Top 10 Favorite Singer - Songwriters
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 มิ.ย. 2024
- As requested, here are my Top 10 Favorite Singer-Songwriters of all time. I show you my favorite albums of theirs as well as how many albums I own by them. I also mention another 17 Singer-Songwriters that I like that didn't quite make the top 10
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This is exactly what I’ve been thinking about the last couple days. For me it’s easy. Back to my early days…Lou Reed, and Neil Young. Then, Jackson Browne. Then, Tom Petty. Then, Lucinda Williams, Jason Isbell, Shawn Mullins. Then I have to mention Bruce Springsteen. There are certainly a lot more, but those are my favorites that I listen to all the time. Great topic.
Thanks so much. Again defining what a singer / songwriter is, is very difficult, because almost all the hundreds of artists I love, write and perform their own music, therefore they're almost all singer / songwriters. So I tried to limit it to a genre, which singer/songwriters definitely have. Certainly I'm a HUGE Tom Petty fan and love Lucinda, Springsteen, Isbell and Lou Reed - you know, Lou Reed probably should've been in my list, but I didn't think of him as a singer / songwriter...on the fence with that (but I'm a big fan of his).
Congratulations Alan, I hear that you bought the Queen catalog!!! I can't wait to see what you do with it. One of my absolute favorites is Randy Newman. Just love him. One of your viewers has mentioned Mickey Newbury. I love his stuff too. I see that Melanie has about every reissue you can imagine coming out. Nothing like dying to get your music out😂. Well, you got your Bowie shirt on. I'm listening to the Ziggy box. I'm enjoying it. PS....the sunburn seems to be doing ok. It's a shame nothing fell 😂😂
It's incredible - I haven't seen a new Melanie release in decades and yes, ever since she passed away - it's non-stop, including a new boxset coming out with like 6 CD's. A shame she wasnt' alive to see this resurgence. Ziggy box looks amazing. Talk about resurgence too - The Bowie releases and boxsets have been non-stop since he passed away. The way it is.
That's a pretty awesome top 10, my favourites would be Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen but I love most of the others in your 10 too. I have one honourable mention, not for the top 10 but quite close and that's Joan Armatrading.
I’m a big fan of hers and thought about her. You’re right she really could be in this singer songwriter category. Thanks.
Thanks for your list. Here’s mine, rather spontaneous. Guess it would change in case I would spend hours researching and comparing …
10 Nick Drake. I heard him first in mid Seventies while living in London for a few Month, and bought the Fruit Tree Box. 9. Kate Bush. Also got introduced to her during my time in London. 8. Al Stewart. I found ‘Love Chronicles’ at my favorite 2nd Hand store in my then home town of Vienna, continued with some of his other early Albums like Orange, but lost Interest soon after, wasn’t very impressed with Year of the Cat, and finally got to re-listen to him after buying the Box Set Monster ‘Admiralty Lights’. 7. Joni Mitchell.. one of the very few Artists i came to know in the early 70ies that i kept admiring and listening to over the last 50 or so years. 6. Mickey Newbury. 5. Daniel Lanois. His first two Solo Albums are just perfect. 4. Bob Dylan. I guess I should be close to 90 (Counting the number of CD discs, not Albums) in my collection as well. 3. PJ Harvey (Is she a Singer / Songwriter? In my eyes and ears, yes!) 2. Laura Nyro (I own her complete Discography on CD and adore every of her records. And Number One: Leonard Cohen. Nuff said. I have no words to describe this genius.
Thanks so much for your fantastic list. I've tried to get more into Laura Nyro - I'll have to give it another shot. The only one I've kept is an anthology album that I don't listen to much. I've been looking online at that Admiralty Lights boxset from Madfish - looks incredible. I haven't even started on the Caravan boxset I bought from them over a year ago, so I held off. Incredible box though. I've never heard of Mickey Newbury. I should check out the Daniel Lanois albums - great producer of course. Thanks so much again.
