Music Thread - August 29, 2026 [TRex]

Happy Saturday evening friends! Welcome to the music thread! (or is this the Hobby Thread afterparty? or maybe the Club ONT pre-party?)

Please adjust your treble and bass and get your woofers and tweeters in order.

Tonight's music thread theme is writing. Yes, music can be about singing but how do singers know what to say? This may come as a shock to some of you, so I'll say it gently: in some cases, other people write the words. What? Yep.

*****

All the chatter over the past few days about Dolly Parton writing "I Will Always Love You" - later was made famous by Whitney Houston - got us thinking.

What great songs were written by people other than those that recorded/sang them? What great writers warrant more recognition in the history books?

Many songs you recognize were not written by the recording/performing artist. No, Garth Brooks did not write "Friends in low places" - Earl Bud Lee and Dewayne Blackwell wrote it. "What's Love Got to Do with It" was recorded by Tina Turner but written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle. "...Baby One More Time" made Britney Spears famous but it was written by Max Martin and first offered to TLC.

The list below came from poking around the interwebs which means it may or may not be accurate.

Prince wrote "Manic Monday" for The Bangles, "Nothing Compares 2 U" for Sinéad O'Connor, and "I Feel for You" for Chaka Khan.

Carole King co-wrote "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" for The Shirelles, "The Loco-Motion" for Little Eva, and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" for Aretha Franklin.

Neil Diamond wrote "I'm a Believer" and "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" for The Monkees.

Willie Nelson wrote "Crazy," which became Patsy Cline's signature hit, "Hello Walls" sung by Faron Young, "Pretty Paper" sung by Roy Orbison, and "Pretend I Never Happened" by Waylon Jennings

The Bee Gees wrote "Islands in the Stream" for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, and "Woman in Love" for Barbra Streisand.

Paul McCartney wrote and produced "Come and Get It" for Badfinger.

Lionel Richie wrote and produced "Lady" for Kenny Rogers.

Sia wrote "Diamonds" for Rihanna and "Pretty Hurts" for Beyoncé.

Pharrell Williams co-wrote "Hot in Herre" for Nelly.

Paul Anka adapted and wrote the English lyrics for "My Way," which Frank Sinatra made famous.

*****

Country music has a tradition of understanding that singers and songwriters are two often two different people.

Professional songwriters are a backbone of country music but less recognized by name. Here are a few:

Harlan Howard wrote or co-wrote "I Fall to Pieces" (Patsy Cline), "Busted" (Johnny Cash / Ray Charles), "Heartaches by the Number," and "Why Not Me."

Cindy Walker's writing credits include "You Don't Know Me," "Dream Baby," "Bubbles in My Beer," and songs for Bob Wills, Eddy Arnold, and Roy Orbison.

Felice and Boudleaux Bryant wrote a huge catalog for the Everly Brothers (
"Bye Bye Love," "All I Have to Do Is Dream," "Wake Up Little Susie") plus hits for others.

Bob McDill's songwriting hits include "Good Ole Boys Like Me," "Gone Country," and "Song of the South."

Billy Sherrill was better known as a producer, but co-wrote "Stand by Your Man," "The Most Beautiful Girl."

Ashley Gorley is a modern songwriter with dozens of top hits written for Luke Bryan, Morgan Wallen, Carrie Underwood, and others. His most well known hits include "Last Night" by Morgan Wallen, "That's My Kind of Night" and "Play it Again" by Luke Bryan, and "You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins.

*****

Your turn. Turn it up.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Nooded, and good night, all.

Posted by: Nazdar at August 29, 2026 07:35 PM (NcvvS)

2 Rock on

Posted by: Skip at August 29, 2026 07:35 PM (Ia/+0)

3 And SPONGE!! Unbelievable...

Posted by: Nazdar at August 29, 2026 07:35 PM (NcvvS)

4 Kris Kristofferson - "Me and Bobby McGee", "Help Me Make it Through the Night", among others.

Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at August 29, 2026 07:38 PM (5YmYl)

5 I love Elvis but he didn't write any of his songs even if he's listed as a co-writer.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 07:39 PM (KC5Lt)

6 Hoyt Axton

Posted by: Pod Hamp at August 29, 2026 07:39 PM (C8+gh)

7

List of songs written by Jimmy Webb

https://t.ly/dgM2F

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 29, 2026 07:40 PM (Cqx++)

8 Kris Kristofferson - "Me and Bobby McGee", "Help Me Make it Through the Night", among others.
Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at August 29, 2026 07:38 PM (5Ym

Poor Kris couldn't carry a tune but he was a hell of a song writer.

