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Posted

In the "modern era" (so no Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Scott Joplin, et al).

Bob Dylan is probably at the pinnacle, so let's just get that out of the way.

Next? I like Jackson Browne.  Late for the Sky is, well, transcendent. The Pretender isn't too bad, either. But Late for the Sky? The Best.

Neil Diamond. I wish I had a Hall 0' Neil in my house. He is a good Brooklyn jew. I love that guy.

Tom Petty is also up there. 

A friend of mine says James Taylor. I say yeah, he's good, but he's no Jackson Browne.

 

Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, Asithappens said:

Next? I like Jackson Browne.  Late for the Sky is, well, transcendent. The Pretender isn't too bad, either. But Late for the Sky? The Best.

He wrote These Days when he was 16*.

Edited by ztejas
Posted (edited)

Jeff Tweedy

Just looked at the LA Weekly list, Prince is another good one. 

And I'm just tossing names out there. Obviously the answer is Dylan. 

Edited by ztejas
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Posted
49 minutes ago, Rip76 said:

Are we talking all around great lyrics and great music?

Or just really good songs not really caring about lyrical content?

Technically (except in the loosest of definitions) it's not a song without the words . . . I think that kinda puts some emphasis on the lyrics.

  • Like 1
Posted
1 hour ago, jimmyjazz said:

Technically (except in the loosest of definitions) it's not a song without the words . . . I think that kinda puts some emphasis on the lyrics.

Yeah "songwriting" has always meant more about the lyrics to me. 

Posted

Willie Fucking Nelson never did shit...but write some badass songs.

Willie Dixon was somewhat influential( rolleyes)

Posted

Without overlapping those listed:

You could add Robert Johnson for being about 4-5 decades ahead of the game.  

Charlie and Bruce Robison are both hellacious songwriters.  

 

 

 

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Posted

Most already listed, but my favorites:

Prine

Zevon

Patty Griffin (though sure of her best recordings aren't things she wrote)

Matt Houck (phosphorescent)

TVZ

Lyle Lovett

Matt Berninger

Tweedy

Gram Parsons

Alejandro Escoveda

Posted

Y'all are gonna be shocked when I say Bruce, right? 

Most of the bigs have all been mentioned in some fashion. Carole King's genius needs to recognized again & again.

Guy Clark, Steve Earle & James McMurtry definitely deserve to be in the 'others receiving votes' list.

 

 

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Posted

These should be on any list of great American songwriters:

 

Dolly Parton

Smokey Robinson

Johnny Cash

Roger Miller

Buddy Holly

Woodie Guthrie

Chrissie Hynde

John Fogerty

Aimee Mann

Randy Newman

 

  • Like 3
Posted

Mike Cooley hasn't been mentioned yet.

Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, and Evan Felker are all brilliant but haven't been around long enough for inclusion perhaps.

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Posted
On 2/1/2019 at 9:01 PM, Paul Wesley said:

Elliot Smith?  Because he was real real sad, you say, LA Weekly?

Get the fuck out of here.

I guess lists have to include some dumb shit so people will talk about them.  Mission accomplished.  

Patty Griffin and Elton John merit top-20 consideration.  

Bernie Taupin says get the fuck out of here.

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