favourite songwriters

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newbiewriter

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Hey

I was wondering who you people have been inspired by to write songs or just find as great writers-musicians.

I must admit that my favourite is Bob Dylan
 
Hey

I was wondering who you people have been inspired by to write songs or just find as great writers-musicians.

I must admit that my favourite is Bob Dylan
I was about to say Lennon-McCartney, Harrison, Jagger-Richards because they were the first writers I actively took notice of as actual writers. But then, two things occurred to me. Firstly, the first piece of music I ever 'wrote' was when I was 12 and learning to play cello{which I only took up coz I thought it would get me out of having to do French homework}. I wrote it on the cello, it was exciting crap - but I'd not at that point thought of anyone "oh, they're a good writer". Silly as this sounds, I never consciously considered that people actually 'wrote' songs. The other thing was that the point at which I wanted to write songs {began at the age of 17} was the end point of a process that had gone on for years, that I was not aware of. And there were so many songs I loved that were part of that process. And I haven't a clue who many of the writers were.
When I got into heavier rock at that time, I liked Syd Barrett's writing, Roger Waters, Rick Wright, Plant, Page, Bonham & Jones, Stevie Wonder, The Mark 1&2 Deep Purple writing teams, the above mentioned lot, the Corporation {they wrote some stuff for the Jackson 5}.
It's kind of hard to separate liking of a song or band from the writing of those songs of the band when thinking about how I first started. It all sort of rolls into one big day that lasted years. If I went into detail, you'd have to buy the book. Then you'd want your money back !:D
 
Bob Dylan
Kris Kristofferson
Tom Waits
Randy Newman
Leonard Cohen
 
All rock/metal but here goes:

Phil Lynott
Paul Masvidal/Sean Reinert
Chuck Schuldiner
Steve Harris
Jeff Waters
Chris DeGarmo
Zakk Wylde (mainly his Ozzy/solo stuff, and some BLS)
Randy Rhoads
 
Ok, I'll only name a few of mine.
Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Rick Nelson, Jim Morrison, and I'll finish with Hank Williams Sr.
 
I must agree with all the above mentioned, however, im not familiar with Randy Newman but I will definetely check him out. One writer that hasnt been mentioned yet which I think is remarkable is Jeff Tweedy. Very vivid and interesting lyrics he makes. He is maybe not a classical great singer but I find his voice and singing style to be very sincere.
 
I must agree with all the above mentioned...

Thanks, a lot of people haven't given Buddy the credit he deserves :)

jedclampett.jpg
 
...

Oh geez, what a LIST this could be...

I always liked a lot of Elton Johns ballad hits, so... I guess thats Elton John and Who? Bernie Taupin?

I like a LOT of what Jeff Lynne did over many albums and many years with his group ELO. Pop, ballads, country-flavored, rock-ish... he could do it all, it seemed. VERY versatile.

Moody blues were awesome, but dont know if they wrote all their own stuff or not




I'm just trying to avoid the obvious ones...
 
David Wilcox (My #1 fav)
John Gorka
Joni Mitchell
David Crosby/Stephen Stills
Lennon-McCartney
Garth Brooks
Pete Townsend
Tom Lehrer
Jim Croce
 
Neil Young on Harvest.

Bob Dylan on Times are a changing.

Bruce Springsteen on Nebraska.

Jeff Tweedy on most anything Wilco has put out.
 
Leonard Cohen since I 1st tuned into him in about '73 & then
Elvis Costello
I've loved the work of lots of song writers before him but his work - melody & lyrics (the arrangements of the attractions were unreal too) - from the 1st single until about 2003 really inspired me.
Both quite wordy fellows with less than good voices but but but...
Since them no single writer in particular but I've taken more inspiration from certain denizens of the MP3 Clinic than anywhere else since about 2006.
 
Fagan and Becker

Sting

L & M

Mark Knopfler

Anders Krison, aka Emser, though he’s a photographer

Johann Strauss

Mozart

Harper Simon

James Taylor

Jagger

Kip Winger

RAMI
 
Sam Beam (Iron and Wine)
Connor Oberst (Bright Eyes)
Neil Young
The Shins
Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel)

of course, many many more
 
emily haines (metric), phil elverum (microphones/mount eerie), ben cooper (electric president/radical face), joanna newsom, will cullen hart/bill doss (olivia tremor control), rivers cuomo (weezer)
 
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