The Songwriter Thread

Bellycaster · September 2013

I wanted to get a thread going that would reveal the talent and diversity of many of the most famous songwriters. There will be loads of songs out there that people don't realise "who" actually wrote it. As most of us know, a song is not always written by the "Band/Artist" in question.

I'm sure the "Font of Knowledge" is overflowing on here and would like people to post stuff to make us all think "Blimey, I never knew he/she wrote that" instead of the band etc. It's good education al round.

So dig deep into the part of your brains accessing Songwriters.

I'll start with these two songs I was surprised with.

Nicky Chinn who was more associated with the Glam Rock 70's era for bands like Mud, Sweet and Suzi Quatro Co-wrote this fantastic 70's 1 hit wonder.

Desmond Child wrote Bonnie Tylers "Eurovision 2013" entry (and David Huff of Giant produced it) and although D.C has wrote for her before I thought "Eurovision" might be something a great songwriter didn't want to be associated with ;-)

Get your thinking caps on and let's all hail the great songwriters of the last 60 years(or before).

Lixarto · September 2013

Chuck Berry, without which none of this would have been possible.

rpr · September 2013

Isaac Hayes

-'Soul Man',- 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fS9-Yimdhw

Walk on by'-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLKWefsHrxg

' 'By The time i Get To Phoniex'-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUg5p3BncuQ

Ikes rap http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAAgWJZu36I

as sampled by Portishead/Trickyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF-GvT8Clnk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3R_3h6zQEs

Bellycaster · September 2013

@rpr

That's a good un, I never knew Soul Man was written by Isaac Hayes.

BTTIGTP and Walk on By are credited to Burt Bacharach and Jimmy Webb respectively though?

I do like a bit of Portishead as well.

rpr · September 2013

Bellycaster said:

@rpr
That's a good un, I never knew Soul Man was written by Isaac Hayes.
BTTIGTP and Walk on By are credited to Burt Bacharach and Jimmy Webb respectively though?
I do like a bit of Portishead as well.

Whoops- My Bad- Blame the lack of caffeine -

8-}

johnnyurq · September 2013

Bellycaster;33860" said:
@rprThat's a good un, I never knew Soul Man was written by Isaac Hayes.BTTIGTP and Walk on By are credited to Burt Bacharach and Jimmy Webb respectively though?I do like a bit of Portishead as well.

Nice to see the Stranglers even if they did not write it, their arrangement is very good indeed.

As an aside George Melly did a BBC doccie on the myriad versions of Walk on By and went on the record stating that the Stranglers version was his definitive favourite. Of course he may be biased at the time because he had just recorded Old Codger with them and a few other choice tracks.

Sorry huge long time Stranglers fanbooi.

Bellycaster · September 2013

@johnnyurq

You have good taste, I am quite a fan of The Stranglers too. I like their version of Walk on By, but also like Dionne Warwick's and Gabrielle's version.

Whooooops, edited for Apostrophe pedants

johnnyurq · September 2013

@bellycaster

Like you I love most of the versions of Walk on By and that program with George Melly ( late 80's early 90's IIRC) exposed me to different versions from a variety of genres and styles worldwide.

But Dionne Warwick and Gabrielle's versions are very good.

I have a fairly Eclectic taste musically speaking but me and The Stranglers go back to 1975 ish, Been lucky enough to see them live (old and new line ups) and met them too, great dudes indeed.

[Deleted User] · September 2013

Neil Diamond; Red Red Wine, I'm a Believer, etc.

ICBM · September 2013

Carole King.

If anyone says Diane Warren I may not be responsible for my actions.

equalsql · September 2013

johnnyurq said:

@bellycaster

Like you I love most of the versions of Walk on By and that program with George Melly ( late 80's early 90's IIRC) exposed me to different versions from a variety of genres and styles worldwide.

But Dionne Warwick and Gabrielle's versions are very good.

My favourite version (apart from the original) is the one by The Average White Band off the 'Feel No Fret' album:

[Deleted User] · September 2013

Prince - Nothing Compares to U (Sinead O' Connor), Manic Monday (The Bangles), I Feel For U (Chaka Khan)....

johnnyurq · September 2013

@equalsql

I do like p a wee bit of AWB and yet another good version.

Fish from Marillion and his own band a great writer and story teller. He really knows how to paint a picture and invoke an image.

Bellycaster · September 2013

@ICBM

Carole King is a great one.

I'll have to ask what you have against Diane Warren though?

X_X

You may not like her songs but you can hardly call her "unsuccessful" as she has written literally 1000's of songs for some well known acts. Quite a career if you ask me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_written_by_Diane_Warren

ICBM · September 2013

Bellycaster said:
I'll have to ask what you have against Diane Warren though?
You may not like her songs but you can hardly call her "unsuccessful" as she has written literally 1000's of songs for some well known acts.

All shit

).

Formulaic and/or just plain annoying, with no real meaning, emotional content or connection to the singer. She is the definition of a production-line songwriter.

I never called her unsuccessful

.

Bellycaster · September 2013

Come on @ICBM, I thought calling things "Shit" was a "no no" on Forums, I know you're more intelligent than that.