He was a true renaissance man though.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 07:41 PM (KC5Lt)

9 Willie Nelson was a prolific songwriter.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 07:41 PM (KC5Lt)

10 Bee Gees wrote Islands in the Stream.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 07:42 PM (KC5Lt)

11 Nostalgia music night here, Big Band songs and Dean Martin

Posted by: Ben Had at August 29, 2026 07:44 PM (PbWRL)

12 OK, staying for just a moment because I'm thoroughly beat: almost every cover of a Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen song is better than the songwriter's version; when Jennifer Warnes did a Leonard Cohen tribute album ('Jenny Sings Lenny' is an illustration!), it was phenomenal, if only because Stevie Ray Vaughn was lead guitar on 'First We Take Manhattan' - and sorry/not sorry if that gives anyone an earworm!

Posted by: Nazdar at August 29, 2026 07:44 PM (NcvvS)

13 Jim Steinman wrote a ton of anthems for other people. It's insane how much stuff he did. In an earlier era he'd have been a rival of Wagner. (one hopes, given what Wagner thought of Steinmans)

Posted by: 88C+u at August 29, 2026 07:45 PM (88C+u)

14 Of course you have lyricists and music writers who collaborate to make a good song.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 07:45 PM (KC5Lt)

15 Steve Miller

"Did you know the cost of adjudicating even 1 fake [illegal alien] asylum claim is the same cost as providing FREE CANCER TREATMENT to 1 American citizen with pediatric cancer?

As of June 2026, there are 2,310,698 immigrants who have filed formal asylum applications

Illegals trying to kill 2 M American kids

Posted by: r hennigantx at August 29, 2026 07:45 PM (/+uur)

16 Blinded By the Light!! Manfred Mann's Earth Band!!
When I found it was written by Springsteen and I heard that version, I threw up a little. OK.... I threw up a lot!!

Posted by: smokin' cat turd at August 29, 2026 07:46 PM (KXId6)

17 4 Kris Kristofferson - "Me and Bobby McGee", "Help Me Make it Through the Night", among others.

6 Hoyt Axton

Can't get anything past you guys. Those were the first two I thought of in answer to the questions.

Posted by: Oddbob at August 29, 2026 07:48 PM (vTZFs)

18 Bang a gong

Ge it on

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 29, 2026 07:48 PM (K32Fz)

19 The movie Once about an Irish street singer/songwriter was excellent. Unfortunately the lead actor was killed earlier this year in a motorcycle accident IIRC.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 07:48 PM (KC5Lt)

20 When I found it was written by Springsteen and I heard that version, I threw up a little. OK.... I threw up a lot!!

Manfred Mann did several Springsteen covers and they are all much better and easier to listen to. My favorite is "For You"

almost every cover of a Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen song is better than the songwriter's version

I wanted Bob's son to do a cover album or two of his dad's work because his band was great and he had a nice voice.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 29, 2026 07:49 PM (K32Fz)

21 Whoever wrote the Monkees songs were pretty good. I think Neil Diamond wrote a few of them.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 07:50 PM (KC5Lt)

22 I would like to posit the idea that the only good modern songwriters are the ones how are old enough (or classical enough) to have actually been taught poetry and the various poetic forms and rhyme schemes and rhythms in high school.

This idea is based on no hard evidence and no information of any kind.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at August 29, 2026 07:50 PM (C0Nlv)

23 Carole King was a very prolific song writer.

Posted by: Ben Had at August 29, 2026 07:51 PM (PbWRL)

24 Another Stein- is Billy Steinberg. He cowrote "Eternal Flame" for Christina Hoffs. It came out as a Bangles song but iirc the other three Bangles resented it.
Still a classic.

Posted by: 88C+u at August 29, 2026 07:51 PM (88C+u)

25 Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 29, 2026 07:49 PM (K32Fz)

I bought his first Wallflowers CD. It was pretty good.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 07:51 PM (KC5Lt)

26 I really don't like the Jackson 5, but I've got them cranked right now because Jermaine was an absolute animal on the bass.

