Songwriter/s
 

Who is/are the best ? Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Carole King ? Don't say that over-rated pair of scousers. Personally I think it's a toss up between Dylan and Paul Simon.

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Ray Davies (The Kinks) is often overlooked. Had he had lived I think Jeff Buckley would have been up there also.

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I can tell you who the worst songwriters of all time are....the red hot chili peppers.

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Lennon and McCartney the best.

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Did you know that many Beatles songs (particularly the later stuff) were written by either John or Paul, not both. It was due to something to do with publication why the legend Lennon/McCartney appears in the credits. Of course many songs were co-written. They also wrote songs for other people by the way - Cilla Black being one.

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See below the front cover of the album THE SONGS LENNON AND McCARTNEY GAVE AWAY, RELEASED 18th APRIL 1979.

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I dont recognise any of those faces except for Cilla Black..looks like a young Jarvis Cocker or Alan Bennet though! Some names out of interest?

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They wrote for, Billy J Krammer, Tommy Quickly, The Fourmost, Mary Hopkin, Bad Finger, Peter and Gordon, P.J Proby,

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P J Proby
I Think?

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Paul Simon is definately up there with the best. It must be something to do with my musical era, because I always thought that Paul Weller was something of a talent too... :D

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Being from the same era, I concur.

Paul Weller started out as the driving force of The Jam, writing the majority of their lyrics. He was often referred to as the 'angry young man', due to his highly politicised songs, like Standards, Going Underground, Eton Rifles and 'A' Bomb in Wardour Street.
Besides these angry side-swipes at the British establishment of the time, Weller also displayed a mellower more soulful aspect to his song writing, with songs like Fly, Ghosts (a personal favourite of mine) and English Rose amongst others. Incidentally, Weller would never agree to allow the lyrics of English Rose to be published on the album sleeve notes for ‘All Mod Cons’ because he felt that to read the words alone, without the musical arrangement was lacking something.
To read more about Paul Weller’s songwriting talents from this era go to http://www.thejam.org.uk/main.html.

As an example of how astute and how acerbic Paul Weller’s pen was, here are lyrics of the title track from the album ‘All Mod Cons’; short and sweet and straight to the point. This man did not suffer fools…..

ALL MOD CONS - Paul Weller

Seen you before, I know your sort,
You think the world awaits your every breath

You'll be my friend, or so you say
You'll help me out when the time comes

And all the time we're getting rich,
You hang around to help me out

But when we're skint, Oh God Forbid!
You drop us like hot bricks

Artistic Freedom. Do what you want.
But just make sure that the money ain't gone

I'll tell you what, I got you sussed
You'll waste my time, when my time comes.

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“If a picture paints a thousand words…” went the lyric to a song.
But how many words does it take to paint a picture? Surely this is the mark of a good songwriter. The ability to create an image in the mind of the audience or listener is what sets apart a merely good songwriter from a great one. I propose to you that Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout is a great lyricist.
Take the song ‘Cars and Girls’, with the lines:

“Little boy, got a hot-rod,
Thinks it makes him some kind of new God….”

This for me paints a picture of every spotty little Herbet seventeen year old who ever passed their driving test and jumped behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Nova SR.

In the song ‘The King of Rock& Roll’, there is the lyric:

“All my lazy teenage boasts, are now high precision ghosts,
And they’re coming round the track to haunt me.”

This probably rings true for everyone. But would we say it so subtly?

Paddy McAloon, the master of the metaphor.

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Paul McCartney a songwriter? This is the man who hummed a tune to someone who could read music, asked him to write the music and claimed to have composed a symphony. Another of his great compositions "The Frogs Chorus" --- a classic if ever there were one.

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McCartney's 'symphony' was indeed cringeworthy...I do believe it was called Standing Stone..a bit of an ego massage I think. I dont think you can seriously call his songwriting credentials into question though.....surely?

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MaCartney is a musical illiterate who can neither read nor write music....he might have the ability to hum a few tunes or strike a few chords on his piano or guitar...but what happens then? Someone writes it down for him. Well, that talent has made him half a billion......I'm just wondering how I can make the same dosh, because the tunes I hum after visiting various local hostelries are far better than his stuff.

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Let 'em in....another McCartney classic?

A McCartney joke from another forum "Paul bought Heather Mills a plane for Christmas. She still uses a razor on the good leg though

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Another songwriter that I rate very highly is Don Henley, originally a member of The Eagles. One song that was remembered by recent events was the title track from his album, 'The End of the Innocence', with the lyric;

O' beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They're beating plowshares into swords
For this tired old man that we elected king.

