In 1967, Leonard Bernstein taped a one hour special for CBS, entitled "The Rock Revolution." He talked about some current Pop music he found to have musical worth and be of interest. At the center of the show was a segment on Brian Wilson and his "Smile" album project. Brian is shown playing and singing "Surf's Up" on the grand piano in his living room. Also discussed are The Left Banke and their baroque-influenced (songwriter/keyboardist Michael Brown was Classically trained) "Pretty Ballerina". His "Walk Away Renee" is also a real good song. Not all Pop is equal, anymore than is all anything.
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IF humans exist on Planet Earth two hundred years from now Mozart
will still be played and not one person alive will have heard of Taylor Swift.
For every one who saw Mozart a flash in the pan many more thought him a juvenile genius .
They are esteemed composers who are out of favor at present but some
have not forgotten them .Every day my FM station ,"Classical Minnesota", plays composers from four or five hundreds of years ago who are seldom heard but not forgotten .
I am old but not a fogey .
He is Risen !
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So all those ears on Straus during his popularity were bad taste? Many thought Mozart was just a juvenile sensation. I do agree most pop music will end in the cut out bin, but there are many classical examples of esteemed composers who are forgotten. I am doing a deep dive into Barber this week. Listened to Bernstein's "Age of Anxiety" yesterday. My list was meant to incorporate all genres, so many worthies were excluded. I appreciate the passion. And yes I am an old fogey, sort of inevitable.
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Anyone who has an ear on modern pop music has bad taste .
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My lord, what a bunch of old fogies. Anyone who has an ear on modern pop music, and certainly everyone in the music business, knows that Taylor Swift is the best songwriter of the last decade+. Should be on any list of the best American songwriters.
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At least 50 other companies have all that with Japan leading the way .USA has one less as it is a Republic , not a Democracy . And make no mistake , that is a BIG difference !.
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Optimism, confidence, a faith in democracy and capitalism. |
Will get back to you asap. |
What is the American Spirit ?
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Surprised Michael Stipe had not made the list. |
It IS "hard to make choices" when considering two great talents such as Barber and Copland. However, there is no doubt in my mind that Samuel Barber was the greater of the two; and not by a little. The level of sophistication of his compositions and mastery of orchestration were on an entirely different level; not to mention a wider scope encompassing not just orchestral music, but opera and choral music as well.
I suppose an argument can be made that he was the "more American" (and not simply "American") of the two; if that is the subjective standard to be used . However, by that standard I would say that the music of Leonard Bernstein encompasses all that Copland’s did and more; by incorporating two quintessentially American genres, Jazz and Musical Theater. |
Oops, Nick Lowe, like Tillbrook & Difford, is English. He was married to Carlene Carter for awhile (who hasn't been?), if that counts. By the way, Brian Wilson's favorite American (and perhaps universal) composer is Gershwin. He recorded a tribute album to him, which I haven't gotten up the nerve to listen to. |
To say Copland's music doesn't capture the American spirit...he incorporates our folk music, energy level, optimism. And nothing against Barber. Just very hard to make choices. Some day someone will. The big question will be them referencing this thread. Lol.
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Barber is Universal !
Nobody would think Appalachian Spring and much of his work as American without the titles . Copland never did .
Barbers Ädagio is the unofficial National Anthem in times of grief ..Should be playing right now .
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All genres. I would consider Morrison more on the performer side ie. Elvis, Sinatra, Armstrong. |
Was Jim Morrison not mentioned?
Also, was the OP speaking of all genres or just rock/pop? If all, then maybe top 10 for each of the major genres: jazz, blues, pop, rock, classical...and each of these have distinctive sub groups.
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And coming from Schubert completely makes sense. It was between Barber and Copland. Copland more American imho. |
The BEST one is Samuel Barber !
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History of popular songs yes. History of composers and songwriters, a footnote.
Carol King has been suggested. Not sure why so few women composers/songwriters. Plenty of feminine involvement in classical performance. I don't think we feel threatened any longer. Would be a great thread to explore.
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Carla Bley please!
The "list" is almost entirely men.
Mildred J. Hill wrote the most popular song of all time. She should make every list yet no one knows who the is. I had to look her up!
