Kate Bush, Bjork, Kristin Hersh, Patti Smith, Tracey Thorn, Nina Simone, Miss Dynamite (gone but not forgotton) Ani Di Franco, Debbie Harry (hugely underrated) Amy Winehouse
Cant gripe about any of the great talent noted here. I would add Laura Nyro (no explanation needed), Diane Warren (too many top ten hits to count) and Dorothy Fields, who wrote at least a dozen of the most memorable and most covered Broadway tunes (A Fine Romance, On the Sunny Side of the Street, I'm in the Mood for Love and The Way You Look Tonight, for starters)
Jewel (entire 𝑆𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑡 album including 𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑈𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛, 𝑊ℎ𝑜 𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑆𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑙 from 𝑃𝑖𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑌𝑜𝑢 album, and newer work), Pat Benatar (lots of male collaborating), Karla Bonoff (who made soon-to-be-biopic topic Linda Ronstadt a star with Bonoff songs), another triad among those great.
When women songwriters collaborate with male partners or friends, the energies can blend and magic sometimes results. Also when men and women write separately, magic can happen, but I mention it after noting the male collaborators listed for several women in the curated list of 10.
Re-listening to the Beatles' 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝐶𝑟𝑦 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑑 on the 𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐷𝑎𝑦'𝑠 𝑁𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 album, there are some really lopsided ugly lyrics (imagery of breaking girls in two) that might have shifted positively by collaboration outside the solely male view. Sadly, it's the song that sticks in many people's minds most from that album ("all round the world," etc.). So what's the greatest or not, always subjective.
It'd be nice if all musical "best of" lists factored in the extent to which the songs written and music made enlightens, heals, inspires or helps us through the night in a caring way.
No Dory Previn? Under-rated in so many ways. Glad to see the "untouchable" Sandy Denny is included in the links - did not see her name in your #10 to 1 "list"
Kate Bush, Bjork, Kristin Hersh, Patti Smith, Tracey Thorn, Nina Simone, Miss Dynamite (gone but not forgotton) Ani Di Franco, Debbie Harry (hugely underrated) Amy Winehouse
Cant gripe about any of the great talent noted here. I would add Laura Nyro (no explanation needed), Diane Warren (too many top ten hits to count) and Dorothy Fields, who wrote at least a dozen of the most memorable and most covered Broadway tunes (A Fine Romance, On the Sunny Side of the Street, I'm in the Mood for Love and The Way You Look Tonight, for starters)
This list is a sad commentary on our times.
The last time I checked, Iris Dement’s songwriting puts her on a level with Dylan, Cohen, and Mitchell.
Taylor Swift, a top 10 songwriter? Perhaps she’s the most popular female songwriter, but this is not a list of popular songwriters, is it.
I love me some Memphis Minnie, but come on!
Joan Armatrading brought me down to my knees, down to ground, down at your door...
As a wise man once said, "Yeah? Well, you know, that's just like uh, your opinion, man."
Cannot argue with your list. 👍🏼
We always have to discount the quality of the recordings but not all the timbres of the voices I like!
Do you like all this of them?
Excellent WEF cartoon! One image conveys so much.
Interesting list. Great cannot be limited to 10.
Jewel (entire 𝑆𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑡 album including 𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑈𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛, 𝑊ℎ𝑜 𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑆𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑙 from 𝑃𝑖𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑌𝑜𝑢 album, and newer work), Pat Benatar (lots of male collaborating), Karla Bonoff (who made soon-to-be-biopic topic Linda Ronstadt a star with Bonoff songs), another triad among those great.
When women songwriters collaborate with male partners or friends, the energies can blend and magic sometimes results. Also when men and women write separately, magic can happen, but I mention it after noting the male collaborators listed for several women in the curated list of 10.
Re-listening to the Beatles' 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝐶𝑟𝑦 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑑 on the 𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐷𝑎𝑦'𝑠 𝑁𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 album, there are some really lopsided ugly lyrics (imagery of breaking girls in two) that might have shifted positively by collaboration outside the solely male view. Sadly, it's the song that sticks in many people's minds most from that album ("all round the world," etc.). So what's the greatest or not, always subjective.
It'd be nice if all musical "best of" lists factored in the extent to which the songs written and music made enlightens, heals, inspires or helps us through the night in a caring way.
A big thanks to Greg for the musical notes and WEF cartoon!!!
No Dory Previn? Under-rated in so many ways. Glad to see the "untouchable" Sandy Denny is included in the links - did not see her name in your #10 to 1 "list"