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returnee

(470 posts)

80. You should clarify.

Fri Mar 28, 2025, 03:35 PM

Friday

You seem to be focused on the latter half of the 20th Century. Sooooo many great songwriter from Tin Pan Alley and Broadway, not to mention guys like Burt Bacharach/Hal David. Nobody beats Cole Porter. How about Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, Becker and Fagen, James Taylor, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, Willie Nelson, Garcia /Hunter, Jerome Kern, Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn, Irving Berlin, Rodgers/Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Hank Williams, Robert Johnson. Just to name a few.

Pardon me for going on about this, but best of’s kinda rub me the wrong way sometimes.

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Highlight:

Who do you consider to be the best songwriter of the 20th century? [View all] True Dough Mar 21 OP

If you don't like Springsteen's music Jrsygrl96 Mar 21 #1

Prince LoisB Mar 21 #2

Most or all of the above. quaint Mar 21 #3

I should think Neil Young would be a legit contender WheelWalker Mar 21 #4

Jackson Browne Earl_from_PA Mar 21 #5

My heart ❤️ TexasBushwhacker Friday #83

Paul Westerberg displacedvermoter Mar 21 #6

20th Century is a long time. Please change the post to second half of 20th C mucifer Mar 21 #7

Woodie Guthrie is far and away the best and most prolific. GreenWave Friday #76

I can't say, too many things to consider BUT MuseRider Mar 21 #8

Robert Hunter and Bob Dylan. LuckyCharms Mar 21 #9

Both extraordinary wordsmiths. quaint Mar 21 #20

Posted my response before reading yours. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 21 #33

I wouldn't say "best". All of these artists have reached a level we could call "best". I'd go with "favorite". Midnight Writer Mar 21 #10

Prine and his buddy, Steve Goodman. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 21 #34

Toss-up between Cole Porter and Neil Young. (nt) Paladin Mar 21 #11

I voted for Bob Dylan, basically because he wrote for a generation I admired, from anti-Vietnam War to civil rights. CTyankee Mar 21 #12

Leonard Cohen. OilemFirchen Mar 21 #13

Tip of the cap for Zevon. MontanaFarmer Mar 22 #56

Leiber and Stoller. n/t malthaussen Mar 21 #14

Lennon-McCartney bif Mar 21 #15

Cole Porter nuxvomica Mar 21 #16

Probably, George Gershwin...or Richard Rodgers LudwigPastorius Mar 21 #17

Agreed dedl67 Mar 22 #52

Hank Williams SENIOR, who among other things, inspired Bob Dylan and many others. Dorothy V Mar 21 #18

James Douglas Morrison and Brian Hugh Warner Niagara Mar 21 #19

Fuck Brian Warner. LudwigPastorius Mar 21 #36

burt bacharach/hal david for witty romance, holland-dozier-holland for soul pop msongs Mar 21 #21

Can't Pick One ProfessorGAC Mar 21 #22

yes indeed DBoon Mar 21 #29

John Denver Grim Chieftain Mar 21 #23

There is a young Australian songwriter whose lyrics seem Tikki Mar 21 #24

Harry Chapin Archae Mar 21 #25

Cole Porter. Hands down. Chipper Chat Mar 21 #26

He certainly had a very clever way with words Zorro Friday #84

Joan Armitrading gets a shout, the Roches always slayed me too Easterncedar Mar 21 #27

Laura Nyro enid602 Mar 21 #28

Bob Dylan admired Gordon Lightfoot. yardwork Mar 21 #30

Robert Hunter OAITW r.2.0 Mar 21 #31

Phil Collins in addition to many of the above. I can't pick spooky3 Mar 21 #32

I have 4 GoodRaisin Mar 21 #35

Don Henley and Glen Frye Bayard Mar 21 #37

Many great composers for plays throughout the century. Some spaghetti westerns have songs played by symphonies. Norrrm Mar 22 #38

George Gershwin. hedda_foil Mar 22 #39

Added below because I did not see your post. efhmc Mar 22 #68

Gotta add Ira. returnee Friday #81

Where's John Prine? chowmama Mar 22 #40

A few more that I haven't seen mentioned Wiz Imp Mar 22 #41

Carole King is a Poll Choice. milestogo Mar 22 #57

sorry, missed that Wiz Imp Mar 22 #64

Ian Anderson Wolf Frankula Mar 22 #42

Eric Woolfson (The Alan Parsons Project) , Neil Peart (Rush) Intractable Mar 22 #43

Mark Knopfler SamKnause Mar 22 #44

He's still producing some great music True Dough Mar 22 #45

Yes his 2024 One Deep River album is fantastic. SamKnause Mar 22 #50

Sailing to Philadelphia is so great Easterncedar Mar 22 #47

He has so many great songs. SamKnause Mar 22 #51

Kris Kristofferson. Ziggysmom Mar 22 #46

Dylan VGNonly Mar 22 #48

Paul McCartney is the most prolific. milestogo Mar 22 #49

Because of their collaboration, I think Lennon/McCartney should have been an option. surfered Mar 22 #53

Prince leighbythesea2 Mar 22 #54

Such a great list. I think I'll respectfully abstain from voting and just Mike 03 Mar 22 #55

Other Rocknation Mar 22 #58

As a name that has not been mentioned yet. genxlib Mar 22 #59

Elton John/Bernie Taupin MichMan Mar 22 #60

Willie Nelson Emile Mar 22 #61

My favorite songwriter is Naoko Yamano... neeksgeek Mar 22 #62

Gershwin. He barely got started before he died but he was great. efhmc Mar 22 #63

More Wiz Imp Mar 22 #65

Todd Rundgren Clouds Passing Mar 22 #66

A worthy choice that most would not even understand. OldBaldy1701E Mar 22 #69

I need to listen to that one more, I'm certain I would fall in love with it. Clouds Passing Mar 22 #70

Real Man VGNonly Friday #71

A perfect song for today Clouds Passing Friday #72

John Hartford and Jimmy Webb Borogove Mar 22 #67

Barry Manilow Oopsie Daisy Friday #73

Burt Bacharach and Hal David Oopsie Daisy Friday #74

Anyone remember JOAN BAEZ? nt Totally Tunsie Friday #75

Have you heard Neil Finn's discography? 303squadron Friday #77

In the jazz category: Billy Stayhorh -- "Lush Life" and "Take the A Train"... brush Friday #78

As much as I'm a child of the rock'n'roll era... WestMichRad Friday #79

You should clarify. returnee Friday #80

Best 1900-2000? ILikePie92 Friday #82

Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote Saturday #85

There are many, but I haven't seen Neil Diamond named here. hamsterjill Saturday #86

Meat Loaf + Jim Steinman n/t Shrek Saturday #87

Too many to choose from. Iggo Saturday #88

When I was a kid playing in clubs, about half of my covers were from Joni Mitchell, a quarter from Dylan and then... NNadir Saturday #89

Gotta say Joni Mitchell - snot Saturday #90