JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Best Singer Songwriter AND best SONG

Who is your Favorite Singer Songwriter?
What is your Favorite Song written and sung by a Singer Songwriter where he or she was the Sole Writer?

Very Special Talent to be able to do it ALL.

Mine was Harry Chapin and the song is TAXI.

Second was John Lennon and his song was Imagine....
Don Henley is NO Slouch or his song END OF THE INNOCENCE

Check out MY SONG and VIDEO called "SINGER SONGWRITER"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB-O234qX3w

I am not a big Bob Dylan fan.
But "Knocking On Heavens Door" hit me for some reason.
The song itself came from a western that Dylan did a cameo in.
But there seemed to be a certain energy to it.
The Doors "Riders On The Storm" affected me that same way.
I notice that both of those songs came at the tail end of those acts golden period.

I mostly like post eighties rock, pop, and alternative.
The songwriters I like from that might not be liked so much here.
But the songwriters I like seem to have a certain uniqueness and energy about them.

Mine is my friend Jayne Kelli

Watch this .... http://vimeo.com/19513234

There are so many greats especially from the 70's.

The only way to pick is by how much you relate to any one of them. I was a bit young in the 70's I dont think I listened to any of them then. I was a cheesy pop kind of boy in the mid 70's lol

But I like them all now James Taylor, Jim Croce, Lightfoot, John Denver, Cat Stevens.

Mostly like the ones with a bit of rock in them like Neil Young, Billy Joel, Warren Zevon, Tom Petty, Pete Townshend, Bob Seger, Jackson Browne

Becoming a big fan of Tom Waits, and of course The Boss,
his music was not only an influence but a soundtrack to my own life in many ways.

These two songs probably put me over the top about The Boss. That bridge in 57th street, with the just bass and vocal and then the guitar solo comin out kills me every time, and then Thunder Road which I think is one of the best songs ever written

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtPEZX6wAzg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx71aA62Hx4

This guy is one of my current lesser known favorites

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0APXPF0dZY

Some,
Hank Williams, Sr., Marty Robbins, Bill Anderson, Merle Haggard.

I only heard of Marty Robbins cause of this song about him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPRJeBM_E8Y

Hank Williams my Dad use to love, I remember he had a Hank Williams cassette in his car, and EVERY time and i mean every time I was driving with him, that cassette would be playing. I must have heard
Move It On Over, and Mind Your Own Business a thousand times before i was 17. His voice use to annoy the hell out of me, but I later appreciated him.

Merle, i like, took a while but i like him quite a bit now

Marty Robbins-El Paso
Bill Anderson-The Tip of My Fingers and The Lord Knows I'm Drinking, Cal Smith, many others.

Favorite singer/songwriter:
Ray Davies

Favorite song (right now):
"Celluloid Heroes"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp_QkUVZGPc

If you haven't heard it before, try to listen all the way through, because the resolution at the end is beautiful.

I'll go with Neil finn, andy partridge, mike viola, graham parker and James taylor.

Ray Davies and Graham Parker make my list as well.

Celluoid heroes gets played a bit too much but is a very moving song. Always loved Graham Parkers Local Girls and Stupidfaction

Let me add, Willie Nile, and Elvis Costello.

All time moving songs...?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AtcYvOz2vc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuTXSnez3WM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE0ldxVoO_s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z8-9WwjeqM

if you're ever in the dog house

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L435kGLDaHM

Not in the States, it doesn't.
But, I also agree with your picks of Andy Partridge ("Burning With Optimism's Flames" is my fave").

And then, if I can add another one:
Nick Lowe
"The Beast In Me" (which was covered to wonderful affect by his father in-law, Johnny Cash.)

Willie Nelson
"Crazy"

Paul Westerberg
"Left of the Dial"

Oh yeah, and how could I forget… Stephen Merritt?
"Papa Was a Rodeo"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fllQTBPDalk

New York is in the states in aint it? I'm willing to guess q 104.3 fm has played celluloid heros a few thousand times.

