Saving Country Music’s 85 Greatest Country Songwriters of All Time
The only thing I hate more than lists is the reactions to lists. I started this list some 2 1/2 years ago and then shelved it from concerns of the reactions and criticisms that come with posting a list of this type. But inspired by Rolling Stone‘s recent list of the “100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time” (and disappointed there wasn’t more country music representation), I decided to finish this list and publish it.
The names selected were accumulated and ranked according to a proprietary and completely subjective formula based off of not just commercial success, popularity, or chart performance, but also off of influence, creativity, peer respect, and other factors. If a songwriter also performed their own songs, this was weighted to their benefit, but many behind-the-scenes songwriters were also given top consideration for distinction based off of the strength of their contributions to country music.
GROUND RULES: PLEASE READ
***This is not an exercise for you to rummage through the names quickly, looking for omissions, and complain about who is not here and who deserves to be. The point of this list, just like any list, is to hopefully fill holes in your knowledge base, and turn you on to music, artists, (or in this case, songwriters) who you may have never heard of before, or may have forgotten.
NO – “This list is illegitimate because so and so is NOT on it.” Every list is going to be subject to the perspective of the author. That is why it is called “Saving Country Music’s 85 Greatest Country Songwriters” and in no way claims itself as the be all, end all list that is 100% bulletproof. We are all products of our own perspectives, and this is simply one person’s opinion.
NO- “This list is illegitimate because so and so IS on it.” I don’t care if Earl Thomas Conley once stiffed your brother’s girlfriend for an autograph after a show in 1986. Just because someone’s name that you personally don’t like is here doesn’t mean the entire list is completely bogus.
NO – “This list is illegitimate because so and so is AHEAD or BEHIND so and so.” Again, this is just one person’s opinion. Get over it, and use the list as a resource to hopefully discover new music, not complain because it doesn’t reinforce your already-formulated opinions about music.
PLEASE feel free to share YOUR opinions about your favorite songwriters of all time, your opinions on who should be in which positions, who should be ahead or behind others, or who should have been included or omitted by sharing your thoughts in the comment section below, and in a manner that helps to aid in the discovery process as opposed to impugning others for their opinions. And remember, music is not a competition, and nobody is right or wrong.
Saving Country Music’s 85 Greatest Country Songwriters of All Time
85. Kacey Musgraves – In the future Musgraves might find herself in the Top 25, and maybe her long-term prospects will be hurt by the fact that many of her big songs rely on co-writers. But when talking about important country songwriters, her name deserves to be here.
84. Hank Williams III – The songwriting found on Lovesick, Broke, & Driftin’ and Straight to Hell alone ensure that three generations of Hank make this list.
83. Billy Don Burns – A songwriter lost in time, Billy Don Burns once produced a record for Johnny Paycheck, and had Willie Nelson record one of his songs. Though you may have never heard of him, his songwriting is top caliber, and promises to hold up over time like the work of all great songwriters. Burns was once engaged to Lorrie Morgan.
82. Jim Lauderdale – One of the most prolific recorded songwriters of our time, and one of the founding fathers of Americana.
81. Willy “Tea” Taylor – Underground songwriter from Oakdale, CA, frontman for the Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit, and called by Saving Country Music as one of the greatest songwriters of this generation.
80. Curly Putnam – Wrote “He Stopped Loving Her Today” with Bobby Braddock, as well as “Green Green Grass of Home,” and “D-I-V-O-R-C-E.”
79. Kostas – Greek-born songwriter for Dwight Yoakam, George Strait, Travis Tritt, The Dixie Chicks, Marty Stuart, and many more.
78. Sturgill Simpson – It’s been a combination of style and songwriting in Sturgill Simpson’s short, but storied career so far. He keeps it up, and he’ll be much closer to the bottom of lists like this in the coming years.
77. Gretchen Peters – The woman behind so many great songs, including singles from Patty Loveless, Pam Tillis, Martina McBride, George Strait, and many more. She won the CMA for Song of the Year for “Independence Day” in 1995.
76. Jimmy Webb – Songwriter for “Wichita Lineman”, “Galveston,” “MacArthur Park,” and many more, including many non country songs for artists such as Frank Sinatra, James Taylor, and R.E.M. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1990.
75. Ray Wylie Hubbard – You can’t talk about songwriters without talking about Ray Wylie Hubbard. Even though his career has mostly been on the periphery of country music, his influence within the genre has been grand. “Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother” is a country music cult classic.
74. Roger Alan Wade – A great late career songwriter whose acoustic albums are songwriting treasure troves. He also wrote the hit “Country State of Mind” with Hank Williams Jr.
73. Faron Young – You just get the sense if Faron had lived longer, his career would have been so much more significantly celebrated.
72. Jason Isbell – An artist whose legacy will certainly put him closer to the front of the list as time marches on, but an artist might be held back just slightly on a country list because he’s more Americana. However country should be proud to claim Jason Isbell as its own.
71. Sonny Throckmorton – Wrote more than 1,000 songs that were recorded by artists, including songs for Merle Haggard, The Oak Ridge Boys, John Conlee, and others. Sonny was named Songwriter of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association in 1978, 1979, and 1980.
70. Max D. Barnes – Writer of “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” “Drinkin’ & Dreamin” (Waylon), “Look At Us” (Vince Gill), and many more. He won a total of 42 songwriter awards during his decorated career.
69. Wayne “The Train” Hancock – The King of Juke Joint Swing had superior influence in starting the neotraditionalist revolution in the late 90’s with artists such as BR549 and Hank Williams III. His unique voice and stellar songwriting have some calling him the Hank Williams of our time.
68. Chris Stapleton – For himself, for others, and with the Steeldrivers, Chris Stapleton’s songwriters has been one of the beacons of light in country music in the 2010’s—a few missteps with commercial hits notwithstanding.
67. Chris Knight – Not much cuts like a Chris Knight song. He’s also had his songs recorded by the likes of Randy Travis and Lee Ann Womack.
66. John Hartford – The King of Newgrass had one masterful pen and put a lot of humor into the country music realm, while also penning blockbusters like Glen Campbell’s “Gentle On My Mind.”
65. Jamey Johnson – It’s a rarity that a country music traditionalist of today can say he’s won two separate CMA Awards for Song of the Year. Jamey has accomplished plenty to not allow “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” to hold him back for history.
64. Bob Childers -The father of Red Dirt, in certain circles in Oklahoma and Texas, Bob Childers is considered as influential as Dylan.
63. Tammy Wynette – Not as prolific as other performers of her stature, but her songwriting work on iconic songs such as “Stand By Your Man” make her worthy of inclusion.
62. Webb Pierce – When Hank Williams was fired from the Grand Ole Opry, it was Webb who was hired to take his place. Webb went on to be one of the biggest country stars of the next half decade. Though not nearly the songwriter as Hank, Webb did write some of his own #1 hits including “Slowly” and “I Don’t Care.”
61. George Jones – Not just one of the greatest voices in country music history, but he wrote “The Window Up Above,” “Why Baby Why,” “Take Me,” and many more.
60. Marty Stuart – Don’t think of Marty Stuart as much of a songwriter? Go listen to his concept album The Pilgrim.
59. Paul Overstreet – Writer of “Forever and Ever, Amen” and “When You Say Nothing At All” with Don Schlitz, and performer/writer of “Daddy’s Come Around.” Discounted slightly because he’s also the writer of “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” and other unfortunate hits, but still a significant country music songwriter in history.
58. John D. Loudermilk – Writer of “A Rose and a Baby Ruth,” “Break My Mind,” “Indian Reservation,” and so many more. An early collaborator with George Hamilton IV, John had many hits in country, rock, and pop, and is one of the most revered songwriters in all of music.
57. Rosanne Cash – The apple didn’t fall too far from the Johnny Cash tree. In fact the argument could be made from an Americana perspective that the pupil rose to surpass the master when it came to songwriting. Johnny definitely had a greater impact on country music, but some of Rosanne’s compositions are some of the best songwriting you can find.
56. Billy Sherrill – Producer extraordinaire whose songwriting credits include many of Tammy Wynette’s biggest hits including “Stand By Your Man” and “Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad.”
55. Don Schlitz – Writer of “The Gambler,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “When You Say Nothing At All,” and many more.
54. Felice and Boudleaux Bryant – When you wrote many of the big hits for the Everly Brothers, and then turn around and write an iconic country tune like “Rocky Top,” your place in the pantheon of great songwriters is cemented.
53. Hank Williams Jr. – Anyone overlooking Hank Jr.’s songwriting contributions is not paying proper attention. Bocephus isn’t just a big time performer, he wrote some of his biggest songs over his significant career.
52. Mickey Newbury – A songwriter’s songwriter, he was a bit too fey for the mainstream, but his influence over other artists as far ranging as Waylon Jennings to Elvis Presley is undeniable. Though he didn’t officially write the separate parts of “An American Trilogy,” Newbury’s vision for creating legendary moments through music was unmatched.
51. “Cowboy” Jack Clement – The cosmic country music wizard is known mostly for his producer work, but as the writer of “Ballad of a Teenage Queen,” “Guess Things Happen That Way” and many more, he deserves recognition in the realm of songwriting greats.
50. Bobby Braddock – “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” ‘Nuff said.
49. Larry Cordle – The writer of “Against The Grain,” “Highway 40 Blues,” and hits for George Strait, Kathy Mattea, and Trisha Yearwood. But Larry Cordle really made his mark when he penned “Murder on Music Row” with Larry Shell. The song went on to be the 2001 CMA Song of the Year.
48. Dean Dillon – Towering contributions from this mostly behind-the-scenes songwriter, especially contributions to George Strait which include “The Chair,” “Nobody in His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her,” “It Ain’t Cool to Be Crazy About You,” “Ocean Front Property,” “Famous Last Words of a Fool,” and others. He also wrote “Tennessee Whiskey.”