The Jackson 5, and Michael Jackson, does not happen without that bass.

Posted by: 496 at August 29, 2026 07:52 PM (sOtuf)

27 Posted by: 88C+u at August 29, 2026 07:51 PM (88C+u

Prince wrote some of their other songs gs right?

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 07:52 PM (KC5Lt)

28 Carole King was a very prolific song writer.
Posted by: Ben Had at August 29, 2026 07:51 PM (PbWRL)

Her and Burt Bacharach

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 07:53 PM (KC5Lt)

29 Linda Ronstadt did mostly covers, "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" was written by Warren Zevon, who wrote a lot of great songs.

Posted by: Cheerful Reprobate at August 29, 2026 07:55 PM (FY/Px)

30 Thx TRex , interesting post
David Bowie gave All the Young Dudes to Mott the Hopple.

Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 29, 2026 07:56 PM (EZWVc)

31 Dig on the bass in ABC by the Jackson 5:

https://tinyurl.com/4h83j6ej

Posted by: 496 at August 29, 2026 07:56 PM (sOtuf)

32 Springsteen also wrote most of Because the Night but Patti Smith performed it. Springsteen didn't get credit due to contractual issues. Smith's version is great

Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 29, 2026 07:58 PM (EZWVc)

33 Good evening Horde. Thanks for being here. Hope you're enjoying some good tunes on this last Saturday in August.

Posted by: TRex - ghostwriter dino at August 29, 2026 07:58 PM (XfIK1)

34 Me and Bobby McGee is a fantastic song. Janis' best, as fat as I'm concerned. Second best rock song recorded by a female (I gotta give #1 to Son of a Preacher Man)

Posted by: 496 at August 29, 2026 07:59 PM (sOtuf)

35 Didn't realize till recently that Burt Bacharach wrote Always Something There to Remind Me later done very well by Naked Eyes. More of a cover

Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 29, 2026 08:00 PM (EZWVc)

36 Chris Stapleton did an amazing tribute to Dolly at a show this week. I will always love you.

https://tinyurl.com/4czdj8kn

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:00 PM (YZ0Fo)

37 Speaking of Patti Smith, she wrote several songs for Blue Oyster Cult. IIRC she was dating one of the band members.

Posted by: Cheerful Reprobate at August 29, 2026 08:02 PM (FY/Px)

38 The movie Once about an Irish street singer/songwriter was excellent. Unfortunately the lead actor was killed earlier this year in a motorcycle accident IIRC.
Posted by: polynike

He was a recording artist and then the director wanted to make a move based around him but wanted his music in it so cast him. It's a phenomenal movie. And ya he was killed in a crash this summer.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:03 PM (YZ0Fo)

39 Whoever wrote the Monkees songs were pretty good. I think Neil Diamond wrote a few of them.
Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 07:50 PM (KC5Lt)

Carol King wrote one of their best - Pleasant Valley Sunday..

Posted by: Joe Kidd at August 29, 2026 08:04 PM (nbLIj)

40 Contrary perhaps to popular belief, the iconic 'I Want You Back' bassline was actually recorded in LA by Wilton Felder. Primarily a saxophone player, Felder discussed recording the bassline in the July 1998 issue of Bass Player magazine.

It’s been said that when the group signed with Motown, producer Berry Gordy wouldn't allow them to record on their own songs, with the recordings instead handled by Motown's in-house studio band and legendary bassist James Jamerson.

Posted by: grass monkey at August 29, 2026 08:04 PM (van9r)

41 Eddie Rabbit wrote a number of his for Elvis .

Kentucky Rain is my favorite.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 08:05 PM (KC5Lt)

42 Darrell Scott wrote You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive. It's been covered by a number of musicians.

Darrell Scott (well he wrote the song) - youtu.be/X6UuuEpinyA

Brad Paisley - youtu.be/neSUe7dO4v0

Plenty of other fine versions out there

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at August 29, 2026 08:05 PM (AdHga)

43 Bonnie Rait's cover of " Angel From Montgomery" by John Prine is one of my very favorites. If you have ever been to the TXMoMe you will have heard it. Opens the dance floor on Friday night.