Saw this on wiki. Airplay in recent years has been scarce with classic rock stations often favoring only the band's top 40 hits; yet it is the song of choice to play when these stations mark the passing of a Hollywood star. This, and Internet radio's "deep cuts" stations ensure its future play.

Joe Jackson is another favorite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q5fMyaosAg

Holy cow, how did I forget Paul Simon? Too much holiday eggnog.

So many great songs, you may have not heard this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvfFWyHXwas

Go back and read the original post.....we were asked for one favorite, not a list of every decent artist from the last 60 years.

Just about every singer songwriter mentioned here were great. Hard to pick one, it's like asking who your favorite brother or sister is.

But it is Barry's thread, let Barry do the smacking

I don't know why I was thinking that you are in the UK.
But yeah, they didn't play "Celluloid Heroes" that much in Chicago, so probably a lot more in NY than here.

just a guitar and maybe harp,i could listen to Neil Young,Bob Dylan,Cat Stevens,Jim Croce,Stephen Stills any time.

Some pretty good artists have been mentioned, but conspicuous in his absence on anyone's list is...


David Bowie

Ziggy Stardust--the song

The Album is one of my absolute favourites is its artistry, writing, and the fact you can always hear something new...an absolute classic

He's not the classic singer songwriter.

One of his best ever "heroes" is one of the best "tracks" Ive ever heard, as a "song" it's pretty average. But an uplifting listen it is.

Some guys are more studio songsters, than singer songwriters, I think he's one. Pete Townshend kind of is too, but can play a solo acoustic show if he wants to too.

Today is one of my favorite's birthday. Happy Birthday to Jay Farrar (of Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za64md-Ax7E

John Prine "In spite of ourselves".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5axlwCBXC8

John Hiatt

Perfectly Good Guitar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_diKw9F6t3U

Pick away.....lol
It's hard to pick ONE.....lol B

I'll modify the thread.
Top 10....lol Must write words AND music and Sing it....

Bruce 1982 Born to Run...Incredible song (Music and Lyrics and WELL what can you say about Bruce LIVE??? WOW..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxuThNgl3YA

Bruce in his 12 minute long EPIC JUNGLE LAND. There are shades of Gershwin in here and the Sax Solo will bring you to your knees. So many musical changes in tone and tempo that it would NEVER make it today. BUT HE is THE BOSS....

http://www.americansongwriter.com/2014/07/counting-bruce-springsteen-2-jungleland/

Yeah he made his name live.

I've seen him 30+ times, and I started late. I know people who have seen him over 100 times, who have traveled from Philly to NJ to NY To Boston, To Connecticut, And as far west as California on road trips.

I never saw him at that video level of greatness, but i have seen him great and never bad.

He was even great when he toured with a whole new band in the mid 90's, in fact, i was there when he filmed this video, and i had to get Down...LOL The place was goin absolutely nuts especially when he jumped into the audience.

Wrong link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouWEZPkbznQ

I never saw him live....wish I could afford it....lol
Jungle Land is a Marvel of Music. It is like a Musical with twists and turns and just amazing. HE is a Musical and Lyrical Genius and LOVES to Play on Stage. His voice is not what you'd call a great voice but to me it touches my Soul with his Angst and Power and Grace. Truly one of the ALL TIME GREATS.
B

Past ten years or so the prices have been redicuolous, and you would think the opposite. If he does a 10 show homestand like he always does, I'll go once, maybe twice, not going 5 or 6 times, it's freaking crazy.

No, if he had to rely on his voice he would have never of made it.

it's his songs and his live shows. people still show up in droves to go see him, now you got second and third generations of people going. Everybodys getting old!

Singer Songwriters don't have to be classic singers....just sing from the Soul and Sing Great Songs. I love the raspy style.