47. Rodney Crowell – Rodney had a string of five #1 songs off of his 1988 album Diamonds & Dirt, and he wrote or co-wrote four of them. His songwriting for others has also resulted in some stellar country music output.
46. Vince Gill – Like a good wine, Vince Gill’s music just keeps getting better over time—songwriting included. “One More Last Chance,” “Go Rest High On a Mountain,” “Tryin’ To Get Over You,” and so many more of his hits were solo writes.
45. Shel Silverstein – That’s right, he didn’t just write A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends. He also wrote “A Boy Named Sue” and other strong country offerings, making Shel one of the quintessential behind-the-scenes songwriting stars.
44. John Prine – Not the commercial powerhouse compared to others on this list, but as respected by his peers as Guy Clark. Like so many great songwriters, Prine has a style of writing all his own. You can say, “That’s a John Prine song,” and it immediately denotes quality.
43. Steve Earle – Steve Earle practically created alt-country with his cutting lyrics and social commentary. His influence still reigns significant in Americana.
42. Don Gibson – “Oh Lonesome Me,” “Blue Blue Day,” and dozens others make Don Gibson one of the greatest ever.
41. Lyle Lovett – “If I had a boat, I’d go out on the ocean. And if I had a pony, I’d ride him on my boat.”
40. Chris LeDoux – Country music’s first independent superstar, if it wasn’t for his songs and success, there may have never been a “Class of ’89” in country music.
39. Dwight Yoakam – It wasn’t just the voice, the tight pants, and the cowboy hat turned down over his eyes. As the songwriter for singles like “Guitars, Cadillacs,” “It Won’t Hurt,” “I Got You” and others, Yoakam showed he was a student of classic country not just in style, but in words and sentiment.
38. Waylon Jennings – Not known as a songwriter first, but some of his biggest hits like “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” and “Don’t You Think This Outlaw Bit’s Done Got Out of Hand” were penned by his own hand. Quantity may put him at a disadvantage to some names, but the quality is unquestionable.
37. Alan Jackson – Never has a songwriter been so successful with his own compositions in the modern era. A commercial superstar who still brought substance to his music, Alan Jackson has the commercial success and the street cred to be considered a superstar no matter who you speak to.
36. Earl Thomas Conley – Between late 1982 and early 1989, Earl Thomas Conley released 19 singles. Out of those 19 singles, 17 went #1. The other two went to #2. Earl Thomas Conley wrote many of them, some with collaborator Randy Scruggs.
35. Johnny Cash – It may be more relevant to explain why Johnny Cash sits so far up on this list as opposed to why he’s included. Though an amazing songwriter in his own right, especially early on, Cash knew how to rely on others to help build his iconic career. When Cash did pick up his pen though, magic happened, and his songwriting contributions can’t be overlooked.
34. Robert Earl Keen – The king of the Texas storytellers, during his prime, nobody could pen a song like Robert Earl Keen.
33. Lucinda Williams – Exhibit #1: “Passionate Kisses.” Exhibit #2: The album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road—possibly one of the best-written albums ever.
32. Jerry Jeff Walker – When you write a song like “Mr. Bojangles” that goes on to be covered by Frank Sinatra and Bob Dylan, you know you’re worthy of top songwriting distinction. But Walker’s career post “Bojangles” in Texas proved he was much more than a one hit songwriting wonder. He also deserves kudos for giving exposure to others songwriters after the success of “Mr. Bojangles,” including to Ray Wylie Hubbard, Guy Clark, and Gary P. Nunn on his album Viva Terlingua.
31. Gram Parsons – Scoff all you want at Gram being a rocker turned country star, but his songwriting contributions, specifically in the California country rock scene, turned an entire generation on to the beauty of country music.
30. Cindy Walker – The quintessential unknown songwriter, Cindy Walker swore off the limelight as she penned some of the most iconic songs in country music history, including “Sugar Moon” and “Bubbles In My Beer” for Bob Wills, Webb Pierce’s “I Don’t Care,” and “Blue Canadian Rockies.” Walker was an inaugural inductee of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.
29. Bill Monroe – Think of what a different musical world it would be without Bill Monroe. Though a lot of his magic consisted of taking tunes from the past and paying them forward, Bill Monroe’s songwriting also helped form the subgenre of bluegrass where there was no such subgenre before.
28. Johnny Paycheck – His checkered past and super hit with a David Allan Coe song shade the fact that Johnny Paycheck was a master songwriter, and a prolific one at that.
27. Bill Anderson – “Mama Sang A Song,” “Still,” “I Get The Fever,” and Bill is still writing songs today and as prolific as ever. There’s few living songwriters as well-respected as Bill Anderson.
26. Loretta Lynn – Sometimes it’s hard for us to think of iconic singers and performers as songwriters too, but if there was ever a performer who deserves her own kudos for penning songs, it’s Loretta Lynn. “Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’,” “Fist City,” “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” and so many of her other signature tunes were self-penned.
25. Harlan Howard – Writer of “Heartaches By The Number,” “I Fall To Pieces,” “Life Turned Her That Way,” “Streets of Baltimore,” and so many more. One of the truly great behind-the-scenes country songwriters of all time.
24. Jerry Reed – Jerry Reed could do it all, and did do it all, including writing some of the most iconic songs in country music history. You know that feeling that comes over you when you first hear “East Bound and Down” after you haven’t heard it in a while? Jerry Reed made country funky and cool, and his wordplay put him in an elite company of country songwriters.
23. Hank Cochran – This Country Music Hall of Fame songwriter once had Jamey Johnson record an entire album of his songs—the ultimate compliment from one songwriter to another. Cochran’s career was relevant for an incredible span of time. He wrote songs for Patsy Cline and Ray Price, and later for George Strait and Lee Ann Womack. You will be hard pressed to find another songwriter as respected as Hank Cochran.
22. Fred Rose – The often-unheralded co-songwriter behind so many of Hank Williams’ biggest songs, and the songs of other early country stars, Fred’s pen was one of the forces that made country music into a major American music genre. His work behind-the-scenes to make sure songwriters get paid their due through Acuff/Rose was also a significant contribution to the songwriting realm.
21. Marty Robbins – With a songwriting arsenal that includes “El Paso,” “White Sport Coat,” and “Big Iron,” Marty Robbins deserves to be considered as a member of the top class of country music scribes.
20. Billy Joe Shaver – Few songwriters can gloat that Waylon Jennings once recorded an entire album of his songs (Honky Ton Heroes). Billy Joe Shaver embodies the timeless songwriter whose biggest hits are known through performers of another name.
19. David Allan Coe – The gruff exterior, the crude language found in some of his songs might make some think there was never any substance to Coe or that he’s not worth any recognition. But there are few that were as prolific, and as potent as David Alan Coe in his prime.
18. Roger Miller – What would country music be without the songwriting of Roger Miller? A little less fun and a lot less cool. From a creativity standpoint, it can be argued he’s one of the greatest of all time.
17. Tom T. Hall – The name “Tom T. Hall ” is synonymous with master songwriting. They didn’t call him “The Storyteller” for nothing. “Country Is,” “I Care,” “I Love,” “Faster Horses,” and so many other were attributed to Tom T. Hall. He also authored several books on songwriting.
16. Ernest Tubb – A pioneer of country music songwriting, tunes like “Walking The Floor Over You” remain relevant today, and will remain timeless 100 years from now.
15. Buck Owens – Would there even be a thing called “The Bakersfield Sound” if it wasn’t for Buck Owens? And it wasn’t just the loud Telecasters and thumping bass drums that went into the sound. It was the words of Buck and frequent collaborator Harlan Howard that defined the hard times and honky-tonk moods that made Bakersfield such a different flavor from Nashville, and a style that still resonates in the hearts of country music fans today.
14. Jimmie Rodgers – As the father of country music, without the songwriting of Jimmie Rodgers and the recording equipment of Ralph Peer, country music may have never come into being as a commercial enterprise.
13. The Carter Family – Without the Carter Family, there arguably is no such thing as country music. Their primitive country songs were the bridge between country music’s back porch past and its commercial present, and the influence of their songwriting can still be heard in traditional country, folk, bluegrass, and Americana today.
12. Hank Snow – Whenever someone tells you that a Canadian can’t write country music, you just mention these two words: Hank Snow. Sometimes overshadowed by the other Hank’s of the genre, Hank Snow had a huge impact on country music with his songwriting and other contributions, including giving hands up to Hank Williams and Elvis during his storied career.
11. Bob Wills – The King of Western Swing was responsible for creating his own subgenre and inspiring countless others to carry on the legacy that is still alive today. Songs like “New San Antonio Rose” are just as valuable to the country songbook as they are to the landscape of all American music. Few left as wide a footprint as Bob Wills.
Always seeming to be overshadowed in his era by Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell gives up nothing to his contemporaries, and his credits are some of the most important compositions in the history of country music. What would country music be without “If You’ve Got The Money (I’ve Got The Time)”?
Some people think the king of country music is Hank Williams. Others believe the king of country music is George Strait. Still others believe it is A.P. Carter, or Jimmie Rodgers. In truth, it was Roy Acuff, or so he called himself. And with the impressive songwriting catalog he amassed over his legendary career, and his work with Acuff/Rose to make sure songwriters got their due in the recording process, his career was one of the pillars the country music songwriting industry was built upon.
Appreciate that Dolly Parton’s name is officially attributed to over 3,000 songs. Now think for a second about some of the songs she’s responsible for; songs like “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene” that have become some of the most beloved songs the world has ever heard.
There are many more popular, and there’s some more poetic. But few know how to “craft” a song like Guy Clark. Take a survey of songwriters themselves, and Guy would be at the top of nearly everyone’s list as the best ever.
The poet of the people, Merle Haggard’s songs speak to the American experience like none other, and he defined what a country song was for a generation.