Posted by: Ben Had at August 29, 2026 08:05 PM (PbWRL)

44 Interesting topic, TRex. Off the top of my head:
Laura Nyro
John Denver
Hoyt Axton (and his mom wrote Heartbreak Hotel)
Clint Black
Duke Ellington
Dolly Parton
Vince Guaraldi
Barry Manilow*
Brian Wilson

* Manilow wrote many of his top 40 hits and several advertising jingles that are recognizable decades later. But I think his greatest talent is as an arranger. His 2 AM Paradise Cafe, broadway themes, and jazz renditions are superb. The best songs Bette Midler recorded were arranged by Manilow.

Posted by: JTB at August 29, 2026 08:06 PM (yTvNw)

45 Met Kris Kristofferson on the Army base in Nuremburg a long time ago. Shook his paw and got his autograph. He was very handsome.

Posted by: argie at August 29, 2026 08:07 PM (6lIeU)

46 Darrell Scott wrote You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive. It's been covered by a number of musicians.

Darrell Scott (well he wrote the song) - youtu.be/X6UuuEpinyA

Brad Paisley - youtu.be/neSUe7dO4v0

Plenty of other fine versions out there
Posted by: Puddleglum

There is a great version by a girl playing banjo by a campfire. Taylor Demp. Chris Stapleton also has a good one.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:08 PM (YZ0Fo)

47 Doubt I ever purposely played a Dolly song, but she was a good force and luckily will live in memory for a long time to come.

Posted by: Skip at August 29, 2026 08:08 PM (Ia/+0)

48 Cole Chaney has covered grunge songs but with an Appalachia twist.

Big Empty - youtu.be/3eFKTmwzVcU

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at August 29, 2026 08:08 PM (AdHga)

49 Chris Stapleton did an amazing tribute to Dolly at a show this week. I will always love you.

https://tinyurl.com/4czdj8kn
Posted by: BruceWayne
*********
Thanks for that BruceWayne. I'm a big fan of Chris and that was a lovely tribute.

Posted by: The Grateful - R at August 29, 2026 08:09 PM (XfIK1)

50 Spot on about Leonard Cohen - “Hallelujah” was one of songs that no one heard until Jeff Buckley covered it.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 29, 2026 08:09 PM (GWwCk)

51 All these people are old. Is the best modern music can come up with is a pop tart or some other jelly filled pastry?

Posted by: fd at August 29, 2026 08:10 PM (MWfyi)

52 Bleeding love by Leona Lewis was written by Jesse McCartney and OneRepublic singer Ryan Tedder

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:12 PM (YZ0Fo)

53 The story of Kristofferson landing a helicopter on Johnny Cash's property to give him a demo tape sounds made up but amazingly true. Kristofferson was the man.

( Cash wasn't home at the time though. He gave the demo tape to someone taking care of the house at the time)

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 08:12 PM (KC5Lt)

54 >>Springsteen also wrote most of Because the Night but Patti Smith performed it. Springsteen didn't get credit due to contractual issues. Smith's version is great
Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 29, 2026 07:58 PM (EZWVc)

Patti Smith said that Springsteen wrote the song but she 'dirtied up a bit'. She commanded that song (SWIDT). And now, really am gone for the night. Again sometime, Hordelings.

Posted by: Nazdar at August 29, 2026 08:12 PM (NcvvS)

55 Thanks for that BruceWayne. I'm a big fan of Chris and that was a lovely tribute.
Posted by: The Grateful - R

I saw him and his wife live a number of years ago. He's the rare artist that somehow sounds even better live than his albums.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:14 PM (YZ0Fo)

56 Most of what I listen to is metal, post-rock, prog-rock, or other "indy" types of music. Nobody's putting food on the table writing songs for "my bands," when the biggest names I listen to are bands like Dream Theater and Evanescence. (And post-rock is 90% instrumental, anyway.)

A writer/producer named David Hodges co-wrote a lot of stuff for Evanescence, but he played keyboards for them for a couple years just before they released their first album "Fallen," so I'm not sure if he's an "outside songwriter" or not. He's also written and produced for everyone from Tim McGraw to Celine Dion to The Backstreet Boys, so I'm guessing royalties from those sorts of performers keep his bread buttered.