Hi Alan! You've got a really nice list of the greats here undoubtedly. I was big on Neil's "Comes A Time" when it came out and agree it is one of his overlooked gems. I was a big fan of Joni's latter day material beginning with "Shadows and Light". Pat Metheny and Jaco Pastorious just push her music to such great heights especially on "In France They Kiss on Main Street"; awesome guitar work by Metheny on that track. I agree "Court and Spark" is the album that reflects the top form of her 70's work but it's her 80's work where I think she really shines. I Love "Wild Things Run Fast" as well ("(You're So Square) Baby, I Don't Care"- just LOVE the bass on that song!!). Her whole 80's catalog was so amazing ("Ethiopia" is a powerful song of human fragility from "Dog Eat Dog"), yet it's her 70's material that will always overshadow it. I love the simple arrangements of Nick Drake but my go to artist of all time is on your list at #7. Yes, Yes, Yes it's Al. "Carol" got a reasonable amount of college radio airplay and it took me by storm. What a folk rocker. The sound was fresh somehow and when I got the album ("Modern Times") from the Columbia House catalog it was the album I put on my record platter 90% of the time for a FULL YEAR! I thought at the time it was his debut album only to find out it was his sixth!! Alan Parsons clearly helped add a spark to Al's musical trajectory as the album scratched the top 30 in America and gave him a slot as the opening act to Linda Ronstadt's tour at the time. The other thing was that 2 members of my favorite band (Sutherland Brothers and Quiver) were musicians that played on the album: Tim Renwick and Peter Wood. Just icing on the cake! I totally agree that Al's first cd compilation is his best. But as I've mentioned in the past it should be expanded as there is about 8 minutes of disc capacity unfilled. "Carol" and "Soho (Needless to Say)" would really round out that disc very nicely. The other single compilation disc I would recommend from Al would be "The Essential Al Stewart". Although it does not include any of his long length historical documentary songs, it does include all of his main "hits" as well as the album version of "Running Man" and the unforgivingly overlooked "Lori Don't Go Right Now". With adequate promotion that song should have been a bit of a comeback for Al; albeit it's album of origin "Russians and Americans" did chart in the UK. The 2 artists I did miss on your list are Carole King and Carly Simon. After Al I have to say they would be next in line on my list. Carole is an amazing songwriter whom like Joni, her 80's material has been overshadowed by her 70's string of successful albums. "Music" was her only other studio album to reach platinum status outside of "Tapestry" and it deserves that distinction; it is an all time favorite that will never grow old on me. Thoroughly enjoyed this video Alan. Thanks and have a great day! - Andee ✨💫✨
Thanks Andee - I love, as always, your comments. I will continue to get more and more into Al Stewart. I recently picked up Last Days Of The Century but I haven't listened to it yet - in my ever expanding backlog. I think Carole King is an extraordinary songwriter, but beyond Tapestry, one of the greatest perfect albums of all time, I'm not overly impressed with her beyond her songwriting. I also have a live laserdisc and other stuff as well. But no doubt she's and incredible songwriter. Wow, did I forget Carly Simon - damn - yea I'm a fan - great choice that I overlooked and yes she is a "singer-songwriter". Can't believe I overlooked her - damn. I know of Sutherland Brothers and Quiver - I think they're in my backlog as well..lol. And they're your favorite of all time - wow - I shall have to look into them. I didn't realize Peter Wood came from them. Interesting. Thanks again as always.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShowAl wound up recording on so many record labels that eventually went bankrupt: Janus, Passport and yeah the label "Last Days..." was recorded on - Enigma. Just think, he had the opportunity to sign with Geffen but went with them instead! "Ghostly Horses of the Plains" became an instrumental as the result of the producer wanted to remove the vocal. The original is a bonus track on the reissued version of the album which you may have gotten Alan. "Josephine Baker" is great as well. Enjoy! By the way do you have anything from the British prog band Nektar? Recently learned of them. Oh, and if you only ever get to listen to one SB&Q album you've got to listen to "Lifeboat". Yeah, the record companies still liked shorter tunes even in the early seventies but it is a really great pop/rock album. I'm glad Rod Stewart recorded a version of their song "Sailing" so they could enjoy the fruits of their labor!! Unfortunately, Ian Sutherland has past on, may he R.I.P. Til next time - Thanks Alan! - Andee ✨💫✨
@@andee7255 I didn't know Sailing was their song - wow - seriously, probably my all time favorite Rod Stewart (maybe also People Get Ready with Jeff Beck). Wow - I have to check them out for sure. I love Nektar - I have 19 Nektar albums including all the original classics. I've mentioned Remember The Future in my all time favorite / influential albums. My favorite and their best album, though Recycled and Tab In The Ocean are also great (if you like them). Down To Earth is also good. Try Remember The Future - progressive but melodic. An all time classic though sadly forgotten by most. I think you'll really like it.
