28 Replies to “50 Great Singer Songwriter Albums”

  1. So so many. You took most of my picks for greatest singer songwriters out there. But I'd also add the other two Beatles singer-songwriters, Georgie and Paulie ? both remarkable wordsmiths and melody makers in their solo work.
    More soul, funk and RnB representation: Bill Withers, Prince, Labi Siffre (he always gets missed out these lists).
    It was under the umbrella of the Family Stone, but everything from There's a Riot Going on onwards was Sly Stone's own work, with a couple of contributions here and there from the band.

  3. Some personal favourites you missed – Sam Cooke, Paul McCartney, Dory Previn, Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, Roy Harper, Tori Amos, Beth Hart, Kacey Musgrave, Ruth Moody, Heather Masse, Norah Jones, Tom Russell, and Gretchen Peters. Gretchen Peters in particular has an extensive catalogue of beautiful and skilfully crafted songs.

  4. Nice list, for the most part. I've got that Springsteen album and I remember the song you keep referring to as "Rosita" is actually "Rosalita". Quibble, I know. Big fan of both Randy Newman and John Hiatt – glad you featured both.

  7. If I had to pick one Dylan album, I'd be in big trouble! There are songs on every one of the classics, from Freewheelin' to Nashville Skyline, plus Blood on the Tracks, but every one of them is powerful, titanic and indelible. I tend to gravitate to John Wesley Harding and Bringing It All Back Home, with a healthy dose of Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde.

    Great catches with Gene Clark, Guy Clark, John Hiatt, Randy Newman, Phil Ochs, Gram Parsons, John Prine, Leon Russell, Paul Simon, Lucinda Williams and Warren Zevon, but what about Gordon Lightfoot, Al Stewart, John Fogerty, Garland Jeffreys, Neil Diamond, Marc Cohn, Bill Withers, Janis Ian, Otis Redding, John Mellancamp, and Bob Welch, who wrote hits for Fleetwood Mac (Bermuda Triangle, anyone?), then as a solo act, and in Paris, with Tony and Hunt Sales

    Also, Dave Edmunds, Karla Bonoff, Tom Cochrane, John Hartford, Gerry Rafferty, Emmitt Rhodes, Bruce Cockburn, Dan Fogelberg, Mark Knopfler, Boz Scaggs, Harry Chapin, Dan Hicks, Sheryl Crow, Jimmy Buffett, David Bromberg, singers and songwriters, all, Then There's Pete Townshend, Steve Winwood, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, and Peter Frampton. Not to mention the amazing, and hard to find, Willis Alan Ramsey.

    Jackson Browne's very best is Saturate before Using. I like Late for the Sky, but Saturate is filled with timeless songs, an intimacy lacking in later albums, and heart. Donovan deserves kudos for Sunshine Superman, still on my Hot 100 after 57 years. The songs are his strongest non-single efforts, the flow between songs sublime. I put it with Dark Side of the Moon as one of the most important albums of the era.

    I prefer For the Roses, or Court and Spark, to Blue, the common pull for many critics, Mona Bone Jakon to Tea for the Tillerman, and Saint Dominic's Preview, to Astral Weeks. I never thought of Bert Jansch as a singer, much less a songwriter, but a great guitarist. My loss, I suppose, but one of those I mentioned deserved a spot, in his place.

  8. For me John Prine and Joni Mitchell are magical singer-songwriters. Didn't see if you included anything of hers. ? Cheers!

    Was finally gonna see John Prine live a few years ago, it got cancelled due to illness, shortly after he passed away. 🙁 RIP.

  10. A most enjoyable video. If there is a perfect album from Townes VanZandt it is, without question, Live at the Old Quarter. Interesting to see your selections from those artists in particular we both admire: Beck, Nilsson, Neil Young, Dylan, Randy Newman, Bert Jansch, Nick Drake, John Martyn (btw I saw 'Church with One Bell' in a record store the other day on reissue – let me know if you are still looking, I will buy and forward it to you if you send mailing address). I actually prefer Teaser and the Firecat (if ever so slightly) to Tea for the Tillerman, Jackson Browne's debut to Late for the Sky, White Light to No Other, and Shelter People to Leon's first. Richard Thompson's Hand of Kindness is a perfect album. Jackson C Frank's one album is perfect. Ditto Gordon Lightfoot's If You Could Read My Mind (Sit Down Young Stranger), Phoebe Snow's debut, Blaze Foley's Live at the Austin Outhouse, and Willis Alan Ramsey's one album.

  11. Have you ever heard Robert Wyatt's version of Elvis Costello and Clive Langer's Shipbuilding Mazzy? They actually wrote it for him and his unique mesmerising vocals just elevate the song to a different dimension. Afterward, Elvis recorded his own version of it. The song is an anti-Falkand's war song. The controversial war Margaret Thatcher's government fought against Argentina. The lyric refers to the irony of how war can lead to work for the men who build warships which will ultimately send their sons off to die. Apologies if I am telling you stuff you already know! Also if you get a chance check out another great version of Season of the Witch by Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger and the Trinity. Great pick on the Bert Jansch! and great video as ever.

  16. As usual, I’m late to the party as I just discovered your channel. Even though these lists can be very subjective, I still enjoyed your video. I’m also very happy you included Nick Cave. By far, my absolute favorite and “The Boatsman Call’ is a masterpiece. Thank you for doing this.

  21. Hi there. Would add Eric Andersen to the list. His first (& second albums), along with Cohen's first album were responsible for my initiation into poetry. I think your listed albums here are bang on. Enjoy your channel.

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