# Songwriter Salute **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 31, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429 "2011-10-31T21:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/1 "2011-10-31T21:35:51Z")
Every year or so I learn about a new songwriter – someone who wrote a handful of songs I know and enjoy but that I didn’t know came from the same melodist. Last week my family was in the car listening to Alison Krauss sing _Baby, Now That I’ve Found You_; my daughter asked if someone else had had a hit with the song, and I sort of remembered a guy singing it on a PBS fund-raiser along with _Build Me Up Buttercup_. A Wiki search revealed that [Tony McCaulay](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Macaulay) wrote both those songs, as well as _Last Night I Didn’t Get To Sleep At All_, _Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes_ (one of my bubblegum faves), and _Don’t Give Us On Us Baby_. Apparently he was well known in England (twice British Songwriter of the Year, and nine British Academy Awards), but I’d never heard of him. In this thread please salute any songwriter you wish. Make a list of their great songs or well-known songs, or well-known songs that people might not realize the person composed. Maybe throw in a little background or bio info if you want to. It would be nice if the songwriter has a few hits rather than just some album cuts you really like, but hey, do what you like. Presumably there are youngsters here who are largely unfamiliar with writers you consider classic, so feel free to salute, Barry Gibb, Burt Bacharach, Carol King and other high profile writers as well as the lesser known souls. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2011, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/2 "2011-10-31T22:39:27Z")
I’m going to salute an oldie, but goodie, one whose songs are as well known to people today as they were in the 1930s. Harry Warren. Warren is probably the most overlooked songwriter in the history of American song. He was a peer to people like George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Richard Rogers, Jerome Kern and Irving Berlin. Yet no one seems to remember him. When they made a smash Broadway show using his songs, they didn’t even give him credit on the posters. Some Harry Warren songs include: _Shuffle Off to Buffalo I Only Have Eyes for You Lullabye of Broadway Jeepers Creepers Chattanooga Choo Choo You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby That’s Amore 42nd Street Nagasaki_ And that’s just the start. He wrote primarily for movies as a staff composer at Warner Brothers, which meant that if you saw any classic Looney Tunes ([like this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxHy1MqPJCA#t=02m15s)), you probably heard his music at one point. Warner Brothers animation could use his music for free (since he worked for WB), and made the most of it. Warren also wrote the music for most Busby Berkeley musicals. Warren is so overlooked on the list of great popular composers that people listing overlooked composers feel obligated to mention him even when they’re picking someone else. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/3 "2011-11-01T02:28:02Z")
All of the following songs were written by the same man: 1. “Bus Stop” by the Hollies [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/It75wQ0JypA/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgXChPMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAtkrPLUXW-mUyEQ98TpFhchj4RSw "Bus Stop- The Hollies - 1966") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It75wQ0JypA) 1. “Heart Full of Soul” by the Yardbirds [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/f9mQkFpkShg/hqdefault.jpg "The Yardbirds - Heart Full Of Soul") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9mQkFpkShg) 1. “I’m Not in Love” by 10cc [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQCAv_YxJqo) 1. “Look Through Any Window” by the Hollies [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CfH-FAGc88) 1. “For Your Love” by the Yardbirds [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HU5zqidlxMQ/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgZShlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDhe7kD7fhvyXKisuRBzdDdhcdlzg "The Yardbirds - For Your Love (1965) (Full version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU5zqidlxMQ) 1. “No Milk Today” by Herman’s Hermits [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf1X3aEaUj0) 1. “Things We Do For Love” by 10cc [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i-6PnsnBpQE/hqdefault.jpg "The Things We Do For Love / 10cc - Live") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-6PnsnBpQE) They were all the work of Graham Gouldman ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/4 "2011-11-01T02:44:21Z")
