Your favorite songwriter ever?

[Nico]

Does anyone have a definite all-time favorite songwriter? Or maybe a top 5? I'm always curious to read about others' musical inclinations and who they are most touched by. Or is it too difficult a feat to even go there? ;)

[mezzoforte]

1. Van Morrison
2. Brian Wilson
3. Stevie Nicks
4. Paul Simon
5. Laura Nyro


Also:

Kate Bush, Carole King/Gerry Goffin, Billy Joel, Cat Stevens

[Fiver]

Yes, tough question... I quite like the guy in your avatar though. :thumbsup:



Some others:

Townes Van Zandt
Neil Young
Kate Bush
Brian Wilson with Van Dyke Parks (does a collaboration count?)
Joni Mitchell

Some members of FM are in my top 5, but we talk about them enough, huh? :rolleyes:

Actually, I can't decide who my favorite songwriter of the band is, so I chickened out and skipped 'em.

[louielouie2000]

Of all the artists I love, I think Joseph Arthur is probably the best songwriter. But Stevie Nicks is easily my favorite.

[Pyewacket]

My favorite songwriters are all women. Don't know why. Don't care.

I'd say Stevie Nicks was in my top five...she knows how to write a melody and her lyrics are very poetic and deep and....speak the truth, really. I won't include a video for her since...well, she's pretty well-known around these parts. :) But a favorite would be "Garbo" -- all versions.

Kate Bush is my favorite songwriter of all time. She seems to be, in some ways, the opposite of Stevie -- more cerebral and inventive than emotional and reactive, but she has that side of her as well. The recommended song for Stevie fans: Under The Ivy
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I also love Carly Simon. She's more of a sensible songwriter -- very adept at a melody and very canny with a wry comment or a devastatingly wistful reflection. She doesn't get enough credit for her abilities. She's among the best!
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Also among my favorites is Tori Amos, though sometimes I fault her for trying too hard and pushing the crazy to the point where it seems...actually...crazy. But her melodies are infallible. She does a cover of that Carly Simon song (above), but for now, I'll go with this song, which I recorded of her live at the Greek:
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Finally a relatively new singer/songwriter, who often shares songwriting duties with her husband Keir Nuttall. Her name is Kate Miller-Heidke and she's as good as anyone at delivering a chillingly deep, heartbreaking song. But one thing she does better than anyone is...the song that speaks so well to situations we all face, that you can't help but laugh your ass off. This one I filmed at The Hotel Cafe and is NSFW:
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[Nico]

These selections are all so fantastic. I don't know much about Joseph Arthur, Louie, but I'm intrigued to say the least. I checked out his albums on Amazon and they all seem so highly rated. Is there one you could recommend?

LOVE that someone picked Kate Bush as their favorite songwriter. My dad would approve.:nod:

And Townes Van Zandt, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell...:xoxo:

[louielouie2000]

I don't know much about Joseph Arthur, Louie, but I'm intrigued to say the least. I checked out his albums on Amazon and they all seem so highly rated. Is there one you could recommend?

His albums are all so varied in style and content. His newer ones tend to be much more progressive and experimental, and probably not as easily accessible. The best diving off point in my opinion is either Redemption's Son or Nuclear Daydream. I think Redemption's Son is his consummate work, his Tusk, if you will. Here are a couple of Joseph's more accessible songs:

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<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/w1dePnKv9HU?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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And yes, he definitely has more hard rock songs. I chose these because they're easily accessible to most listeners. He also has dabbled a bit into country and electronica. He' all about experimenting and mixing it up. He reminds me a lot of Lindsey Buckingham in his kinda manic approach to sonic experimentation. Except Joseph's a THOUSAND times more prolific :).

[CreepingDeath]

This will probably change by tomorrow. I'm not thinking too clearly right now.

Stevie Nicks
Lucinda Williams
Carole King
Carly Simon
Joni Mitchell
Roseanne Cash
Dolly Parton
Bruce Springsteen
Nick Cave
Roger Waters/David Gilmour
Lennon/McCartney
Neil Young

[Dodfather]

This Lucinda Williams
Dolly Parton


Seems we have very similar music taste! I love that you've included Dolly here. So often all the image that goes with her means that her talent as a connsumate songwriter is overlooked.

Here's a list of my favourites, no real order (other than probably the first few on the list):

Jackson Browne
Adam Duritz
Jani Mitchell
Stevie Nicks
Suzanne Vega
Neil Young
Carole King
James Taylor
Dolly Parton
Alison Moyet
John Hiatt

So many more....

