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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: midnight Target on June 24, 2008, 02:37:35 PM

Title: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: midnight Target on June 24, 2008, 02:37:35 PM
Just might be Randy Newman. Here is a good example....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OldToIF5ZGs

Lets drop the big one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl5zf8_VmAo&feature=related

Brilliant satire...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE5k2euahDI&feature=related
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: ZetaNine on June 24, 2008, 02:45:59 PM
Love randy's stuff........very witty stuff.

but....our greatest american songwriter.... Paul Simon.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: Ripsnort on June 24, 2008, 02:47:55 PM
My vote would be Bob Dylan.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: rpm on June 24, 2008, 02:49:38 PM
Neil Diamond had a pretty good run in the 60-70's.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: Rondar on June 24, 2008, 02:50:44 PM
Lennon/ McCartney   you will hear their music forever in some form
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: ZetaNine on June 24, 2008, 02:51:00 PM
My vote would be Bob Dylan.

1. paul simon
2. cole porter


dylan is a distant 4th...perhaps 5th.


*edit........I thought it said "american" songwriter.  my bad.  Lennon comes in right after simon.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: ZetaNine on June 24, 2008, 02:53:50 PM
Neil Diamond had a pretty good run in the 60-70's.

he wrote most of the monkees songs I still dig.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: midnight Target on June 24, 2008, 03:04:56 PM
Carole King should get an honorable mention too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carole_King

Check out the list of hits she turned out in the 60's and 70's.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: boxboy28 on June 24, 2008, 03:07:19 PM
Come on we all know its Mike Ness of Social Distortion fame!

 :rock
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: storch on June 24, 2008, 03:09:40 PM
a single greatest, very difficult to determine the single greatest.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: bsdaddict on June 24, 2008, 03:11:33 PM
Lennon/ McCartney   you will hear their music forever in some form
I concur wholeheartedly...
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: ZetaNine on June 24, 2008, 03:14:29 PM
always loved lennon's quote about mcartney years after they broke up...  "paul can never seem to finish a song..it just goes on and on"
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: Charon on June 24, 2008, 03:51:31 PM
I also don't know that there is a "greatest."

One I particularly like is Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. In fact, the lyrics on just about every song on the Dire Straits album are well crafted and strong. At least for me. The simple style and clean guitar work are a perfect compliement.

Lions is particulary good, my favorite on the album, and In the Gallery as well. Of course, there is Sultans of Swing. Wild West End, Down to the Waterline...

Lions
Red sun go down way over dirty town
Starling are sweeping around crazy shoals
A girl is there high heeling across the square
Wind blows around in her hair and the flags upon the poles
Waiting in the crowd to cross at the light
She looks around to find a face she can like.

Church bell clinging on trying to get a crowd for Evensong
Nobody cares to depend upon the chime it plays
They're all in the station praying for trains
Cogregations late again
It's getting darker all the time these flagpole days
Drunk old soldier he gives her a fright
He's crazy lion howling for a fight.

Strap hanging gunshot sound
Doors slamming on the overground
Starlings are tough but the lions are made of stone
Her evening paper is horror torn
But there's hope later for Capricorns
Her lucky stars give her just enough to get home
Then she's reading about a swing to the right
But she's thinking about a stranger in the night
I'm thinking about the lions tonight
What happened to the lions.

This line always gives me chills: Starlings are tough but the lions are made of stone


Wild West End
Stepping out to angelluccis for my coffee beans
Checking out the movies and the magazines
Waitress she watches me crossing from the barocco bar
Im getting a pickup for my steel guitar

I saw you walking out shaftesbury avenue
Excuse me for talking I wanna marry you
This is the seventh heaven street to me
Dont be so proud
Youre just another angel in the crowd
And Im walking in he wild west end
Walking with your wild best friend

And my conductress on the number nineteen
She was a honey
Pink toenails and hands all dirty with money
Greasy hair easy smile
Made me feel nineteen for a while

And I went down to chinatown
In the backroom its a mans world
All the money go down
Duck inside the doorway gotta duck to eat
Right now feels alright now
You and me we cant beat

And a gogo dancing girl yes I saw her
The deejay he say here's mandy for ya
I feel alright to see her
But she's paid to do that stuff
She's dancing high I move on by
The close ups can get rough
When youre walking in the wild west end

Charon
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: Rollins on June 24, 2008, 04:30:38 PM
All decent votes.  Mine goes to Dave Brockie.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: bj229r on June 24, 2008, 04:34:04 PM
Neil Young has been near the top for 40 years, has never done the 'silly love song' thing
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: Masherbrum on June 24, 2008, 04:42:06 PM
Since I'm supposed to pick ONE (It does say Songwriter):

Bernie Taupin - I'm sorry but listen to Tumbleweed Connection (my fav. by EJ and BT), Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player or Goodbye Yellow Brick Road for proof.   

Not to mention Brian Wilson.   As Paul said "God only Knows is the best song ever penned." 

Teams:

Brian Holland-Lamont Dozier- Edward Holland Jr. would be ahead of Lennon/McCartney for me

 
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: DREDIOCK on June 24, 2008, 05:47:38 PM
There is no just "one" greatest.

Jim Croce.