The 'tired old man', Ronald Reagan died this weekend.
Many of Don Henleys lyrics create very strong imagery, which for me is what songwriting is all about.

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Re: Let 'em in. Not every song is a classic of course! If one was to focus on the worst of a songwriters output then they'd all be crap....

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I would say Bob Dylan....it is a close one though.

I wish SuperAccyStan would refrain from posting new threads about something he clearly has no idea about.

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Looks like you're right there Ceejache. An article in today's "Sunday Express" says Ray has been voted best British songwriter of all time

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Can I just add, Kris Kristofferson, Smokey Robinson,Holland- Dozier & Holland. Cat Stevens,.

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One who would surely have gone on to have been in any list is Jeff Buckley - sadly drowned in June 1997 before his second album was completed.

Nick Drake anyone?

I know there will be those who disagree but Noel Gallagher has knocked out some good ones in his time - not too much variation but many classics that most people know.

Its not my bag (baby) but the BeeGees have written many, many top ten hits for other people.

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The problem with these sorts of questions is that for every one you name, there's always another one you'd like to include! And your own personal choice dictates what you choose.

Neil Diamond
John Denver
Lennon/McCartney
Rem
Samuel barber
Michael nyman (had to include him for the theme tune to "The piano")
But then, what about bands like Faith no more, the Counting crows, New order, Paul wellar, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc!!!!!!

The list goes on forever.
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/i...ons/icon10.gif

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Faith No More are one of my favourite bands - along with Soundgarden - class songs aplenty there!

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Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller - they wrote Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, Stand By Me and dozens of other classic rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll songs. There was a musical about them called Smokey Joe's Cafe a few years back.

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Wynonie, you never let me down.

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Lennon/McCartney, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Don Mclean. All good stuff, can this be expanded to include groups and all time Favourite songs it would say much more.

The likes of The Eagles, REM, Smokey? Had to get that in maybe not world class but some good early stuff for those of an age.

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Chris Simpson

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I used to love Neil Young in the 70's dont know if he is still around or not.

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Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman - they wrote Save The Last Dance For Me, A Teenager In Love, Sweets For My Sweet and a whole heap of songs for Elvis - Little Sister, His Latest Flame, Viva Las Vegas, the list goes on.

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Isaac Hayes and Dave Porter, writers of Hold On I'm Coming, You Don't Know Like I Know, Soul Man - Accy disco dancefloor favourites, each and every one of 'em.

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Neil Young is still around Janet - dont know what he has done over the last five or so years.

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Otis Blackwell. Yeah, I know you've never heard of him but I bet you've heard the songs he's written - Don't Be Cruel, All Shook Up, Return To Sender, Fever, Great Balls Of Fire and more. A largely unsung hero of popular music who sadly passed away on May 6th, 2002.

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For the younger members I would submit XTC`s Andy Partridge. Ignore the singles and try the album tracks No Language In Our Lungs, Book Are Burning, Dear God and Your Dictionary. Standout albums are Nonsuch, Skylarking and Wsap Star

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I like the Neil Young song "Mansion on the Hill!" which I only heard in year 2000 for the first time when a BOC fan from USA sent me a tape!;) Now "Mack the Knife" is a song and a half but there are so many great tunes,different ones for all seasons and moods.

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Neil Young's 'Rust never sleeps' album is a great L.P.

On hearing of the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994, he instantly dedicatated the opening song 'My My, Hey Hey' to his memory. The lyrics 'A king is gone but not forgotten' best discribing the situation.

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Mmm maybe Neil Youngs lyrics should have been "a tramp has gone but not forgotten!" I mean no way would Kurt C have seen himself as a King!Elvis yeh but this guy ? I don't think so! But then again ?

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And don't forget John and Vangelis...what was that big hit they had back in the 80's?

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Chariots of Fire?

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I think it was called "find my way home!" John Anderson sang.Not from the film!

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That should be Jon Anderson. He dropped the "h" when he left Accy. I think he recorded a few things with Vangelis but certainly didn't feature on "Chariots of Fire".

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Who was it used to call them Jon & Frank Ellis?

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Yeh that track "Way home" was a big hit - TOTP and Radio One Playlist etc



Could have been Jon and Frank Elvis?

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Greatest "songwriter" of all time!! Wolfgang Amadaus Mozart. Boy could he knock up a tune on the way home from the pub.

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mark eitzel!!!
gillian welch/david rawlings are really good songwriters!

Carole king is good too! love tapestry!