[McTrouble]

Lindsey Buckingham - no-one else comes close, or ever will :D

[Dodfather]

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Like so many people I guess, I only knew this song for ages because of The O.C. Sorry if that hurts your everything Louie but I loved the first 2 seasons of that show! Always loved that track and so did investigate the album a while ago. I like it and have been meaning to pick it up. I also need to get Come To Where I'm From - In The Sun was in The O.C. too!

[Pyewacket]

You snared me, louielouie2K...I've never heard of Joseph Arthur (I've never once watched the OC, either) and just nabbed two of his albums on ebay. I don't know why I'm not a big follower of many male performers. Sufjan Stevens has come the closest, but I find that while I appreciate his stuff, I don't listen to it often enough to make me a "fan." Thanks for posting the JA videos...can't wait to have the CDs in my hands...
:blob2:

[RickRobert]

I love Marc Bolan, Jack Johnson, Fish, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Paul McCartney, and the Hanson guys.

[ruffian]

Ms. Nicks, Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Felice & Boudleaux Bryant, Chrissie Hynde, Ray Davies, Dolly Parton, Cole Porter, Harlan Howard, Johnny Mercer, Holland/Dozier/Holland, Lee Hazelwood.

[Jondalar]

Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Lucinda Willams, Leanard Cohen, Johnette Napolatin, Joni Mitchell, Tom Petty, dolly parton, fiona apple...

[Artemis]

Hm, this may be a tricky one.

Stevie Nicks
Karen O / The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Holland-Dozier-Holland (Mainly for their work with The Supremes)
Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Jimmy Destri (I'm actually finding lately that I'm loving Jimmy's songs the most from the majority of Blondie's albums)
Dolly Parton
Tom Petty
Kate Bush
Gwen Stefani

[ButterCookie]

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Jimmy Destri (I'm actually finding lately that I'm loving Jimmy's songs the most from the majority of Blondie's albums)
Kate Bush


I concur! Jimmy is a very very very very talented writer and I miss his presence on Blondie albums so much. It's a shame all that **** went down :/

As well as those same three,
Patti Smith
Christine McVie
David Bowie

[Dodfather]

Awwww, no-one else loving Adam Duritz??

[WildHearted]

Stevie Nicks
Billy Joel
Kenny Loggins
Taylor Hanson
Dolly Parton

[GypsySorcerer]

David Bowie

Good choice. He's pretty brilliant. :thumbsup:

Besides Stevie/Lindsey/Christine:

Carole King
Joni Mitchell
Bob Dylan
Dolly Parton
Loretta Lynn
John Fogerty
Bernie Taupin/Elton John
Patty Griffin
Neil Young

[bluefox4000]

Billy Joel
Leonard Cohen
Lennon/Mccartney
Roger Waters
Lindsey Buckingham
Peter Gabriel
Robbie Robertson/Richard Manuel
Carole King
James Taylor
Mark Knopfler
Don Henley


Bold are the ones I really like......So most:nod:

Mick

[chriskisn]

Good choice. He's pretty brilliant. :thumbsup:

Besides Stevie/Lindsey/Christine:

Carole King
Joni Mitchell
Bob Dylan
Dolly Parton
Loretta Lynn
John Fogerty
Bernie Taupin/Elton John
Patty Griffin
Neil Young

Finally...I was wondering when His Bobness would get a mention. He's the best damn songwriter ever. He can create pictures in your head with his words and I've never heard anyone who even comes close.

[Silver Springs]

In no particular order:

Leonard Cohen
Sarah McLachlan
Simon And Garfunkel (equally)
Michael Stipe
Adam Duritz


Special Mentions:


Lindsey Buckingham
Tori Amos
Annie Lennox
Joni Mitchell
Billy Joel
Rufus Wainwright
Bob Dylan
David Gray

[LikeAWillow]

Springsteen
Nicks
Mitchell
Amos
Simon
Cohen
Dylan
Love
Feist

[tilthefirefades]

Brian Molko.

[David]

Let me through in a couple of expert word-wielders: Elvis Costello & Rickie Lee Jones.

Also, don't forget a very clever & satiric writer, who was a friend of the FM people: Warren Zevon.

[ryguy2010]

Springsteen
Nicks
Mitchell
Amos
Simon
Cohen
Dylan
Love
Feist

We must have been seperated @ birth because this is my list!! I would like to add Baez as well. Plus Plant and both Carly and Paul Simon.