Posted by: mikeski at August 29, 2026 08:16 PM (VHUov)

57 Is it hard to believe Kiss wrote most of their songs? They had a good producer later on that helped guide them . They did have an album of songs they should have thrown away though. I forgot the name but it was an artsy fartsy endeavor.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 08:16 PM (KC5Lt)

58 Fuck (forget) you by cee lo was written by Bruno mars

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:17 PM (YZ0Fo)

59 One of the best songwriters few people remember was Jimmy Webb. He wrote much of Glen Campbell’s playlist, including “Wichita Lineman” and “By the time I get to Phoenix”. He also wrote quite a bit for Linda Ronstadt and others.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 29, 2026 08:18 PM (GWwCk)

60 Fuck (forget) you by cee lo was written by Bruno mars
Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:17 PM (YZ0Fo)

Cee Lo's performance on Live from Daryl's House was excellent

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 08:19 PM (KC5Lt)

61 The Pointer Sisters' "Fire" was written by Springsteen...

Posted by: Joe Kidd at August 29, 2026 08:19 PM (nbLIj)

62 >>Spot on about Leonard Cohen - “Hallelujah” was one of songs that no one heard until Jeff Buckley covered it.

Can't quit y'all. Tom Servo, Jeff picked it up from John Cale's version in 1991 and almost all of the covers since stem from Cale. The story is that Cohen was faxing verses to Cale to pick for his recording for the tribute album I'm Your Fan. Supposedly there are dozens of verses that Cohen wrote.

Posted by: Nazdar at August 29, 2026 08:20 PM (NcvvS)

63 Oh! I just noticed that Sugar Ray's channel upgraded their videos! I had these saved in *240p*, and now they're in 1080p:

From Floored (1997)
Sugar Ray - Fly
https://youtu.be/zUtnwcv-quE

From 14:59 (1999)
Sugar Ray - Every Morning
https://youtu.be/3cqU1pFRqYE

Sugar Ray - Someday
https://youtu.be/dPcX-5Tmqt8

Posted by: SciVo at August 29, 2026 08:21 PM (ke3zm)

64 Take Clapton and consider that JJ Cale made him famous.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at August 29, 2026 08:22 PM (SK+av)

65 Follow on to comment 44,
Jim Webb
James Taylor (he's a political mess but can write songs)
Paul Simon
Antonio Carlos Jobm

Honorable mention:
Earl Hagen for Harlem Nocturne
Mel Torme for The Christmas Song
Allen Toussaint for Southern Nights (Glen Campbell version)

Posted by: JTB at August 29, 2026 08:22 PM (yTvNw)

66 All these people are old. Is the best modern music can come up with is a pop tart or some other jelly filled pastry?
Posted by: fd

There are still musical artists around. But you have to look for them. Flip on XM radio and you hear music performed by people for whom music is an industry, not an art.

"Well, we listened to aggressively cheerful music sung by people chosen for their ability to dance [...]" -- Rupert Giles, on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, back in 2001.

Posted by: mikeski at August 29, 2026 08:22 PM (VHUov)

67 Cee Lo's performance on Live from Daryl's House was excellent
Posted by: polynikes

I saw Gnarls Barkley at lollapalooza and I was blown away by how good he was on the stage.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:23 PM (YZ0Fo)

68 Grateful: Miley Cyrus also has a beautiful tribute to Dolly.

https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v= U8q9VBTl394
Take out the spaces

Posted by: Iris at August 29, 2026 08:24 PM (286+n)

69 Take Clapton and consider that JJ Cale made him famous.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at August 29, 2026 08:22 PM (SK+av)

They Call Me the Breeze. JJ..

Posted by: Joe Kidd at August 29, 2026 08:25 PM (nbLIj)

70 Led Zeppelin didn't write songs as much as just copying them. 😀

I still can't believe that Taurus lost their lawsuit. Especially in comparisons to some who have won which I'll never understand.

Like Harrison's My Sweet Lord losing to the Chiffons He's So Fine.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 08:25 PM (KC5Lt)

71 >>Take Clapton and consider that JJ Cale made him famous.

