Your favorite songwriter ever?

[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]

Originally Posted by mezzoforte

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.

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]

Originally Posted by markolas

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

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.

[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]

Originally Posted by Silver Springs

[*]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.

Originally Posted by Nico

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.

I completely agree.

[markolas]

Originally Posted by Nico

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.

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]

Originally Posted by markolas

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]

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

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]

Originally Posted by markolas

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.

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.

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

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