[LikeAWillow]

We must have been seperated @ birth because this is my list!! I would like to add Baez as well. Plus Plant and both Carly and Paul Simon.

I MEANT TO ADD BAEZ. I love you. That is all.

[Dodfather]

Rickie Lee Jones.



Good choice!

[ryguy2010]

I MEANT TO ADD BAEZ. I love you. That is all.

Well my heart pounds for you and your refined taste! Love you too :xoxo:

[CreepingDeath]

I forgot to add my metal/hard rock guys:

Ronnie James Dio
Geezer Butler/Tony Iommi
Steve Harris/Adrian Smith/Bruce Dickinson
Jimmy Page/Robert Plant
Maynard James Keenan
Mike Akerfeldt
Trent Reznor
Amy Lee
James Hetfield/Cliff Burton/Lars Ulrich -not so much Ulrich and Hetfield's recent material.

[Nico]

1. Van Morrison
2. Brian Wilson
3. Stevie Nicks
4. Paul Simon
5. Laura Nyro


Ok, I love you for putting this flawless woman in your top 5. Not only is she one of the coolest women to ever put voice to record, but her songwriting is just stunning. I have been a Laura Stan for years. Her and Ricki Lee Jones own my playlist when I have to soar away into a land of greatness. Good taste you have.

[markolas]

Hard to say. Joni Mitchell would be close to the top, even though she's crazy now. :lol:

Laura Nyro would be up there, too. Jackson Browne is a good one, but his songs depress me more often than not - he's hard for me to listen to. Dolly Parton doesn't get enough credit as a songwriter, but she's another great one. I wouldn't put Stevie in the upper echelons of singer-songwriters, but when she's good, she's really good. :)

[Nico]

Hard to say. Joni Mitchell would be close to the top, even though she's crazy now. :lol:

Laura Nyro would be up there, too. Jackson Browne is a good one, but his songs depress me more often than not - he's hard for me to listen to. Dolly Parton doesn't get enough credit as a songwriter, but she's another great one. I wouldn't put Stevie in the upper echelons of singer-songwriters, but when she's good, she's really good. :)

When I was 11 I discovered Jackson Browne through one of my dad's many great albums. I believe it was a soundtrack to a film, can't remember which one, but I fell in love. I developed some sort of crush on him as well because he was sorta hot for a long time. Anyway, fast-forward to now and I believe he is one of the best songwriters to emerge in the late-60s/early 70s and definitely a legend.

Obviously, he wrote some fantastic stuff for other people- one fierce female in particular, Nico, is one of my all-time favorite musical artists. Her cover of his song These Days is one of the most gorgeous things you'll ever hear. He has his depressing moments, but I can't listen to For A Dancer without marveling at the beauty of his words and the way his singing wraps around the melody.

Jackson Browne is a great songwriter and I agree with your mention. :nod:

[TerraRhiannon]

Stevie Nicks <3
Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Nancy (& Ann) Wilson
Imogen Heap
Florence Welch
Scott Jason

...tons of other ones but i'm super tired.

[Dodfather]

Sarah McLachlan
Adam Duritz
[/LIST]


Annie Lennox


Yay! Nice to see Adam getting another mention. Good choice on Annie Lennox too. I've been a fan of hers for years, although her recent solo work has been a bit ignored, which is a shame. Se was born just up the road from me actually. Some of Sarah's stuff is also absolutely beautiful.

Anyway, fast-forward to now and I believe he is one of the best songwriters to emerge in the late-60s/early 70s and definitely a legend.

Obviously, he wrote some fantastic stuff for other people- one fierce female in particular, Nico, is one of my all-time favorite musical artists. Her cover of his song These Days is one of the most gorgeous things you'll ever hear. He has his depressing moments, but I can't listen to For A Dancer without marveling at the beauty of his words and the way his singing wraps around the melody.

Jackson Browne is a great songwriter and I agree with your mention. :nod:

I completely agree.

[markolas]

He has his depressing moments, but I can't listen to For A Dancer without marveling at the beauty of his words and the way his singing wraps around the melody.

When I said his songs were depressing, For a Dancer is the main one I had in mind. It's a beautiful song, but if I'm not in the right mood, it makes me want to slit my wrists. :lol:

Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris did a gorgeous cover of it on their Western Wall album.

