Great songwriters and their greatest song

[San Antone]

Looking for songwriters you think are great and then suggest their greatest song.  This could be a song that many other singers have covered or just one you think is their best effort.

I'll start it off with Randy Newman and "I Think It's Going to Rain Today".  He's written a ton of really good songs, but this one has been covered by literally hundreds of singers, as far apart as Nora Jones and Nina Simone.  A true classic song that is so natural and perfect it sounds like it has always has been there, but Randy Newman wrote it in 1968, or thereabouts, since it appeared on his debut album in 1968.

[Florestan]

OTOMH: Toto Cutugno - Et si tu n'existais pas

[Ken B]

Sondheim
A Little Death

[snyprrr]

Jeff Buckley 'Vancouver'

[Jay F]

"The Way You Look Tonight," Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields.

I like "Gainesville" more than any other song by Randy Newman.

"For No One," Paul McCartney

"Carmelita," Warren Zevon

[San Antone]

"The Way You Look Tonight," Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields.

I like "Gainesville" more than any other song by Randy Newman.

"For No One," Paul McCartney

"Carmelita," Warren Zevon

Great choices.  Kudos for the Kern pick.

[Karl Henning]

Ian Anderson, "Black Satin Dancer"

http://www.youtube.com/v/nzxNBTCpYOI

Duke Ellington (lyrics by Bob Russell), "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me"

http://www.youtube.com/v/vjApoRdEOi4

Lindsey Buckingham, "Walk a Thin Line"

http://www.youtube.com/v/f9DKVtqWTKU

Cole Porter, "I've Got You Under My Skin"

http://www.youtube.com/v/QgIw_d4qBHk

Geo. Harrison, "Woman, Don't You Cry for Me"

http://www.youtube.com/v/TIu3LwF4_Bs

Geo. Gershwin, "When You Want 'Em, You Can't Get 'Em (When You've Got 'Em, You Don't Want 'Em)"

http://www.youtube.com/v/xlSj6cTMc2Y

[Ken B]

John Newton, Amazing Grace


*bows modestly as he wins thread by 6 lengths*

[NJ Joe]

https://www.youtube.com/v/N6d2RG2Rl64

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Charles Trenet: La Mer

One of the most neglected singers/songwriters who ever lived. It is NOT(!!) "The Bobby Darin Song" (Beyond the sea); It was written by Charles Trenet and has been translated into 26 languages including esperanto. Overall, Trenet wrote over 500 songs and had a tremendous voice, usually refusing to use a microphone. Many of his other songs would also merit mention, alongside some by Georges Brassens.

[James]

https://www.youtube.com/v/8579wjzQHEk

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Charles Trenet: La Mer

One of the most neglected singers/songwriters who ever lived.[...] has been translated into 26 languages including esperanto.

That doesn't sound too neglected to me! But I admit, I hadn't heard of him.

I can't get on board with this idea of choosing one best song from anyone, but it's interesting to see people's choices.

[Karl Henning]

I can't get on board with this idea of choosing one best song from anyone, but it's interesting to see people's choices.

Yes, dubious premise, but interesting exercise 

[escher]

OTOMH: Toto Cutugno - Et si tu n'existais pas

Oh god, Toto Cutugno mentioned in a thread about great songwriters, the end of the world is near

[Sergeant Rock]

Hard to choose a greatest song by Townes Van Zandt. There are many great ones, including "If I Needed You" and "Tecumseh Valley." But I'll pick "Pancho and Lefty." Here's a version by Emmylou Harris and the Hot Band, followed by the great Texan himself, playing "a medley of his hit" 

https://www.youtube.com/v/scX50O2hDkI

https://www.youtube.com/v/zprRZ2wFQD4


Sarge

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet: "Gold"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntG50eXbBtc

[Jaakko Keskinen]

David Bowie: "Starman"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B5zmDz4vR4

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Yes, dubious premise, but interesting exercise 

Oh alright, I'll play along:

Leonard Cohen, "Avalanche"

[Ken B]

Oh alright, I'll play along:

Leonard Cohen, "Avalanche"

Leonard Cohen, Hallelujah

[Karl Henning]

Captain Beefheart, "Nowadays, a Woman's Gotta Hit a Man"

https://www.youtube.com/v/M3ja9PWAR_I