Men are generally more capable songwriters, but there are girls who are able to create dozens of songs on their own (without the co-authors)

My list of great female songwriters:

*****

Sinéad O'Connor
Linda Perry
PJ Harvey
Nina Simone
Amy Winehouse
Lauryn Hill
Laura Nyro
Diane Warren
Minnie Riperton
Joni Mitchell
Bjork
Janis Joplin
Patti Smith
Tori Amos
Carole King
Tracy Chapman
Fiona Apple
Kate Bush

......

I know that I have forgotten many of the really good, so add girls that are really worth

Criteria - at least 10 songs, written individually and without the co-authors

Teena Marie

Angela Winbush

Angela Johnson

Brenda Russell

daytonohioplayer said:

Teena Marie

Angela Winbush

Angela Johnson

Brenda Russell

good post

thanks

Chrissy Hynde.

Annie Lennox.

[Edited 3/2/12 9:51am]

Aimee Mann

Cyndi Lauper

sosgemini said:

Aimee Mann

Good call

Cyndi Lauper

Is Cуndi a full-fledged author?
I do not know any song that she wrote herself, without help from other authors, for example, Jan Pulsford.

Alanis! My personal favorite lyricist.

MidniteMagnet said:

Alanis! My personal favorite lyricist.

Oh, yes, I do not know how could miss Alanis, she was one of the first songwriters I thought

Suzanne Vega is one of the best songwiters period, imo.

Bunny DeBarge

Nona Hendryx

Angela Winbush

Syreeta Wright

Patrice Rushen

Janis Ian

Joan Baez

Annie Lennox

Along with Carole King, Jackie DeShannon should have been the first person posted.

Break-A-Way: The Songs of Jackie DeShannon 1961-1967

1. Break-A-Way - IRMA THOMAS
2. When You Walk In The Room - THE SEARCHERS
3. Just Like Him - PJ PROBY
4. Come And Stay With Me - CHER
5. Woe Is Me - HELEN SHAPIRO
6. Dancing Silhouettes - THURSTON HARRIS
7. (He's) The Great Impostor - THE FLEETWOODS
8. There's Gonna Be A Fight - DICK LORY
9. So Deep - BRENDA LEE
10. You Won't Forget Me - PETER JAMES
11. Carrying A Torch - WYNONA CARR
12. Blue Ribbons - DOBIE GRAY
13. Stop That Girl - BARBARA LEWIS
14. In My Time Of Sorrow - GAY SHINGLETON
15. I Remember The Girl - THE BANDITS
16. Back Street Girl - DIANA DAWN
17. Am I Dreaming - JANE CANADA
18. Splendor In The Grass - THE BOYS
19. Guitar Child - DUANE EDDY & THE REBELETTES
20. Should I Cry - THE CONCORDS
21. Would You Come Back - EDDIE HODGES
22. Thank You Darlin' - RICK NELSON
23. Daydreamin' Of You - THE FASHIONETTES
24. Takin' The Long Way Home - PEGGY MARCH
25. If I'm Right Or Wrong - BOBBY VEE & THE VENTURES
26. Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe - THE BYRDS BONUS TRACK
27. Only You Can Free My Mind - JACKIE DeSHANNON

Jackie DeShannon's status as a singer is assured. Her vocal range, diversity and skill, as exemplified by her original and stunning performances of 'Needles And Pins', 'When You Walk In The Room', Bacharach and David's 'What The World Needs Now Is Love' and the generational anthem 'Put A Little Love In Your Heart', will be well known to readers of this article. But her status as a songwriter also deserves to be celebrated – something that Ace have done for us with this 27-track cracker, "Break-A-Way".

Jackie's talent for writing words and music emerged at a young age, and by 1958 she had successfully sold her song 'My Baby Likes Western Guys' to her contemporary, little Brenda Lee. Her abilities were recognised while she was still a teenager by Hollywood's Liberty Records, who signed her to their publishing company Metric Music in 1961, where she was allowed to flourish alongside writers Sharon Sheeley, Randy Newman and J M Smith (later P J Proby). In this supportive West Coast environment Jackie came up with great song after great song, combining with Sharon Sheeley to write a series of hit records for Brenda Lee, the Fleetwoods and many more, inspiring the legendary Jack Nitzsche to some great co-writes and memorable productions, and striking out on her own to inspire the Searchers and other British bands to conquer the world.

Following this period of success Jackie briefly re-located to the UK, where a dynamic partnership with boy wonder session guitarist and Yardbird Jimmy Page resulted in a fabulous set of guitar-driven songs, folk-rock ballads and sublime soul (if you haven't heard Barbara Lewis' 'Stop That Girl' before, it will certainly stop you in your tracks).

