# 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:** 2
**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:** [November 1, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/21 "2011-11-01T13:40:44Z")
[Tom Paxton](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Paxton#Discography). He has written a buttload of songs that turned into hits for other people, and gets no credit. John Denver did not write Forest Lawn or Whose Garden Was This? The Firebirds did not write Bottle of Wine. Chad Mitchell did not write The Marvelous Toy. And Rambling Boy is not a “traditional folk song.” Paxton is a prolific songwriter and a wonderful singer. I absolutely love him ---
**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, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/22 "2011-11-01T13:46:22Z")
Trivia buffs already know this, but some peopel are still surprised that Sonny Curtis, Buddy Holly’s old friend, wrote both of these tunes: 1. [MARY TYLER MOORE - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBTWF1bDPn0) 2. [Bobby Fuller I fought the law - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPXnoLAEUSQ) ---
**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, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/23 "2011-11-01T13:50:51Z")
Here are a few written by Wes Farrell: 1. McCoys: “Hang On, Sloopy”: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DO2Y2sGZ1dk/hqdefault.jpg "The McCoys Hang On Sloopy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO2Y2sGZ1dk) 2. Beatles: “Boys” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN6ZZiKWZYA) 3. Partridge Family : “Come On, Get Happy” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LOiKa51ll-k/hqdefault.jpg "The Partridge Family Opening TV Theme Song 1970") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOiKa51ll-k) 4. Jay & the Americans: “Come a Little Bit Closer” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu9ZepcV0CM) ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/24 "2011-11-01T13:53:27Z")
“Greenback Dollar” by The Kingston Trio “The Pusher”, by Steppenwolf “No-No Song”, by Ringo Starr “Never Been To Spain”, by Three Dog Night “Joy to the World”, by Three Dog Night “Snowblind Friend” , by Steppenwolf All written by Hoyt Axton ---
**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, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/25 "2011-11-01T13:57:10Z")
This will be my last one for a while, but ALL of these were written by Otis Blackwell. 1. [Return to Sender- Elvis Presley - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z54-QHEZN6E) 2. [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQKYY7wdD_I) 3. [Don't Be Cruel - Houston Astrodome 1989 - Cheap Trick - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HJrNiuow8Y&ob=av2n) 4. [Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls of Fire - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IjgZGhHrYY) 5. [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHl4UIOCN_M) 6. [Jerry Lee Lewis - Breathless 1958 (live) - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvAgbyI8ris) 7. [Sarah Vaughan - Fever - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P_5KO26eKs&feature=related) ---
**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, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/26 "2011-11-01T14:10:16Z")
Okay, I lied- I owe you some songs written by Bert Berns: 1. Beatles: “Twist and Shout” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6TIEkB4_F8) 2. Janis Joplin: “Piece of My Heart” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9hcxbIln3sc/hqdefault.jpg "Janis Joplin Big Brother and the Holding Company - Piece of my heart") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hcxbIln3sc) 3. Bow Wow Wow- “I Want Candy” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SgZ3KbLNz50/hqdefault.jpg "Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgZ3KbLNz50) 4. Van Morrison: “Here Comes the Night” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWNPPmBa7HA) 5. Jarmels: “A Little Bit of Soap” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eIrLBsWH2-E/hqdefault.jpg "Jarmels - "A Little Bit Of Soap"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIrLBsWH2-E) 6. The Exciters: “Tell Him” (re-popularized by Ally McBeal) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zbLQADd06Y) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/27 "2011-11-01T16:40:15Z")
Often considered the greatest living songwriter in the latter half of the 20th Century, [Cindy Walker](http://www.pencilstubs.com/magazine/MagPage.asp?NID=3147) wrote for Bing Crosby, Bob Wills, Gene Autry, Sons of the Pioneers, Tex Ritter, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Rex Allen, Wade Ray, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Spike Jones And His City Slickers, Ernest Tubb, Al Dexter, Elton Britt, Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, and Red Foley, as well as many songs recorded by various artists. The number of songs she wrote is reported to be over 500. Among her compositions: [Bubbles in my Beer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r04UoOc7RbI) [Cherokee Maiden](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4BOJtKkOLs) [Dream Baby](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4gqxMOhFRM) [In the Misty Moonlight](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN1qbW6_Zzk) [Miss Molly](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no8HDEzE3Co) [You Don’t Know Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWYouFPCT5M) (My personal favorite of hers. Recorded by everybody and his brother and all their cousins :D.) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/28 "2011-11-01T16:51:03Z")
Two more notes about Cindy Walker: Eddy Arnold told her she should write a song titled “You Don’t Know Me” and provided the idea for what it would say. She wrote it and graciously gave him co-writing credit. She wasn’t a bad singer herself, though she was eclipsed by the stars she wrote for. Here she is singing “[I Hear You Talkin’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osdlNlhZT2U&feature=related).” (Here’s [Bob Wills’ version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxhvX8F9GbM&feature=related) for comparison.) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/29 "2011-11-01T17:02:12Z")
