If this list was pertaining to the greatest current songwriters, Prince would actually be pretty low on the list.

Spookymuffin said:

mirrorbestfriend said:

Right, No Stevie!! You took the words right outta my mouth!

mirrorbestfriend said:

No that order doesnt seem write or (right lol), Prince should be much higher and where is Lionel Richie? What is paste magazine anyway? they must knew Prince fans would get upset so they put him at #10 for publicity for their magazine since Prince fans are known for uproars
[Edited 6/17/08 18:13pm]

mirrorbestfriend said:

Still no Lionel Ritchie this list is bogust

100. T Bone Burnett
99. Andre Benjamin & Antwan Patton (Outkast)
98. Jay Farrar (Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo)
97. Josh Ritter
96. Jimmy Cliff
95. Patti Smith
94. Sam Phillips
93. Joseph Arthur
92. Alejandro Escovedo
91. Drive By Truckers (Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, Jason Isbell)

90. Nick Cave
89. Victoria Williams
88. Parliament (George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell)
87. Lyle Lovett
86. Sam Beam (Iron & Wine)
85. David Bazan (Pedro the Lion, Headphones)
84. John Linnel & John Flansburgh (They Might Be Giants)
83. Fleetwood Mac (Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie)
82. John Darnielle (Mountain Goats)
81. Wayne Coyne & Steven Drozd (Flaming Lips)

80. Pink Floyd (Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Richard Wright, Nick Mason)
79. Stephen Malkmus (Pavement, Silver Jews)
78. Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices)
77. Bruce Cockburn
76. Will Oldham (aka Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Palace Music, etc.)
75. Ron Sexsmith
74. Linford Detweiler & Karin Bergquist (Over the Rhine)
73. Julie Miller
72. Michael Jackson
71. Vic Chesnutt

70. Alex Chilton (Big Star, The Box Tops)
69. Merle Haggard
68. Allen Tousaint
67. Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)
66. Charles Thompson (aka Frank Black, Black Francis) (Pixies)
65. Bill Mallonee (Vigilantes of Love)
64. Andy Partridge (XTC, Dukes of Stratosphear)
63. Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention)
62. Sting (The Police)
61. John Hiatt

60. Jimmy Webb
59. Jack White (White Stripes, Raconteurs)
58. Sly Stone (Sly & the Family Stone)
57. Morrissey (The Smiths)
56. James Brown
55. Dolly Parton
54. Aimee Mann
53. James Taylor
52. Paul Westerberg (The Replacements)
51. Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham

Should political correctness be an issue when compiling a list like this? I don't think so.

I really think some afro-americans here are to quickly coming up with the 'racism' card.

James Brown is a great riff-producer (he belongs in the top 10 of all times), but a top 10-songwriter? naaah

Smokey and Curtis did some great things in their respective fields (romantic ballads and orchestrated soul-funk) but in no way they are as versatile and influential as Neil Young and Paul McCartney.

And, Jimi Hendrix, is a groove-and guitarmaster, but not a songwriter in the first place.

The weak spot in the top 10 IMO is Elvis Costello, he is a good songwriter, but definitely not as good as John Lennon, who really should be in that top 10.

this list is old. nice of them to recognize Prince but i'm not sure if he is top 10 material.

Still no Lennon ANYWHERE? Ick. As for the Top 10, Costello shouldn't be quite that high, and McCartney shouldn't be either. Prince at #10 seems a spot or two low, but I'm not standing here to say he needs to be ahead of Brian Wilson, Springsteen, or Dylan. Not at all.

sorry guys there list is the best LIVING songwriters

Riverpoet31 said:

Why do people think that the craft of writing songs only encompasses lyrics. You obviously know nothing of the history of popular music in the country let alone racism. Bob Dylan even called Smokey America's greatest songwriter. Look up his songbook that includes some of the greatest pop songs ever written. Neil Young's never stretches past the simple basic three chord song structure that I've heard over and over again. A great riff-producer, groove and guitarmaster, orchestrated soul-funk, what the hell are you talking about? What a stereotypical reduction of their art and craft. Oh, I get it, blacks are incapable of deep lyrical content and only know the drum. McCartney, Richards, Morrison have stolen those riffs and grooves throughout their careers. Every phase of creative and progressive rock and roll history has been spearheaded by African-American artists.

jdcx, youre a smallminded, ignorant fool, get over it.

its not some race issue, or who is best, or who invented it, its all about the quality of songwriting.

