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[kylenz]

It must feel strange being the lead guitarist in Morrissey's band knowing you're basically Johnny Marr's fill-in.

Yeah, especially when you see the songwriter credits on the songs and it's Morrissey and Guitar Player. 

I'm probably way off here but wasn't the Morrissey-Marr dynamic..lyrics/music? I mean...does Morrissey write music? I seem to recall that Marr would send him tapes and he'd write the lyrics.

That's right - Morrissey needs to have partners around him to take care of the music side, typically on his solo records he chose a different person for each album. The partnerships after Marr never seemed to last.

[2 of 3]

Tim and Neil Finn at 73.. hmm maybe I should swap them around?

Is it just me that is blown away by consistency? Year after year these guys keep putting out good songs. Sure, there isn't a Hey Jude in their repertoire...but there aren't any Biker Like an Icon's either. Maybe they have an internal editor that other people don't have? There are a lot of really good songwriters out there. That's mind boggling to me. Why don't they run out? Shouldn't you run out of ideas after you're written 10 songs?  
Why hasn't Billy Joel written any new songs since 1993?(other than the classical stuff) Yet, Neil Young puts out a few albums a year(sure mostly awful..but that's his thing) haha 

[Keri]

I couldn't get to 100, this is my personal list:

1    George Harrison
2    Paul McCartney
3    John Lennon
4    Brian Wilson
5    Marc Bolan
6    Jon Anderson (& Yes)
7    Stevie Wonder
8    Bob Dylan
9    Joni Mitchell
10     Leonard Cohen
11    Van Dyke Parks
12    Nick Drake
13    Ian Anderson
14    Ray Davies
15    Don Van Vliet
16    Kevin Ayers
17    Tim Finn
18   Neil Finn
19    Moon Safari
20   John Foxx
21    David Crosby
22    Neil Young
23    Jonathan Richman
24    Jimi Hendrix
25    Elton John and Bernie Taupin
26    Paul Simon
27    Todd Rundgren
28    David Byrne
29    Bjorn Ulvaleus and Benny Anderson
30    Holland/Dozier/Holland
31    Jeff Lynne
32    Gentle Giant
33    Don McGlashan
34    Dave Dobbyn
35    Syd Barrett
36    Chuck Berry
37   Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music
38    The Bee Gees
39    George and Ira Gershwin
40    Kate Bush
41    Jim Morrison
42    John Dowland
43    Cat Stevens
44   Wayne Mason
45    Buddy Holly
46    Jimmy Page and Robert Plant
47    Phil Judd
48   Dennis Wilson
49   Van Morrison
50    Pete Ham
51    Bob Marley
52   Peter Gabriel
53   Lowell George
54   Lee Hazelwood
55    David Bowie
56   Echo and the Bunnymen
57    Michael Jackson
58   Bic Runga
59    Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
60    Burt Bacharach and Hal David
61   Frank Zappa
62    Madonna
63   Brian Eno
64    Carole King/and Gerry Goffin
65   Sam Freedman
66   Blondie
67   Genesis (sans Gabriel)
68   Carl Perkins
69   Lou Reed
70   Ian Hunter
71   David Gilmour
72   Daevid Allen
73   The Herbs
74   Robin Williamson & Mike Heron
75   John Cale
76   Richard Thompson
77    Smokey Robinson
78   Andy McCluskey & Paul Humphreys
79   Gilbert & Sullivan

[kylenz]

That's a great list! So good to see so many NZ songwriters in there - I should have made room for Dave Dobbyn in mine, but also great to see Don McGlashan, Wayne Mason, Bic Runga etc mentioned. And The Herbs - very much an inspired choice!  One more I think should get recognition is Jon Toogood of Shihad - he has been a hit songwriter for many years now with a track record right up there with Dave Dobbyn.

For our overseas friends, here's a sampler of Dave's music - here's one of his DD Smash classics from the mid-80s - 'Whaling' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ckcwDL3XYI

[Greg]

Great list.  That video was really really really good.  Cool to see Ian Hunter on there.

