Originally Posted by: manXcat

Stale thread, and I'm sure this selection has to be in it somewhere.

"Of all time" perhaps not compared to the likes of Haydn, but of the contemporary music from the past seven decades, no contest Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison...sorry Ritchie.

Yet to be bettered in either quanity, quality or popularity.

...and considering how old they were (weren't, really...), it's even more shocking how good those songs are. Lyrically and musically, astounding at such a young age. Hard to argue how great they were and clearly will always be at the top of the songwriter list.

In the same mindset, Brian Williams has to be up there too.

These guys were more than just a single great song or even just some great songs, they had a lot of them. There are times where a decent band ends up having 'that one' amazing song but the rest of the catalogue was at best, ok. But if you can keep putting up great songs, that's really a next level skill.

I find that what I consider a great songwriter isn't just the ability to write a song that the masses love (though that is a skill), but the ability to be musically and lyrically be inventive too.

I think as a group, Fleetwood Mac in their prime were right up there too. Oh, and the Eagles....

Awwww heck, next thing ya know, I got half the 70's in there!!!!