There is no more revered and mythical name in songwriting than Townes Van Zandt. His life was like a song itself—so touching yet so fleeting. No other songwriter has made people feel as much emotion as Townes Van Zandt.
A Renaissance man, a military officer, an actor, a performer. But when you boil it all down, the foremost thing Kris Kristofferson may be known for is his songwriting. As influential and lasting as anyone, Kris revolutionized country music songwriting in the 70’s, and had everyone else stepping up their game to meet the high bar he set. It’s a bar that is still trying to be met by songwriters today.
3. Woody Guthrie
Though you can certainly make the case that Woody Guthrie was just as much a folk singer, without Woody, arguably the legacy of the singer/songwriter does not exist. Woody set the mold for songwriting as we know it today, and did it by championing the agrarian themes at the heart of country music.
2. Willie Nelson
For a man who has such a distinct voice and guitar tone and has spent 60+ years as an entertainer, Willie’s songwriting still remains his signature. From “selling” songs for as little as $20 to buy his young family bread, to writing hits for Faron Young and Patsy Cline, to becoming one of the songwriters on the first platinum record in country music history in Wanted: The Outlaws and arguably the greatest country record of all time in Red Headed Stranger, it is hard to top Willie Nelson, and in my book there’s only one that does.
1. Hank Williams
The Hillbilly Shakespeare
***Honorable Mention: Bob McDill, who somehow got looked over, but certainly deserves to be on this list somewhere.
Sarah
August 19, 2015 @ 8:30 am
I personally find your list to be extremely accurate and well thought out. Glad you included Jamey Johnson. The man never gets enough credit and should be considered one of today’s greats.
the pistolero
August 19, 2015 @ 8:31 am
Great list. I thought Bob McDill would’ve been on here somewhere, but…shit. I can’t think of who he could replace. Well done, Trigger.
RD
August 19, 2015 @ 8:31 am
This is a good list. I’m glad to see Guy Clark so high. He is fantastic. Its beyond the scope of this list to say who is country and who is not, but I like the inclusion of Guy Clark, John Prine, Mickey Newbury, Jim Lauderdale etc., even if a lot of people might call them folk or Americana… Bob Childers was a songwriting powerhouse. His protege, Jason Boland could certainly be on the list, and would be on my list…
Of course, I could argue about order, but my main quibble is that James McMurtry is not included.
Mike in Winston
August 19, 2015 @ 9:21 am
James McMurtry is not included. Brilliant post, I forgot James too..
RD
August 19, 2015 @ 10:01 am
If he’s excluded because he’s not considered to be country, that’s fine. But, then its awful hard to include John Prine, Woody Guthrie, Bob Childers, Gram Parsons, etc… Very few people on the list could be considered to be in the same ballpark as McMurtry.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 10:04 am
McMurtry is an excellent songwriter and I did consider him for the list. The difference between him and the other folks you mentioned was they all were seminal to forming specific movements or subgenres to country that gave their songwriting greater importance and influence than just the songs themselves.
RD
August 19, 2015 @ 10:11 am
Fair enough. Although, you could argue that McMurtry, intentionally or unintentionally, was the voice of the filthy, worthless, scummy, unemployed junkie bums with ear gauges who camped out in rat-infested tent cities during the “Occupy” movement. There were numerous compilations and songs released around that social movement.
JT
August 19, 2015 @ 8:36 am
I was completely on board with your rules until I scrolled down and saw your first artist on the list and then I just got pissed.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 8:58 am
See….
JT
August 19, 2015 @ 10:33 am
Hey its your list Trigger, don’t let my opinion get in the way. I’ve commented here before about her and I guess I just can’t wrap my mind around your infatuation with her talents and songwriting. I just don’t see it. I guess I’m just not progressive enough to understand the significance of “mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy” or “you can’t be everybody’s cup of tea.” Not when I can listen to a Brian Burns, or James McMurtry, or Jason Eady, or John Fullbright, or Walt Wilkins, or Mike McClure… sorry I was getting carried away there. To each his own right. Or should I say follow your own arrow?
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 10:45 am
Go listen to Musgraves’ “Fine” off her latest record, and tell me she’s not a good songwriter. Also, cultural impact was weighed in this list, and Musgraves’ impact has been very significant the last couple of years.
RD
August 19, 2015 @ 10:48 am
Current cultural impact is considered? Its hard for me to see how artists with so few albums and writing credits, like Musgraves and Simpson, could otherwise be considered some of the “greatest songwriters” unless it was heavily-weighted toward today….
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 12:24 pm
I think Musgraves and Simpson and Isbell have had massive impacts on reshaping the paradigm of country music where artists with little or no airplay are making serious inroads into the album charts and selling out theater,s while mainstream artists with #1’s can barely pack clubs. That’s the reason Chris LeDoux is on the list as well. Musgraves, Isbell, Simpson, Chris Stapleton—we’re seeing a songwriting revolution similar to the one of the 70’s with Guy Clark and Townes occurring right before our very eyes, and we should celebrate the impact it is having on country music. Songwriters and independent artists are on the rise.
I think over time, my picks of folks like Musgraves, Simpson, and Isbell will prove to be even more appropriate, and if anything, that they were rated too high. I wanted this list to be relevant five years from now too.
JT
August 19, 2015 @ 10:49 am
Regardless, thanks for the list. You have given credit to s lot of deserving artist that most have forgotten about. Well done.
Chandra Brown
August 20, 2015 @ 5:19 am
Did u not just say not to gripe in ur comments? Hahahahahaha what the crap does people not see? Lol unbelievable. Tell em to make their own dang list,then u can get on theirs and gripe too. This is ridiculous. Lol one of my BIGGEST pet peaves. I think ur list was great! I agree with pretty much all of em…the others I’ve not quite got to know yet so I don’t have an opinion but I sure will check em out! U obviously have good insight. Thanks! Enjoyed the list !!!
Heavy Metal Cowboy
August 19, 2015 @ 9:39 am
Are you talking about Kacey Musgraves? What’s wrong with her being on the list?
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 9:58 am
Kacey Musgraves totally deserves to be on this list, and likely deserves to be much lower on it. She’s a CMA Song of the Year winner, and did incredible things with “Merry Go ‘Round” in one of the toughest climates for female songwriters country music has ever seen. I’ve written half a dozen articles on this site about Kacey Musgraves’ one-dimensional writing and poor career decisions, so I’m the farthest think from a Musgraves homer. But in my opinion it would be irresponsible to not include her on this list. Ironically, if I had not put her at the 85th spot so she was the first name people saw, but put her at #75 without an avatar, nobody would have questioned it.
hoptowntiger
August 19, 2015 @ 10:37 am
I’d be more comfortable with Kasey Musgraves if she had an * by her name and (Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Brandy Clark, Luke Laird). Because they deserve as much credit as she does! Who knows what her contributions are within the songwriting room? She’s part of a machine manufacturing songs that by her second major release are becoming trite and predictable. I’d need to hear some solo written songs to determine her greatness.
hoptowntiger
August 19, 2015 @ 11:24 am
With that kind of rationale, Miranda Lambert should be at #85. She’s a 3X CMA songwriter winner – House that Built Me, Over You, Automatic. And CMA songwriting nominations – White Liar and Famous in a Small Town.
Through in her work with the Pistol Annie’s, I’d say her contributions to country music outweigh Musgraves.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 12:16 pm
I wonder who would have been the goat if I hadn’t included Kacey Musgraves? My guess is it would have been Hank3. If I had switched their spots, everyone would be ragging on Hank3 and his devil music, and how he didn’t belong because he was the first name and face people saw.
You’re not mad that Kacey Musgraves is on this list. You’re mad that others aren’t, which is fair. I can only imagine the howls I would have heard if I had not included her. Basically I would be marking myself a misogynist.
R.C
August 19, 2015 @ 8:39 am
I like the list, one omission I was curious about was Bob Mcdill. I respect your opinion and always enjoy reading your site and I am in no way criticizing the list. To me personally he is a guy not talked about enough when it comes to songwriting just curious about you opinion Trigger.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 9:35 am
The reason Bob McDill is not on this list is because Bob McDill is not on this list. I racked my brain compiling this list, I used resources such as songwriter Halls of Fame, I reached out to folks whose opinions I respect about songwriters to ask their opinions, and for whatever reason, Bob McDill’s name got overlooked. It’s no disrespect meant to Bob McDill. Looking back now, I think his name should be here, but who am I going to kick off now? If Bob McDill, and maybe Craig Wiseman and a couple of others are the only glaring omissions on this list, then I would say that’s a rousing accomplishment because list building is a difficult enterprise. It is impossible to put together the ideal list for everyone, because everybody’s perspective is different. I posted my version of this list, and hopefully some folks will go, “Ah! I’d forgotten about so and so,” and I do the same as others share their opinions, and the sharing of music is facilitated, which is the ultimate point.
Jeff
August 19, 2015 @ 8:43 am
Kacey Musgraves on a list that doesn’t include Craig Wiseman or Bob McDill is a shame. And I love the hell out of Jason Isbell, but I don’t see how you can make the argument that he’s a country songwriter. Seems like one ground rule might be “they’ve had a song on the country charts”, even if the charts are filthy rags these days.
Also, I still have yet to see any Sturgill fan genuinely moved by his songs, instead of his sound.
JT
August 19, 2015 @ 8:53 am
Jeff, go listen to Hero and tell me that’s not a moving song. And I completely agree with your first sentence.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 9:03 am
If I’d known Kacey Musgraves was going to be the goat of this list, I would have kept Taylor Swift on it. 🙂
If I had left Musgraves off, it would have been an entirely different set of gripers.
But then again, that’s why I didn’t post this list for 2 1/2 years. Something switched in 2013 in the American mindset where everyone feels things must be called illegitimate of they don’t reinforce one’s preset opinions. They want media to only tell them what they already believe. I blame Facebook.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
August 19, 2015 @ 9:30 am
Everything is so fake now that the real deal actually upsets people.
