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.
:)
OTOMH: Toto Cutugno - Et si tu n'existais pas
Sondheim
A Little Death
Jeff Buckley 'Vancouver'
"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
Quote from: Jay F on June 26, 2015, 03:39:13 PM
"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.
:)
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
John Newton, Amazing Grace
*bows modestly as he wins thread by 6 lengths*
https://www.youtube.com/v/N6d2RG2Rl64
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.
https://www.youtube.com/v/8579wjzQHEk
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on June 26, 2015, 04:36:14 PM
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.
Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on June 26, 2015, 06:42:08 PM
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 8)
Quote from: Florestan on June 26, 2015, 11:36:36 AM
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
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" ;D
https://www.youtube.com/v/scX50O2hDkI
https://www.youtube.com/v/zprRZ2wFQD4
Sarge
Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet: "Gold"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntG50eXbBtc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntG50eXbBtc)
David Bowie: "Starman"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B5zmDz4vR4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B5zmDz4vR4)
Quote from: karlhenning on June 27, 2015, 05:03:36 AM
Yes, dubious premise, but interesting exercise 8)
Oh alright, I'll play along:
Leonard Cohen, "Avalanche"
Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on June 27, 2015, 02:11:46 PM
Oh alright, I'll play along:
Leonard Cohen, "Avalanche"
Leonard Cohen, Hallelujah
Captain Beefheart, "Nowadays, a Woman's Gotta Hit a Man"
https://www.youtube.com/v/M3ja9PWAR_I
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on June 27, 2015, 05:39:04 AM
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" ;D
https://www.youtube.com/v/TMPydiR4NaQ
https://www.youtube.com/v/zprRZ2wFQD4
Sarge
Yep on all three.
Ray Davies, "Waterloo Sunset"
Richard Thompson, "Dimming of the Day"
Robbie Robertson, "The Weight"
Tom Waits, "Tom Traubert's Blues"
Sandy Denny, "Who Knows Where the Time Goes"
Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on January 29, 2019, 01:12:28 PM
Tom Waits, "Tom Traubert's Blues"
You could've replaced this with over a dozen other Waits songs and I'd be happy with it, but I like your style,
T.T.'s Blues is great.
Wow. I forgot I started this thread. Time to add another:
If These Walls Could Speak - Jimmy Webb.
https://www.youtube.com/v/_3p64SIX_KI
8)
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on January 29, 2019, 02:54:22 PM
You could've replaced this with over a dozen other Waits songs and I'd be happy with it,
For sure! That's just how I happen to feel today.
But I'm going for songs that I feel are somehow representative, rather than merely great.
Suzanne Vega, Small Blue Thing.
A cool pursuit while waiting for a flight.
Feel free to overlook those with a separate lyricist.
This Whole World - Brian Wilson.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WPe78FgI9ro
Mood Indigo - Duke Ellington.
I Cover the Waterfront - Green/Hayman.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GIIZ3hQEsqs
Coming Around Again - Carly Simon.
Night and Day - Cole Porter.
Please Fall in love with Me - John Martyn.
Incident on 57th Street - Bruce Springsteen.
She Loves the Jerk - John Hiatt.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KYoKpCas0IY
Lida Rose - Meredith Willson.
They Don't Know - Kirsty MacColl.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kIsyQ2qCDQ8
Being Alive - Sondheim.
Stella by Starlight - Victor Young.
It might as well be Spring - Rodgers/Hammerstein.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MrohVzVLSbw
Cheek to Cheek - Irving Berlin.
If It's Love - Tilbrook/Difford.
https://youtu.be/ZS0SMYdGh-c
I Can't Get Started - Vernon Duke.
What am I doin' Hangin' Round - Michael Martin Murphy.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z0h9QD6UKY
Dancing in the Dark - Dietz/Schwarz.
I Want to see the Bright Lights - Richard Thompson.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_gkWKKeW8vU
Stardust - Hoagy Carmichael.
Quote from: NikF on January 29, 2019, 06:31:19 PM
A cool pursuit while waiting for a flight.
Feel free to overlook those with a separate lyricist.
This Whole World - Brian Wilson.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WPe78FgI9ro
Mood Indigo - Duke Ellington.
I Cover the Waterfront - Green/Hayman.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GIIZ3hQEsqs
Coming Around Again - Carly Simon.
Night and Day - Cole Porter.
Please Fall in love with Me - John Martyn.
Incident on 57th Street - Bruce Springsteen.
She Loves the Jerk - John Hiatt.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KYoKpCas0IY
Lida Rose - Meredith Willson.
They Don't Know - Kirsty MacColl.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kIsyQ2qCDQ8
Being Alive - Sondheim.
Stella by Starlight - Victor Young.
It might as well be Spring - Rodgers/Hammerstein.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MrohVzVLSbw
Cheek to Cheek - Irving Berlin.
If It's Love - Tilbrook/Difford.
https://youtu.be/ZS0SMYdGh-c
I Can't Get Started - Vernon Duke.
What am I doin' Hangin' Round - Michael Martin Murphy.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z0h9QD6UKY
Dancing in the Dark - Dietz/Schwarz.
I Want to see the Bright Lights - Richard Thompson.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_gkWKKeW8vU
Stardust - Hoagy Carmichael.
Decided to go for that warmer clime?
