Favorite Three Songwriters

[brian64]

But if I'm being honest with myself, I'd say Mark Knopfler, and rate him second. Brilliant lyricist as well as musician, with a unique style. Listen to the music in The Princess Bride. Or any Dire Straits album.

And I never saw the attraction to Bob Dylan. Ever. Maybe I had to be there?

Knopfler is great...and is rather obviously influenced by Dylan, as he readily attests to. His playing on Dylan's Slow Train Coming album is one of the many wonderful things about it.

Knopfler on Dylan:

In the audio introduction to one of Knopfler’s track selections in the first program, the guitar hero and renowned singer-songwriter pay tribute to perhaps the greatest single influence on him as a musician, Bob Dylan.

“The most important songwriter for me growing up was Bob Dylan,” he says in the show. “From the age of 12, really, it hasn’t changed that much.”

Mark Knopfler On Bob Dylan Being a Major Songwriting Influence - DireStraits

Mark Knopfler’s ‘The British Grove Broadcast’ series features the esteemed guitarist and songwriter playing his favorite music in a wide range of

direstraitsblog.com

 

[SoddenJack]

My list has changed drastically in the last 30 years. My list now would be: Sufjan Stevens, Adrianne Lenker, and Franz Schubert.

I saw Sufjan Stevens in NYC back around when Illinois was released. That was possibly the last album to really blow my mind. He’s an amazing performer and super talented musician and songwriter.

 

[beefeater33]

Bob Dylan
Robert Zimmerman
bob dylan........
I know...........
Bernie Taupin too!!

 

[jewman22]

1. Freddie Mercury
2. Paul McCartney
3. Tom Petty

 

[RookieGuy]

1. Freddie Mercury
2. Paul McCartney
3. Tom Petty

Tom Petty was one of, if not the, best 3 chord songwriters to walk the earth. He wasn't fancy or complicated, but what my old coach used to call brilliant at the basics.

 

[newbroom]

Kriss Kristofferson, Joni Mitchell, Willie Nelson.
(I saw Kriss in a one man performance, smallish college venue at UF several yrs back...he was in his 70's then.)

 

[DAR]

Very interesting. It really shows what kind of music everyone is into. There's no way that only 3 come to mind........

Willie Nelson
Nat King Cole
Paul McCartney

Irving Berlin
Jerome Kern
Richard Rogers

John Lennon
Stevie Wonder
Tom Waites

Burt Bacharach
Brian Wilson
Hank Williams....... and there's many more favorite 3 songwriters.

 

[sallow]

Paul McCartney
Kim Deal
Robert Pollard

 

[mrmachado]

Leonard Cohen.

Maybe I'm just too young to name three, but Leonard Cohen is unparalelled for me.

He is my greatest idol overall.

 

[Toast]

I'm glad Knopfler got a mention & a bit surprised not to see the Stones yet. I'll throw an honourable mention in for Cake.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

It's early and I've only had two cups of coffee, and I could list a dozen or more and a few genres, but when I think of favorite songwriters these three are always there so I'll list them and just stick to it (along with my favorite song as of this moment).

Sir James Paul McCartney (I Saw Her Standing There)
Kris Kristofferson (Why Me)
Roger Miller (Engine Engine #9)

 

[WVOldFart]

The first two are easy for me; Gordon Lightfoot and Paul Simon. I believe I would put Willie Nelson next with honorable mention to Van Morrison and Mark Knofler.

 

[mso489]

John Prine, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan.

Earlier, Stephen Foster, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter.

Right up there, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Jesse Winchester, Woody Guthrie, Elizabeth Cotton, John Hartford, John Lennon