BEH
August 20, 2015 @ 2:19 pm
Like it or not, Taylor Swift is a very legitimate choice for a list like this. Maybe more so than Tammy Wynette. But this is your list and a very good list indeed. A good history lesson for people.
Eric
August 19, 2015 @ 3:27 pm
“Hero” is certainly one of Mariah Carey’s best songs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IA3ZvCkRkQ
Eric
August 19, 2015 @ 3:35 pm
On a serious note, I just checked out Sturgill Simpson’s “Hero”. Wow, what a beautiful song. Definitely the best Sturgill song that I have heard.
I wish he would use that musical style more often instead of the Telecaster-heavy bluesy/Outlaw style that defines most of his songs.
Ben
August 19, 2015 @ 3:41 pm
“Hero” is in my opinion Sturgill’s most personal and maybe his best written song. I like it about 800 times more than Turtles…
Austin
August 19, 2015 @ 9:31 am
“Woke up today decided to kill my ego, it never done me no good no how”
“Ain’t no point getting out of bed, if you aint living the dream, its like making a big ole pot of coffee when you aint got no cream”
those lines are phenomenal man. thats the kind of sentiment that people are drawn to. that is incredible songwriting
Fayettenam Brad
August 19, 2015 @ 10:43 am
Austin that line popped right into my head when I read…”I still have yet to see any Sturgill fan genuinely moved by his songs”. I love his lyrics. In my 50s and still working on killing it off.
Brad
August 19, 2015 @ 10:28 am
Jeff , have you ever listened to the words? Sturgill not only makes you feel he makes you think . Seriously one of the most misguided posts I think I’ve ever seen on here , Clint’s included lol
Nathan
August 19, 2015 @ 8:51 am
One name that may get a lot of crazy looks, but who deserves attention, is Jimmy Buffett. Before hitting it big with “Margaritaville,” Buffett wrote some of the most poignant lyrics in music history. His unique gulf & western style wasn’t quite country, wasn’t quite pop, but it was something special. Songs like “He Went to Paris” and “Wonder We Ever Go Home” just speak to me and many others. Bob Dylan has even covered Buffett in concert. His albums no longer are spectacular front to back, perhaps of his need to appease fans of the party lifestyle. But in the 1970s, the writing on his albums was phenomenal.
So my top five:
5.) Buffett
4.) Haggard
3.) Nelson
2.) Hank Sr.
1.) Kristofferson
BJones
August 19, 2015 @ 10:09 am
Don’t really consider Buffett country. Although I agree he did have some fantastic albums in the 70s and maybe a couple in the early 80s. However, his albums have been almost entirely adult contemporary garbage since then with a B or B+ song thrown in every now and then.
The Ghost of Buckshot Jones
August 19, 2015 @ 8:52 am
I’m sorry. The definitive list of songwriters starts with “Dallas” and ends with “Davidson”. List invalid.
Jim
August 19, 2015 @ 8:52 am
I’d say your ranking of Kris Kristofferson is a helluva lot more accurate than Rolling Stone’s was! (#4 as opposed to their #86.)
William
August 19, 2015 @ 8:59 am
Great list, love that you had Chris LeDoux on it one of my all time favorites. There are some artist I feel should be higher, but can’t figure out where they would go, and some I think I need to look up now.
Klaus
August 19, 2015 @ 8:59 am
Thank you for this list, it’s like a reference work.
I would love to see more of my personal favorites included, but I REALLY miss Blaze Foley.
Tom
August 19, 2015 @ 9:12 am
I love Blaze. Clay Pigeons is one of my favorite songs.
Tom
August 19, 2015 @ 9:06 am
What, no love for Don Von Tress?
Sullie
August 19, 2015 @ 9:07 am
I love this list! Legends!!! I’m was surprised by Dolly being so high. Didn’t release her contributions where so large. Kinda disappointed not seeing Leon Virgil Bowers come up in the 70s or 80s on this list.
Jeff Miller
August 19, 2015 @ 9:10 am
Kudos on putting this out there and wading through whatever comments follow. If you make a list like this, the talent is so tight that the positions become irrelevant pretty early in the list. If I were an artist, I’d be happy to get songs pitched from any of these folks. The avg quality level would be through the roof. McDill came to mind as well for me. This is an excellent list for investigation though. Anyone on here that’s unfamiliar definitely deserves investigation. Thanks!
Jeff Miller
August 19, 2015 @ 9:12 am
…and as soon as I posted that… The Louvin Brothers came to mind, though their songs were a mix of originals and others’, they have had staying power.
Bigfoot is Real (that's Mr. Foot to you)
August 19, 2015 @ 9:12 am
Your comments about Gram Parsons are so right on the money. Might be a nice article down the road to acknowledge the impact the Old and in the Way album had in much the same way on the bluegrass world.
DarthBadGuy
August 19, 2015 @ 9:17 am
I find it a little baffling that you believe Johnny Cash singlehandedly wrote the greatest country song of all time (“Folsom Prison Blues,” going by the greatest country songs list; and that’s not an opinion I really disagree with), and yet rank him #35. But it’s a solid list on the whole.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
August 19, 2015 @ 9:29 am
I thought it was refreshing. Most people say it’s “He Stopped Loving Her Today” so somebody who had a different opinion of greatest country song was a treat. That said, if “Loving Her Today” had been the #1 on his song list, would that entitle George Jones to the top slot on this list? Let us not give favor to one artist based solely on one song but by the sum of all songs.
Tom
August 19, 2015 @ 9:54 am
No, because it’s a songwriters’ list and George Jones didn’t write that song.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
August 19, 2015 @ 7:59 pm
Just play along dude, my point is still valid.
hoptowntiger
August 19, 2015 @ 10:25 am
But the problem with that statement – Folsom Prison Blues the greatest country song – is the song was ripped off of Crescent City Blues by Gordon Jenkins. If that song was recorded and released today, there would have been a copywrite infringement lawsuit like Blured Lines (Marvin Gaye) and Stay with Me (Tom Petty).
I never thought of Johnny Cash as a great songwriter – voice of country music, yes. Most of his hits were written by someone else – June and the Carter Family, Shel Silverstein, Trent Reznor.
Tom
August 19, 2015 @ 12:04 pm
But he wrote most of the songs that defined Cash as an artist, such as Cry! Cry! Cry!, Big River, and I Walk the Line.
hoptowntiger
August 19, 2015 @ 1:52 pm
Those are good songs.
Matt
August 19, 2015 @ 6:31 pm
The songs he did write, especially in the latter part of his career are outstanding. Drive on, Let the Train Blow The Whistle and Like a Soldier are as good as you’ll get.
hoptowntiger
August 19, 2015 @ 8:06 pm
Those are good songs, too.
Eric
August 19, 2015 @ 2:06 pm
Songwriting involves both lyrics and melody. Cash was solid on the lyrics, but his melodies were rather flat.
Sam Hunt
August 19, 2015 @ 9:17 am
No love for me on this list? I’ve helped to evolve the genre, c’mon people! I don’t want to steal your freedom in making this list, I just want you to take your time and reconsider me!
Fuzzy TwoShirts
August 19, 2015 @ 9:27 am
I know you’re not the real Sam Hunt, because I can’t imagine he has the attention span to read this whole article, but I’ll play along:
Mr Hunt: You irritate me. Not because I hate your music, but because I know you can make good music, and I hate the music you choose to make instead. I heard you sing “Belle of the Ball” a long time ago. It is my opinion that you should do more of that, and less of this cop car and street light stuff. Also, your hat’s on backwards.
RD
August 19, 2015 @ 9:29 am
You’re wrong Fuzzy. Sam Hunt snorts enough Adderall that he could make it all the way through this article.
Albert
August 19, 2015 @ 8:38 pm
” Also, your hat”™s on backwards. ”
Aha …I thought his HAIR was on backwards !
BTW …did you know that if you play the song TAKE YOUR TIME backwards you can’t tell the difference ?
Don’t ask me how I know that .
Mike in Winston
August 19, 2015 @ 9:19 am
Lots of Great names here, Trigg’, Chris Knight, Hell Ya!! No Orbison?
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 9:26 am
Roy Orbison, Jimmy Buffett as someone mentioned above, and any songwriter who was more associated with a genre other than country I didn’t really consider here. The field was too crowded, and as soon as you include Orbison, then all of a sudden folks expect you to include others on the periphery of the genre. I made sure to include folks like Steve Earle, John Hartford, Bob Wills, and Bill Monroe because they helped form subgenres of country. But much farther beyond that and it becomes a slippery slope.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
August 19, 2015 @ 9:23 am
I always loved Roger Miller’s more outlandish material. “Boeing Boeing 707” and “I’ve been a long time Leaving” just excite me because there’s nothing else like them. “The Pilgrim” is just a great album, tied with “Compadres” for my favorite Marty album.
Jeremy
August 19, 2015 @ 2:57 pm
How about “You Can’t Roller-skate In A Buffalo Herd”? That’s how great Roger Miller was in my opinion. He could write something goofy like that, and then turn around and stab you in the heart with something like “One Dying, And A Burying”, or “Last Word In Lonesome Is Me”.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
August 19, 2015 @ 8:01 pm
My favorite Roger Miller story:
one night Roger goes into some all-night pawn shop after/before playing, looks at a handgun, asks if it’s loaded and is told that it’s not. He immediately puts it to his hand and pulls the trigger, blowing a hole in his hand. Then he says “Well then this here imitation bullet sure hurts a lot.”
Frank the tank
August 19, 2015 @ 7:06 pm
Agreed about “Pilgrim.” I haven’t listened to it for a while but I think I’m going to have to now.
Tighthead
August 19, 2015 @ 9:24 am
I love Jerry Jeff but don’t think of him much as a songwriter.
I would put Tom T a chunk higher. He can say so much with such a simple turn of phrase.