Perhaps a split between composers/songwriters would be better?
Also different genres of music too? I could toss off many Jazz greats but not a single hip hopper, gospel, metal, or trance composers/songwriter.
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Oops, right you are, @vinylandtubes (love the handle!). Squeeze sounds so American (as did The Beatles, imo) I had forgotten. I got to seem them live in London while there in late '82. @davepratt: Good one, Bacharach definitely deserves inclusion. |
I can’t believe nobody mentioned Burt Bacharach. His contribution to the Greatest Hits far exceeded most of the names listed by others here! And Paul Williams went well beyond a bunch of the artists listed above and isn’t head of ASCAP for nothing! |
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Unfortunately, Difford and Tilbrook are Brits, though I wish the US could claim them.
Warren Zevon
Michael Nesmith
Art Alexakis (Everclear)
Mike Ness (Social Distortion)
1++ Frank Zappa
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But it is such a clean buzz.
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There is a warning label on bottles of isopropyl alcohol that clearly stating that it is for disinfecting and making hand sanitizer, NOT for drinking. |
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Einstein became an American citizen in 1940. Don’t be ridiculous.
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Einstein died in NJ but I don’t think we can call him an American scientist. Einstein died as an American citizen, but prior to that he held citizenship of several countries including Prussia, Austria, Switzerland and Germany and several kingdoms that no longer exist. If we must be more nuanced, calling him German-American will be appropriate and respectful of his heritage as well as his chosen country at the time of his death. Best, Erik |
Einstein died in NJ but I don't think we can call him an American scientist.
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Don't forget Igor Stravinsky |
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@pgaulke60, Willie Dixon wasn't forgotten (see 04/04 at 5:50 AM), Good call on Big Bill Broonzy, and let's add Leadbelly and Mississippi John Hurt (a huge influence of Lucinda Williams and Peter Case). |
Yea for Zappa! I'm also a big fan of John Hiatt's work. Johnny Cash, for sure. Though I don't listen to him much, Kris Kristoferson is widely respected. Love Nick Lowe, but he has not really stretched beyond his era of popularity. I just don't get Leonard Cohen. Maybe the songs, but I can't listen to the guy. And then the Lord decided we needed Miles Davis to compare all other jazz musicians to. And finally, let's not forget the incredible Willie Dixon and Big Bill Broonzy. The number of tunes those two wrote that defined American music and are a foundation to everything out there today are unparalleled. |
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Johnny Cash
Janice Joplin
Don Henley
Willie Nelson
Dollie Parton
Nat King Cole
Tom Petty
Roy Orbison
Carlos Santana |
Oops, left out Lucinda Williams, Marshall Crenshaw, Dwight Twilley, Jordan/Wilson (The Flamin' Groovies), Difford & Tillbrook (Squeeze), Nick Lowe. And Johnny Cash, fer cryin' out loud! |
Willie Nelson needs to be on my list so as hard as it is for me , I'll take AT off |
Bob Dylan
Bruce Springsteen
Tom Waites
Paul Simon
Miles Davis
Tom Petty
Roy Orbison
Robert Hunter
Allen Toussaint
Rogers & Hamerstein |
Gotta add Robert Hunter to the list
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edcyn, "Leonard Cohen, however, is a Canadian. Ahem... But Joni can be counted in because she abandoned Canada for New York and then L.A." That is, more or less, what Leonard Cohen did, too. With a few stops in between. |
Chuck Berry and Kris Kristofferson.
And pretty much everyone bdp24 mentioned.
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To add to those already mentioned: John Prine |
Alan Jay Lerner
Harold Arlen (Somewhere over the Rainbow and many more)
Cole Porter |
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Bill Withers honorable mention--just passed.
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Yes! Andrew Hill. Charles Mingus should be on the list also.
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Yes Berlin and Monk deserve to be in there, but who would you toss out?
This list is meant as what music historians would include in a future textbook or article. Hard to narrow down. One of my criteria is the enjoyable hour. Does the candidate have an hour of music you can listen to non stop? Sousa excepted. He is special; forr as long as there are parades.....he will outlast the whole list. Joe
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I always loved how Andrew Hill's compositions were challenging which brought out the best of his session-mates on many occasions. |
