# Who is the best singer and songwriter? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 10, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469 "2014-01-10T20:57:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [January 10, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/1 "2014-01-10T20:57:04Z")
Some fantastic songwriters aren’t the best singers, and some fantastic singers do better with other people’s songs. Compare Bob Dylan singing anything, or Bruce Springsteen singing “Jersey Girl.” Who is the best at both? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/2 "2014-01-10T21:02:29Z")
We’'ll start with the obvious: in their primes, John Lennon and Paul McCartney were great at both. I’ll nominate Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, too. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/3 "2014-01-10T23:48:24Z")
The best at _both_? I’m gonna go Steve Earle. Or Joni Mitchell. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/4 "2014-01-10T23:51:19Z")
Jackson Browne ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/5 "2014-01-11T00:01:58Z")
Carole King ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/6 "2014-01-11T00:03:34Z")
I’ll nominate two: Harry Nilsson and Lindsey Buckingham. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/7 "2014-01-11T00:21:57Z")
Kate Bush. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/8 "2014-01-11T02:50:07Z")
Joni Mitchell. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/9 "2014-01-11T02:50:37Z")
Recently? Lennon & McCartney Prince. Marvin Gaye. Elton John. Dolly Parton Peter Gabriel. For now. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2014, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/10 "2014-01-11T02:54:23Z")
John Hiatt ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/11 "2014-01-11T03:10:55Z")
Paul Simon ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/12 "2014-01-11T03:11:51Z")
David Bowie. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/13 "2014-01-11T03:14:00Z")
Gordon Lightfoot. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/14 "2014-01-11T03:23:45Z")
Todd Rundgren deserves a mention. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/15 "2014-01-11T03:29:16Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Todd Rundgren deserves a mention. Jim Croce John Denver ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/16 "2014-01-11T03:33:13Z")
As I scrolled through, I kept going, “Oh, yeah!” It’s really tough to decide. Immediate thought: Paul Simon Second thought: Paul Mccartney Third thought: Paul Stanley PSYCHE on the last one! Maybe Billy Joel? Not my favorite, but given the criteria he is an outstanding candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/17 "2014-01-11T03:35:18Z")
Another vote for Paul Simon. I also nominate Don McLean. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/18 "2014-01-11T03:59:19Z")
I am shocked that Freddie Mercury hasn’t been mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Donegal\_Dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Donegal\_Dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donegal_Dragon)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/19 "2014-01-11T04:03:08Z")
Kate Wolf ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469/20 "2014-01-11T09:20:39Z")
James Taylor Mary Chapin Carpenter [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-singer-and-songwriter/678469.md?page=2)