Good list Trigger. Love seeing Mickey Newbury on the list. 33rd of August is a songwriter’s song.
kingfish
August 19, 2015 @ 11:51 am
I would also put Tom T. Hall higher, but it’s his own dang fault he stopped writing songs and performing publicly sometime around the mid 1980s. So he’s stuck at number 17.
86TELE
August 19, 2015 @ 9:31 am
Very good list. I was a little surprised to see Todd Snider missing. Very happy to see Marty Robbins and Jerry Jeff Walker though.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 9:40 am
Todd Snider, Brandy Clark, Mel Tillis, and a host of others were names I considered, and certainly would have been on the list if I extended it out to 100 or longer. My hand started cramping at 85, so I cut it off there.
RD
August 19, 2015 @ 9:32 am
Why does Coe’s greatness as an artist and songwriter always have to be prefaced with negatives?
B
August 19, 2015 @ 9:57 am
cause he earned it.
Norrie
August 19, 2015 @ 9:33 am
Good list.I don’t think Elvis covered Jerry Jeff’s Mr Bojangles though.
Buck
August 19, 2015 @ 9:37 am
I’d have John Prine a good bit higher. But that’s my only beef, which is pretty remarkable.
tad
August 19, 2015 @ 11:08 am
Totally agree. I feel like Prine should be in the top 10 of any list of songwriters, regardless of genre.
Gena R.
August 19, 2015 @ 9:45 am
No Matraca Berg? Don’t know who I would’ve swapped out, though — this is a pretty solid list, overall. (Good call on Gretchen Peters!) 🙂
Jim McGuinness
August 19, 2015 @ 9:45 am
Callling a woman such as Gretchen Peters a “girl” is insulting. I’d like to think it was a typo though I’ve seen that reference to women on this site before. Grown-up females are women, not girls. If you’re not going to refer to the men on this list as “boys,” then you shouldn’t refer to women as girls. Journalism 101.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 9:53 am
Posting a list these days is like climbing into a dunk tank. Goodness.
BJones
August 19, 2015 @ 10:10 am
relax.
The Ghost of Buckshot Jones
August 19, 2015 @ 10:52 am
Don’t go all nitpicky man. Chicks hate that stuff.
Kevin
August 19, 2015 @ 11:00 am
I don’t think Alan Jackson and Ricky Skaggs were referring to themselves as children when they recorded their respective “Country Boy”(s). This is not an issue. Country music, in particular, is known for informal references to men and women, specifically “boy” and “girl”. Yes, female performers have referred to men as “boys” and obviously, vice versa. It’s not a big deal.
Jim McGuinness
August 19, 2015 @ 1:43 pm
It is a huge deal, especially at a time when women’s rights are under assault. Journalists don’t refer to grown women as girls. Bloggers shouldn’t either.
MOreb
August 19, 2015 @ 7:56 pm
If you actually think that women’s rights are “under assault”, take a really, really close look at who you’re hearing that from.
Andrew
August 19, 2015 @ 8:34 pm
Except Trigger has posts just about every day advocating for women in country. Harping on one word out of thousands in this post suggests you went into this looking for something to get upset about even though it’s harmless.
86TELE
August 19, 2015 @ 11:28 am
Feminism 101
Tom
August 19, 2015 @ 12:09 pm
“Callling a woman such as Gretchen Peters a “girl” is insulting.”
Why, is she a hermie or something?
RD
August 19, 2015 @ 2:23 pm
There is no fool like an old fool.
Nate
August 19, 2015 @ 5:34 pm
“What do you think is so bad about ‘girl?’ I’m a girl, and your boss, and powerful, and rich, and hot, and smart. So if you perceive Supergirl as anything less than excellent, isn’t the real problem you?” – Cat Grant, Supergirl
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 5:51 pm
What’s funny is there’s only one artist so far who has acknowledged their presence on this list, and it is Gretchen Peters.
SouthernVoices
August 19, 2015 @ 9:48 am
I like the list. As I kept reading, my only question became, where the hell is Garth Brooks? Over 50 writing credits on his own songs alone – many wildly successful.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 10:00 am
Garth would have been on here if the list was extended. Most of Garth’s songwriting contributions have bee co-writes on album cuts, some of which were pretty forgettable in my opinion.But he deserves some songwriting credit.
Ryan
August 19, 2015 @ 10:10 am
A couple of young ones with incredible portfolios so far: John Fullbright and Sean McConnell
Will James
August 19, 2015 @ 10:15 am
Great list. Glad to see Kacey sneak in; expect even more from her down the line. Don’t see the need for a qualifier on Gram Parsons besides the fact that many don’t realize how great a songwriter he was (and how generous with co-write credits). More here: https://graminternational.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/gram-parsons-an-underrated-songwriter/
Read the rules so I won’t gripe about Mickey Newbury not being higher (or I guess you’re using “lower” for the order); to me he needs to be top 10, glad you have Roger Miller up there anyway, many would miss that.
Tunesmiff
August 19, 2015 @ 11:31 pm
Great article ~ thanks for the link ~
Will James
August 20, 2015 @ 7:15 am
Thanks for reading it!
Ethan
August 19, 2015 @ 10:19 am
So glad David Allan Coe made the list. My all time favorite. Like it Trigger!
Brandon
August 19, 2015 @ 10:20 am
A fellow Nova Scotian in Hank Snow , greatest Canadian country singer!
Nice list , do you think George Strait is a good writer? I know he hardly wrote but I enjoyed the songwriting on the few( I know most were co written with Dean Dillon & Bubba).
TM
August 19, 2015 @ 10:20 am
Nice list trig, glad to see you’ve got DAC in there. Before he lost his mind i think he was on track to be one of the greatest. Only thing that baffles me is you’ve made room for the likes of Kacey Musgraves (which I appreciate) but left out guys like Kim Williams and Darrell Scott. Figured those two would be shoe ins. Not here to piss and moan, just curious.
Cobra
August 19, 2015 @ 10:21 am
A great list. I think there were only a few names I didn’t recognize straight off. I would also agree with Ryan: Sean McConnell is a superb songwriter as well, and I’d also argue that, if the list were expanded to 100, I’d probably include Phil Vassar in the Top 100 (despite some mediocre output as of late, early on, he had some really strong material).
I’m glad you decided to publish this list.
TX MUSIC JIM
August 19, 2015 @ 10:28 am
I don’t have an issue with the list. Thanks for putting in the effort. I thank if he keeps up the good work the day will come when Jason Boland will start showing up on these lists.
Shastacatfish
August 19, 2015 @ 11:32 am
I think Jason Boland deserves to be on this list FAR MORE than Kacey Musgraves does. As much as I love Sturgill Simpson, I would say that Boland has a far greater number of great songs to his name than Simpson does.
RD
August 19, 2015 @ 11:37 am
I 100% agree about Boland
Devil Anse
August 19, 2015 @ 10:28 am
Very well thought out list. I must say, your ground rules for this are some of the angriest-sounding words you’ve put on here, and I’m including rants. Not that it
Devil Anse
August 19, 2015 @ 10:38 am
Sorry, keyboard’s messed up. As I was saying, your ground rules are entertainingly angry.
Mona Rae
August 19, 2015 @ 10:32 am
I agree with so many of the names on this list.
I want to thank you for including Marty Robbins. So many forget him and many so called country music lovers seem unaware of his existence. A wonderful songwriter and performer, he shouldn’t be forgotten any more than Cash or Acuff should be.
Kevin
August 19, 2015 @ 10:34 am
Great list, Trigger! Have you ever heard of Ian Fitzgerald. He’s from Massachusetts and his latest album has some of the best written songs I’ve heard and one of my favorites, “Galveston”. May be a bit too “folky” for this site, but he definitely deserves a listen.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 10:43 am
Thanks for the suggestion Kevin, I’ll check it out.
Wayfast
August 19, 2015 @ 10:34 am
I tend to agree lists are foolish, why compare one piece of art to another? They can both be appreciated separately. Why rank them against each other……. Having said that, its still fun. Bob Mcdill credits: Good ole boys like me, Amanda, Gone Country, Don’t Close your eyes, She don’t know shes beautiful, Lousiana saturday night, The Door is always open. ect. Kacey(with helpers): songs about smoking pot and being yourself or some shit.
Wayfast
August 19, 2015 @ 10:58 am
Also I’d like to throw in Joseph Huber. The Hanging road and Tongues of fire in cage match to the death against Kacey Musgraves with same trailer and Pageant Material.
ShadeGrown
August 19, 2015 @ 5:51 pm
Yeah Joseph Huber is the best songwriter going in my opinion. I’d throw in Bury Me Where I Fall as his most impressive work with so many epic songs. Also, Days Engrave and Stillest Hour are brilliant songs from his .357 days.
Jordan Kirk
August 19, 2015 @ 10:35 am
I freakin love john Hartford
I’m gonna be researching more into this list for sure
Thanks trig
Kale
August 19, 2015 @ 10:36 am
OMG no REAL kuntry singers!? Where’s FGL? Where’s Sam Hunt? These are all old people accept Kasey, and she’s a tomato, not letice like my bros! You didn’t even put Dallas Davidson, who rights all of the best REAL kuntry hits! This just proves Blake’s point that you are all old farts who want kuntry music to sound like Hank 4ever! Y’all need to get drunk and get layed, cuz that’s what REAL kuntry is!!!
scott
August 19, 2015 @ 10:57 am
Lil Dale wannabe???? LOL
Kale
August 19, 2015 @ 11:23 am
Just call me Lil Kale;) But you’re right, Lil Dale is the master of parody. Wish he’d comment more.
Prairiecrossroads
August 19, 2015 @ 10:50 am
I love this list. I learn so much and am reminded of what I have forgotten. Hard to put a list like this together bu I would like to know where you would put Bruce Robison?