[mylittledemon]

tom petty
john mellencamp
bono
don henley
annie lennox
john rzeznik
ryan adams

[Nico]

Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris did a gorgeous cover of it on their Western Wall album.

I love their cover. They sort of made it poppy. But the original is my song. I can't replace it. It is rather depressing though...but there's parts of it that make me smile.

[Nico]

tom petty
john mellencamp
bono
don henley
annie lennox
john rzeznik
ryan adams

I sometimes think he gets overlooked in the "great songwriters" lists and I'm not sure why. He definitely belongs right up there somewhere because the man is brilliant.

[StandbackStevie]

Besides Stevie Nicks,Lindsey Buckingham,Christine McVie and Peter Green. not in any order. a few to list I love so many singer/songwriters but of course my one and only favorite is Our Lady STEVIE NICKS.
Elton John/Bernie Taupin
Ann Wilson/Nancy Wilson
John Lennon/Paul McCartney
Roger Waters/David Gilmore
Chaka Khan
Carly Simon
Grace Slick
Billy Joel
Joni Mitchell
Ricki Lee Jones
Pat Benatar
Carol King
James Taylor
Don Henley
Phil Collins
Peter Gabrielle
Kate Bush
Debbie Harry
Jim Morrison
Jimmi Hendrix
Jerry Garcia
Phil Lesh
Bob Weir
Jimmy Page/Robert Plant
Bob Dylan
Tom Petty/Mike Campbell
Linda Ronstandt
Lou Reed
Janis Joplin


and my list can just go on and on and on...lol

[Dodfather]

When I said his songs were depressing, For a Dancer is the main one I had in mind. It's a beautiful song, but if I'm not in the right mood, it makes me want to slit my wrists. :lol:

Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris did a gorgeous cover of it on their Western Wall album.

Their cover really is beautiful. Hey, there are more depressing Jackson songs though - what about Song For Adam? That's about as bleak as it gets.


annie lennox
john rzeznik
ryan adams

Great choices Brandon! Already mentioned how much Ilike Anne but Ryan is up there on my list too. Heartbreaker, Gold, Demolition, Easy Tiger - all great albums. I'm not so keen on Rock and Roll though. Goo Goo Dolls fan here too.

[cliffdweller]

My faves:

Joni Mitchell
Tom Petty
Neil Young
Kathleen Edwards
Warren Zevon
Nick Cave
Leonard Cohen
Patti Smith
David Bowie

[KarmaContestant]

Favorite songwriters of all-time? There are many I love and like, but my favorites would have to be:

Stevie Nicks
Martin Gore
Sergio Pizzorno
Neko Case
Steve Severin

[76sparky]

Stevie Nicks
Kate Bush
Alison Goldfrapp/ Will Gregory
Siouxsie Sioux / Steven Severin
Tori Amos
Katie Jane Garside
Marc Bolan
Grace Jones
Bowie

[KarmaContestant]

Stevie Nicks
Siouxsie Sioux / Steven Severin


Hell yeah. :woohoo:

[Fleetwoodmark]

Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham obviously. They speak to me as writers like no one else can.

Why else would I be on this forum :)

[Kena]

Of all the artists I love, I think Joseph Arthur is probably the best songwriter. But Stevie Nicks is easily my favorite.

I think it's so cute how much you plug Joseph Arthur...I bought two of his CD's last year because of you...bet you didn't know that! Anyways, I always put Honey and the Moon on any CD I burn for a friend and always get asked who sings it. I guess I'm paying it foward! :nod:

[Kena]

When I was 11 I discovered Jackson Browne through one of my dad's many great albums. I believe it was a soundtrack to a film, can't remember which one, but I fell in love. I developed some sort of crush on him as well because he was sorta hot for a long time. Anyway, fast-forward to now and I believe he is one of the best songwriters to emerge in the late-60s/early 70s and definitely a legend.

I think he's still sorta hot...as long as I don't start thinking about the whole beating up Daryl Hannah bit. How could you beat up a mermaid?

[Nico]

I think he's still sorta hot...as long as I don't start thinking about the whole beating up Daryl Hannah bit. How could you beat up a mermaid?