'Clapton is God' - graffiti in London, 1964

Posted by: Not in bed but should be at August 29, 2026 08:25 PM (NcvvS)

72 Grateful: Miley Cyrus also has a beautiful tribute to Dolly.

https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v= U8q9VBTl394
Take out the spaces
Posted by: Iris at August 29, 2026 08:24 PM (286+n)

Not ashamed to say I have four Miley Cyrus songs downloaded on my iPhone

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 08:26 PM (KC5Lt)

73 Not ashamed to say I have four Miley Cyrus songs downloaded on my iPhone
Posted by: polynikes

Wrecking ball is a jam. She may be a looney but she can sang.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:27 PM (YZ0Fo)

74 So glad someone else brought up Barry Manilow. He did NOT write "I write the songs".

Posted by: Iris at August 29, 2026 08:28 PM (286+n)

75 Fuck y'all.

I write the songs... bitches.

Posted by: Barry Manilow at August 29, 2026 08:29 PM (2Cry5)

76 Posted by: mikeski

Have you checked out Our Last Night covers?

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:29 PM (YZ0Fo)

77
12 OK, staying for just a moment because I'm thoroughly beat: almost every cover of a Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen song is better than the songwriter's version;”

I don’t think anyone has yet noted that this is true for Bob Dylan in spades.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 29, 2026 08:29 PM (GWwCk)

78 Wrecking ball is a jam. She may be a looney but she can sang.
Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:27 PM (YZ0Fo)

Her duet with John Travolta from the Bolt song track is one of my favorites

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 08:29 PM (KC5Lt)

79 A big percent of the Grateful Dead's music and even greater percentage Jerry Garcia Band's music were covers and much of it was country or rockabilly.

Merle Haggard, Peter Rowan, Marty Robbins, Elvis, Buddy Holly and many more. And Robert Hunter wrote a lot of the Dead's original stuff along with Jerry. Jerry was good friends with Dylan and covered a large number of his songs.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 29, 2026 08:29 PM (viF8m)

80 Her duet with John Travolta from the Bolt song track is one of my favorites
Posted by: polynikes

Oh ya. I forget about that one. Great song.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:30 PM (YZ0Fo)

81 I don’t think anyone has yet noted that this is true for Bob Dylan in spades.
Posted by: Tom Servo

I actually love Bob Dylan. I grew up listening to his biograph box set. But yes. The covers of his songs are better.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:32 PM (YZ0Fo)

82 Jimmy Webb wrote for (this is off the top of my head) Glen Campbell, The Fifth Dimension, Richard Harris, and Johnny Rivers. And for these it wasn't just a song or two, but whole albums. IIRC, Campbell's Wichita Lineman album was practically all Webb's stuff. Ditto The Fifth Dimension's Magic Garden album, Johnny Rivers' Tunesmith, and two (maybe three) of Richard Harris'.

In later years, I think he started recording a lot of his songs himself, but I've not followed much popular music since the original Association stopped recording.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at August 29, 2026 08:33 PM (q3u5l)

83 duet with John Travolta from the Bolt song track is one of my favorites
Posted by: polynikes

Oh ya. I forget about that one. Great song.
Posted by: BruceWayne

Also Bolt was a really good movie no one remembers.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:33 PM (YZ0Fo)

84 Her duet with John Travolta from the Bolt song track is one of my favorites
Posted by: polynikes

Oh ya. I forget about that one. Great song.
Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:30 PM (YZ0Fo

Partying in the USA
Malibu
Flowers

Are the other three I've downloaded .

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 08:34 PM (KC5Lt)

85 Also Bolt was a really good movie no one remembers.
Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:33 PM (YZ0Fo)

My favorite animated movie. The ending was great.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 08:35 PM (KC5Lt)

86 Before Stephen Wilson jr started recording his own stuff he wrote for a ton of people. Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins, Caitlyn Smith, Old Dominion, Sixpence None the Richer, Leigh Nash, Chase Bryant, Mackenzie Porter

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:36 PM (YZ0Fo)

87 JTB mentioned Antonio Carlos Jobim.

If you haven't heard the Sinatra/Jobim albums, you're cheating yourself.

Heard somewhere that late in his life, Sinatra would occasionally listen to "Wave" and marvel that he'd ever been able to hit notes that low.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at August 29, 2026 08:38 PM (q3u5l)

88 These are my top 5 songs based upon what I turn the volume up for:

Tangled Up in Blue -- Dylan
A Matter of Trust -- Billy Joel
A Day in the Life -- Beatles
Sultans of Swing -- Dire Straits
Radar Love -- Golden Earring

I believe each of these songs were written by the artist, for better or worse (i.e. Dylan).

