Song Writers

[Phelonious Ponk]

Songs and songwriters have, since The Beatles hit these shores singing songs of their own composition, driven my interest in music. My favorite performers have always been (IMO) the best songwriters. I can easily overlook, even learn to love a weak voice delivering great songs (big Bob fan). As a guitar player, my favorite lead players have always been guys like George Harrison, Stephen Stills, Richard Thompson, Mike Campbell who, while massively talented, never failed to serve the purpose of the song above showboating their prodigious skills.

These days, in fact for awhile now, I've been of the opinion that the best current (and recent) American songwriters are working in that vague genre known as Americana -- Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, Lyle Lovett...

But lately I've been stepping way outside of my comfort zone as a musician. I'm learning standards -- 'S Wonderful, Let's Do It, Let's Fall In Love, Fever, Mack the Knife, and I'm also working up country and rock standards from the 50s and 60s -- King of the Road, Sea of Heartbreak, Pretty Woman -- These are some of the best examples of song craft I've ever come across.

So what are your best songs? Best songwriters? And what is it about them that touches you so deeply?

Tim

 

[Ronm1]

Favorites is a tough sell. Off the cuff
Calvary Cross fm Richard still hits me a certain way after all these years.
I still am fond of Ray Lamontangne, though I'm not a fan of the new release. Early albums I like alot cause I'm reminded of his days at the local Holiday Inn with just his sideman.
Mark Knofler, KebMo come to mind. Lately I like the playing/writing of Sarah Jarosz. James Taylor should be here somewhere.

 

[JackD201]

My generation (X) was labeled as the broody, angst-y generation. It's no wonder if you go by the songwriters we gravitated to. What folks failed to see was this music was our "break time" from the harder, more direct music that we listened to more and served as the soundtrack of the live to work, work to play mindset.

A few favorite western songwriters (not necessarily folk oriented nor singers for that matter) loved in our neck o the woods off the top of my head.

Susanne Vega
Tori Amos
Sarah Mclachlan
Ben Watt
Beth Orton
Elvis Costello
Peter Murphy
Brendan Perry
David Sylvian

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Instead of Americana, let me offer up some Canadiana:

Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo)
Gord Downey (The Tragically Hip)
Ron Sexsmith

Of course, no list of songs and songwriters is complete without the mention of Gordon Lightfoot.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Instead of Americana, let me offer up some Canadiana:

Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo)
Gord Downey (The Tragically Hip)
Ron Sexsmith

Of course, no list of songs and songwriters is complete without the mention of Gordon Lightfoot.

I'd throw Bruce Cockburn in there, too. As a songwriter and as one of those great players who bends his great skill to the service of the song. And frankly, I'm not at all sure Americana is well-named, as IMO, The Band invented the form, and they were a bunch of Canadians with one singing redneck drummer.

Tim

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

]I'd throw Bruce Cockburn in there, too.[/B] As a songwriter and as one of those great players who bends his great skill to the service of the song. And frankly, I'm not at all sure Americana is well-named, as IMO, The Band invented the form, and they were a bunch of Canadians with one singing redneck drummer.

Tim

I almost went back to edit my post earlier as I should certainly have mentioned BC.

How would you define Americana/Canadiana? Country/Roots, Country/Rock? Touch of folk perhaps? We tend to look at Country as an American musical form, but the music of many Canadian artists is deeply rooted in the country/folk tradition of the regions they grew up in.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Americana evades definition, and might just be the place where artists who defy category land, but I personally see it as (North) American roots music, in those places where the roots get entangled. So all kinds of blends of folk, country, blues, rock, even jazz qualify. The roots part means that it stays close to the roots, you can still taste them. It ain't a smoothie, if you take my meaning, so modern country rarely qualifies, while the incredibly eclectic Steve Earle is a poster boy for the genre. Given all of that, hopefully it's easy to see how I think of The Band as the founding fathers. Canadians and all.

Tim

 

[Ronm1]

Given all of that, hopefully it's easy to see how I think of The Band as the founding fathers. Canadians and all.

Tim

Lets not forget Mr Zimmerman as somewhat influential

 

[es347]

Martin Sexton...the best songwriter/vocalist/guitar player you've never heard of..

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Americana evades definition, and might just be the place where artists who defy category land, but I personally see it as (North) American roots music, in those places where the roots get entangled. So all kinds of blends of folk, country, blues, rock, even jazz qualify. The roots part means that it stays close to the roots, you can still taste them. It ain't a smoothie, if you take my meaning, so modern country rarely qualifies, while the incredibly eclectic Steve Earle is a poster boy for the genre. Given all of that, hopefully it's easy to see how I think of The Band as the founding fathers. Canadians and all.

Tim

Great explanation Tim. Thanks!

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Lets not forget Mr Zimmerman as somewhat influential

Didn't he fizzle out after he went all electric on people?

 

[jazdoc]

Of recent vintage:
Leonard Cohen
Stevie Wonder (pre 1990's)
Jobim
Elton John/Bernie Taupin
Elvis Costello
Damien Jurado
Glimmer Twins

Old school:
Harold Arlen
Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn
Rodgers/Hammerstein
Cole Porter
Lerner/Lowe
Jules Styne
George & Ira Gershwin

 

[Ronm1]

Didn't he fizzle out after he went all electric on people?

Hardly
No Mr Z, No Band, No Pink House
I wish I could fizzle as well!

 

[slowGEEZR]

Some of my favorites that I think fit your category...

John Prine
Guy Clark
Townes Van Zandt
Amos Lee
Bruce Cockburn
Chris Smither
JJ Cale
Gurf Morlix
T-Bone Burnett
Rosanne Cash
Ryan Adams
Neil Young
Tom Waits
Greg Brown
Dan Penn
Darden Smith
Gordon Lightfoot

 

[dingus]

for my money, i think Neil Finn is the best singer-songwriter going.

 

[astrotoy]

Joni Mitchell from my generation and slightly after.

Larry

 

[KeithR]

Willie Nelson has to be in the discussion. Thom Yorke as well.

 

[Mike]

My generation (X) was labeled as the broody, angst-y generation. It's no wonder if you go by the songwriters we gravitated to. What folks failed to see was this music was our "break time" from the harder, more direct music that we listened to more and served as the soundtrack of the live to work, work to play mindset.

A few favorite western songwriters (not necessarily folk oriented nor singers for that matter) loved in our neck o the woods off the top of my head.

Susanne Vega
Tori Amos
Sarah Mclachlan
Ben Watt
Beth Orton
Elvis Costello
Peter Murphy
Brendan Perry
David Sylvian

Ben Watt. That name takes me back to the 80s. I have a friend who was a big Everything But The Girl fan. Elvis C. for me, too.

 

[JackD201]

For your friend Mike

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

They wouldn't mean anything if you don't speak French, but I thought I'd mention them anyway:

Robert Charlebois
Gilles Vigneault
Serge Fiori
Richard Seguin




I will however add Dan Fogelberg,