Great job on defining the undefinable. Has to be done and you did it well.
We took our 11 year old son to see Neil Young and Crazy Horse for his first concert. He loved it. I won't go into the details and this isn't a sad story, but I had a friend of mine sing Comes A Time at my son's funeral later that year. When it comes to listening, Neil Young and Dan Fogelberg would be at the top of my list. Didn't I hear David Crosby say that every time Neil went to the restroom, he came out with a great song? 🤣
Thanks for sharing such a personal story. The power of music - perhaps the greatest power, outside of love, that there is. What a wonderful heartfelt song to play. Love that you have Neil Young and Fogelberg at the top...wonderful. Thanks so much.
Lou Reed/John Cale
Tim Buckley
John Martyn
Roy Harper
Graham Parker
Alejandro Escovedo
Warren Zevon
Mark Lanegan
John Prine
John Hiatt
Some great ones here. I LOVE Lou Reed and like Graham Parker, Warren Zevon (I really like Warren Zevon) and John Hiatt. To me they were outside my definition for singer/songwriters as a genre - but in retrospect I get it.
Happy to see Arlo Guthrie album being mentioned. Niel Young confuses some people who think he's a Band member & others who think of him as a singer song writer. 🎶🎶🎶✌️
Yes - he went far passed the "singer-songwriter" phase, but still always a big part of him.
Great top 10. Some others I like a lot: Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Chuck Prophet, Dave Alvin, John Prine, Nanci Griffith, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Lyle Lovett, Alejandro Escovedo, Elvis Costello, Luke Winslow King, Warren Zevon.
I'm not familiar with some of these - I have to investigate. Yea I didn't think of Warren Zevon (I'm a fan for sure), but in retrospect - yea - could have fit in my list. Thanks so much.
Natural Born Killers? Great soundtrack, and movie.
Jackson Browne I love. And Paul Simon of course. You could sing I go 15 ways to play his music 😄
THAT's The ONE!!!! - -Thanks Morten - Love that movie!!! Damn couldn't think of it. Thanks again.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow 😎
Does Carole King even get an honorable mention? She is super successful. I heard about Nick Drake a few years ago. Need to check him out.
I mentioned her. Tapestry is beyond incredible. One of the greatest of all times. I enjoy her more as a songwriter than her own albums or performances, beyond Tapestry to be honest though.
I understand your categorising about the genre. I would have had Elvis Costello and post Rumour Graham Parker as well as Jason Isbell southeastern type offering. Chuck Prophet is a new one to me and have gone all out on his work recently since seeing live in Oxford. More hardcore singer songwriters I have enjoyed are endless but I get criticised for liking "slit your wrists music! lol
I'm certainly not the "definitive" judge. Maybe you're right - I don't really think Elvis fits but if he did he'd be way up there for me too. I don't know of Chuck Prophet. Misery loves company I say, nothing wrong with liking "slit your wrist music". Best, Alan
Hiya Alan!…Dan Fogelberg had an outstanding career let’s face it…I mean, Netherlands is just gorgeous along with masterpiece The Innocent Age, you just can’t go wrong…Phoenix has some amazing deep cuts like Along The Road, Wishing On The Moon and Heart Hotels, absolutely beautiful music!
Absolutely. Terrific talent he was. Sorely missed
Without a doubt, a fan favorite if there ever was one-How ‘bout “As The Raven Flies” from Souvenirs?…Wow!
@@richard-mr1vz oh yea - cooking song - especially live - rockin'
Cool topic, nice list, nice to see Nick Drake in yours. Here’s mine, 15, and I went with
artists who write their music and lyrics (within a band and/or solo).
1. Peter Gabriel
2. Neil Young (Solo & CSNY & Crazy Horse)
3. Bob Dylan
4. Kate Bush
5. Nick Drake
6. Gordon Downie (Solo & The Tragically Hip)
7. Robert Pollard (Solo & Guided By Voices, & many others)
8. Andy Partridge (Solo & XTC)
9. Pete Townsend (Solo & The Who)
10. Tom Petty (Solo & Heartbreakers)
11. Robyn Hitchcock (Solo & Soft Boys)
12. Beck
13. Bob Mould (Solo, Sugar and Husker Du)
14. Tom Waits
15. Joni Mitchell
Note, Downie is a slight exception, he didn’t write all of the music but I think he wrote some of the most poetic and unique lyrics in rock music.