If you don't like something it doesn't make it Shit. Someone might not like Neil Young and probably has called him Shit, but he's not "Shit", it's just a question of taste.

Writing any song requires talent and knowledge and I would put Diane Warren a class above, say, "Stock, Aitken and Waterman" who I would class a "Hit Factory" writers.

ICBM · September 2013

Bellycaster said:
Writing any song requires talent and knowledge and I would put Diane Warren a class above, say, "Stock, Aitken and Waterman" who I would class a "Hit Factory" writers.

No, I would put her in exactly the same class, but using a different formula.

If anything I find her more annoying... the Diane Warren songs in my music library are there by accident because they're on albums I otherwise like. The SAWs I have are there on purpose

.

Bellycaster · September 2013

@ICBM

I also like several SAW songs, I'd have to check the list to find out if there are songs I like that I didn't know they wrote, probably several of those too.

I wouldn't class DW and SAW as the same beast though.

There are quite a few things in music that I don't like and I get tempted to call it "Shit" too, it's usually reserved for Rap, Hip Hop etc, although there will be a few tunes even in those categories that I can stomach(probably old skool though innit?).

rpr · September 2013

Holland Dozier-Holland- Motown

'Where did our love go'

'Baby love'-

'Stop in the name of love'

'Same old song'

'Reach out and I'll be there'

'You cant hurry love'

'You keep me hanging on'

'Bernadette'

...etc...etc

johnnyurq · September 2013

Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford from Squeeze who for my money are like a modern day Lennon & McCartney.

[Deleted User] · September 2013

johnnyurq;35233" said:
Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford from Squeeze who for my money are like a modern day Lennon & McCartney.

Did you see the BBC4 documentary about them?

Unlike Lennon & McCartney, there was a very clear division of labour; words by Difford, tunes by Tilbrook. Amazing that two people so gifted in their respected field should have found each other.

I'm amazed they don't get more recognition.... Outstanding song-writers....

Bellycaster · September 2013

@rpr

nice one, Bernadette is classic, those three guys have penned some beauties.

@johnnyurq too for Difford and Tilbrook.

johnnyurq · September 2013

richardhomer said:
Did you see the BBC4 documentary about them?

Unlike Lennon & McCartney, there was a very clear division of labour; words by Difford, tunes by Tilbrook. Amazing that two people so gifted in their respected field should have found each other.

I'm amazed they don't get more recognition.... Outstanding song-writers....

@richardhomer

I did see that it was pretty enlightening.

Did you see the one on Sky Arts?

I think it was part of the songbook series and they deconstructed the songs and their complex musical/band relationship. They also did stripped back intimate versions of a few of their best songs.

Well worth a watch.

For sure they complement each other and L & C were the nearest references I could give.

Saw Tilbrook and his Fluffers up here in Inverness in a local Hotel, very good indeed and the female bass player was brilliant, easy in the eye too. Missed the reformed Squeeze when they played Belladrum though sadly.

Good to see they are on good terms and collaborating/playing again. Shame Jools will not release Gilson to play drums though.

@Bellycaster

They are more than a bit good aren't they?

[Deleted User] · September 2013

johnnyurq;35276" said:
Did you see the one on Sky Arts?

Not got Sky.

What amazed me about the BBC4 programme was the musical sophistication of Tilbrook's demos. They were pretty much fully realised versions of the songs, without the rest of the band. He has a McCartney-like ability to play keys as well as guitar (and he's clearly a very good guitar player).

Difford - who's image in the band's videos was one of the hard-drinking tough-guy - came across as an intelligent, articulate and sensitive
bloke.

I loved them when I was growing up but had a whole new respect for them after watching that programme.

johnnyurq · September 2013

@richardhomer

I think BBC4 show the songbook (got the name wrong oops) series from time to time and almost all of them are awesome.

Here are a list of the featured artists.

http://skyarts.sky.com/songbook

Edit

Some of it seems to be on Ya Choob.

daveyh · September 2013

No one mentioned Springsteen?

Bellycaster · September 2013

@daveyh

While I respect his following, his acheivement and his passion, Springsteen is one of those who I only ever liked a select few songs.

I don't know what it is, but he's not really my cup of tea. Massive back catalogue, but not for me. I'd probably just spend the whole gig waiting for Nils Lofgren to rip out, which ain't a bad thing.

If we are going to put him in the "Heartland Rock" Category, I'd probably prefer someone Like Jackson Browne, can't explain why either.

johnnyurq · September 2013

Same here re Springsteen some awesome songs and deserved his longevity and plaudits, but limited appeal to me.

In my case I would be waiting for Steven Van Zandt to "whack" somebody Soprano's stylee.

EricTheWeary · September 2013

I think I got severely facepalmed for expressing a dislike of Springsteen before so I shan't go there.
I'm always keen on those who can do something interesting with 3 chords so if I can add Willie Dixon to the hall of fame here? Must be one of the most covered song writers ever.

randomhandclaps · September 2013

Boo -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stjaM9MXQNY

ICBM · October 2013

daveyh said:

No one mentioned Springsteen?

Patti Smith's 'Because The Night' just came on my iTunes shuffle.

Fantastic song, and when you know his style well it's obvious who wrote it.

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

The Songwriter Thread

Comments