Top 10 Songwriters of All Time

architect

Supine In The Sunshine
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Paul Simon
Roger Waters
Paul McCartney
Neil Young (along with CSN)
Syd Barrett
Donald Fagen/Walter Becker
Jeff Lynne
Kevin Ayers
Billy Joel
 

Jet

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Paul McCartney
John Lennon
Paul Simon
Elton John/Bernie Taupin
Jeff Lynne
Stevie Wonder
Carole King
Jackson Browne
Tom Petty
Michael Jackson
 

wisertime

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In no particular order and not just 'classic rock'

Frank Zappa
Bernie Taupin/Elton John
Cole Porter
Willie Dixon
Billy Joel
John Lennon
John Prine
Jim Steinman
Richard Thompson
Cat Stevens
Joan Armatrating
Van Morrison
Joni Mitchell
George Harrison
Dave Brubeck
 

darklands

everything's broken, and my Stacys are soaking wet
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Jeff Lynne got way more mentions than David Bowie....?!?
Whilst I like ELO, am I missing something here? Is it the Tom Petty connection?
Coming from a somewhat limited veiwpoint, I'd include Lennon / McCartney (probably as one entry [i.e. within The Beatles]), Tom Waits, Springsteen (not latterly!), Billy Joel, Chuck Berry (probably more the influence of his songs than the actual songs), Queen (I know!!), Paul Simon, Bowie

Couldn't put Roger Waters in there (much as I'd kind of like to - his best stuff was within Pink Floyd)
Elvis Costello
Neil Young (respect his art, his attitude, got loads of his stuff [hard to keep up with], love Harvest, Freedom, and others - but I'm not sure he ranks as highly as a songwriter - does that make sense?)
Buddy Holly - hard to say - I know he's credited on quite a few tracks, but how much came from him. Again, the songs and his legacy are high up there, but whether he can be considered as a brilliant song-writer...?
Lou Reed
Paul Weller
Leonard Cohen
Prince?

There are plenty of others who I'd possibly include if my tastes were wider, particularly Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush?, Tori Amos (keep meaning to listen beyond the first two albums!).

Like most of these things, it comes down to how strictly we're defining 'songwriter' (not strictly, and that's fine); personal choice and experience; age and influences; preference of lyrics over tune, or vice versa; whether you consider an artist's influence as part of their greatness, etc.

Dunno if this'll suffice to kick-start this thread (or whether there's any point doing so?) - any decent songwriters appeared in the last 5 or 6 years?? [I'm sure there have been, but maybe not of the longevity or calibre of some of the above].
 

darklands

everything's broken, and my Stacys are soaking wet
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Oh, how could I forget - Cliff Richard!
 

Jake T

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  1. Brian Wilson
  2. Jim, Robbie, Ray and John
  3. Mick and Keith
  4. Mick Jones
  5. Elton and Bernie
  6. Carole King
  7. Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
  8. Paul, John and George
  9. Graham Gouldman
  10. Joni Mitchell
 

Nai Noswad

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Taupin/ John.
Jagger/ Richards.
Lennon/McCartney.
Bacarach/ David.
Gilbert/ O'Sullivan.
Simon/Garfunkel.

Bob Dylan.
Van Morrison.
Roy Harper.
Lee Hazelwood.
Leonard Cohen.
Carl Orff.
Chuck Berry.
Nick Drake.
All the Motown writers at Hitsville.

 
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Zombeels

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Lennon/McCartney
Ray Davies
Jagger/Richards
Pete Townshend
David Bowie
Bob Dylan
Paul Simon
Doug Martsch
Tom Petty
Jack White
 

hawk11

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John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Bob Dylan
Neil Young
Ian Anderson
Ian Hunter
David Bowie
Van Morrison
Jeff Lynne
Pete Townshend
 

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