[“Stones Soul Picnic” - Fifth Dimension](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUyTKl815MU) [“Eli’s Coming” Three Dog Night](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A2eet1bttY) [“And When I Die” - Blood, Sweat, and Tears](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wZb75EzkW0) [“Save the Country” - "Fifth Dimension](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTuwAo5sUik) [“Stoney End” - Barbra Streisand](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j__OhNPutzA) (Oh, yeah, it rocks) [“Wedding Bell Blues” - Fifth Dimension](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkMhWQgkZ8c) My girl Laura Nyro. How could a little white girl have such soul? Maybe because her real name is Laura Nigro. Italian and Jewish soul mix! ---
**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, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/30 "2011-11-01T19:25:48Z")
In addition to his own big hit “Games People Play,” Joe South wrote: 1. “Hush” by Deep Purple 2. “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden” by Lynn Anderson 3. “Yo Yo” by the Osmonds 4. “Down in the Boondocks” by Billy Joe Royal ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/31 "2011-11-01T19:36:06Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > All were co-written by Steve Cropper… who, you may remember, was the Blues Brothers guitarist Loving this thread. Just wanted to clarify that in guitar circles, Steve Cropper is a freakin’ legend for his work in the Stax house band - more or less Booker T. & the MG’s - and just being a master of the Telecaster… I am not even seeing much Brill Building/1650 Broadway stuff listed, like Ellie Greenwich, Neil Sedaka and Neil Diamond, Goffin and King, etc…and yet all of the folks listed so far in this thread have so many great songs to their credit… ---
**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, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/32 "2011-11-01T19:54:40Z")
Until the musical \*\*\*Jersey Boys \*\*\*became a hit, I think Bob Gaudio was one of the most forgotten successful songwriters ever. Gaudio was a member of Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons, and he wrote most of that group’s big hits, as well as Frankie Valli’s solo smash “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” He also wrote the Royal Teens’ “Short Shorts” and the Tremeloes’ “Silence is Golden.” ---
**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, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/33 "2011-11-01T19:59:03Z")
Here’s a bizarre combination: Phil Coulter wrote the classic weepy Irish ballad “The Town I Loved So Well,” which told the story of “the troubles” in Northern Ireland. He also wrote “S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night” for the Bay City Rollers. ---
**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, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/34 "2011-11-01T20:08:29Z")
Here are a few written by Alan Gordon: The Turtles: “She’d Rather Be With Me’ The Turtles: “Happy Together” Three Dog Night: “Celebrate” Barbra Streisand: “My Heart Belongs to Me” ---
**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, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/35 "2011-11-01T20:16:00Z")
Over a long career, Communist songwriter Earl Robinson wrote such tunes as… 1. “Joe Hill,” memorably sung at Woodstock by Joan Baez 2. “The House I Live In,” a wartime hit for Frank Sinatra 3. “Black and White,” a song about school desegregation recorded by Three Dog Night ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/36 "2011-11-01T20:22:21Z")
In addition to his own catalog, Prince wrote or co-wrote many hits for others: “Manic Monday”, The Bangles “Nothing Compares 2 U”, Sinead O’Connor “Stand Back”, Stevie Nicks “Sugar Walls”, Sheena Easton “Jungle Love”, The Time “I Feel For You”, Chaka Khan (cover that charted higher than Prince’s original) “A Love Bizarre”, Sheila E. “Love…Thy Will Be Done”, Martika ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/37 "2011-11-01T21:04:26Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Gaudio was a member of Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons, and he wrote…the Tremeloes’ “Silence is Golden.” Turns out he also wrote the Four Seasons’ “[Silence is Golden](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe4qk7Mijlo).” 😉 ---
**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, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/38 "2011-11-01T21:47:11Z")
Petula Clark was a major star during the British invasion, and most of her hits were written by **Tony Hatch**. _Downtown_ _I Know a Place_ [_My Love_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz-6fLWcAwI&feature=related) _Don’t Sleep in the Subway_. Hatch also wrote [_Sugar and Spice_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA5kJAVFg2o), a hit for the Searchers, and [_Call Me_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_qOTz_yL1s)which (in the U.S.) did better for Chris Montez than for Petula. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/39 "2011-11-03T15:28:46Z")
While he gets no respect, Andrew Lloyd Webber has penned quite a few [hits](http://www.andrewlloydwebber.com/music/chart-hits) Trivia time: One of the last songs Elvis recorded was [ALW/Tim Rice’s It’s Easy For You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHqVPxvJQbw) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429/40 "2011-11-04T03:48:28Z")
Some of the big names have been ignored so far, perhaps because they seemed to obvious. All of the following were written by the team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman: 1. [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFw5a5Bp_Pw) 2. [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNYdcwunG7g) 3. [Ben E. King and The Drifters - Save The Last Dance For Me - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjd-4AZ5Nac) 4. [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX6898nw-ks) 5. [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hFXy7nc-P8&feature=related) 6. [Rockpile w/ Robert Plant - Little Sister - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5XJX8sjYDE) 7. [Elvis Presley - Marie's the name (his latest flame) - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ91R6xlH-Y) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songwriter-salute/601429.md?page=3)