Posted by: Jayhawkone at August 29, 2026 08:38 PM (QSaoA)

89 Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:36 PM (YZ0Fo)

Tim McGraw is a manufactured Country Star. He did well for himself though.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 08:39 PM (KC5Lt)

90 58 Fuck (forget) you by cee lo was written by Bruno mars

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:17 PM (YZ0Fo)

Best cover is by Broken Peach...

https://tinyurl.com/58k67r69

Posted by: davidt at August 29, 2026 08:39 PM (Q+gd/)

91 Posted by: mikeski
Have you checked out Our Last Night covers?
Posted by: BruceWayne

First I've heard of them.

Not bad. A three-piece, more-serious / less-comedic / less-metal version of Leo Moracchioli?

OLN covering tatu:
https://youtu.be/94cDRxoViWU

Leo, same song:
https://youtu.be/p-qnsZhQ_iI

Posted by: mikeski at August 29, 2026 08:39 PM (VHUov)

92 Music related: I stumbled upon "Mork and Mindy" on Prime. One of the first scenes is Mindy talking to her dad in his music store. One of the props was a Dolly Parton poster.

(sniffle)

Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at August 29, 2026 08:40 PM (gvBhq)

93 Posted by: Jayhawkone at August 29, 2026 08:38 PM (QSaoA

I can't disagree on Radar Love for sure.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 08:40 PM (KC5Lt)

94 Bolt was our family’s favorite. Songs were great and Bolt was a fun character.
Kid likes Rio and Migration, which is awful.

Posted by: Accomack at August 29, 2026 08:41 PM (+hwtP)

95 almost every cover of a Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen song is better than the songwriter's version
Posted by: Nazdar

See also: The Beatles.

Yeah, I know, "fight me." But I'm still young enough to outrun any Beatles fans. 😜

Posted by: mikeski at August 29, 2026 08:43 PM (VHUov)

96 This is a tight thread but ... I'm gonna need more cowbell.

Posted by: toby928(c) at August 29, 2026 08:43 PM (4NO2D)

97 A lot of Dylan stuff works because he can’t sing.

Posted by: Accomack at August 29, 2026 08:43 PM (+hwtP)

98 First I've heard of them.

Not bad. A three-piece, more-serious / less-comedic / less-metal version of Leo Moracchioli?

OLN covering tatu:
https://youtu.be/94cDRxoViWU

Leo, same song:
https://youtu.be/p-qnsZhQ_iI
Posted by: mikeski

Ya they mostly take pop songs and are like hey these are good. Let's metal em up a bit. Their blank space and sorry are great.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:45 PM (YZ0Fo)

99 Since got radio back in vehicle, only station have on is modern rock

Posted by: Skip at August 29, 2026 08:45 PM (Ia/+0)

100 >>A lot of Dylan stuff works because he can’t sing.

He sure could write. He has to be in the top 2 or 3 modern era covered writers. The number of artists who have covered his stuff is huge.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 29, 2026 08:45 PM (viF8m)

101 Bolt was our family’s favorite. Songs were great and Bolt was a fun character.
Kid likes Rio and Migration, which is awful.
Posted by: Accomack

Aw man. I like Rio.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:46 PM (YZ0Fo)

102 Bolt was our family’s favorite. Songs were great and Bolt was a fun character.
Kid likes Rio and Migration, which is awful.
Posted by: Accomack

Aw man. I like Rio.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:46 PM (YZ0Fo)

103 Leo, same song:
https://youtu.be/p-qnsZhQ_iI
Posted by: mikeski

That's dope

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:47 PM (YZ0Fo)

104 Robert Hunter wrote a lot of the Dead's stuff. He was put on the R+R HoF with them, the only non performer put in with a band

Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 29, 2026 08:50 PM (EZWVc)

105 Dr Dre also relied on other writers, although only Royce 5'9 might count as a "ghost" writer. Dre otherwise gave credit to Eminem, Hittman etc.
Don't know why Dre didn't credit Royce. Might be an honest oversight b/c most of his stuff got dropped from release.