I am too lazy to work on a large list.

1. McCartney
2. Lennon
3. Paul Simon
4. Stevie Wonder
5. Jagger/Richards
6. Costello
7. REM
8. Townsend
9. Strummer/Jones
10. David Byrne
11. Marley
12. Elton
13. The Doors
14. Bee Gees
15. Ray Davies
16. Dylan
17. Anton Newcombe
18. Jeff Lynne
19. Carole King
20. Neil Diamond

[Keri]

That's a great list! So good to see so many NZ songwriters in there - I should have made room for Dave Dobbyn in mine, but also great to see Don McGlashan, Wayne Mason, Bic Runga etc mentioned. And The Herbs - very much an inspired choice!  One more I think should get recognition is Jon Toogood of Shihad - he has been a hit songwriter for many years now with a track record right up there with Dave Dobbyn.

Hey thanks, it's a personal list I don't imagine those names will mean much to the Americans on this site. But Dobbyn casts a long shadow here, he's written lots of hits, but he's just a good songwriter actually I should have put him above McGlashan I think, who is also very good. But yeah that New Zealand music is an important part of my collection, I'm not really a Flying Nun fan, but I do love those Nature's best CDs.

[kylenz]

Yeah, seeing your inclusion of Don McGlashan made me remember how great that debut Mutton Birds album was. The songs on there are to me the perfect representation of Kiwis and New Zealand. Songs like 'A Thing Well Made', 'White Valiant' etc.. and it also has the ultimate version of Wayne Mason's 'Nature'. Yeah, I have the Nature's Best dvd video set. Of the Flying Nunners, I would be tempted to put Shayne Carter on there. But amongst the world's best? I think that should be reserved for the Finn Brothers. Personally I had Ladyhawke there as I feel her two albums to date are right up there with anything Split Enz did, so she deserves a spot in that upper tier. Then again, Sharon O'Neill also should be in there by the same token!

We're so spoilt to have so many Kiwis capable of making music right up there with the best of them! 

[Keri]

Those are definitely good songs, Anchor Me is probably my favourite McGlashan song, Dominion Road is also great.I'm also really keen on the Songs from the Front Lawn album. I love the Mutton Birds version of Nature but I think the original still edges it out.

One of the things music does is give a sense of connection. It is important for me to listen to kiwi music sometimes and it is cool that there is plenty of good stuff that most of the rest of the world doesn't know about. there are artists that have a particularly strong sense of place in their music.  Bruce Springsteen for instance seems to be a specifically American artist, I'm not saying people from other countries can't enjoy him, but if they do they're also appreciating the Americana. But as my list was personal it makes sense to have quite a few New Zealand writers their music moves me and me others on these Islands in the Southern Hemisphere.

A Few links:

Anchor Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPIhhqM4b4s

Welcome Home, a strong song of place by Dave Dobbyn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQlVmvXAGLI

And here is probably my favourite Dave Dobbyn song but a cover:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXcLNVlJHZA

The Mutton Birds version of Nature:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0G-8V4nCpc

Here’s the original Fourmyula version unfortunately no video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlhBkM0zNV4

Sorry, I'm turning this thread into a NZ Music thread. We're going to take over the World!

[kylenz]

Well it's interesting you mentioned Bruce Springsteen and the Americana element that goes hand in hand with his music, it's not something I personally relate to so much and therefore many of the Rolling Stone original list didn't resonate with me for that very reason.

I love Dominion Road too - it's one of those songs that I meant to mention that says 'New Zealand' to me.

[2 of 3]

Sorry, I'm turning this thread into a NZ Music thread. We're going to take over the World!

 

[2 of 3]

I just realized Page and Plant aren't on the RS list. Interesting.