Hey Bugsey.....One of these days we'll have to write a song together...

B

You are more prolific than me, every time I look you got a new song up. I write alot but i dont record alot, once i start recording i start to hate the process. I try to get a great recording, and I know it's not going to be a good enough recording to do anything, then I get pissed off and stop recording it

I need more stuff. I need a bass and a better way to hear myself when recording, good monitors, and I need to make some dead space for tracking.

I dont do well co writing, Ive tried but I dont usually do a good job of it.

I don't either but I DO take others words and put them to a melody and do demos right here in my room with my keyboard and Boss 900....That's all I use. I write about 3 quarters of my own words but have done MANY songs to others lyrics and sometimes I fix them up a bit and add. I JUST LOVE WRITE and recording my songs. That's the only way I can do it....I write all the melodies and NEVER sang or wrote a song with just MY Lyrics.....

I used to spend too much time recording so I just got a style and knock them out. I just want to go on to the next song. I have a new one up today and a stand alone melody I wrote tonight waiting for a new story....lol.....it could come any minute.....lol

Where can I hear you sing one of your songs?
B

Are you on facebook at all?

Yeah im under bugsey lol

No, Im not, I have family and friends I went to high school with still trying to get me on facebook, Im not interested in who went to get milk or who will be back in 20 minutes.

Goin to bed, gotta long day tommorow

My cousin that is 30 years older than me and a retired truck driver likes country music along with The Marshall Tucker Band and Golden Earring.
I forgot to mention that.
But I also like some music by Tennessee Ernie Ford.
A co-worker sung 16 tons quite a bit.
I am going to do an alt cover of that someday.

I'm sure a lot of you won't agree with me, but Barry Manilow is a great song writer. He's not the best singer, but he has a lot of great tunes!

This topic is like a trip down memory lane.
I thought of BM as more of a performer than a songwriter.
I recall my mother playing some of his records. Tryi'n To Get The Feeling had New York City Rythmn that was written by Barry Manilow. As well as Copa Cobana from a later album.
He seemed to be able to cross to both FM and AM radio more with his own songwriting.
Not the usual, more saccarine ballads.

I LOVE Barry's Voice and Piano Style.....Excellent all around Singer Songwriter...but his words don't break any new ground...lol

Barry co wrote a lot of his songs so HE doesn't count.....lol
Looking for a Singer Songwriter that writes BOTH words and Music ALONE....Billy ain't no slouch either. New York State of Mind is a Classic as well as others....

Seeing a lot of old names on here. How about one of today's great Singer/Songwriters Ed Sheeran. He has some very decent songs. Can't make out a favorite right now as many of them are great.

Some of us are Old as Dirt.
I'm not crazy about Ed...lyrics are weak in my opinion.
Taylor Swift comes to mind ( writes words AND music )
Not that many like that today.....Usually 5 guys on the write.
B

Haha. One is only as old as he/she feels (but then, after walking in the mountains today I feel like 80, while I'm not even 30 yet, so I shouldn't say that). Some of Ed's lyrics are written really smartly in my opinion. Not the radio stuff, but some of his lesser known album tracks. As far as I know he also does music and words. Taylor is also up there on my list!

Im old not THAT old, but there is a reason why the old names are up there.

Most of us are 40 and up, AND most importantly, the golden age of singer-songwriters is the 70's.

Actually rock n rollers hated singer songwriters at the time, it was too soft and sensitive at the time.

Ed Sheeran writes good POP songs, he's not in the same class as James Taylor or Cat Stevens, his songs are just not that deep. The classic singer songwriters wrote life changing music, or so it seemed at the time, it might have been that there wasnt that much to do back then, TV was limited to 3 channels, no cell phones, no net, so you could imagine that music was hugely popular.

And I think that's why music today is not as strong, it doesnt need to be. No need to go on a journey when a journey is one click away on a mouse.

There are some good singer songwriters around, they are just not popular pop music dominates