Fayettenam Brad
August 19, 2015 @ 10:56 am
When I was in high school my neighbor was an aspiring musician who would go on to pen “1982” and “Sinners and Saints”. Showed me a few guitar licks as well.
Joe
August 19, 2015 @ 11:01 am
Fred Eaglesmith is a pretty underrated song writer who could be considered top 85 material
Pickle
August 19, 2015 @ 11:03 am
DALLAS DAVIDSON #1 your list is invalid lololololol just kidding
Leaf
August 19, 2015 @ 11:14 am
I thought the list is a great compilation. Like many others, I would leave some off, add some, but it’s not my list. However, Buddy Miller would’ve definitely made my list 🙂
Joe Thompson
August 19, 2015 @ 11:19 am
Bob Mcdill
Dennis Linde
Mac Mcaclly
Robert Ellis Orral
Curtis Wright
Radney Foster
Kale
August 19, 2015 @ 11:38 am
Hey, Chris Stapelton’s and Lindi Ortega’s albums aren’t doing too bad on the iTunes chart.
Shastacatfish
August 19, 2015 @ 11:39 am
Just my opinion here, but I think guys like Clint Black and Travis Tritt ought to be on here before Musgraves and Simpson. They wrote some great standards and had some fantastic albums and had an enormous influence on country music for a pretty sustained period of time. Anyone newer to the scene needs to prove themselves over a longer period of time before they ought to be included on a list like this.
JT
August 19, 2015 @ 11:51 am
Excellent point. Killin Time is easily one of the best country albums of all time.
Frank the tank
August 19, 2015 @ 7:12 pm
Great point. Especially regarding Clint Black. If I recall correctly, he wrote or co-wrote every song on his first five or six albums.
Shastacatfish
August 19, 2015 @ 8:10 pm
He did, and as JT noted, Killin’ Time is flat out one of the greatest country albums of all time, and he wrote or cowrote every song. That alone should warrant consideration but he wrote a lot of other great songs too. Honestly, out of the whole Class of ’89, I think he was the most complete package. He may have decided to make other career decisions, but when he was going strong, he was great. I’ll echo an earlier post and suggest that Drinking Songs And Other Logic is an absolutely fantastic and shamefully underrated album.
Cool Lester Smooth
August 19, 2015 @ 9:05 pm
On the other hand, we might look back on this list 5 years from now and say Sturgill and Kacey are way too low.
I like the aggressive ranking, personally.
Shastacatfish
August 19, 2015 @ 10:12 pm
That may very well be true and, at least in the case of Simpson (not a huge Musgraves fan, Lindi’s WAY better), I hope it is true. Nonetheless, a 2020 list could also include Justin Timberlake and Lord knows who else but they aren’t on this list. The point of the list is not looking forward but backward (how country is that!) toward country as it has been and they just don’t have the chops yet, while someone like Black has an amazing catalog and a long, successful career and contribution.
Tunesmiff
August 19, 2015 @ 11:46 pm
If you’re thinking Timberlake in 2020, then don’t forget Steven Tyler, Marilyn Manson and heck, maybe even Nine Inch Nails (I mean, didn’t Cash cover HURT?)
🙂
Shastacatfish
August 20, 2015 @ 6:25 am
Thanks for reminding me. Also that uncle ezra ray schlock. They write their own “songs” too. Heck, maybe even Thomas Rhett (the Rick Astley of country music) and his 13 co-writers! Maybe that forthcoming song will be so great that we can just round this list out to even 100 right now!
Joe
August 19, 2015 @ 11:39 am
I would also include Hayes Carll as someone deserving of top 85
Truth No. 2
August 19, 2015 @ 11:41 am
Lovely list! I’d have put Bruce Robison in though.
Dave
August 19, 2015 @ 11:52 am
Man Trigger this list is shit! I mean THE shit. Well done. My favorite thing was your description of Hank Sr. Nothing else was necessary. Thank you for your contribution to the exposure of great, real, country music and tradition.
James
August 19, 2015 @ 12:05 pm
This is awesome.
I can’t figure out who I’d bump other than Kacey Musgraves (I know this is discussed in an above opinion), but Corb Lund’s versatility and second-to-none dynamic writing has got to have him knocking on this door, at least. It’s his strength in a 5-tool talent-kit.
I know you couldn’t include every writer that anyone can think of. Those like me can just consider this post Corb Lund’s inclusion.
Frank the tank
August 19, 2015 @ 7:27 pm
I was going to post something similar regarding Corb Lund. I would have him in the 70s or 80s on this list right now, with the potential for moving up substantially as his career progresses. He’s equally adept at writing witty, humorous songs (“Truck Got Stuck;” “Always Keep an Edge on Your Knife”) and serious, contemplative songs (“The Truth Comes Out;” ” This is My Prairie).
Chad Triplett
August 19, 2015 @ 12:14 pm
Pretty accurate list Trigger. I commend u on that. The only ones I personally would have added would be Willy Braun, Cody Cannon and Ryan Bingham. All in there each right have grew there genre by leaps and bounds.
jimmy row
August 19, 2015 @ 12:28 pm
Terry Allen. Not pure country, the REAL godfather of alt-country.
Janice Brooks
August 19, 2015 @ 12:33 pm
No arguments here and only a few I’m not or lightly familier with.
Steve Hall
August 19, 2015 @ 1:03 pm
A few Missing Writers are Tom Russell and Ian Tyson and the most missed is Bob McDill, who wrote songs for Don Williams and others.
Patty
August 19, 2015 @ 1:07 pm
No Keith Whitley?
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 1:19 pm
You would be surprised how few songs Keith Whitley wrote, especially of his big hits. I actually had him on this list initially, and then the more research I did, the more I determined he probably didn’t deserve to be here. I love Keith Whitley and I think he’s one of the greatest country performers ever. But as a songwriter I just didn’t see the resume.
Tunesmiff
August 19, 2015 @ 1:40 pm
Gonna print this list out scribble on a couple of the “oh yeahs” and tack it up in my writing room.
Surprised (pleasantly), by some you included but not upset by some you “overlooked” ~ tough job I know… well done.
1 guns up… 🙂
Tunesmiff
August 19, 2015 @ 2:27 pm
That shoulda been 2 (TWO) guns… Durn fat fingers and small keys~
😐
treedy
August 19, 2015 @ 1:46 pm
There are only 2 people I would add to this great list. I love all the great songs Leslie Satcher and Matraca Berg have written! Anyone else like them? They’d be in my top 20! They wrote some of the best songs, especially for females over the last 25 years!
Andrew
August 19, 2015 @ 1:52 pm
Personally I’d put Haggard #1, but it’s hard to argue with any of the people ahead of him either. Great list overall.
I’m especially glad Chris LeDoux got included. I live close enough to Wyoming to be in an area where Chris is revered on a similar level to guys like Strait and Jackson, but I feel like a lot of the time he gets overlooked by the rest of the country. He was an incredible storyteller and so important to the tradition of cowboy and rodeo music within the genre.
Ben
August 19, 2015 @ 1:58 pm
Excellent list Trig! However I would’ve thought John Prine and Chris Knight would’ve been a little higher up, and also I think Corb Lund ought to be in there somewhere.. JMHO…
Paul
August 19, 2015 @ 2:05 pm
I wanted to hate this list, and I kinda do… But it’s a very good list. I thought of a couple more current artist omissions or low rankings but I can’t argue as I’m not nearly as knowledgable about a lot of the earlier acts as you are. Like someone else commented, this is worth printing or saving as a reference when exploring country music. Thanks!
Bob
August 19, 2015 @ 2:10 pm
Good list, glad to see the under appreciated and often overlooked Hank Snow high up the list.
Bob
August 19, 2015 @ 2:14 pm
I would have put Dwight a little higher.
Jeremiah Preisser
August 19, 2015 @ 2:15 pm
Great list. That is all.
Jeremy
August 19, 2015 @ 2:18 pm
Great List! I do enjoy how there are some current artists mixed in with these historically great writers. I don’t think one has to be from the past for us to see how great their careers are going to be. I’m not going to bore you with names I think should or shouldn’t be on here, but I do appreciate the mention of Earl Thomas Conley. It amazes me how many people from my generation have never even heard of the guy. I was lucky enough to see him perform this month. They said during the show he had 18 straight #1 hits, just an amazing figure in my mind.
April
August 19, 2015 @ 2:18 pm
I may be bias but would have loved to have seen Corb Lund, Lindi Ortega and most importantly, Ian Tyson on the list. But great list none the less!
Nate
August 19, 2015 @ 3:13 pm
A lot of writing I’ve done is compiling lists similar to this, albeit never as many as 85 or more, but I know how difficult it can be. I applaud your effort and research into this topic! Only thing I would have liked to see is either a few more sentences by each person talking about what made them great or perhaps each one could have had a must-listen song or two next to their name (you did this for most but not all) so we could get a good sample of what they are capable of. But that’s just nitpicking. I really enjoyed this, well done!
mark f
August 19, 2015 @ 3:14 pm
Pretty sure Jim Lauderdale wrote “you don’t even miss me” recorded by Patti Loveless, one of my favourite tunes.
Really nice job on this list, thanks.
Derek E. Sullivan
August 19, 2015 @ 3:16 pm
I have to vote for Dennis Linde. It’s not easy to write a fast-paced country song. He wrote some great ones “Calling Baton Rouge,” “Goodbye Earl” “Brother Shot the Jukebox” “John Deere Greene.” Heck, “The Big Revival” is probably the best song on the new album by Kenny Chesney, who I actually think is underrated as a songwriter. I wish he wrote more.
Larry Rogowin
August 19, 2015 @ 3:34 pm
Darrell Scott?
AG
August 19, 2015 @ 4:02 pm
Nice list. There’s obviously going to be gripes and complaints with a venture this large, but I think you’ve done very well.
Just a few observations.
