Lyriccentric:
Leonard cohen. (Nobody else is even in the same building. )
Townes Van Zandt.
Dylan
Music:
Miles Davis. (" " " " planet)
Shostakovich,
Neil Young
Guy Clark Huh ? Any recommendations for must listens ? |
Lou Reed, Bob Seger, Steve Winwood, Bill Quateman, Richard Thompson, Susan Vega, Bonnie Raitt, Joni, Grace, 'n on 'n on... God I love this hobby... |
|
1. Greg Brown 2.Guy Clark 3.John Prine |
of course bob and bruce rule. i'm surprised,tho, that no one's put any female singer/songwriters on their lists (but for joni mitchell). how about: carole king, ani defranco, shawn colvin, iris dement? and on the male side, how can pete seeger, jackson browne, james taylor, warren zevon, loudon wainwrigth III and greg brown be left off all the lists thus far? -cfb |
|
Greatest songwriter of all time? Well, it seems that most are caught-up in their own time. Kinda like weather,..geez "winter's aren't what they use to be"...weather has cycles beyond one's own life-span memory ,..100 year cycles, 1000 year cycles..etc...ice ages..etc.
Perhaps I read the question wrong, but it seems that the
"greatest songwriter of all time", is a different question than "the greatest songwriter of your lifetime".
That said, Dylan, Lennon, Fats Waller, Joplin, Jimmy Rodges, and many others have great merit..but one of the great gifts of music..like poetry, is to reach beyond the narcisism of the narrow perspective of ones own 80(or so)year life span.
But...it's is all good, like is said above..there is only music. And your choices are valid..very valid. But music was not invented....or perfected in the 20th century.
Sorry, this will likely just piss people off. |
Dylan, without question. I continue to be shocked by the sheer number of great songs he has penned, many of which were made "hits" by other artists (hell, some artists built their careers largely on the back of Bob tunes).
Garcia-Hunter deserve mention, I'd say. And back to Dylan, look for a release of Dead do Dylan in the not-too-distant. The boyz covered about a dozen of his songs independent of their joint tour.
Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, maybe Bacharach-David, Jimmy Webb (too schmaltzy for many, but I love it). Springsteen, definitely. Thunder Road gets my vote for greatest rock song. |
Dylan
Joni Mitchell
John Prin
For their lyrics.
Lennon/McCatrney
Brian Wilson
Dylan
For their music. |
Lyrics:
Lennon
Rush
Dylan
Music:
Led Zeppelin
Pink Floyd
Beatles
KP |
Glad to see Johnny Mercer's name mentioned. His impact on Capitol in the 40's and 50's were huge on so many artists that are seen as the elite of that time period. |
Best songwriter EVER of all time, words and music: Dylan
Second best: Townes Van Zandt
Third best: Guy Clark
There is a long drop between these fellas and number 4. |
Jeff,
Good post I might add that 3 of the guys you mention whom I love also(Springsteen,Costello and Knopfler) are so influenced by Dylan it is incredible.:-)
I'm also not sure it's the best way to split the genre but I follow your example.....and yes it's virtually impossible to leave such greats out as Hendrix,The Dooors,Paul Simon,The Smiths,on and on the list would go.....
Best lyrics
Bob Dylan
Bruce Springsteen
Mark Eitzel
Best Music
Led Zeppelin
Pink Floyd
Bob Dylan |
LAURIE ANDERSON has best lyrics I've ever heard.
There is no best music at all -- there is the only music. |
All time: D. Ellington, Hoagy Carmichael, T. Monk, Gershwins, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin, A.C. Jobim.
Pop: Dylan, Lennon/McCartney, Brian Wilson, Hendrix |
Jacques Brel, Cole Porter, Tom Waits. |