Great list - and I love most on your list, but for me I have to separate Singer-Songwriters as a genre. Most of rock music (that I love anyway), they write their own songs and play them - so therefore most everyone would be a singer-songwriter. So then I'd have Mick Jagger, Ray Davies, Pete Townshend etc - and they are not singer / songwriters to me. Just my opinion. Interesting that you have Peter Gabriel as your #1 too. I'm a fan, especially of his years with Genesis which are my favorite progressive rock band of all time. Thanks.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I dunno the "Singer-Songwriter" genre is an outdated and useless term. Tell me the difference between Pete Townsend solo albums and say Jackson Browne solo albums? Both write and sing the their own songs. Just because Townsend is also in group, he can't be a singer songwriter? All of my artists I chose (except one) write the actual music AND the lyrics of their songs.
With all the music you have - I respect your decision. You should of done a little series and done top 50 countdown.
Thanks. I've seen other channels to a video of the day as a series. I always felt it was milking it to make lots of videos and figured it's easier for everyone to do a list in one video. Hmm - perhaps in the future I should do that? I know for me as a viewer, I find it frustrating. Thanks again.
I'll probably go with Rickie Lee Jones and Lou Reed. Secondly how could you miss that Leonard Cohen show? I traveled from Buffalo for that one.. we could've hung out😮. P.S we all enjoy when the CDs topple over.
I'll never forgive myself for missing that Cohen show. I'm a big Lou Reed fan- just didn't think of him as part of the "singer-songwriter" genre, but in retrospect, probably should have. He'd be way up there for me too. Haven't had a big topple in a while....and that's good. Have to replace those jewel cases after..lol
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow thanks again Alan for all you do with this video production I love it. Also.. unfortunately we all have regrets for a show we missed.. especially when there's no makeup show later on.
@@glendepietro1521 thanks Glen. I definitely have a few.
Alan, you are killing me, and I'm close enough to my end already.
I just don't have time for all your insightful suggestions. Thank God I have a fairly good working knowledge of Neil Young, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan.
I agree with you - Leonard Cohen's later work is amazing. He got ripped off by his manager and had to start again. 'You want it darker?' Breathtaking!
As for Neil Young, strangely, one of my favorite albums of his is 'This Notes For You,' where he totally rewrites the Blues. Not a popular choice.
And, yeah, Bob Dylan has 2-4 good songs per album latterly, plus a lot of filler. I prefer Ian Hunter - no filler at all.
Dan Fogelberg hasn't grabbed me so far, so I probably need to listen to more. I'm in the middle of a deep dive on Joni Mitchell. Or at least I was, and then forgot. Time to return.
Yeah, the Peter Himmelman music is really quite interesting. Sort of Elvis Costello meets Joe Jackson, and that's no insult. A certain sound and a lot of variation within it.
And then Nick Drake. I listened to him recently and didn't connect. You sent me back, and this time I surely did. I can't believe he was writing that stuff in the 60s. That's late 70s/80s music. I've always adored John Martyn, and obviously Nick Drake was his source, which he exaggerated to great effect. I'm definitely going to listen to all Nick Drake's albums, all three of them.
Would you be so kind as to do more shows on Alvin and the Chipmunks and ABBA for the next few weeks? You are overloading me. In fact, please close down your channel for a while - I can't take the pressure.
And there is Nick Cave too. And I've just remembered Joan Armatrading.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Lol- best comment of the day. That's it.. I quit. Takes the pressure off me too...lol. Great description of Himmelman - Elvis Costello meets Joe jackson - wow - that's awesome. I have no John Martyn...and I don't know why. Once bought a live laserdisc of his, but I wasn't thrilled. I'll have to re-investigate. I thought of Joan Armatrading - I'm a fan for sure. Yea - I probably should have included her. Thanks. Go relax - I'll take some time off. Thanks as always for your support.
I have most of Bob Dylan's 1960s output. But my 1st Dylan album was Infidels (go figure). I did buy a couple of his official bootlegs series. Did buy the box set of 1966 live tour with the Band as his backing band.
