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Astonishing Songwriters


Lovecraft

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1 hour ago, martoon said:

 

I love the way Ray laces his songs with humour. 

 

So many classic songs to chose from, Smithee, but, for me, "Shangri-la" is his masterpiece.

 

Oooft!

 

Was just listening to that about ten minutes ago!!!

 

Agree with you btw.

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19 minutes ago, Auld Reekin' said:

 

Neil Hannon (Divine Comedy) is another excellent songwriter who writes a good, humorous lyric.

 

Cheers, bud. Not familiar with him but will have a listen. Any particular track you'd recommend as an intro? 

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20 minutes ago, Boris said:

 

Oooft!

 

Was just listening to that about ten minutes ago!!!

 

Agree with you btw.

 

Epic song. 

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On ‎25‎/‎09‎/‎2019 at 11:47, I P Knightley said:

If you want 'astonishing', you've got another vote here for Kate Bush. Mainly because of her youth when she turned out Wuthering Heights - an astounding tune that really stood the test of time. Paul Weller for similar reasons, writing tunes in his late teen that were great for the time and are still great for young and old listeners. (I'd also commend Cat Stevens for all that he wrote at a young age.)

 

I saw a mention of Paul Heaton who I'd also list. I love someone who can write melodious, jaunty tunes and harmonies which have biting lyrics behind them. He's still got it. In a similar mould is Justin Currie: lots of very clever songs, both lyrically and musically - a real favourite. 

 

Of the 'biggies', I'd go for John Lennon, Paul McCartney & Pete Townshend for pushing boundaries rather than just great songs and Springsteen must get a mention for longevity and continued relevance. 

 

Just to remind you what a great songwriter Kate Bush was:

s-l400.webp

The iconic and brillaint album All Mod Cons was written by Mr Weller at the grand old age of 19 years.

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2 hours ago, martoon said:

 

I love the way Ray laces his songs with humour. 

 

So many classic songs to chose from, Smithee, but, for me, "Shangri-la" is his masterpiece.

 

You might well be right, Arthur is peak kinks, really top stuff 

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1 hour ago, Robbo-Jambo said:

The iconic and brillaint album All Mod Cons was written by Mr Weller at the grand old age of 19 years.

My fav age related fact when it comes to bands is that, when the small faces split up the oldest was 21.  Ogden's nut flake from guys as young as that.  Then there's their early stuff that has some great stuff from teenagers.

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2 hours ago, martoon said:

 

Cheers, bud. Not familiar with him but will have a listen. Any particular track you'd recommend as an intro? 

 

Other than his work on Father Ted (theme tune and all other songs featured in the series, I think), the first song I really heard and took note of by him was one called "National Express", so you could always start with that as well. (No doubt he also writes some more serious stuff too, though...)

 

I haven't listened to a huge amount by him / Divine Comedy but have heard a few more tracks on the radio which I really enjoyed; sorry, can't remember the names!

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1 hour ago, Robbo-Jambo said:

The iconic and brillaint album All Mod Cons was written by Mr Weller at the grand old age of 19 years.

Masterpiece!

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13 minutes ago, Auld Reekin' said:

 

Other than his work on Father Ted (theme tune and all other songs featured in the series, I think), the first song I really heard and took note of by him was one called "National Express", so you could always start with that as well. (No doubt he also writes some more serious stuff too, though...)

 

I haven't listened to a huge amount by him / Divine Comedy but have heard a few more tracks on the radio which I really enjoyed; sorry, can't remember the names!

 

Cheers, AR. 

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Oh, to live on sugar mountain, with the barkers and the colored balloons, you can't be twenty on sugar mountain, though you're thinking that you're leaving there too soon.

 

Quite evocative.

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2 hours ago, FruitJuice said:

My fav age related fact when it comes to bands is that, when the small faces split up the oldest was 21.  Ogden's nut flake from guys as young as that.  Then there's their early stuff that has some great stuff from teenagers.

Yip, early stuff was fantastic from the Small Faces. 

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14 minutes ago, Robbo-Jambo said:

Yip, early stuff was fantastic from the Small Faces. 