The following two hits were also written by the same man: 1. Linda Ronstadt - “You’re No Good” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/haZPPBJC8Ic/hqdefault.jpg "Linda Ronstadt - You're No Good") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haZPPBJC8Ic) 1. Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders - “Game of Love” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0pLZwUSDtYU/hqdefault.jpg "Game of Love") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pLZwUSDtYU) Both written by Clint Ballard ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/5 "2011-11-01T02:56:22Z")
[Felice and Boudleaux Bryant](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felice_and_Boudleaux_Bryant) Strange names. But look at some of their songs: _All I Have to Do Is Dream Bye Bye, Love Wake Up, Little Susie Bird Dog Devoted To You Raining In My Heart Love Hurts_ ---
**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:** [November 1, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/6 "2011-11-01T02:57:11Z")
I’m partial towards Kesha, who writes or co-writes all her own songs, along with a handful of songs performed by other singers. “Till the World Ends” sung by Britney Spears is an example. Her own hits include “TiK ToK,” “Take It Off,” “We R Who We R,” and “Blow.” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/7 "2011-11-01T03:38:32Z")
All of these songs were written or co-written by Rudy Clark: 1. George Harrison - “Got My Mind Set On You” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GdeU0ww4zY) 1. Young Rascals - "Good Lovin’ " [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6Dw37vak5s) 1. Main Ingredient - “Everybody Plays the Fool” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNQ0GkGN3yM) 1. Betty Everett - “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/B4KN6TFhy2I/hqdefault.jpg "Betty Everett - Shoop Shoop Song (it´s in his kiss)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4KN6TFhy2I) ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/8 "2011-11-01T03:43:32Z")
> [@K364](#): > > [Felice and Boudleaux Bryant](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felice_and_Boudleaux_Bryant) The Bryants were one of the songwriters I had in mind while writing the OP. _All I Have To Do Is Dream_ is one of the great 50s songs. But when talking about them, I think you are required to mention _Rocky Top_. One of Tennessee’s eight official songs, and a bluegrass standard. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/9 "2011-11-01T03:47:12Z")
All of these songs were written by the same man (whose identity will be revealed later, for those who don’t guess right away): 1. Irish Rovers - “The Unicorn” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aeU6hJn_YpM/hqdefault.jpg "The Unicorn - The Irish Rovers") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeU6hJn_YpM) 1. Johnny Cash - “A Boy Named Sue” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/n--1wR4L7zg/maxresdefault.jpg "Johnny Cash - Boy Named Sue (From "A Concert Behind Prison Walls" DVD)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n--1wR4L7zg) 1. Dr Hook & the Medicine Show - “Sylvia’s Mother” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Dc6EWYws_X4/hqdefault.jpg "Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show - Sylvia's Mother") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc6EWYws_X4) 1. Dr. Hook & Medicine Show - “Cover of the Rolling Stone” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fJu6Up9w2Hc/hqdefault.jpg "Dr Hook Cover Of The Rolling Stone") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJu6Up9w2Hc) All written by Shel Silverstein ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/10 "2011-11-01T03:51:57Z")
Here are some big hits that were all written Jerry Fuller: 1. Gary Puckett & the Union Gap: “Young Girl” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qJFVPxBpezk/maxresdefault.jpg "Gary Puckett & The Union Gap - Young Girl - HQ") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJFVPxBpezk) 2. Ricky Nelson: “Travelling Man” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0janfcZ8LUw) 3. Al Wilson: “Show and Tell” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTsAFA6jxsQ) 4. Knickerbockers: “Lies” (the most perfect Beatles soundalikes of the Sixties) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n03a7cLf0M) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/11 "2011-11-01T03:56:23Z")
All of these memorable songs were written by Mark James: 1. Elvis Presley: “Suspicious Minds” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SBmAPYkPeYU/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAChgKKAgwIABABGHIgPChNMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCxgEkXhtZHuo85apkMVJgGPSwtEQ "Suspicious Mind - Elvis Presley") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBmAPYkPeYU) 1. Willie Nelson: “Always on My Mind” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/R7f189Z0v0Y/maxresdefault.jpg "Willie Nelson - Always On My Mind (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7f189Z0v0Y) 1. Blue Swede: “Hooked on a Feeling” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9ts8m7Cv9U) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/12 "2011-11-01T03:58:23Z")