I don't have any Joni Mitchell albums, but when the archive series came out a last year, I bought vol 1 and vol 2. A lot of home demos and early solo concerts.
Nice - I actually haven't picked up the Joni Mitchell Archive Series boxsets yet. My backlog of boxsets is already massive so I'm slowing down (or trying to), but eventually I'll get them. I find those boxsets fascinating but at the same time, don't tend to listen to them much. More historical than repeat listening for me.
Hi mate another great show. Like Brian previously mentioned Billy Joel. More the earlier albums. That said "...didn't start the fire" has such a brilliant lyrical thread. To my shame it took "The Looming Tower" (outstanding 2018 tv series) for me to pick up a Cohen album 🤦. Will take your pointers for further investigation. The tans coming on nicely mate. Getting plenty of time in the currant (currant bun - sun) it would seem. You'll be bilingual in Cockney rhyming soon. 😂
Thanks. Yea - I thought of both Billy Joel and Elton John. Of course they're both "singer-songwriters" - yet I don't really think they fit that genre of "singer-songwriters" - well they did on their first album or two but left that genre decades ago in my opinion.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShowIn a way Elton John was really The John-Taupin Duo. Has Elton ever written any of his own lyrics??? Just a thought. 🤗
@@andee7255 great point. No. Elton always has a lyricist even when not working with Taupin.
Laura Nyro was untouchable in her early years. Her first for albums are terrific, with Eli And The Thirteenth Confession, New York Tendaberry and Christmas And The Beads Of Sweat, being truly innovative.
I’ll have to listen to the compilation I have again. Been awhile. Thanks.
It is best really to start with Eli And The Thirteenth Confession. That album demonstrates really well the variety in her music. That album is up with the best of all time.
@@jedikiah1541 thanks. Believe it or not I had it but a long time ago. Perhaps I just wasn’t ready for it back then. I only kept the compilation for space reasons. I’m not sure what it is about her. I’ll give her another shot. Was a long time ago.
Yes - i'd be interested in your opinion.
Her first album, More Than A New Discovery, was great, and was a fine mix of jazz and soul, but very conservative for 1967.
Eli is the best in that it repesents the breath of her talent, and displays a variety of styles.
New York Tendaberry is perhaps her highlight artistically, but it less accessible.
Christmas And The Beads Of Sweat is quite soulful in part, but also at times quite artistic and challenging.
All great albums, in my opinion.
@@jedikiah1541 I'm sure I had Tendaberry as well. I had both of those, then the compilation, then dumped the two studio because I never listened and didn't overly enjoy them and figured the comp would suffice for me. Oh well. Always another go round.
Like Jackson Browne.
Yea - when he's great, he's great for sure.
Here a few that i like paul Kantner, steve Winwood, joni Mitchell, Neil Young, James Taylor and Jackson Browne there are many great ones to choose from
Thanks - there sure are many to choose from.
Cat Stevens and Neil Young my faves here. Lou Reed is up there for me. So many love James Taylor and Carole King but they never did it for me.
Thanks Larry - Lou Reed popping up on so many comments. And I'm a BIG fan - I guess I should have included him. I just think of him outside that circle, but I guess I'm wrong. I always found James Taylor very overrated beyond his classic greatest hits he's been repeating for decades.
Here are mine Alan
1.Cat Stevens
2.Neil Young
3.Tom Petty
4.Ray Davies
5.Paul McCartney
6.Tori Amos
7.Donovan
8.Steve Miller
9.Ian Hunter
10.Paul Simon
Love everyone of them, except I still have to discover Tori Amos - she's been in my backlog for two years now. As I mentioned in other responses - I can't consider McCartney, Davies, Petty, Steve Miller as singer /songwriters - because to me then anyone who writes and performs there own songs are singer songwriters - I'm thinking more of the genre. Otherwise for me would be Jagger, Davies and Townshend...and they're not singer songwriters to me.... Ian Hunter....also for me not a "singer songwriter, although he is an incredible "singer / songwriter".... hope that makes sense. It does in my little brain...lol
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Yes my friend that made clear as mud lol
Again, We must hang out man. Very similar music taste. I like Paul Simon. But I don't listen to him very much. Here's my top 5
1 - Bob Dylan - Blood On the Tracks
2 - Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark
3 - Neil Young - On the Beach
4 - Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen
5 - Joan Baez - Diamonds & Rust
Nice - all are favorites of mine - in fact that's the one Joan Baez album I have - and it's awesome - great choices.