1. Your biggest omission from the list, more than any other person mentioned in any comments (and maybe he just doesn’t qualify) is Jason Molina. If he did qualify, Molina would fall in the top 10 with ease. To defend my suggestion of his being included in future lists I present as evidence the albums: Sojourner, and The Magnolia Electric Co.
2. Despite his place on the Mount Rushmore of this list, I think Townes might still be too low. Admittedly, when we’re nitpicking at that level, I can’t complain *too* much.
3. Lyle Lovett would have likely been a bit higher on my list. That said, despite his very best stuff, which rivals anyone else on the list, his discography can be kind of lack luster.
4. I would have likely found a way to put Chris Knight higher on my list. Though a pretty niche presence in country music, Knight has captured a segment of American Society that I haven’t heard many other people capture. Listening to his music evokes the purest and most vivid images of rural Appalachia/coal mining towns. Of course other artists have written about it, but not like Chris Knight. His music will someday be in the Smithsonian.
5. Controversial suggestion for inclusion: Ryan Adams. Whiskeytown’s influence on 90’s alt-country cannot be diminished, and his 2005 album Jacksonville City Nights is the best country album of the past decade. Staying with the 90’s alt-country theme, could make a strong argument for Jeff Tweedy being included.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 4:22 pm
A different songwriter list would probably include Jason Molina, Will Oldham, Ben Nichols, and those kind of guys. I was really tempted to add some of those, but then you start getting into different realms and all of a sudden you have to include this person because you included that person, and it just gets out of hand. They’re great songwriters that I have featured in the past, and hopefully will have opportunities to feature in the future.
AG
August 19, 2015 @ 4:27 pm
Totally fair. I kind of figured that was the reason. Just felt like with all of the people being mentioned above, Jason needed to get some love. Man, he could write the hell out of a country tune.
J Burke
August 19, 2015 @ 4:02 pm
Nice job. Glad to see Don Gibson. I would have had him higher just for writing ” I Can’t Stop Loving You”, one of the most covered songs in history (Ray Charles, Elvis, Tom Jones, Waylon, and about 1000 others).
Randall W. Anderson
August 19, 2015 @ 4:12 pm
This is a well considered and thoughtful list that, aside from the above stated omission of Bob MacDill, is about as inclusive as one could ever expect. My own quibble with it is with Faron Young. Although he was an exceptional performer and a man of legendary appetites, I believe his writing credits often consisted of co-writes in exchange for the song being recorded. Substitute Bob MacDill for him. Any of us could name a favorite writer (where was Earl”The Peanut” Montgomery?) that we didn’t see on the list but you set and defended your criteria like a man bringing it all back home.
Mike2
August 19, 2015 @ 4:23 pm
I’m proud to say I got to meet #81 this year. Call me crazy, but hummingbird might be the best song every written in the history of songwriting.
G. Rocheleau
August 19, 2015 @ 4:26 pm
I think this is a great list.Every one here has the credentials to be on it. It’s a pity that some really talented ones couldn’t be included, but I do understand. I’m glad to see Lucinda Williams Dwight Yoakam and Jim Lauderdale on here. A couple names that I’m going to mention are Henry Paul who’s worked with Blackhawk “Goodbye Says It All”, “There You Have It”, “Not Strong Enough To Say No” and The Outlaws, “Cold Harbor” South Carolina”……..along with Cody Canada (Cross Canadian Ragweed and The Departed) Both have been in the business a great while and have had some success. I enjoyed reading this, thanks for taking the time to put this together!
Robert Powell
August 19, 2015 @ 4:29 pm
Interesting and good list. I think Kasey M. might be a little early in her career to be on the list, although she is off to a very good start. Missing Ray Price, Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash, and I would put Pat Green and/or Roger Creager on the list personally. Even though Buddy Holly was technically ‘rock n roll’ he influenced so many on this list, I think he could/should have been on it.
Thanks,
gbkeith
August 19, 2015 @ 6:32 pm
Cash is on the list. Creager isn’t even close. And by Pat Green I think what you actually mean is Walt Wilkins.
Matt
August 19, 2015 @ 4:37 pm
Pretty good list. Really pleased to see Gretchen Peters get some recognition. I was surprised you didn’t include Nanci Griffith on there. She’s written some incredible songs and inspired many artists. My personal list, as well as Nanci, would include Iris Dement, Tom Russell and Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Jeremy
August 19, 2015 @ 5:25 pm
Ok Trigger, maybe next list needs to be “Top ## Songwriters Today”. We can give you a few days to work on that ; ).
Bill Naughton, Jr.
August 19, 2015 @ 5:26 pm
Bob McDill wrote 31 #1 songs (and that doesn’t even include what may be his best song, Good Ole Boys Like Me, which peaked at #2) and he doesn’t make the top 85! Unbelievable! Maybe it should have been the top 100, but even then Bob McDill should have been in the top 20.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 5:50 pm
So nail me to the freaking cross. I’ve explained why Bob McDill is not on here. There’s also many names I bet you’ve never heard of that are, and you could potentially make a valuable music discovery. Yet you focus on the absence of one name. That is why I started this entire exercise off with, “The only thing I hate more than lists is the reactions to lists,” and then wrote five paragraphs of why.
Do You Even Know What Country Is?
August 19, 2015 @ 5:27 pm
This is the WORST such list I’ve ever seen. What makes a great songwriter?
I just love to hate lists like this. They talk about Tom T. Hall being a great writer but doesn’t mention his biggest hit of all or even his biggest hit of his own recordings. It mentions Dolly’s “I Will Always Love You” but doesn’t mention the number ones she wrote for Waylon, Emmy Lou, or Merle. Of Townes it says: No other songwriter has made people feel as much emotion as Townes Van Zandt. What? Not even D-I-V-O-R-C-E or He Stopped Loving Her Today by Curly and Bobby??? Not Green Green Grass Of Home by Curly?? Not Live Like You Were Dying by Wiseman and Nichols (who also aren’t mentioned). Are you kidding me?
And this is the 2nd list like this I’ve seen that places Lucinda Williams ahead of Hank Jr. This list is a great comedy reality show!! Paycheck? And it says about Chris LeDeoux: Chris LeDoux ”“ Country music”™s first independent superstar, if it wasn”™t for his songs and success, there may have never been a “Class of ”™89” in country music. You mean even without the other class of 89–Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt, and Clint Black??? Lyle Lovett? Lyle Lovett? Lyle Lovett? LYLE LOVETT?????????????????? This list is a great comedy reality show!!
It’s a waste. I looked for two names: Bill Anderson and Bob McDill. Anderson was at 27. McDill is not even there. Between 1975 and 2005, Bob McDill wrote more chart records than anyone. His songs were recorded by just about every major star of 1975 to 1995. Townes Van Zant in the top 5? Somebody read magazines by make believe country fans and just picked out the names that appeared the most I think. It’s not uncommon to find that type of work in these type of lists.
Ben Peters, Dennis Linde, Dallas Frazier, Peanut Montgomery, Wayland Holyfield, and Roger Murrah AREN’T ALL THERE. But hey, Roy Acuff is!! Paycheck is! Idiots compiled this list.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 5:45 pm
Clearly, everyone who doesn’t have the same exact perspective as you do on songwriters is flatly wrong. You fell into the achingly predictable outcome of focusing on yourself and your own opinions in this exercise, ground rules be damned.
You’re right, it was a waste.
Lannysackhand
August 20, 2015 @ 6:46 am
Screw ’em… I smiled the whole way through.
Joco Blake
August 20, 2015 @ 4:33 pm
Trigger,
How dear you omit my personal favorite songwriter that you should automatically know since my taste in music is clearly superior to everyone else!!!!
HaHa just kidding nice list.
Richie Leonard
August 19, 2015 @ 5:28 pm
Great list, Trigger, but I’m sorry to see that three of my favorites didn’t make the cut:
Dallas Frazier (“There Goes My Everything”)
Bob McDill (“Amanda”)
Leon Payne (“I Love You Because”)
Oh well. Maybe next time.
ElectricOutcast
August 19, 2015 @ 5:32 pm
“Don”™t think of Marty Stuart as much of a songwriter? Go listen to his concept album The Pilgrim.”
Proud owner of that album.
Say what you want about my personal ones but mine are Garth Brooks, Wade Bowen and Jack Ingram.
Buck Smits
August 19, 2015 @ 5:35 pm
I adore “top whatever” lists, thanks trigger. As it turns out, your list is slightly different than what I would’ve done. willie would’ve been #1, and I would’ve found room for in the top 10 for Gillian Welch, and Bob Wayne and Leon would’ve edged out some of those old dudes I never heard of somewheres in there. You could’ve saved time and skipped the research and just asked for my playlists.
Luckyoldsun
August 19, 2015 @ 5:35 pm
Just off the top of my head, I see Dallas Frazier (“Hickory Holler’s Tramp,” “There Goes My Everything,”), Cindy Walker (“You Don’t Know Me,” “Cherokee Maiden”), Sanger “Whitey” Schaefer (“I Never Go Around Mirrors,” “All My Exes Live In Texas”) and Bob McDill (“Good Old Boys Like Me”)–all of whom belong on any list–and all missing.
But sorry about your rules. You post the list, you’re inviting comment: Anybody who includes Webb Pierce and excludes Mel Tillis has major deficiencies in his knowledge of country music history. Tillis wrote the songs that Pierce sang–like “I Ain’t Never”–even if Pierce took a co-writer credit!
Mule
August 19, 2015 @ 5:41 pm
Cindy Walker’s on there.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 5:54 pm
Cindy Walker is on the list. I did have Mel Tillis on it as well, but really couldn’t justify him being on here after researching his body of work. Obviously you string this list out longer, and more people are included. But you have to cut the line off somewhere, and invariably someone will call foul.
Sorry to hear I have “major deficiencies in my knowledge of country music history.”