I read somewhere that those allegations were unfounded but I don't know much more than that. :)

[Nico]

I think it's so cute how much you plug Joseph Arthur...I bought two of his CD's last year because of you...bet you didn't know that! Anyways, I always put Honey and the Moon on any CD I burn for a friend and always get asked who sings it. I guess I'm paying it foward! :nod:

I'm probably going to buy his music just based on Louie's posts as well.:nod:

[vivfox]

Stevie Nicks
John Lennon
Paul McCartney

[Nico]

Stevie Nicks
John Lennon
Paul McCartney

Nice. :nod:

I have so many artists that I love and whose music has touched me. It's really difficult to make a list, really, but I know for a matter of fact that my all-time favorite songwriter will always be John Lennon. No one else even comes close in my books. He's been gone for 30 years and still...no one has touched him. It's the passion, the humor, the honesty, the romanticism, his envelope-pushing, raw yet melodic style that stays with me, in my heart and mind, forever. As a little girl, despite either observing them with indifference or then deciding George was my favorite, it was always John's songs and John's voice that mattered to me. I always came back to him. His music is really the soundtrack to my life.

Drew Barrymore (beacon of wisdom, I know :lol:) did say something that I agreed wholeheartedly with: "Anything in life, whatever your question is for the universe, if you put on a John Lennon song, he will answer you."

Absolutely.

[SteveMacD]

Robert Pollard

[Dodfather]

Anyone here know Judee Sill? She had 2 album, self titled in 1971 and Heart Food in 1973. She was actually the first artists ever signed to Asylum. Her music is beautiful I think and she belongs right up there with Joni Mitchell et al.

It's hard to categorize her stuff though. It's a bit of ringer-songwriter, choral, orchestral, folk rock country cult baroque (Judee herself uses the last 3 terms, haha!) The sonfg everyone may know is Jesus Was A Crossmaker, which as been covered a few times. Then there's LAady 0, which she gave to The Turtles and then released herself. Others include The Phantom Cowboy, There's A Rugged Road, The Pearl, Crayon Angels (which Fleet Foxes have resurrected in their live shows).

2 albums of absolutely stellar material, incredible lyrics, but she died of a heroin and cocaine overdose in 1978 after fading from the scene. She's recently been rediscovered as an huge point of reference for the Laurel Canyon scene.

Please tell me someone here knows who she is!

[wheart]

Joni Mitchell...nobody else does it for me like Joni!

[Nico]

Joni Mitchell...nobody else does it for me like Joni!

I love her SO much. Along with PJ Harvey, my top female songwriter of all time. There are not enough words for her greatness.

[sara1998]

Stevie
Lindsey
Dave Matthews
Tom Petty
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
George Harrison

[TrueFaith77]

Morrissey

obvs

[jeffd8382]

REALLY tough to pick even just a few... since the thread says "songwriter", I will avoid people who are classified or who I think of as composers (that really would be a whole different list):

- Benny Andersson (would also make my composer list)
- The Gibb Brothers (particularly Maurice & Barry Gibb)
- Burt Bacharach
- Stevie Nicks
- Lisa Dalbello (one of the MOST under-rated singer/songwriters that I know... I even made a fan-page for her: dalbello.4x2.net (http://dalbello.4x2.net). I have always heard she was a big inspiration for singer/songwriters like Alanis Morissette)
- Christine McVie
- Per Gessle (the guy has an incredible penchant for writing simple pop songs, but somehow always with never-ending originality.. check out his solo stuff outside of Roxette!)

These are just the first to come to mind... there are so many excellent songwriters.

[TerraRhiannon]

Stevie Nicks, Bernie Taupin, Bernie Taupin, Bernie Taupin, UNF Bernie Taupin.

I think I already answered this question, oh well. :)

[bluefox4000]

I answered as well....screw it.

Leonard Cohen
Lindsey Buckingham
Billy Joel
and..................Mark Freakin' Knopfler.

Right now.....Mark is my god:blob1::blob1:

Mick

[Nico]

I answered as well....screw it.

Leonard Cohen
Lindsey Buckingham
Billy Joel
and..................Mark Freakin' Knopfler.

Right now.....Mark is my god:blob1::blob1:

Mick

I love all of these people. And don't get me started on Leonard...:xoxo: And Mark? Such greatness.

[Dodfather]

- Per Gessle (the guy has an incredible penchant for writing simple pop songs, but somehow always with never-ending originality.. check out his solo stuff outside of Roxette!)



Great choice!!

[bluefox4000]

I love all of these people. And don't get me started on Leonard...:xoxo: And Mark? Such greatness.

I Love everything Mark's ever done. From the Dire Straits debut. All the way to Get Lucky. One of those rare artists who everything he does is gold....i'm serious. Not a clunker in his catalog.:thumbsup:

Mick