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A test
by bennash - 05/26/26 07:18 AM
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Rob
by Rob B. - 05/25/26 11:14 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
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OP
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I am doing a poll for an upcoming article that I'll disclose later. What I need right now are opinions from the best group of musically minded people that I know of, JPF.
I ain't expecting to gain anything with compliments (as the above statement may imply, I really mean that). I'm just asking a simple question.
Here is the question.
Who is/was the best songwriter/composer of the 20th and 21st Century? Hard to answer without explanation? Please don't answer. All I need is a name and/or co-writers.
Can you at least give it a good shot? It may save me a lot of research. I believe Lennon/ MCcartney may be taken, so please leave them out.
I'll gladly disclose what my article will be about if you PM me and ask. Ben
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Heya Ben,
First, I would take L & M, Dylan & perhaps Springsteen and Paul Simon and make them ineligible...They were/are all freakish.
I'd have to mention Randy Newman who, over a career that began in the '60's, has offered up a wide range of not just pop, political, humorous & insightful songs, but has also successfully scored dozens of films.
Casting back, I'd go with Cole Porter. The man knew how to craft.
Midnite
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JPF Mentor
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You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash It's only music. -niteshift Mike Dunbar Music
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Thanks Midnight and Mike for keeping it simple. That's all I ask.
Midnight, they are not ineligible, just obvious, and will be mentioned. I'm looking for the rest of the writers, sans media attention due to lack of media of the day.
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Top 25 Poster
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One for the men, and one for the women:
Irving Berlin
Diane Warren
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If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding.
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Casual Observer
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Bill Anderson, Marty Robbins, Hank Williams.
Ray E. Strode
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OP
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Thanks folks, taking it all down.
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Paul Simon
oh and me of course
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Mary Chapin Carpenter
Josh Groban
Jennifer Nettles
Donna Hughes
Hank Williams
Shawn Colvin
Kim Richey
I know lots of indies but I suppose they don't count.
Kim
Last edited by Kimberlyinnc; 10/08/09 12:28 AM.
*Always open to collaborations on my lyrics.. with singers and musicians, but PLEASE contact me before putting work into one--in case someone else has it..thanks!!** BMI Member All Rights Reserved http://www.littleikepublishing.com Email for Song Business Only littleikeproductions@hotmail.com
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Joni Mitchell
JamesTaylor
other than Lennon and McCartney
look at the depth of their bodies of work
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Johnny Mercer should be in the hat, I think.
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Willie Dixon,Muddy Waters,Robert Johnson,Skip James,Lead Belly,Luther Allison.
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Carol King
Holland-Dozier-Holland
Sam Cooke
Mr & Mrs Traditional
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Ben,
I'm with Dave on this one. My #1 vote goes to Hoagy Carmichael.
Then:
Harlan Howard
Paul Simon
Bacharach & David
Lennon & McCartney
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All of the above, plus Dave Frishberg and Victor Young.
Donna
Honour the Earth. Without it, we'd be nowhere.
Life is too important to take seriously.
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Johnny Cash,Chris Christofferson,Neil Young,Tom Waites,Tom T. Hall,Smoky Robinson.
Thanks for stirring up my memory banks!
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Hank Williams
Ray Davies
Willie Nelson
Smokey Robinson
Nick Lowe
Dolly Parton (good call, Redwing)
Cole Porter
George Gershwin
Last edited by PopTodd; 10/08/09 01:07 PM.
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I would agree with everyone so far. Harlan Howard's....Pick Me Up On Your Way Down.....reigns supreme.
But.....what about Bernie Taupin and Elton John?....outstanding.
If I have any influences on becoming a lyricist...it is Bernie Taupin at the top of that list.
Jan
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Peace,
Steve
What's another word for Thesaurus?
--- Steven Wright ---
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Anybody remember Elvis.....Leiber&Stoller.
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Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg:
Honorable Mention could go to Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, just for writing "Over The Rainbow", the timeless, melodic theme song from "The Wizard Of Oz".
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Darius Rucker--- FORMLY of HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH 
Last edited by Kimberlyinnc; 10/08/09 02:30 PM.
*Always open to collaborations on my lyrics.. with singers and musicians, but PLEASE contact me before putting work into one--in case someone else has it..thanks!!** BMI Member All Rights Reserved http://www.littleikepublishing.com Email for Song Business Only littleikeproductions@hotmail.com
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Anybody remember Elvis.....Leiber&Stoller. Anybody remember Motown? Holland-Dozier-Holland
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I need to add Jackson Browne to the list. Not only is he a tremendous songwriter, but very active on all sorts of political and social fronts.
Peace,
Steve
What's another word for Thesaurus?
--- Steven Wright ---
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I'm inclined to be musical
But I'm not musicaly inclined
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I was gonna say John Newton "Amazing Grace" but he was 19th century.
So John Denver
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Steve Goodman
&
Keith Whitley
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bc
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More songwriters for this very US-centric board to consider:
Jarvis Cocker (Pulp)
Damon Albarn (Blur)
Caetano Veloso (I've heard that, in Brazil, he's something akin to "Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Brad Pitt all rolled into one.")
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Jimmy Webb
Guy Clark
Leonard Cohen
Fate doesn't hang on a wrong or right choice
Fortune depends on the tone of your voice
-The Divine Comedy (Neil Hannon)
from the song "Songs of Love"
from the album "Casanova" (1996)
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Harry Chapin - for great storytelling songwriting (listen to his album On The Road To Kingdom Come)
If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding.
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Hell it is a silly question.....It all depends on era and genre......plus a bit like asking which son or daughter is the best.
But here are some of my favourite influential sonwriters
Holland Dozier Holland
Steve Cropper and all the Stax guys who did not get the credit for the many hits they wrote.
Isaac Hayes
Tom Johnston.
Steve Marriott
Anderson Squire Howe (Yes)
Jim Steinman
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There are so many but we can't forget to include Richard Rodgers(composer) and Oscar Hammerstein(lyricist) and all of my friends at JPF 
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Greg beat me it to but Harry Chapin and Jim Croce two of my idols
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More of my favourites deserves it:
'Doc' Pomus
Leonard Bernstein
Jerome Kern
Jimmie Rogers
Duke Ellington
'Fats' Waller
Antonio Carlos Jobim
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Linda Perry Diane Warren Deborah Gibson Prince Charlotte Caffey Jane Wiedlin L.A.Reid Babyface Jimmy Jam Terry Lewis Tom Kelly Billy Steinberg Jon Bon Jovi Richie Sambora Mike Reno Paul Dean Bryan Adams Jim Vallance etc,. Markus www.cdbaby.com/markusspence3
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Lots of great writers have been mentioned, but I don't think anyone said Dave Carter, so I will add him.
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Great choice, Wendy. I'm a huge Dave Carter fan and I wish he was still around.
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Well, you've listed a lot of people whose writing I respect. Two names I didn't see on the list that I'd add myself are John Prine and Buck Owens. And among the not-famous, I'd add the late Corky Bernard (greydog)--every lyric he wrote was a joy to read.
And no, I wouldn't list anyone as "the greatest." I have a sizable pantheon of people whose work I try to emulate, and I would classify all of them, I think, as "really really good." I keep hoping that someday, I'll be on a list like that...
Joe
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Kevin, thank you. You sure this isn't a little premature?
joe
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Joe
Nope, I'm Gonna Give Mom A Dead Dog for Christmas is a classic
You ought to post it up for the holidays,
Kevin
Last edited by KevinP; 10/09/09 02:57 PM.
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