SlipKid's Songwriters Hall of Fame

Submitted by slipkid71 on Tue, 01/13/2004 - 10:51
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  • In no particular order
  • Bob Dylan
  • John Lennon & Paul McCartney
  • Cole Porter
  • Richard Rogers
  • Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
  • Johnny Cash
  • Leonard Cohen
  • Bruce Springsteen
  • Sammy Cahn
  • Pete Townshend
  • Burt Bachrach
  • Leiber & Stoller
  • Doc Pomus
  • Joni Mitchell
  • Holland, Dozier & Holland
  • Steven Sondheim
  • Warren Zevon
  • Lou Reed
  • Randy Newman
DrJimmy01/14/2004

Carole King/Gerry Goffin?
Bernie Taupin/Elton John?
Neil Young?

slipkid7101/14/2004

I would have added Carole King for Tapestry alone, but she's never quite made me say "What a great songwriter." - I think her output's not as vast as it should be.
Elton and Bernie were indeed great, but Elton's suffered from sleeping with undesirables (i.e., Disney) too much for me to care.
Neil...almost made the list. Like him better as a singer and guitarist that I do as a songwriter.

DrJimmy01/15/2004

I won't argue with your opinions, but I'd like to remark on them if I could.

1. I was actually including the King/Goffin team for their Brill Building songwriting work before her solo work. Songs such as...

Byrds ("Wasn't Born to Follow"),
Animals ("Don't Bring Me Down"),
Herman's Hermits ("I'm into Something Good"),
Chiffons ("One Fine Day"),
Shirelles ("Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?"),
Drifters ("Up On The Roof")
Little Eva ("Loco-Motion"), etc...

Like you say, her solo work alone (Tapestry) almost got her on the list. I'll still respect your opinion though.

2. I do agree Elton has completely sold out. Your penalties for him selling out so late in his career are just a little heavier than mine I guess.

3. Good point on Neil Young.

slipkid7101/15/2004

You're right; I didn't mention the King/Goffin songwriting team because I find their collective output to be hit or miss. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? is truly one of the most groundbreaking songs ever, but The Loco-Motion makes me want to puke.

I just can't stomach what's happened to Elton John; it's been a long, slow, sad decline for him, especially since he broke up his partnership with Bernie Taupin. Perhaps it's time to examine who the real brains and talent behind that songwriting team really was.

dcstar01/14/2004

I would like to nominate:

David Byrne
Elvis Costello
Michael Stipe
Van Morrison
Jeff Tweedy

slipkid7101/15/2004

Excellent choices, indeed, but they don't quite make my list. I prefer Byrne as a musician and collaborator; his lyrics are sometimes a bit too obtuse for me to appreciate. I'm slowly getting into Jeff Tweedy; I'm pretty excited about their new upcoming album.

Macheath01/15/2004

How about:

Ray Davies
Andy Partridge
George and Ira Gershwin
Irving Berlin
Chuck Berry
Strummer/Jones
Jerry Ragovoy
Smokey Robinson
Nick Drake
Harlan Howard
Felice & Boudleaux Bryant
Duke Ellington
Shane MacGowan