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22 Oct 08 - 05:08 PM (#2473120) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: PeadarOfPortsmouth Oh...I forgot Dave Francey...great stuff |
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23 Oct 08 - 07:23 PM (#2474247) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Dave MacKenzie I had a long list when I started reading this thread, but the only one left unmentioned is Rennie Sparks of the Handsome Family. |
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23 Oct 08 - 08:04 PM (#2474293) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Dead Horse Mike West |
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23 Oct 08 - 08:40 PM (#2474316) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Tattie Bogle Only one previous mention from Skylark, but I would definitely have ROBIN LAING way up high on my list: extraordinarily clever with words, and highly entertaining to boot. Not yet seen David Francey, but will be next week: from what I've heard on the radio, he could be up there too. Anyone mention Steve Tilston? Of the others already mentioned, Eric Bogle and Tom Paxton also fit the bill for me. |
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24 Oct 08 - 06:34 PM (#2475321) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Dave MacKenzie 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) |
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24 Oct 08 - 07:28 PM (#2475381) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Acorn4 or Franz Scubert? |
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25 Oct 08 - 05:05 PM (#2476038) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Mrs Scarecrow You didn't read the whole list Baz I know I put Bill Caddick in in August some time, |
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27 Oct 08 - 08:31 AM (#2477140) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Tattie Bogle Oh, and Graeme Miles. |
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31 Oct 08 - 11:38 AM (#2480900) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Rob the Roadie I know I am a bit biased here but....... My Wife. |
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03 Nov 08 - 06:13 PM (#2483827) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Tattie Bogle Ok then Rob, wotsername? |
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16 Mar 09 - 09:08 AM (#2589989) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Rob the Roadie 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. |
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16 Mar 09 - 11:20 AM (#2590083) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Bert 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. |
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16 Mar 09 - 11:25 AM (#2590088) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Musket 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. |
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16 Mar 09 - 11:30 AM (#2590094) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: HipflaskAndy Ian Anderson (the J.Tull one) Neil Finn Richard Thompson Stephen Fellows (of Sheffield) - Who? (you say) - refer to 'Comsat Angels' |
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16 Mar 09 - 11:46 AM (#2590104) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jayto 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. |
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16 Mar 09 - 01:26 PM (#2590209) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: boosh definitely has to be Nick Drake. |
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16 Mar 09 - 03:59 PM (#2590364) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Sookite 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 |
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16 Mar 09 - 04:23 PM (#2590389) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Joseph de Culver City Tim Hardin |
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16 Mar 09 - 05:46 PM (#2590477) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Seamus Kennedy 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 |
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19 Mar 12 - 12:11 AM (#3324925) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Iona Bob Nolan for me! Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer, Tommy Makem, etc. etc. |
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19 Mar 12 - 04:05 AM (#3324955) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: alanabit 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. |
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19 Mar 12 - 05:05 AM (#3324966) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Larry Saidman 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). |
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19 Mar 12 - 05:35 AM (#3324977) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity 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 |
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19 Mar 12 - 06:07 AM (#3324985) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: autolycus 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. |
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19 Mar 12 - 05:06 PM (#3325358) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: dick greenhaus Henry Clay Work Stephen Foster Ewan MacColl |
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20 Mar 12 - 05:25 AM (#3325598) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Musket 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. |
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20 Mar 12 - 07:52 AM (#3325636) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: The Sandman i dont have one |
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22 Mar 12 - 08:55 AM (#3326990) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,HiLo Dylan, Cohen, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Lennon& McCartney ,Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Van Morrison...loads more, but these are a fwe of my favourites. |
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22 Mar 12 - 03:35 PM (#3327222) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Dave the Gnome 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 |
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22 Mar 12 - 04:24 PM (#3327256) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Bert 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. |
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22 Mar 12 - 05:38 PM (#3327302) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Little Hawk 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. |
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22 Mar 12 - 05:41 PM (#3327308) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Crowhugger 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 |
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22 Mar 12 - 06:23 PM (#3327317) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Dave the Gnome 200! |
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23 Mar 12 - 11:03 AM (#3327669) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Elmore 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. |
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23 Mar 12 - 11:06 AM (#3327671) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Fyldeplayer 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. |
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23 Mar 12 - 11:38 AM (#3327691) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: pdq 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). |
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23 Mar 12 - 12:28 PM (#3327714) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Elmore 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. |
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23 Mar 12 - 01:41 PM (#3327761) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: topical tom 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. |
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23 Mar 12 - 01:48 PM (#3327763) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Robo Guy Clark would be at or very near the top, along with John Prine . . . and Ray Davies! |
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23 Mar 12 - 02:21 PM (#3327783) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: eddie1 Topical Tom. I totally agree on Eric Bogle but, although he has lived in Australia for a long time - he's Scottish! Eddie |
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23 Mar 12 - 02:57 PM (#3327805) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Elmore Still, he's been an Australian citizen since 1982. |
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23 Mar 12 - 03:00 PM (#3327810) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Big Al Whittle Dorothy Field |
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23 Mar 12 - 03:02 PM (#3327813) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: pdq 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. |
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23 Mar 12 - 03:30 PM (#3327832) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST 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 |
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23 Mar 12 - 05:08 PM (#3327880) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Robo Just got through reading the entire list . . . can't believe I'm the only Ray Davies fan! |
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23 Mar 12 - 07:42 PM (#3327952) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,CS 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.. |
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18 Jun 17 - 09:54 AM (#3861575) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST Kate McGarrigle, Anna McGarrigle, Joni Mitchell,Kate Bush, Neil Young. |
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18 Jun 17 - 12:44 PM (#3861596) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,DTM 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) |
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18 Jun 17 - 07:51 PM (#3861646) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: robomatic 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 |
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18 Jun 17 - 08:13 PM (#3861647) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Jerome Clark 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 |
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19 Jun 17 - 05:46 PM (#3861798) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Roz We gotta get Pheobe Snow on the list! And don't forget the wonderful Michael Hurley! |
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19 Jun 17 - 09:35 PM (#3861829) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST 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.... |
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20 Jun 17 - 06:55 AM (#3861876) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: GUEST,Desi C 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 |
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20 Jun 17 - 03:31 PM (#3861986) Subject: RE: Who's your personal favorite song writer From: Jackaroodave 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.) |