Every phase of the history of rock and roll is proof of the creativity of the musicians involved, wether they were and are white, yellow, purple or green.

I hate racism and prejudiceness, wether its by white or black people, it doesnt help you any further...
[Edited 6/17/08 20:48pm]

Riverpoet31 said:

And you don't know music, let alone black music. Read up or better yet move away from the "classic" rock stations. By the way, Rick James taught Neil Young how to play an elecric guitar!

how could they possibly get to 100 and still not have either Barry Gibb or John Lennon?

They even have Dolly Parton at #55 - her best song was written by Barry Gibb.

jdcx, i hate classic rock as played by those stations.

And, youre a black racist, deal with it.

Could someone explain what the f*ck Neil Young and Bob Dylan are so admired for????

Everyone's always mentioning as some kind of geniuses and the only song I could name is "Like A Rolling STone" which sounds like a whiny annoyance.

Seriously..... why are these 2 shitty singers considred so great at songwriting?

I hear ya...no Barry Gibb...whatever. They wrote for everyone and had hit after hit. Lionle Richie should be in here too.


Bob Dylan! Really, Bob Dylan...maybe he can write some nice little poems but does anyone really think he can sing or craft a song.....and Neil Young..Hell I can out write and out sing him. I don't understand the fasination. I would almost through Springteen in that camp too, if it weren't for Born the USA album.

jdcxc said:

augustwinters said:

he dead best living

Yay, Prince. But there's one or two names that I'd swap with say Stevie Wonder...and a few others.

mirrorbestfriend said:

That explains John Lennon, but Barry Gibb is not dead.

GaryMF said:

You only have to look at the amount of times Dylan songs have been covered and the variety and calibre of artists who have sung them to see the worth of his material. You heard Stevie Wonder's version of "Blowing in the Wind", right? You know that Sam Cooke was consumed with jealousy when he heard Bob sing that? Here was a young white kid from the middle of nowhere who wrote the first definitive song about civil rights. Sam felt shamed. His response was to write "A Change is Gonna Come".

Mavis Staples said she couldn't believe this white boy could write about those issues with such authenticity. It blew her mind, particularly the line "How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?" (remember back then, black men of all ages were still being called "boys"). Hendrix idolised Dylan. The list goes on and on. You probably know more Dylan songs than you realise. Hell, Prince even sang "All Along The Watchtower" at the Superbowl.

Here are some of Bob's more commercial songs. Maybe these can be a starting point for you.

Knocking On Heaven's Door


All Along The Watchtower


Sarah

alandail said:

Yes agreed

However , i think Bruce Springsteen is a very good song writer

mirrorbestfriend said:

okay this list is getting more and more RIDICULOUS!! how the fuck is MJ a better songwriter than all the members of parliament funkadelic? and fleetwood mac!!! pink floyd!!! who the fuck composes these lists?

and if i missed it where the hell is bob marley?

mirrorbestfriend said:

but still they still don't mention or put other great songwriters still living not on their list at all or below songwriters that don't even write their own songs on their list

atleast they have Beck on there

mirrorbestfriend said:

I don't usually pay much attention to lists like this, but in this case, it's not too bad. As long as Dylan is #1, then I'm ok with the others.
[Edited 6/18/08 9:37am]

No Jimmy Jam and Terry either....obviously not done on a sales basis or they would have to be up there.

Not sure how Bob Dylan is number #1 on this list? Bruce Springsteen makes more sense at #3 as he is still making awesome albums at 50+. The most objectionable ommission is the Brothers Gibb. They should be in the top 10 not Elvis Costello! WTF! Prince belongs to be in the top 10, and I would eject Tom Waits from that list as well. Here is my top 10:



The Top 10

10.Nick Drake
9. John Fogerty
8. Elton John/Bernie Taupin
7. Bee Gees
6. Stevie Wonder
5. Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings)
4. Rolling Stones
3. Bruce Springsteen
2. Joni Mitchell
1. Prince