32 replies to this topic

[Car ChuckRam]

Turns out, it’s always been Brian Wilson. This whole time.  

[TonyBrown]

I tend to gravitate toward Johnny Cash

[Gusso]

On the other side of the pond, I'll take Pete Townshend.

Edited by Gusso, 15 March 2023 - 07:04 PM.

[Stains_not_here_man]

I can see an argument for Brian Wilson but he would have to fight Neil Diamond for the title

[TonyBrown]

On the other side of the pond, I'll take Pete Townshend.

pete townshend is American??

[BrewerGeorge]

I would put Brian Wilson in the composer category rather than songwriter. He should be in the conversation with John Williams not Jason Isbel.

[Sidney Porter]

pete townshend is American??

he did say other side of the pond. But if we were including the Britain it would be McCartney


Back on topic. If we are talking "songwriter" rather than "singer / songwriter" then Robert Hunter would need to be considered

Edited by Sidney Porter, 16 March 2023 - 05:16 AM.

[Genesee Ted]

Robert Hunter was a far better songwriter than Johnny Cash for sure.

[Brownbeard]

Tough to really narrow it down to one. Willie Nelson should be in the conversation. And seriously...Bob Dylan. The Hunter/Garcia team is up there. Kris Kristofferson was pretty good. Warren Zevon.

[Sidney Porter]

The notorious BIG

[bdutton]

No love for Burt Bacharach?

[Sidney Porter]

When I here "songwriter" I think lyricist. Which might not be right. For example Becker and Fagan the write the lyrics and then every piece of music for all the instruments.

This differs from hunter who was more of the lyricist and the band members had input on their instruments

[Genesee Ted]

There are lyricists and songwriters. Lyricists only write lyrics

[positiveContact]

There are lyricists and songwriters. Lyricists only write lyrics

This is how I would take it.

How about Prince?

[Sidney Porter]

Without researching prince I assume it did it all.

[positiveContact]

Without researching prince I assume it did it all.

He did. I was just suggesting him as a contender.

[Genesee Ted]

He was a producer, arranger, and composer as well

[maddog]

I don't know who is best, but I've had a variety of favorites over the years...

 

Kris Kristofferson

Townes Van Zandt

James Taylor

Neil Young

whoever should be rightfully given credit for writing songs for the Band

[Sidney Porter]

I don't know who is best, but I've had a variety of favorites over the years...

Kris Kristofferson
Townes Van Zandt
James Taylor
Neil Young
whoever should be rightfully given credit for writing songs for the Band

Neil young is Canadian. I would have had him on the list but I assumed we were defining America as USA. If we are defining it as the Americas the bob Marley wrote a lot of songs and defined a genre

[japh]

John Flansburgh and John Linnell

 

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