Top Five Songwritwers

One Thing I've come to Realize is that when you ask someone to name the top five songwriters of all time they might have a few the same but none have all the same. I want to know some peoples thoughts. My top five are:

1.Hank Williams SR.
2.Bob Dylan
3.Kris Kristofferson
4.Townes Van Zandt
5.Guy Clark

You?

Tags: Songwriters

Views: 2589

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Adam Sheets on June 27, 2010 at 6:09pm
Too hard to do, so I've split them into two categories

Living:
1. Kris Kristofferson
2. Bob Dylan
3. Paul Simon
4. Jimmy Webb
5. Tie: Paul McCartney and Lieber & Stoller

Dead:
1. Stephen Foster
2. Woody Guthrie
3. Hank Wiliams
4. John Lennon
5. Townes Van Zandt
Permalink Reply by Ryan Traster on June 28, 2010 at 9:02am
1. Bob Dylan
2. John Lennon
3. Paul Simon
4. Ray Davies
5. Elvis Costello
Permalink Reply by Arlene on June 28, 2010 at 9:54am
I like the living/dead distinction 'cause it lets me list 10 people :)

Living:
1. Bob Dylan
2. Neil Young
3. Bruce Springsteen
4. Paul McCartney
5. Tom Waits

Dead:
1. Woody Guthrie
2. Hank Williams
3. Townes Van Zandt
4. John Lennon
5. Irving Berlin
Permalink Reply by steviedal on June 28, 2010 at 1:05pm
You really could not argue with ANY of the names so far , i'd like to throw the following into the ring though :
1. Merle Haggard
2. Billy Joe Shaver
3. Cole Porter

Oh and i could happily sit and read Joni Mitchells lyrics all day (poetic and evocative) but i really can't stand her voice ! When i pull out "Hejira" i just read the words and don't even play it !!!
Permalink Reply by Roscoe on June 28, 2010 at 3:12pm
yeah it's hard to pick a top five I think Harlan Howard Bill Anderson Boudleaux & Felice Bryant Ira Louvin need to be mentioned to
Permalink Reply by Jack on June 28, 2010 at 2:18pm
THE top 5? No can do. But, Tom Russell needs to be mentioned, he'd not be at all out of place among the many great names already listed.

Stevedal mentioned Billy Joe Shaver. Amen. Everyone should get to see him play live at least once in their lives.
Permalink Reply by Jack on July 15, 2010 at 11:01am
Quite a grouping of names so far.

JJ Cale should be very much at home with some of the great names already mentioned.
Permalink Reply by James Hemby on June 29, 2010 at 10:30am
Can't quibble with your list but need to find room for Steve Earle and Fred Eaglesmith
Permalink Reply by dave olson on July 17, 2010 at 7:59pm
fred ?? greatest ?? how about the great always ignored Hoyt Axton, whose superb trio of albums Fearless- Southbound-Life Machine surely rank with the great Townes,David Olney,and Leonard Cohen
Permalink Reply by Vincent T. Buccieri on June 30, 2010 at 9:23am
In addition to those already mentioned I would add Richard Thompson, Greg Brown, Willie Nelson, Johnny Mercer and Lucinda Williams.
Permalink Reply by Rudyjeep on July 1, 2010 at 8:12am
In addition to the ones mentioned, here's some notables I see missing.....
Randy Newman
Smoky Robinson
Doc Pomus
Willie Dixson
Neil Diamond
Nick Lowe (How is he not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Does that entity have any legitimacy?)
Shane MacGowan
Permalink Reply by 45rpm on January 26, 2013 at 8:20am

I second Nick Lowe. He write lyrics so natural it is amazing someone actually sat down and wrote them. Then he supports the lyrics with ironic tunes: dark songs like the jaunty melody on "Marie Provost" and soft and sweet delivery on "The Beast in Me."

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Created by No Depression Feb 17, 2009 at 9:06pm. Last updated by No Depression Sep 24, 2012.