OT: Greatest Songwriters

[Cursitor Doom]

To hell with DIY for a minute. Who do you think is (or was, depending on state of health) the greatest songwriter of all up to the present date?

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

Roger McGuinn

or whoever wrote this ...

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

yes get a man in as I have been told ......

[The Natural Philosopher]

For lyrics. Bob Dylan. For total harmony...well upu have to go along way to beat Gerry Rafferty'es 'Baker Street' and of course the Beeb reckons Gerswins 'Summertime' is the most covered song ever.

[tabbypurr]

I'm not sure I can think of any great ones. Skill at pop music does not seem to go with good lyrics. Normally they're banal.

NT

[Chris]

[Al]

Buddy Holly. Such promise extinguished. :(

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

[newshound]

Almost a meaningless question. Certainly Dylan is up there and not only for lyrics.

But where do you put Jimmy Webb, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush?

For harmonies, various combinations of CSNY?

And Gershwin, of course.

And what about George Martin's arrangements?

[Jim]

Joe Dolce - no question.

[Andrew]

Cheeky girls :-)

[Bert Coules]

Schubert.

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

that is just because that has a bert in it......

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

who needs lyrics ......

[Pamela]

Not Crazy Frog then? :)

[Pamela]

Will that Rick Roll me if I click it? :)

[Julian Barnes]

For sheer inventiveness, charisma and energy on stage, it has to be these guys:

[ARW]

Bryant Oden.

[Bill Wright]

W S Gilbert

Bill

[Pamela]

Minimalist! It sounds quite like "That's Not My Name"