In the period covered by this collection, 1961 to 1967, Jackie wrote a selection of songs which represent the very best in pop music of the day. The variety of styles is breathtaking – from the Merseybeat of 'When You Walk In The Room' by the Searchers, to the doo wop of 'Should I Cry' by the Concords (one of Jackie's personal favourites), to the guitar raunch of Duane Eddy's 'Guitar Child' and the girl-group sound of the Fashionettes' 'Day Dreamin' Of You'. Jackie has written and co-written some 600 songs (and shows no sign of stopping!), and there are some rarities to give us enormous pleasure on this CD. Try the Bandits' US garage take on 'I Remember The Girl', or, for a contrast, gospel chanteuse Wynona Carr's slow and sexy interpretation of 'Carrying A Torch'.

Every track here is a winner: from the obscure Jane Canada on the dimly-remembered Magic Lamp label, to household names such as Rick Nelson, Bobby Vee and indeed the Byrds. And Ace would not be Ace if they did not have a very special treat for us as a bonus – the collection concludes with a wonderful and previously unheard demo of Jackie performing her own lovely song 'Only You Can Free My Mind'. So much talent, so much more to discover. I'm looking forward to Volume 2.

--Peter Lerner

[Edited 3/2/12 13:56pm]

^Great pick, I always forget bout her.

LiLi1992 said:

Is Cуndi a full-fledged author?
I do not know any song that she wrote herself, without help from other authors, for example, Jan Pulsford.

Good question. Anyone know? I know she does a lot of co-writting but assumed her last album of originals (Bring Ya To The Bring) was a solo project. I could be wrong.

lazycrockett said:

^Great pick, I always forget bout her.

Me too.

I also forgot about Ellie Greenwich, Carole King and Valerie Simpson as well.

sosgemini said:

LiLi1992 said:

Is Cуndi a full-fledged author?
I do not know any song that she wrote herself, without help from other authors, for example, Jan Pulsford.

Good question. Anyone know? I know she does a lot of co-writting but assumed her last album of originals (Bring Ya To The Bring) was a solo project. I could be wrong.

I wished she had written her hits though, I don't think she has... I know she did change the lyrics to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" but she's not listed as a co-writer.

Great choices have all been listed. My list focuses on newer talent..

St. Vincent

Nellie McKay

Georgia Anne Muldrow

Mia Doi Todd

Laura Marling

Aretha Franklin

Missy Elliot

Keri Hilson

Cynthia Mann

Kandi Burruss

Nina Simone

sosgemini said:

Aimee Mann

Cyndi Lauper

Timmy84 said:

sosgemini said:

Good question. Anyone know? I know she does a lot of co-writting but assumed her last album of originals (Bring Ya To The Bring) was a solo project. I could be wrong.

I wished she had written her hits though, I don't think she has... I know she did change the lyrics to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" but she's not listed as a co-writer.

She co-wrote Time After Time, SheBop and Change of Heart.

Tortilla said:

Great choices have all been listed. My list focuses on newer talent..

St. Vincent

Nellie McKay

Georgia Anne Muldrow

Mia Doi Todd

Laura Marling

...following your lead

Regina Spektor

Fiona Apple

Erykah Badu

Jenny Lewis

Nika Roza Danilova (Zola Jesus)

Jill Scott

Chan Marshall (Cat Power)

Neko Case

Sia

Beth Ditto

Lykke Li

Florence Welch

Johanna Fateman + Kathleen Hanna (Le Tigre)

Alicia Keys

Dee Dee (of Dum Dum Girls)

Joan Wasser (Joan As Police Woman)

sosgemini said:

Timmy84 said:

I wished she had written her hits though, I don't think she has... I know she did change the lyrics to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" but she's not listed as a co-writer.

She co-wrote Time After Time, SheBop and Change of Heart.

Besides these...

Has no one mentioned Dolly Parton or am I just not looking carefully enough?!

Stevie Nicks

Ann Wilson (Heart)

Nancy Wilson (Heart)

Natasha Khan (Bat For Lashes)

Linda Perry

Wendy & Lisa

Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)

Jewel

.

[Edited 3/2/12 15:36pm]

thekidsgirl said:

Has no one mentioned Dolly Parton or am I just not looking carefully enough?!

thekidsgirl said:

Has no one mentioned Dolly Parton or am I just not looking carefully enough?!

Ugh... yeah I forgot her too.

hangs head in shame.

lazycrockett said:

hangs head in shame.

We deserve it lol

Dolly Parton

Loretta Lynn

Lucinda Williams

Stevie Nicks

Betty Davis, anyone?

Janet Jackson (If only for Velvet Rope)

Sade Adu

Adele

Madonna (Some songs I.E Like A Prayer)