Luckyoldsun
August 20, 2015 @ 10:06 am
Tillis was named a BMI Songwriter of the Decade.
Great artists like Pierce, Faron Young and Jones would certainly have tipped their hats to Tillis in terms of songwriting.
Julien
August 19, 2015 @ 5:38 pm
I would have added Mary Gauthier and that would have been a close to perfect list.
Gotta give her some love, she’s such a talented and inspirational songwriter.
Mule
August 19, 2015 @ 5:40 pm
Love the list. My list would have inched Rodney Crowell a bit higher. To wit:
Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight
‘Til I Gain Control Again
Song For A Life
Stars On The Water
Shame On The Moon
Ain’t Living Long Like This
Making Memories Of Us
….And those (except Memories) were just on his first two albums! A decade before he “hit big” with Diamonds and Dirt. He also co-wrote She’s Crazy For Leavin’ with the great Guy Clark.
Love the list and agree with all the inclusions, except for exclusion of McDill, but I know how it goes with making these things. Quite a feat.
Do You Even Know What Country Is?
August 19, 2015 @ 5:49 pm
The Beatles and the Bee Gees wrote more country hits than some of the people on this list. Is Dennis Morgan and Kye Fleming on there? Charlie Black and Rory Bourke? Allen Shamblin? Doug Johnson? Kenny O’Dell? Conway Twitty? Freddie Hart? Steve Seskin? Kostas? Ted Daffan? Glenn Sutton? Floyd Tillman? Mac Davis? Otis Blackwell? Leon Payne? Layng Martine, Jr.? John Schweers? Bob DiPiero? Rosanne Cash? Mel Tillis? Danny Dill? Jim Weatherly? NO ROGER MILLER??????????????????
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 6:05 pm
Roger Miller is on the list. ROGER MILLER!!!!!!! So is Rosanne Cash and Kostas. Frankly, I find it insulting that you’re spending so much effort getting revved up and seeing red in a self-important fit of rage about my stupid list that you won’t even bother to read it before wiping your ass with it.
This is not the complete and unabridged compendium of every single songwriter in the history of country music. Hats off to you for throwing a bunch of names out there as if you’re the be-all authority on songwriting. You’re clearly more awesome than I am. However I was the one who took of my own time to compile this list, put lots of love and heart into it, reached out to others to get their opinions, and did the very best I could until my carpal tunnel was flaring up so bad I had to shove my hands in the freezer. If it’s not good enough for you, then tough shit. I’ve given you a forum to express your opinions and possibly fill in holes of this list, but you’re too filled with self-importance to offer anything of value except blind rage.
It’s a shame that the rampant cynicism of today has made the exercise of sharing music such a foolhardy enterprise.
Harry
August 19, 2015 @ 6:43 pm
You’re right, I’m wrong. I did a search before I typed those names but for some reason they weren’t found. I obviously made a mistake. I apologize.
If I were more awesome than you, I have a website like you do. We all have quirks. One of mine is country music songwriting. It’s an old passion. Whereas Waylon and Willie’s heroes have always been cowboys, mine have always been songwriters. The cover photo on my facebook is all country songwriters: https://www.facebook.com/harry.stewartw
I ain’t perfect, I ain’t awesome, but I do get off on songwriters who are primarily writers rather than performers. There’s a difference between what we used to call “self-contained writers” (artists who write) and those who write but aren’t artists. The latter rarely get the kudos. I also am more into older writers than newer writers. I’m sorry I upset you and I did change some of my harshest language from what I originally sent.
Some of those people I mentioned probably do deserve a spot on a list like this. On my own list, I would only begrudgingly put Roger Miller, Harlan Howard, and some others on there because I ain’t too wild about their songs. At the same time, I would put Bill Anderson, Bob McDill and Harold and Don Reid of the Statler Brothers in the top five along with Kristofferson and Merle. And I’d do it even if everyone said I shouldn’t ’cause I’m stubborn.
I’ve got some carpal tunnel issues too. Hope yours gets better. Again, you’re right…I was harsh and was wrong in some of the writers I said weren’t there and I apologize.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 7:30 pm
No worries man, I am glad you are passionate for non-performing songwriters, and so am I. Overall, the effort here was to highlight 85 people who have distinguished themselves in country music songwriting. Everybody’s 85 would be different, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It takes us all tugging at the yoke and making our own little contributions to get these folks highlighted, because heaven knows Music Row isn’t going to do it for us.
Ron
August 19, 2015 @ 6:35 pm
Roger Miller is on there
Harry
August 19, 2015 @ 6:24 pm
I think Zac Brown maybe deserves a spot here too. Jeff Steel.
Joe
August 19, 2015 @ 6:34 pm
Thanks trig for the list, I’m first time commenting now but have read your site for some time. I respect all your efforts & appricate all the music you open my eyes to. Keep up the good fight.
ActivePuck
August 19, 2015 @ 7:32 pm
Disappointed that Kim Richey isn’t on the list. Oh well. :/
Courtney
August 19, 2015 @ 7:43 pm
True country fans are some of the harshest and meanest out there. There’s no way to write this list that won’t have backlash
My only complaint is roger alan Wade deserves a better spot. Chilicothe rain and Deguello motel alone would put him up there in my book. and in general the man packs more of a punch in one line than most can do in an entire album.
Also I reckon I vote kris over willie. I love red headed stranger literally more than any other album but kris can take general feelings that everyone has but no one can describe, and put them to words that actually make sense
sonas
August 19, 2015 @ 7:51 pm
Trigger, how is Sturgill Simpson a better song writer than Hank 3?That is bull crap and you know it
Truth of the matter trigger, Sturgill Simpson CD is good. It is not great It doesn’t matter how much you hype it it still won’t be great!! It is not as good as love sick, broke, and drifting.It is not as good as rebel within.It is not as good as straight to hell. It is not even as good as risin outlaw. So how did he beat out Hank 3 in your stupid little world? It appears you always have to have someone you’re obsessing over and now it’s Sturgill Simpson.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 10:34 pm
I will respond to your comment once I decide which one of my aliases to do it under.
ActivePuck
August 20, 2015 @ 3:32 am
I doubt Trigger is even your real name! #askquestions
the pistolero
August 20, 2015 @ 12:27 pm
He probably thinks Trigger’s racist because Darius Rucker isn’t on the list.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
August 20, 2015 @ 10:34 am
Alright I have decided on my alias. (hahahaha) Sturgill is a better songwriter than Hank3 because the people have spoken. More people get into Sturgill than they do Hank3, people across ALL genres of music. That means Sturgill’s writing speaks to a wider swath of listeners than does Hank3’s writing.
Michael
August 19, 2015 @ 7:53 pm
Great list Trig. Thanks. I would have liked to have seen Toy Caldwell on it tho. As with the Marshall Tucker Band his influence in country music is overlooked way to much.
Frank the tank
August 19, 2015 @ 8:00 pm
Thanks for putting this together. I’m sure it was difficult but it’s great for opening up conversation, as you indicated.
A few that I would have included are Corb Lund, Ian Tyson, Bob McDill, Clint Black, Mel Tillis and Ashley Monroe.
I would have also had Dwight Yoakam and Dolly Parton higher (“The Grass is Blue” is such a well-written song and one of my all-time favourites – just one of many incredible Dolly Parton songs) – but maybe that’s because they’re two of my favourites.
Nic
August 19, 2015 @ 8:22 pm
Great list Trigger! I wish Joseph Huber would of been included. I know he’s not a legend like some of the people you listed, but I definitely feel he’s on his way! His work with 357 is unforgettable (to me he usually wrote the best material on their albums), and all of his solo albums have been top notch.
Shastacatfish
August 19, 2015 @ 8:27 pm
Trigger, this is a good list, so in quibbling, please know I am not trying to knock you or it. It’s just fun to consider how we, your readers, would come at things a bit differently. That said, I’ve already noted I think Clint Black is a significant omission. I would also quibble with including folks like Musgraves, Simpson and even Isbell (though he is a great songwriter, no argument there), just because they are still establishing themselves and it remains to be seen how long they can carry the water. The one guy that is sort of in that generation I would include, however, is Leroy Virgil. Even if he never pens another song, he already has an amazing corpus. Songs like “Just A Shell” and “One Way Track Marks” are powerful, moving and incredibly well-written. No hits, but solid gold nonetheless.
Trigger
August 19, 2015 @ 10:32 pm
I’ve sung the praises of Leroy probably more than anyone else over time, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up on future versions of this list. Same goes for Joe Huber, Corb Lund, and others. I think the reason Musgraves, Sturgill, and Isbell were included and some of these other names weren’t is their songwriting and influence have reached the mainstream. Hopefully the same will be said for Corb, Huber, and Leroy here soon.
Stu
August 19, 2015 @ 8:36 pm
Thanks trigger for this list!
It’s opened my eyes to a few songwriters I haven’t heard before. Just bought me a few new (old I should say) CDs of some of these guys.
Obviously everyone will have their own opinion on these types of list, but I think you’ve done a damn fine job on this.
BwareDWare94
August 19, 2015 @ 9:03 pm
About Isbell–What is everybody’s take on Americana being referred to as a legitimate genre when it’s really more of an encompassing term?
Cool Lester Smooth
August 19, 2015 @ 9:23 pm
Americana is just NPR country, as far as I’m concerned.
(Which is also precisely what I like, haha).
It’s a catchall for blues-country, rock-country, folk-country and roots-country, not a genre unto itself.
Luckyoldsun
August 21, 2015 @ 7:18 am
“What is everybody”™s take on Americana being referred to as a legitimate genre when it”™s really more of an encompassing term?”
One could say the same thing about “country”!
Marcel
August 21, 2015 @ 8:44 am
“What is everybody”™s take on Americana being referred to as a legitimate genre when it”™s really more of an encompassing term?”
My take is that some people are too afraid to admit they listen to country, so they say they listen to “Americana”. 😉