# Anybody follow or admire specific songwriters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 10, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169 "2015-06-10T14:52:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/21 "2015-06-11T22:21:19Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Nope. > I would like to find out what is the largest selling album with all the songs written by the singer. I’d guess it’s either Dylan, Springsteen or Joel). If the lyrics were by Tony Stern, does that mean the music was written by King? Never mind, I found the answer, which is Yes, [according to King’s website](http://www.caroleking.com/discography/songs), she and Stern co-wrote them. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/22 "2015-06-11T22:31:13Z")
Singer/songwriters are always special to me. Jim Croce wrote all but one song on his three albums. Willie Nelson has written many great songs. He sold the rights to his first Hit, Family Bible to pay for a restaurant meal and some pocket cash. I bought the sheet music for Family Bible from musicnotes dot com. I was confused because Willie’s name isn’t mentioned. Walt Breeland is credited. I checked wikipedia and read the strange story how Willie[sold his rights](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Bible_%28song%29). Quite confusing for buyers. I initially thought I had found the wrong sheet music. Willie still performs Family Bible in his show. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/23 "2015-06-11T22:43:09Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Nope. > I would like to find out what is the largest selling album with all the songs written by the singer. I’d guess it’s either Dylan, Springsteen or Joel). If we are to believe [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums) and the brief research I’ve done, that would be (surprising to me) Shania Twain for the album Come On over. I looked up each of the tracks separately, and all list her as a co-writer. I checked the individuals above her as well, but they had tracks credited to others. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/24 "2015-06-11T22:53:49Z")
**Warren Zevon** **John Prine** Both of them are widely considered by their peers to be in the very top tier of songwriters of their generation. Love 'em both. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/25 "2015-06-11T22:54:43Z")
Gotta go with a couple of favorites with huge success for themselves and others: \*\*Prince \*\*and **David Bowie**. Such durable songs that stand up to a variety of interpretations. I still don’t know how to fully process Heroes and How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore. (Prince’s original b-side; not Alicia Keys’ cover). When you work with so little and deliver so much, it says something. **Jack White** - who writes songs like I Can Tell that We are Gonna Be Friends that paints a wonderful childhood vision and Seven Nation Army, officially a huge arena stomper. He’s got a persona, sure - but the songs work. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/26 "2015-06-12T01:36:01Z")
Laura Nyro. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/27 "2015-06-12T10:46:44Z")
Ry Cooder. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/28 "2015-06-12T13:35:33Z")
oh, yes, John Prine! ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/29 "2015-06-12T14:08:35Z")
Roger Clyne. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/30 "2015-06-12T14:14:28Z")
Kesha - she writes all her own songs and has written for other singers. Britney Spears’s “Till the World Ends” is an example. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/31 "2015-06-12T16:56:36Z")
[Tom Russell](https://youtu.be/h5pbQWhoncY) [John Hiatt](https://youtu.be/ep3HbeNAW4g) ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/32 "2015-06-12T18:38:16Z")
PJ Harvey ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/33 "2015-06-16T05:46:50Z")
Freedy Johnston Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices) Robin Pecknold Stephen Merritt ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/34 "2015-06-16T13:03:21Z")
Loudon Wainwright III Harry Warren Willie Dixon ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/35 "2015-06-16T13:23:54Z")
Huge fan of Tom Paxton. His works are often attributed to other singers, including “Rambling Boy,” which most people think is a “traditional American folk song.” Paxton says that’s one of the highest honors a folk song can achieve. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/36 "2015-06-17T14:26:28Z")
Lyle Lovett ---
**Author:** ![tuesdayweld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@tuesdayweld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tuesdayweld)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/37 "2015-06-19T00:18:51Z")
I’d say Billy Bragg is the most enduring of a songwriter’s career which I’ve followed - abut 30 years, give or take. I don’t keep up with his music any longer, however, I’d still agree that Bob Seger wrote a lot of great songs. In agreement with Kayaker: Kris Kristofferson - not sure he’s ever received the credit he is due, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/38 "2015-06-19T01:05:13Z")
> [@Abracadebra](#): > > I follow Jason Isbell. > > “Elephant” > She said “Andy, you’re better than your past” > Winked at me and drained her glass > Cross-legged on a barstool, like nobody sits anymore > She said “Andy you’re taking me home” Holy shit. Some people are talented. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/39 "2015-06-19T01:06:46Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Huge fan of Tom Paxton. His works are often attributed to other singers, including “Rambling Boy,” which most people think is a “traditional American folk song.” Paxton says that’s one of the highest honors a folk song can achieve. I think he’s right. If a song sounds like it’s been sung for a hundred years, just that natural, that fresh today but traditional, then, yeah. That’s a good song. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169/40 "2015-06-19T01:08:41Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Laura Nyro. Sorry for taking over the thread, but I was just thinking about her music the other day… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-follow-or-admire-specific-songwriters/722169.md?page=3)