Woody Guthrie-#15 on the list of greatest songwriters-Woody created modern songwriting and helped expanded the possibilities of what a song could be about. Stan Rogers-Probably the best storyteller ever, beautiful songs Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter)-an extraordinary and diverse writer, maybe the most influential one of all Hank Williams-in a handful of years he created a legacy of song will never be matched in country music Paul Simon-a master of poetic imagery from the start, he wrote the greatest gospel song ever written as a goodbye gift for his partner Art Garfunkel and later created the album that jump started “world music” in America (and a quietly political album aimed straight at the heart of South African racism.) Paul McCartney-by far the dominant talent in the most extraordinary songwriting duo ever Jim Croce-beautiful imagery and wonderful storytelling, no tricks needed Phil Ochs-His songs are incredibly well crafted no matter the subject and they resonate just as strongly today. His The Power and The Glory is the great song that This Land is Your Land should have been Rodgers & Hammerstein-gorgeous melodies and beautiful, sometimes tough, songs Ewan MacColl-great legacy of songs some assimilated into folk song, some documenting the working class, some hard hitting activism and oh yeah, one of the greatest love songs of all time Stevie Wonder-a solid writer, he created a whole new style of music in the early 70s and a dozen incredible songs, influencing several generations and counting Joni Mitchell-a wonderful series of songs and albums that changed music and then a legacy of challenging influences Don McLean-The American Pie album is loaded way beyond the two big hits and that is just the start Robert Johnson-Not many songs in his short life, but so influential Utah Phillips-Used every tool at his disposal to tell the story of working and neglected folks and their world Woody Guthrie-Created modern songwriting, his legacy is really his influence more than his songs Van Morrison-Stunning soulful songs in his early career and still going Bob Dylan-learned his craft in the folk world, before changing music forever with his proto-punk, off-kilter and unapologetic take on relationships John Denver-Pop songs about the beauty of nature. How did he do that? great catalog John Phillips-Songs seemed to come so easy to him and he never reached his full potential Harold Arlen & EY “Yip” Harburg-If they just wrote Over the Rainbow and the rest of The Wizard of Oz it would be enough Willie Nelson-from his amazing string of songs when just arriving in Nashville throughout his career there is a long string of compelling songs Aretha Franklin-The burst of hard hitting and hard swinging songs when she signed to Atlantic is a revelation Johnny Cash-breaking the rules from the beginning, raw and wrenching AP Carter-along with Jimmie Rodgers, created country music Carole King-Just the Brill building songs or Tapestry would be enough Pete Townshend-the best of the real original rockers and an incredible catalog of songs Tom Lehrer-Wonderfully clever songs in many styles, including 4 or 5 in just his version of Clementine Billy Joel-one of the richest catalogs of songs, chronicling life in the world he grew up in Chuck Berry-put many genres together and created rock and roll, still influential Marty Robbins-The Gunfighter Ballads and Trailsongs album has unparalleled storytelling Harry Chapin-A great storyteller Nina Simone-The master interpreter of others was a powerful songwriter in her own right Stephen Sondheim-Many consider him Broadway’s best writer Dolly Parton-Underneath the costume is an honest compelling songwriter Hazel Dickens-wrenching songs chronicling the lives of regular folks Caetano Veloso-Considered by many one of the great songwriters John Prine-Perhaps the most stunning debut album ever Eliza Gilkyson-album after album of striking songs Holland, Dozier, Holland-incredible joyful music that quietly changed the world Cole Porter-Silly and forced lyrics, but full of joy 41-60 George & Ira Gershwin Brian Wilson Leonard Cohen Otis Redding Richard Thompson Prince Steve Goodman Johnny Mercer Cat Stevens Cheryl Wheeler Jerome Kern Mick Jagger & Keith Richards Antonio Carlos “Tom” Jobim Leiber and Stoller Muddy Waters Guy Clark Robbie Robertson Kate & Anna McGarrigle Burt Bacharach & Hal David Jackson Browne 61-80 Jesse Winchester John Hartford Tim O’Brien Kurt Weill Smokey Robinson Bob Marley Tom Waits John Lennon Neal Hagberg John Fogerty Greg Brown Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Pete Seeger Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson Mose Allison Jimmy Webb Big Bill Broonzy Nanci Griffith Melissa Etheridge Steve Tilston 81-100 Neil Young Lerner & Loewe Tom Russell Fred Eaglesmith Dar Williams Tracy Chapman Mark Knopfler Laura Nyro Johnny Clegg Emeritus: Robert Burns Jimmie Rodgers Gilbert & Sullivan Dan Emmet Stephen Foster George M. Cohan Irving Berlin Blind Lemon Jefferson The next 20 or so Slaid Cleaves, Billy Edd Wheeler, Rogers & Hart, Donovan Leitch, Sam Cooke, Bill Withers, Barbara Streisand, Sly Stone, Jez Lowe, Carly Simon, Kris Kristofferson, John McCutcheon, Cindy Walker, Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Dixon, Townes Van Zandt, Andy M. Stewart, Mark Erelli, Bill Morrissey, Claudia Schmidt, Brandi Carlile Suggestions: Jacques Brel, Jean Ritchie, Kate Wolf, Dave Carter, Tom Paxton, Sammy Kahn, Deb Talan (Weepies), Ellis Paul, Anais Mitchell, Caroline Herring, Sandy Denny, Julie Miller, Carson Robison, Jason Isbell, Darrell Scott, Eric Bogle, Chris Isaak, Rod Picott, Nick Lowe,, Paul Williams, Randy Newman, Nick Drake, Tim Buckley, Elvis Costello, Roy Orbison, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Ben Bedford, Gordon Bok, Pierce Pettis, Jonathan Byrd, Jenn Rawling, Erin Corday, Bob Nolan, Annie Gallup, James Taylor, Dan Bern, Bruce Cockburn, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Eric Andersen, Hoagy Carmichael, Van Heusen and Burke, Janis Ian, Richard Farina, Chuck Brodsky, Bonnie Raitt, Shel Silverstein, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Judy Mayhan, Fred Neil, Jenny Owen Youngs, Steve Earle, Sally Rogers, Flanders & Swann, Norman Blake, Mississippi John Hurt, Paul Campbell,, Charlie Poole, Harry Belafonte, Malvina Reynolds, Elton John & Bernie Taupin, Michael Smith, Joe Hill, Rodney Crowell, Bruce Springsteen, Fats Waller, Henry C. Work, Susan Werner, Alton Delmore, Michael Jackson, Felice & Boudleaux Bryant, Richard Carpenter & John Bettis, WC Handy, Barrett Strong, Si Kahn, Gordon Lightfoot, Loudon Wainwright III, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Fred Rose, Peter Rowan, Robin & Linda Williams, David Bowie, Tish Hinojosa, Mark Stepakoff, Amelia Curran, Dorothy Fields & Jimmy McHugh, Bill Monroe, Stanley Holloway, Marques Bovre, David Olney
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 12:30:17 +0000
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