12 Replies to “Top 10 Songwriters”

  1. Nice list and agree with all your choices, any not on my list are in my many more category…

    10- Morrissey (When he gets it right he takes genius to another level)
    09- Justin Currrie (It was during a songwriters circle, after Justin finished singing 'If I Ever Loved You' and Chris Difford (Squeeze) was in tears that I knew at least somebody else appreciated the former Del Amitri frontman … again he is criminally overlooked but the songs just flow from him) For anyone interested in Del Amitri start with the second album and go to the first last…
    08- George Harrison (Lyrics and melody)
    07- Paul Heaton (The melody chops of McCartney but the guy can really craft Lyrics)
    06- Paddy McAloon (Criminally underrated and probably a little too perfection obsessed, problems with his hearing & sight cannot have helped) 1990's 'Jordan: The Comeback' to me is perfection…
    05- Neil Finn (Neil would be in 4th but I feel that he has gone off over the last decade)
    04- Lloyd Cole (Lloyd is very consistent up to this very day) Almost 40 years and delivers on all albums
    03- Paul Simon
    02- Ray Davies
    01- John Lennon (My 2nd fave solo Beatle but the most consistent with lyrics)

    Paul McCartney just misses but would be top three if it was just melody alone, also missing out are Robert Smith, Noel Gallagher, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Neil Diamond, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, David Bowie, John Fogerty and too many more to name… Just bear in mind these are my favorites not necessarily the greatest of all time… Pointless me putting Bob Dylan on the list if I dislike 80% of his catalogue…

  2. Great list Ross, have you ever listened to the divine comedy? I think you would like them – great way with words and interesting melodies. Also what do you think of Noel's new ep? I think it's his worst solo stuff and I loved who built the moon

  3. Hi Ross.
    Good to see Ray Davies in this list.
    In my opinion he is among the best to write a short story in a 3 minutes popsong.
    The other short story 3 minutes popsong writers are without John and Paul. Together as well on their own.
    David Bowie, Neil Young and Tom Waits are amongst my favorite songwriters as well. Although Tom Waits sometimes writes a song together with his wife Kathleen Brennan.
    And let us not forget Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Especially the songs on Springsteen's albums Nebraska and The Ghost Of Tom Joad.
    And how about ….. Mr Mojo Risin …. Jim Morrison?

  4. Hi Ross this was fun .. I’d certainly have weller as my number 1 .. that’s a no brainier. Personally I’d definitely have found room for Neil young and Bob Dylan and David Bowie .. but this is your list and your thoughts were very well constructed …?

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