[wowers]

Male singer-songwriters.  Names that come to mind. Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, Neil Young, Lou Reed, Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson, Ewan MacColl, John Prine, Loudon Wainwright III. I like some older singer-songwriters too but I felt it should be more modern. Who are the best? Who should be in the list, and who should be taken out.

 

[xtr3me]

I'd put Nick Drake right up there with the best (Cash, Cohen, Dylan ...). He's a fantastic songwriter and I'm just sad his work only gained more recognition after his death.

 

[falis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wowers /img/forum/go_quote.gif Male singer-songwriters. My favorite is Tom Waits but he is my favorite artist alongside Jaco and Vladimir Vysotsky. Names that come to mind. Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, Neil Young, Lou Reed. I like some older singer-songwriters too but I felt it should be more modern. Who are the best? Who should be in the list, and who should be taken out. Edit: Bert Jansch anyone?

If you want someone who should be among the most stellar you listed, you need to add Richard Thompson (Welcome to BeesWeb - The Official Site of Richard Thompson). Tim Buckley is worth checking out too, but he went through several distinct phases (folk -> free jazz sorta -> funk). I like the Lorca/Starsailor period.

Nothing wrong with Bert Jansch, but I don't think of him so much as a songwriter as a guitarist of great skill and imagination. Go Nicks C & D!

- Ed

 

[xtr3me]

Quote:

Originally Posted by falis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Tim Buckley is worth checking out too, but he went through several distinct phases (folk -> free jazz sorta -> funk). I like the Lorca/Starsailor period.

And son Jeff too. Amazing songwriter and great singer too.

 

[wuaffiliate]

Neil Young is Canadian.

As for American singer songwriters, Bob Dylan is my favorite singer songwrite worldwide so he is easily my favorite American in his field

. There are so many to list that it's hard to come up with a solid full list really.

In fact i would have to add John Fogerty, very few singer songwriters can be called legendary and he is one of them.

 

[HipHopScribe]

The best who have really emerged in the last two decades or so would include John Darnielle (of The Mountain Goats), Joe Henry, and Richard Buckner. You could also throw in Chris Mills, Josh Ritter, Will Sheff (of Okkervil River), Colin Meloy (of The Decemberists) and M. Ward.

Some other names more contemporary with your list would include Elvis Costello, Townes Van Zandt, John Prine, Loudon Wainwright III, Nick Lowe, Paul Simon, and Robyn Hitchcock.

My favorites are Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, John Darnielle and Nick Cave.

 

[FalconP]

Male singer-songwriters who are renowned for their perceptive lyrics would include Richard Thompson, Leon Rosselson, Tom Russell, Eric Bogle, Ewan MacColl, and a host of others

 

[hockeyb213]

I always enjoyed Ian Anderson's (Jethro Tull) lyrics I always thought they were crafted brilliantly.

 

[zotjen]

Prince
Richard Hawley

 

[Davey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HipHopScribe /img/forum/go_quote.gif Richard Buckner

+

 

[Uncle Erik]

X2 on Elvis Costello! He was the first that came to mind when I saw the original post. Love Tom Waits, too.

 

[pdupiano]

I'd say Marc Cohn. Its a bit unfortunate that he's not as prolific as the rest, but he does have much more than Walking on Memphis. I'd also recommend getting anything live, for some odd reason he's much better live than in a studio album.

 

[Valens7]

Morrissey's work for The Smiths is just amazing. It is hard to find better pop songs than the ones that he wrote in the band's heyday. He hasn't had a half-bad solo career either.

 

[n3rdling]

Cash is my favorite. I'd def. add Paul Simon and Willie Nelson to that list.

 

[Pageygeeza]

Neil Finn, even going back to the Crowded House days.