[Mervap]

Ok......I begin by saying this list is highly subjective. There are some personal faves that I think are highly under-rated and, as I was getting very tired, a couple might have gotten in there twice. After around 50 or so, things get very interchangeable. For your consideration:

1.  Paul McCartney
2.  Bob Dylan
3.  John Lennon
4.  Brian Wilson
5.  Goffin/ King
6.  Smokey Robinson
7.  Bruce Springsteen
8.  Elton John/ Bernie Taupin
9.  Hank Williams Sr.
10. Stevie Wonder
11. Holland/ Dozier/ Holland (Motown)
12. Chuck Berry
13. Lieber/ Stoller
14. Pete Townshend
15. Neil Diamond
16. Elvis Costello
17. Neil Finn/ Tim Finn
18. Buddy Holly
19. George Harrison
20. Billy Joel
21. Barry Gibb/ Robin Gibb/ Maurice Gibb
22. Bacharach/ David
23. Sam Cooke
24. Woody Guthrie
25. Henley/ Frey
26. Brian Setzer
27. John Fogerty
28. Jeff Lynne
29. Merle Haggard
30. Neil Young
31. Marshall Crenshaw
32. Ray Davies/ Dave Davies
33. Geddy Lee/ Alex Lifeson/ Neil Peart
34. Randy Newman
35. Willie Nelson
36. Johnny Cash
37. Kenneth Gamble/ Leon Huff
38. Marvin Gaye
39. Barrett Strong/ Norman Whitfield
40. Pete Ham
41. Paul Rodgers
42. Benny & Bjorn
43. Jon Anderson/ Yes
44. Barry Manilow
45. Ann Wison/ Nancy Wilson
46. Ray Davies/ Dave Davies
47. Paul Simon
48. Michael Jackson
49. Prince
50. Barry Mann/ Cynthia Weil
51. Mick Jagger/ Keith Richards
52. Tom Petty
53. Gram Parsons
54. Kris Kristofferson
55. Madonna
56. James Taylor
57. Freddie Mercury/ Queen
58. Curtis Mayfield
59. Al Green
60. Pat DiNizio (The Smithereens)
61. Doc Pomus/ Mort Shuman
62. Bono/ The Edge
63. Roger Waters/ David Gilmour
64. Justin Currie
65. Thomas Walsh (Pugwash/ Duckworth-Lewis Method)
66. Bryan Adams/ Jim Vallance
67. Debbie Harry/ Chris Stein
68. Barry White
69. Randy Bachman/ Burton Cummings
70. Eric Carmen
71. Lionel Richie
72. Nick Lowe
73. Terry Kath/ Robert Lamm/ Peter Cetera (Chicago)
74. Bob Gaudio (Four Seasons)
75. Gordon Lightfoot
76. Andy Partridge
77. Peter Gabriel
78. Felice/ Boudleaux Bryant
79. Lindsey Buckingham
80. Mark Knopfler
81. Dolly Parton
82. Van Morrison
83. Roger McGuinn
84. Roger Miller
85. Loretta Lynn
86. Difford/ Tilbrook
87. Tom T. Hall
88. Roy Orbison
89. Sting
90. Matthew Sweet
91. Bob Plant/ Jimmy Page
92. Lyle Lovett
93. Christine McVie
94. Jane Wiedlin (Go-Go's)
95. Brian Henneman (The Bottle Rockets)
96. Dave Stewart/ Annie Lennox
97. Jimmy Webb
98. Waylon Jennings
99. Jon Auer/ Ken Stringfellow (The Posies)
100. Ric Ocasek/ Benjamin Orr

[Keri]

Nice to see Brian Wilson and Stevie Wonder getting the Love

Yeah Ray and Dave Davies are in there twice at 32 & 46

[2 of 3]

Nice to see the Pete Ham love too. 

[Keri]

Yeah Badfinger did some really nice songs, the best are Pete Ham but the others weren't so bad either.

We used to have these hit collections Twenty Solid Gold Hits and I think it was volume two that had T Rex Get it On, John Lennon Imagine and Badfinger Day after Day. I loved those actually particularly the T Rex and Badfinger ones. I was about 9 at the time but I still love those same songs.