Good list, I would add Lou Reed. Jackson C Frank. And Jonathan Rich man became a singer songwriter after Modern Lovers.
Interesting - I never really followed Jonathan Richman after the Modern Lovers. I'm also not familiar with Jackson Frank. Thanks.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Jonathan is truly a singer-songwriter now-I've seen him several times, and he plays guitar, with just a drummer, who has a very limited drum set. Jackson C. Frank has only one album, he had a tragic life. If you wanted to consider country music singer songwriters, I would have to nominate Tom T. Hall, as well as Hank Williams and Kris Kristofferson.
@@jasonhochman3750 thanks again.
Chip Taylor is actor Jon Voight's brother.
I like the Rhino 16 track Al Stewart best of.
I also like the Dan Fogelberg/Tim Weisberg Twin Sons of Different Mothers, Power of Gold has some killer Fogelberg six string shredding as well.
Yes - I knew that about Chip Taylor - wrote Angel Of The Morning - fantastic song. That is a great Fogelberg album as well. Thanks so much.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Wrote Wild Thing too, talk about two totally different song styles!
Juice Newton did a great remake of Angel in the 80s
Jason, Yeah the Rhino disc is a good overview of Al's musical journey up to the "Last Days of the Century" album (the song itself however l think shouldn't have made it on this compilation); "Josephine Baker" and "King of Portugal" are two shorter songs from the same album that shine much brighter and make for a good replacement and would have complimented the nice flow that disc has. The thing that really makes Al's first compilation disc special are the two live tracks it takes from "Indian Summer/Live at The Roxy"; absolutely awesome!!! The two songs it does miss and has room for are "Carol" and "Soho (Needless to Say)" which are featured on the otherwise well done Rhino compilation; still a nice recommendation Jason!! - Andee ✨💫✨
@@andee7255 I have the first Al comp as well, somewhere...
@@jasonpp1973 I forgot he wrote wild thing too.
It's early in the morning here in Columbus, Alan, plus I just got done walking my dog in the oppressive humidity, my brain isn't functioning, so don't take this as a criticism, but I'm still not sure I understand your criteria, why Springsteen doesn't qualify, or for that matter someone like David Bowie. I would rank them both very high. When I think singer/songwriter, I also think of Mike Scott, for his solo albums, sure, but also because he's such a great poet, and in his work with the Waterboys he's still the dominant voice, and force. The Waterboys are basically Scott and whomever he's working with at that time. So I could see including him. I would appreciate more clarification if you don't mind, maybe it will explain why you also left out my number one, Elvis Costello! Thanks.
I think the more you analyze it, the more difficult and frustrating it could be. Some are suggesting anyone who writes their own songs and performs them are singer-songwriters. With that criteria that would be pretty much everyone in my catalog. To me (and most I think) - that's favorite songwriters. Singer-songwriters were a genre - typically started out in Laurel Canyon, CA area - James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young. Of course it spread out to other countries. Certainly in parts Elvis Costello would qualify (he's a favorite artist of mine as well). Listen, this is not definitive. But there have been movies (Laurel Canyon for instance) and books on singer-songwriters - it's a genre. Hope that helps. PS I also love The Waterboys - yea - probably could have included Mike Scott.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Thanks!
Interesting. Six of the albums you ended up displaying are also in my collection. Although I think Richard Thompson tops the lot! I'd argue his case in any court in the land.....
Singer Songwriter is hard to pin down. I'm a big Richard Thompson fan, and he did occur to me, and I just felt he fell outside the "genre". But maybe you're right. An incredible career - Fairport, with Linda and his massive solo career. Fantastic guitarist and talent - and great songwriter too. Thanks.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I once was ushered through the wrong door to be confronted by Richard Thompson, as we say over here, 'stark-bollock naked'. The perils of opening unknown doors! Lol! Incidentally, I have posted a further comment on my Charlie Daniels exploration - you may have missed it, or you may have considered it unworthy of response........ Lol!