To be at the age range of between 17 and 19 when producing the stuff they did was immense.  Only together for two years and what a back catalogue.  My fav 60's band.  

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2 hours ago, benny said:

Has Mark E Smith been mentioned yet.

Matt Johnson of The The.

 

I came across Mark E Smith a couple of years ago. It'll probably be no surprise to hear it was in a pub in Salford and that he was a surly prick.

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King Of The Cat Cafe

 

Townes Van Zandt

Guy Clark

Jerry Jeff Walker

 

Eric Andersen

Phil Ochs

Tom Paxton

 

Pete Seeger

Woody Guthrie

 

Graham Parker

Nick Lowe

Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood

 

Anybody mentioned Joan Baez yet?

 

Kris Kristofferson 

Glenn Frey

Bob Seger

Billy Joel

Gordon Lightfoot.

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1 hour ago, Smithee said:

 

I came across Mark E Smith a couple of years ago. It'll probably be no surprise to hear it was in a pub in Salford and that he was a surly prick.

 

Even when you told him you were an Edinburgh Man?   :huh:

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Sean Ryder can tell a true gritty view on life

 

Son, I'm 30 
I only went with your mother 'cause she's dirty 
And I don't have a decent bone in me

 

probably not one for the purest’s but does paint lyrical  picture

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1 hour ago, 80bob said:

Son, I'm 30 
I only went with your mother 'cause she's dirty 
And I don't have a decent bone in me

(But to be quite honest, neither did she...)

 

f.t.f.y.

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All my favourites are on here already

Dylan is the one for me. When you look at how old he was when he was writing stuff like “The Times they are a Changing” and “Masters of war” it beggars belief.

Paul Weller, with the Jam was only a couple of years older than me and was writing a lot of songs that spoke to me.

Nick Cave I’ve got into later on

Paul Simon, Tom Waits

Nowadays Jake Smith/White Buffalo is writing some tremendous songs. Sturgill Simpson, Beth Hart, Lana del Ray too

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On 24/09/2019 at 06:44, ri Alban said:

In your opinion. 

 

Of course it’s “in my opinion”. Wtf else would it be in. 

 

Music, by its very nature, is subjective. It’s about how we feel.  

 

You’ve nailed it though. 

 

Blind allegiance betters taste, or feeling. So. So. Wrong. 

 

I can turn off a band one day but love them the next. 

 

I’m fickle that way. 

 

In a lot of ways I ****ing despise The Clash. But I love a lot of their choons. Then I think about it and I realise I actually despise the folk that will blindly give them a pass despite them churning out some shite. It’s not the bands fault, they can’t be expected to be held to impossible standards. It’s the ******s that insist the band can ‘do no wrong.’

 

They were great, for a while. Then they went shite. 

 

Its only one example, and I really can’t be arsed typing anymore. 

 

Shorthand: you’re so right and so wrong. 

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dolores o'riordan - zombie is such a powerful song

amy lee - a lot of their stuff is about her struggles and issues she has suffered

klaus meine - still loving you and winds of change, just look at the topics of them

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  • 4 months later...
On 21/09/2019 at 12:08, Lovecraft said:

  

I haven't really done Rush yet.  Been too scared.

 

Aren't they like a religion?

 

 

 

In the light of Neil's recent death, their last song from their last album takes on a certain poignancy.

 

In this one of many possible worlds
All for the best or some bizarre test?
It is what it is and whatever
Time is still the infinite jest

The arrow flies when you dream
The hours tick away, the cells tick away
The Watchmaker keeps to his schemes
The hours tick away, they tick away
 
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect
So hard to earn, so easily burned
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect
So hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect
 
In the rise and the set of the sun
'Til the stars go spinning
Spinning 'round the night
Oh, it is what it is and forever
Each moment a memory in flight
The arrow flies while you breathe
The hours tick away, the cells tick away
The Watchmaker has time up his sleeve
The hours tick away, they tick away
 
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect
So hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect
It's a measure of a life
The treasure of a life
Is a measure of love and respect
The way you live, the gifts that you give
In the fullness of time
Is the only return that you expect
 
