Name your favourite top 6 songwriters

[lancs blue]

Ray Davies = God
Mere mortals:
Bob Dylan
Pete Townshend
Joe Strummer
Holland Dozier and Holland
Lennon & McCartney

 

[Revolver]

Lennon and McCartney (The best)
Jagger Richards (Until early 80s)
Ray Davies ( Until 1970)
Prince (Up to Sign of The Times)
Lana Del Ray
Alex Turner

 

[blue aura]

Loudon Wainwright III
Leonard Cohen
Roy Harper
Guy Garvey
Craig and Charlie Reid
Nick Drake

I was brought up listening to Loudon Wainwright, my dad loves him. My first gig was him at the Half Moon in Putney , I was only 7 or 8. I can remember him singing Rufus is a Tit Man like it was yesterday.

 

[blue aura]

Ray Davies = God
Mere mortals:
Bob Dylan
Pete Townshend
Joe Strummer
Holland Dozier and Holland
Lennon & McCartney

No one comes close to Ray Davies for me.

 

[Boo or Boo-urns]

Lana Del Ray

Great shout.

Lana.

 

[Protein Junkie]

Lana Del Ray Davies it is then ?

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Cole Porter, hands down.

Johnny Mercer, and George and Ira Gershwin penned some pretty memorable songs, too.

In more recent history: Joni Mitchell would be up there, as would Dylan. Marvin Gaye. Lennon and McCartney we can take as given (definitely not Lennon on his own, definitely not McCartney on his own, sorry). Short career, but by God Paddy McAloon penned some memorable tunes. Not always wild about his lyrics.

Just for MES: Morrissey composed a number of good songs, although I do get weary of that voice like cattle lowing in the meadow…

Shout-out for most ridiculously underrated songsmiths in rock history: Colin Moulding and Andy Partridge.

Ray Davies? Obviously.

Have I gone past six? Oops.

 

[buckshot]

Just talking to my wife about songwriters who are still able to create great music over decades. I can't think of anybody better than Paul Simon and Bruce if that is the deciding factor. Paul Simon released Graceland (arguably his best stuff) 20 years after Sounds of Silence. Bruce released Greetings from Asbury Park in 1973 and is still pumping out great original music going on 50 years later.

 

[buckshot]

Great shout.

Lana.

I don't get the love for her. I saw her early on as the musical guest on SNL and it was one of the worst things I've ever seen. Maybe I should revisit.

 

[shackattack]

Michael Head
Steve Mason
Cathal Coughlan
Roddy Frame
Paddy McAloon

Mick Head is a great songwriter as is Roddy, only one there I've never really listened to much is Steve Mason weirdly.
Of a similar genre I would also add Ron Sexsmith and Robert Forster/ Grant Mclennan.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

I was brought up listening to Loudon Wainwright, my dad loves him. My first gig was him at the Half Moon in Putney , I was only 7 or 8. I can remember him singing Rufus is a Tit Man like it was yesterday.

Rufus is no longer a tit man and hasn't been for quite a while.
Some musical family mind you.

 

[Tuearts right boot]

Fish
Springstein
Steinman
Ian Anderson
Peart
Townshend

 

[Saxmundham Blue]

Mick Head is a great songwriter as is Roddy, only one there I've never really listened to much is Steve Mason weirdly.
Of a similar genre I would also add Ron Sexsmith and Robert Forster/ Grant Mclennan.

I was going to put The GoBetweens!

 

[mancity1]

My takeaway is that apparently there have only been about 20 artists in music history, and the last ones who ever wrote anything were Rivers Cuomo and J Mascis :)

JK. For me:

Neil Young
Walter Becker/Donald Fagan (that I am the first to mention these guys is sad)
Neil Tennant/Chris Lowe
Adam Schlesinger/Chris Collingwood
Corin Tucker/Carrie Brownstein
Eric Bachman

I would have Becker and Fagan in my list but I only came across this thread today (LOL). IMO there are some good songs on Gaucho , not too many bad ones.

My takeaway is that apparently there have only been about 20 artists in music history, and the last ones who ever wrote anything were Rivers Cuomo and J Mascis :)

JK. For me:

Neil Young
Walter Becker/Donald Fagan (that I am the first to mention these guys is sad)
Neil Tennant/Chris Lowe
Adam Schlesinger/Chris Collingwood
Corin Tucker/Carrie Brownstein
Eric Bachmann

AJA is as good as its gets for production perfection , if I could play only one album it would hard to go past it IMO.

 

[mancity1]

Albert Hammond
Prince
Jimmy McCarthy
Carole King
Jimmy Webb
Lennon & McCartney

Albert Hammond is an interesting choice. A who's who of artists have sung and covered his songs but because much of his work involved collaboration I couldn't have him on his own on any list.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

I would have Becker and Fagan in my list but I only came across this thread today (LOL). IMO there are some good songs on Gaucho , not too many bad ones.

AJA is as good as its gets for production perfection , if I could play only one album it would hard to go past it IMO.

I like Gaucho too — not so sure about the stuff they did after. Don’t know it that well. While Aja is the one I play most and enjoy the most, I really like them all. Katy Lied is another favo(u)rite. And the first one.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Albert Hammond is an interesting choice. A who's who of artists have sung and covered his songs but because much of his work involved collaboration I couldn't have him on his own on any list.

Thats a good observation.
It was just the diversity of the songs that he was involved in

Don't Turn around -Aswad
All the girls I've loved before- Willie and Julio
Nothings gonna stop us now- Starship
When I need you-Leo Sayer
Air that I breathe - Hollies
One moment in time (for the Olympics )

I actually misunderstood the thread title and was only thinking of people who have produced hits for others artists.
Thats why the likes of Prince, Steinman, Jimmy McCarthy were in my head.

 

[OB1]

Page /Plant
Jagger / Richards
Lee / Lifeson / Peart
Bruce Springsteen
Pete Townshend
Phi Lynott

several other contenders...

 

[Protein Junkie]

Fish
Springstein
Steinman
Ian Anderson
Peart
Townshend

Unlikely writing duo would be Fish and Seal.
Also Adam LambertRick Buckler and Carrie Underwood/Phil Oakley.