Be careful when opening doors
@@martinstarnes2237 I didn't see another Charlie Daniels comment - no - I always answer. Gonna look for it. This Richard Thompson story is hysterical....That's a classic....I have no further response to it.....lol. I guess the only obvious is did you have a look....lol
@@martinstarnes2237 Forgot to answer about Jerry Donohue - sounds familiar - Was he in Fotheringay and married to Sandy Denny. I had Fotheringay at one point and do have some Fairport and Sandy Denny stuff. Not sure but think he was in Fotheringay and maybe Fairport?
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow He was in Fotheringay, but he wasn't married to Sandy. He was in Fairport between 73-76, and returned to play with then on many occasions in the following decades. He has a signature Fender Telecaster, and if you have five minutes one fine day, you might put Fairport Convention Tokyo in TH-cam and see what occurs. The Live 82 which may come up has Dave Pegg during his Tull days too.
some Swifty you turned out to be
lol.
Billy Joel.
Certainly when he first started, but I don't really consider him a "singer-songwriter" - as part of that genre - same with Elton John.
Hi Alan...great video. However, I am having a problem with the 'singer-songwriter' distinction--I mean, they are ALL singer-songwriters, if you ask me. But at the same time, I understand that the singer-songwriter is a modicum for anyone that writes songs and performs them vocally, while at the same type signifying a particular type of artist--even though these artists can be very distinctive from each other. I mean, Hank Williams is definitely a singer-songwriter, but not the same kind of artist as, say, James Taylor (both of whom I could put on my list as among the best of that genre)--hence the conundrum. All that being said, don't you think Springsteen, Bowie, and especially Lou Reed would qualify as singer songwriters? Or are they all too broad in their scope to fit that??
If their 'depth' as writers is a distinction, are not Dylan and Neil Young excused because they are clearly artists of the same broad range as the other guys I mentioned above?
Or is the 'singer-songwriter' more of a 'troubador' style of performer? One more at home in the coffee houses, or story telling venue--the personal, inter-reflective nature of writing and performing? But yet, an instrumental improvisor is very much 'personal and reflective' as well--be it Keith Jarrett or John Coltrane...so I don't know. But, obviously, those artists are jazz improvisors/composers--not singers.
But if I'm making a list, I have, like you, Dylan and Neil as #1 and #2 as well--followed by Reed and Bowie...and from their it gets a little interchangeable.
I totally hear you and agree to an extent. I knew going in this would happen as the term singer-songwriter could theoretically comprise anyone who writes and sings their own songs - so hence could be Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Robert Plant etc - on and on. But anyone who grew up in the early 70's especially knew what a singer-songwriter was because it was a genre - James Taylor, Jackson Browne, certainly Dylan when he started etc. It was a genre. Dylan and Neil Young were crucial in that genre, though they far outgrew it. I'm a HUGE Bowie fan and his first stuff could be singer-songwriter like - but no one will convince me Bowie is a "singer-songwriter" from that genre although he's one of the greatest songwriters / singers ever. Lou Reed I think I missed. I'm a BIG fan and I considered him (and Warren Zevon too). In retrospect, perhaps I should've included him, though in my heart he's not part of that genre either....But hey it's just music, genres and fun talking about it. It's not definitive. Most importantly it's about the great music that hopefully people will turn on to.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Yeah, I'd have to concede the same with David...but he leapt to my mind when considering a list...even though he does not fit into the 'genre' of singer-songwriter the way the others do, save for those first two albums. And yes, the 70s were the penultimate period for singer songwriters...remember how all of us rock guys used to dismiss Neil Diamond? I remember scratching my head when he was at The Last Waltz, but Robbie produced some of his albums during that time--and he was one of the greatest singer-songwriters of that era, for sure.
@@anthonyaswe4174 totally respect that. Something about Neil Diamond just irks me. I just can’t listen to him. Yea he was at Last Waltz because Robbie just produced Beautiful Noise
Please tell me gene Clark is in there...
I'm actually a big fan of Gene Clark, have had him in some videos in the past. I did not including him in "singer-songwriters", although in retrospect, yea he probably would have fit in. Favorite album for me is So Rebelous A Lover with Carla Olson. And doesn't get better than the song Jokers Are Wild - though he didn't write that one. Yea - good choice.
Wow no Paul McCartney? Barry Gibb? Elton John?
To me they're "singer-songwriters", but not part of that genre.
Freedy Johnston, Ben Folds, Tom Waits, Liz Cooper, Warren Zevon
Yea - I probably should have included Warren Zevon - I'm a fan for sure. Thanks.