Gordon Lightfoot

John Fogerty
And
Elton John

Then there's

Stevie Wonder
Willie Nelson
And as much as I hate to admit it because I find his voice so painful to listen to

Bob Dylan
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: Speed55 on June 24, 2008, 05:52:51 PM
Page/Plant or maybe Plant/Page
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: eskimo2 on June 24, 2008, 06:11:55 PM
No one has entertained me more than Weird Al Yankovic.  Seriously.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: wrongwayric on June 24, 2008, 06:57:43 PM
? No votes for Bruce Springsteen? :O John Fogerty comes to mind also. Well at least no one said Milli Vanilli. :rofl Or Boy George :rofl
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: AWMac on June 24, 2008, 07:01:32 PM
From A to Z... Abba to Zappa.

Would be hard to just pick one.

I've always been a Croce fan.

 :aok

Mac
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: Murdr on June 24, 2008, 07:19:14 PM
If I had to pick a favorite, I'd go with Lennon.  I'm surprised Kristofferson, Morrison, or Phil Collins haven't been mentioned yet.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: ZetaNine on June 24, 2008, 07:22:26 PM
If I had to pick a favorite, I'd go with Lennon.  I'm surprised Kristofferson, Morrison, or Phil Collins haven't been mentioned yet.

morrison would tell you to take him off the list because he's a poet. 
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: midnight Target on June 24, 2008, 07:25:29 PM
No one has entertained me more than Weird Al Yankovic.  Seriously.

I knew Wierd Al in college, we were in the same dorm. We called him Weird Al back then too.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: bizz on June 24, 2008, 08:45:42 PM
George Harrison! John and Paul seem to get almost all of the credit for the Beatles greatness but my favorite Beatles songs were written by George.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: Angus on June 26, 2008, 04:22:05 PM
One of my country's best once said that putting those characters into one band which is known as the Beatles was just sheer unfair to everybody else in the business....
For Melody...McCartney & Lennon....
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: Yeager on June 26, 2008, 05:29:30 PM
I concur wholeheartedly...
They are certainly the greatest co-writers of all time (Lennon/McCartney).  A lot of their individual stuff pales in comparison to what they achieved together.  Not just lyrically but in composition.

Kudos to Harrison as well...and even that damned kid on the drum kit made a lasting contribution to popular music.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: ZetaNine on June 26, 2008, 05:37:09 PM
They are certainly the greatest co-writers.  Alot of their individual stuff pales in comparison to what the achieved together.  Not just lyrically but in composition.

opposite of those two........george's best stuff was recorded AFTER leaving the beatles...at least in my opinion...all things must pass is on my top 25 album list for certain.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: Dux on June 26, 2008, 06:02:29 PM
And who was Lennon and McCartney's favorite...?

Harry Nilsson. :aok
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: BlkKnit on June 26, 2008, 06:20:14 PM
seriously?  Gotta go with Willie on this one.  The AMERICAN songwriter for the ages.  (and I agree to an earlier post, he's kinda hard on the ears ;) )


Straight from Wikipedia:
Birth name    Willie Hugh Nelson
Born    April 30, 1933 (1933-04-30) (age 75)
Origin    Abbott, Texas, U.S.

Genre(s)    Country, Country Rock, Outlaw Country,
Alternative Country, Folk, Reggae, Blues


Occupation(s)    Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist, Producer, Session Musician, Actor, Activist
Instrument(s)    Acoustic Guitar
Years active    1956 – Present
Label(s)    Liberty, RCA, Atlantic, Columbia, Island, Justice Records, Lost Highway

Associated acts    
Waylon Jennings
The Highwaymen
Johnny Cash
Kris Kristofferson
Ray Price
Merle Haggard
Johnny Bush
Julio Iglesias
U2
Kurt Nilsen

Thing is, I prefer other artists in various genre's, but if you want to say one guy is it, the american songwriter, the buck stops at Willie's place.

I'd give an honorable mention to Carole King also.  So many songs that were hers, especially from "Tapestry", that most people associate with other artists on a nearly iconic level.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: Xargos on June 26, 2008, 06:34:29 PM
Leonard Cohen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG5e1oaen-M)   :noid
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: Casca on June 26, 2008, 06:38:16 PM
Randy Newman and Paul Simon in the first two posts of the thread.  Works for me.
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: lazs2 on June 26, 2008, 06:54:28 PM
got to go with MT on this one..  Randy Newman..

course.. it is not even possible to say the lyrics to a few of his songs today because of PC.

Warren Zevon gets an honorable mention I would think for "send lawyers guns and money" if nothing else.

lazs
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: TwentyFo on June 26, 2008, 07:05:26 PM
R Kelly is the best hands down
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: Charon on June 26, 2008, 07:05:32 PM
I can go along with Willie Nelson and Warren Zevon for sure.

Haven't heard Marty Robbins mentioned yet :) Did he write his own stuff? I'm always a sucker for a good ballad.

Charon
Title: Re: The greatest songwriter of our time...
Post by: AWMac on June 26, 2008, 07:17:58 PM
"I saw a Werewolf drinkin a Pina Colada at Trader Vics... an His hair was perfect.....nep....

Ahhh Wooooooooooooooooooooooooo.. Werewolves of London....."

 :aok

Mac


heh draw blood..........Ahhhh Woooooooooooooo Werewolves of London.