My nomination
Adam Raised a Cain (Bruce Springsteen)
Quote from: JBS on January 29, 2019, 06:38:48 PM
Decided to go for that warmer clime?
My nomination
Adam Raised a Cain (Bruce Springsteen)
Yeah, just for a few days.
Y viva espana.
Jean Ritchie, "High Hills and Mountains"
George Gershwin - Fascinatin' Rhythm
Hard to pick one Gershwin, he had so many great songs. I've always really liked this one though.
8)
I'll throw those in :
Neil Young - Old man
Joni Mitchell - The last time I saw Richard
Charles Aznavour - Hier Encore
Grant Lee Philips - Waking Memory
Hank Williams: "Your Cheatin' Heart"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sCAct0tUlec
John Denver: "Rocky Mountain High"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eOB4VdlkzO4
(Too bad it's about drugged hippies.)
Gordon Lightfoot: "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" .
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A
Quote from: NikF on January 29, 2019, 06:31:19 PM
Dancing in the Dark - Dietz/Schwarz.
Finally! I've been soooo close to mentioning this a number of times. Big thumb up for the Berlin song as well, and for mentioning Richard Thompson (though probably not my favorite by him).
Emmylou Harris "Boulder to Birmingham" ...the song is about her feelings of grief in the years following the death of Gram Parsons, country rock pioneer.
https://www.youtube.com/v/P0oemBPggGI
Sarge
Bobbie Gentry: "Ode to Billie Joe"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cJZ_ViDADOE
Paul Simon: "The Sound of Silence"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4fWyzwo1xg0
Harry Chapin: "Cat's in the Cradle"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KUwjNBjqR-c
Quote from: San Antone on April 03, 2019, 01:40:51 PM
John Prine - Paradise
Good one, although my nomination would be either "Sam Stone" or "Angel from Montgomery."
Quote from: eThe new erato on April 03, 2019, 12:41:11 PM
Finally! I've been soooo close to mentioning this a number of times. Big thumb up for the Berlin song as well, and for mentioning Richard Thompson (though probably not my favorite by him).
You have one in mind for Richard Thompson?
Yeah, Berlin - a!ways cool.
Dancing in the Dark - Dietz/Schwarz. No matter if it's Artie Shaw or even Astaire and Cyc Charisse dancing stage bound, that's a wonderful tune.
Count me on team
Van Zandt. My favourite song of his is
Nothing.
As for the recent generations,
Joanna Newsom immediately springs to mind. A masterful songwriter, weaving complex stories and meanings into elegantly simple and beautiful tapestries, as demonstrated in this epic song about her astronomer sister.
Quotethe meteorite is a source of the light
and the meteor's just what we see
and the meteoroid is a stone that's devoid of the fire that propelled it to thee
https://www.youtube.com/v/UGoNCvoZuYA
With
Good Intentions Paving Company coming in close second:
https://www.youtube.com/v/eBa3QSycc0c
From the morning - Nick Drake
And, regretting not having noticed this one 4 years ago:
Quote from: Jay F on June 26, 2015, 03:39:13 PM
"For No One," Paul McCartney
I don't know anyone else that rates that song so highly! One of the half-dozen perfect ones written by Sir Paul, and yes, the best of all.
Quote from: NikF4 on April 04, 2019, 04:49:20 AM
You have one in mind for Richard Thompson?
Such a vast discography. Perhaps "Did She Jump or Was She Pushed?" or "Walking on a Wire"
And I love "The End of the Rainbow" with these noteworthy lyrics:
I feel for you, you little horror
Safe at your mother's breast
No lucky break for you around the corner
'Cause your father is a bully
And he thinks that you're a pest
And your sister she's no better than a whore
Life seems so rosy in the cradle
But I'll be a friend I'll tell you what's in store
There's nothing at the end of the rainbow
There's nothing to grow up for anymore
Tycoons and barrow boys will rob you
And throw you on the side
And all because they love themselves sincerely
And the man holds a bread knife
Up to you throat is four feet wide
And he's anxious just to show you what it's for
Your mother works so hard to make you happy
But take a look outside the nursery door
There's nothing at the end of the rainbow
There's nothing to grow up for anymore
And all the sad and empty faces
That pass you on the street
All running in their sleep, all in a dream
Every loving handshake
Is just another man to beat
How your heart aches just to cut him to the core
Quote from: The new erato on April 04, 2019, 11:18:42 AM
Such a vast discography. Perhaps "Did She Jump or Was She Pushed?" or "Walking on a Wire"
And I love "The End of the Rainbow" with these noteworthy lyrics:
I listed "Dimming of the Day," but maybe I should have listed "The Great Valerio," which comes right after the song you quoted on the
Bright Lights album.
Other favorites are "Devonside" (from
Hand of Kindness) and "Hope You Like the New Me" (from
Mock Tudor) - the latter being possibly the creepiest song I've ever heard!
Bob Dylan - Visions Of Johanna
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51c96ioOjPL._SY355_.jpg)
Blaze Foley a great songwriter who wrote many great songs. "Clay Pigeons" is one of 'em.
Martin Gore
Many to choose from, especially Everything Counts or Wrong
Sondheim
I think his greatest achievement is the central section of Sweeney Todd, which is Pretty Women, Epiphany, and A Little Priest.
As a discrete song A Little Death from A Little Night Music
Harry Warren
Lullaby of Broadway