The future disappears into memory
With only a moment between
Forever dwells in that moment
Hope is what remains to be seen
Forever dwells in that moment
Hope is what remains to be seen
 
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect
It's a measure of a life
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect
It's a measure of a life
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect
It's a measure of a life
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect
It's a measure of a life
It's a measure of a life
It's a measure of a life
It's a measure of a life
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Geddy Lee / Alex Lifeson / Neil Elwood Peart
 
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On 24/09/2019 at 21:36, Roxy Hearts said:

Carole King

Carly Simon

Madonna

 

Any more ladies? 

 

The ladies list needs Joan Armatrading.

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1 hour ago, Boof said:

 

In the light of Neil's recent death, their last song from their last album takes on a certain poignancy.

 

In this one of many possible worlds
All for the best or some bizarre test?
It is what it is and whatever
Time is still the infinite jest

The arrow flies when you dream
The hours tick away, the cells tick away
The Watchmaker keeps to his schemes
The hours tick away, they tick away
 
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect
So hard to earn, so easily burned
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect
So hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect
 
In the rise and the set of the sun
'Til the stars go spinning
Spinning 'round the night
Oh, it is what it is and forever
Each moment a memory in flight
The arrow flies while you breathe
The hours tick away, the cells tick away
The Watchmaker has time up his sleeve
The hours tick away, they tick away
 
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect
So hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect
It's a measure of a life
The treasure of a life
Is a measure of love and respect
The way you live, the gifts that you give
In the fullness of time
Is the only return that you expect
 
The future disappears into memory
With only a moment between
Forever dwells in that moment
Hope is what remains to be seen
Forever dwells in that moment
Hope is what remains to be seen
 
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect
It's a measure of a life
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect
It's a measure of a life
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect
It's a measure of a life
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect
It's a measure of a life
It's a measure of a life
It's a measure of a life
It's a measure of a life
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Geddy Lee / Alex Lifeson / Neil Elwood Peart
 

 I will need to give them a real go.

 

 

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N Lincs Jambo
On 25/09/2019 at 07:38, Dunks said:

Jake Thackray - a literary genius IMO :thumbsup:


Very true. You also have to include the guy who inspired much of his work, the late great George Brassens. Jake was the only person ever to persuade George to appear live in a non French speaking country.

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Don Henley

Chris Rea

Gallagher & Lyle

Neil Diamond

Tom Waits

Van Morrison

Willie Nelson

Hank Williams

Berne Taupin

Jeff Lynn

Jackson Brown

Holland/dozier/Holland

Stevie Wonder

Ray Charles

 

All of whom have contributed to the soundtrack of this 65 yr old''s life...thanks guys.

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By 'songwriter' I'm assuming it's someone who is responsible for the whole song.

 

A couple who haven't been mentioned are Steven Wilson (solo stuff, Porcupine Tree, Blackfield, NoMan) and Jayson Lytle (sole stuff, Grandaddy).  JL in particular does stuff that often has me wondering what his thought processes were and why it occurred to him to do 'that' in a particular track.

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  • 3 weeks later...
21 minutes ago, Zlatanable said:

I like this thread

Strauss the Second  

 

I bet you know at least 5 of these songs

 

OK - Compositions, not songs.

Edited by Lovecraft
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Dylan is king for me, especially when you consider how young he was when he wrote his extraordinary early stuff.

Paul Weller was only a couple of years older than me when he wrote some of the classic Jam stuff. (Not a fan of his solo

stuff TBH)

Nick Cave is amazing

Jeff Buckley was extraordinary and who knows where he was going.

Lastly a mention for the late great Leonard Cohen. People joke about his stuff being morose but songs like Last Years Man, The Future, Suzanne are so much more than that.

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Joan As Police Woman (Joan Wasser, Jeff Buckley’s girlfriend at the time he died) has been writing consistently good songs for a long time now. She tours here a lot and her gigs are great. Intelligent lyrics and great tunes. She’s a smart lady.

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  • 2 weeks later...

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