If you read the obituaries last week, you might have seen that Paul Leka died. Leka wrote the following two smash hits: 1. (White Sox fans will know this one!) [Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsaTElBljOE) 2. [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxm19NBAcfc) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/13 "2011-11-01T04:03:00Z")
These aren’t necessarily great songs… indeed, the cheese factor is high. But people are often astonished that all these huge hits were written by the same man: Mitch Murray. 1. Freddy & the Dreamers: “I’m Telling You Now” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hCxJv6Ugpg) 1. Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods: “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H0lKmznjgfQ/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHOBYAC4AOKAgwIABABGH8gTyggMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDhVIuBO6rxN-flUD7aHXPfBjGtGQ "Bo Donaldson - Billy Don't Be A Hero") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0lKmznjgfQ) 3. Paper Lace: “The Night Chicago Died” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryVh9BuwOs4) 4. Gerry & the Pacemakers: “How Do You Do It?” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zs7OtsvvT4) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/14 "2011-11-01T04:07:06Z")
All three of these smash hits were written by the same guy (and the third was one he sang by himself): 1. [Frankie Valli 1975 My Eyes Adored You - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSnWd8FD_fE&feature=related) 2. [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYMsA-jv1tw) 3. [I Like Dreamin' - Kenny Nolan 1977 - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpgPi-A_ou0&feature=related) (His name is Kenny Nolan) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/15 "2011-11-01T04:11:10Z")
Last one for tonight: both written by Leon Russell. 1. Carpenters: “Superstar” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/F9Nm_0pC4FM/hqdefault.jpg "Carpenters - Superstar") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9Nm_0pC4FM) 1. George Benson: “This Masquerade” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpEfAV1T5b0) ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/16 "2011-11-01T05:30:03Z")
How about: “Blame it on the Rain” - Milli Vanilli “Don’t Turn Around” - Ace of Base “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” - Aerosmith “Rhythm of the Night” - DeBarge “Reach” - Gloria Estafan “Un-Break My Heart” - Toni Braxton “When I See You Smile” - Bad English …all written by Diane Warren. And cheesy as hell. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/17 "2011-11-01T05:35:53Z")
Maybe the winners of this thread… Like A Virgin - Madonna Alone - Heart True Colours - Cyndi Lauper I Touch Myself - diVinyls Eternal Flame - The Bangles I Drove All Night - Cyndi Lauper I’ll Stand By You - Pretenders (written with Chrissy Hynde) …all written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/18 "2011-11-01T05:40:39Z")
I can’t stop. Everyone knows Holland-Dozier-Holland, but how about Norman Whitfield? Ain’t Too Proud to Beg Ball of Confusion Car Wash The Girl’s Alright with Me I Heard it Through the Grapevine I’m Going Down Papa Was a Rolling Stone War Too Busy Thinking About My Baby Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home) ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/19 "2011-11-01T06:01:14Z")
[Galveston](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2tgVAML2gE) - Glen Campbell [MacArthur Park](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su3JdzUUuH4) - Richard Harris [All I Know](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33aoxUeAw0E) - Art Garfunkel [Witchita Lineman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTfwcLdP5Xk) - Glen Campbell [The Worst That Could Happen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f18w--OpVyM) - The Brooklyn Bridge [Up Up And Away](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoSocikOpHU) - The Fifth Dimension All written by Jimmy Webb. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/20 "2011-11-01T10:56:23Z")
These four were all co-written by the same guy: 1. Otis Redding: “Dock of the Bay” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nA18g_PwG0) 1. Amii Stewart: “Knock on Wood” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hm08f5b8tc) 1. Wilson Picket: “In the Midnight Hour” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6A0cK9-uV38/hqdefault.jpg "Wilson Pickett - In The Midnight Hour") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A0cK9-uV38) 1. Booker T & the MGs: “Green Onions” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-7QSMyz5rg) All were co-written by Steve Cropper… who, you may remember, was the Blues Brothers guitarist [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429.md?page=2)