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So I need some help here..

Im looking for a list of the greatest songwriters..craftsmen, the artists who have created a combination of lyrics and music together...not just one or the other..and ones who have had some commercial success..obscure no good...I am especially interested in those that have had their stuff re-recorded , sold their songs, licensed their material, and especially those that made a living for songwriting for others..

If you can embed a video...post their lyrics as well...great stuff..


I have some ideas obviously we have discussed Al Stewart and Leonord COhen last couple of days..so Id like to see some stuff from those..and anything else....

Cheers

Matt

Here are a few that I consider great singer/songwriters;



Bob Dylan
Carole King
Joni Mitchell
Roy Orbison
Jackson Browne
Tom Waits
Lennon & McCartney
James Taylor

Putting aside what most people know them for, here's a wiki snip you might find surprising. They also belong in the thread for songs where the cover is better than the original.

Songwriting success
The Bee Gees have sold in excess of 220 million records and singles worldwide. "How Deep Is Your Love" is their most popular composition, with over 400 versions by other artists in existence.
At one point in 1978, the Gibb brothers were responsible for writing and/or performing 9 of the songs in the Billboard Hot 100. In all, the Gibbs placed 13 singles onto the Hot 100 in 1978, with 12 making the Top 40.
Their songs have been covered by singers of all stripes including Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Al Green, Eric Clapton, Lulu, Elton John, Tom Jones, Nina Simone, John Frusciante (who has covered "How Deep Is Your Love" during Red Hot Chili Peppers concerts), Feist, Billy Corgan, Michael Bolton, Robert Smith, Ardijah, Steps, US5 and Destiny's Child.
Songs written by the Gibbs but largely better known through versions by other artists include the following:

• "Immortality" by Celine Dion
• "If I Can't Have You" by Yvonne Elliman
• "Chain Reaction" by Diana Ross
• "Spicks and Specks" by Status Quo
• "Emotion" by Samantha Sang and by Destiny's Child
• "Come On Over" by Olivia Newton-John
• "Warm Ride" by Graham Bonnet and by Rare Earth
• "Guilty" and "Woman in Love" by Barbra Streisand
• "Heartbreaker" & "All The Love In The World" by Dionne Warwick
• "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
• "Grease" by Frankie Valli
• "Hold On To My Love" by Jimmy Ruffin
• "Only One Woman" by The Marbles
• "Morning of My Life" by Abi and Esther Ofarim
• "Rest Your Love on Me" by Conway Twitty
• "Buried Treasure" by Kenny Rogers (backing vocals The Gatlin Brothers)
• "Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You" by Teri DeSario
• "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by Al Green
Many hit covers and album tracks of the Bee Gees' songs have been recorded, and the band's music has also been sampled by dozens of hip hop artists.
It has been estimated that the Bee Gees' record sales total more than 100 million,[ making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Their Hall of Fame citation says "Only Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Garth Brooks and Paul McCartney have outsold the Bee Gees".

There's a lot more if you read the whole wiki.

Mark

Some of my picks would be:

Neil Young
Don Henley and Glen Frey
Cat Stevens
Paul Simon
Gordon Lightfoot
Dan Fogelberg
Jimmy Barnes (just for you matt)
Buffy Sainte-Marie
The girls from The Corrs
Van Morrison
Sinead O'Connor
Bob Marley
Dave Dobbyn
Bic Runga
Any of the Finn brothers, Tim, Neil or son Liam
James Blunt
Elton John
Stephen Stills
Graham Nash
David Crosby
Richard Thompson

Both Harry Chapin and Jim Croce were master craftsmen.

Too many songs to list from both of them, but here's two links to my faves:

And while we're discussing it- here's my vote for Neil finishing 'Cat's Cradle' from the youtube teaser..

I would add these:

Al Stewart
Justin Hayward
Ralph McTell
Joan Baez
Pete Seeger
Ian Anderson
John Prine
Jimmy Webb
John Denver
Harry Chapin
Don Henley
Noel Paul Stuckey



:cheer:

Here's a couple for you.

Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff

Holland/Dozier/Holland

William “Smoky” Robinson Jr.

This is a good start..

What I need now are some examples of people who have sold songs to otehr artists and been succesful..

Eg - Paul Anka..

examples..video and lyrics...

Barry Gibb
Dolly Parton