Posted by: 88C+u at August 29, 2026 08:50 PM (88C+u)

106 Rio wasn’t bad, just too long. Migration was bad.

Posted by: Accomack at August 29, 2026 08:52 PM (6jy2V)

107 "Her and Burt Bacharach"

------

Was Burt Bacharach a philosopher?

Oh, this conversation isn't very good...

Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at August 29, 2026 08:53 PM (5YmYl)

108 >>Robert Hunter wrote a lot of the Dead's stuff. He was put on the R+R HoF with them, the only non performer put in with a band

He did play with the JGB a few times.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 29, 2026 08:54 PM (viF8m)

109 Dre also relied on other writers, although only Royce 5'9 might count as a "ghost" writer. Dre otherwise gave credit to Eminem, Hittman etc.
Don't know why Dre didn't credit Royce. Might be an honest oversight b/c most of his stuff got dropped from release.
Posted by: 88C+u

Royce da 5-9 did an album with Eminem. It was really good.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:56 PM (YZ0Fo)

110 Dre also relied on other writers, although only Royce 5'9 might count as a "ghost" writer. Dre otherwise gave credit to Eminem, Hittman etc.
Don't know why Dre didn't credit Royce. Might be an honest oversight b/c most of his stuff got dropped from release.
Posted by: 88C+u

Also Dre's thing was mixing and beats. Eazy E and ice cube wrote almost all the NWA songs.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 08:59 PM (YZ0Fo)

111 8 Kris Kristofferson - "Me and Bobby McGee", "Help Me Make it Through the Night", among others.
Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at August 29, 2026 07:38 PM (5Ym

Poor Kris couldn't carry a tune but he was a hell of a song writer.

He was a true renaissance man though.

Posted by: polynikes at August 29, 2026 07:41 PM (KC5Lt)
well...Kris sounds like Sinatra compared to Willie Nelson

Posted by: zigggggy at August 29, 2026 08:59 PM (EDeJ/)

112 Ya they mostly take pop songs and are like hey these are good. Let's metal em up a bit. Their blank space and sorry are great.
Posted by: BruceWayne

Excuse me, sir. You didn't mention the Rhianna cover Stay.

Posted by: She Hobbit at August 29, 2026 09:01 PM (ftFVW)

113 Excuse me, sir. You didn't mention the Rhianna cover Stay.
Posted by: She Hobbit

Hahah also great. But stay by itself is a good song. The others suck.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 09:02 PM (YZ0Fo)

114 For decades, I wrote dozens of dittys, some serious, many silly. They came with tunes in my head, so I taught myself piano and doped out the tunes, but writing only chord notations. It wasn't that I thought my stuff was any great shakes, nor did I expect to make any money. The songs just forced themselves on me.

Had no musical friends or fellows, and no outlet for my stuff, other than some home-recorded cassettes for a few (very few) friends and relatives, which garnered a few disparaging or mocking remarks. My wife and daughter have played a few of mine, which was nice.

A decade ago, before my hands and voice failed, I recorded a series of videos with most (but hardly all) of my songs for YooToob. The recording quality is not great, performances flawed (mostly first takes warts and all), but at least the songs are out there. With caption lyrics. FWIW. Sometimes, despite lack of demand, or interest, I annoy a music thread with a link to a song. Like this short and silly one:

🎶 🎹 amateur hour again

2 Percent Vim
Pondering power and restraint
A cut from Mindful Webworkshop #5, 2016 Sep 8
Link in nic. Should play from 0:21 to 2:48 in the vid.
🌅

Posted by: mindful webworker - inspiration comes from wherever at August 29, 2026 09:04 PM (ie4vn)

115 Hahah also great. But stay by itself is a good song. The others suck.
Posted by: BruceWayne

Fair.

Our Last Night also did a cool cover of Benson Boone's Beautiful Things.

Posted by: She Hobbit at August 29, 2026 09:04 PM (ftFVW)

116 75 Fuck y'all.

I write the songs... bitches.

Posted by: Barry Manilow at August 29, 2026 08:29 PM (2Cry5)

for those that don't know/... "I Write the Songs" is a popular song written by Bruce Johnston. Barry Manilow's version reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1976

Posted by: zigggggy at August 29, 2026 09:05 PM (EDeJ/)

117 Probably unexpected but Mel Brooks is a hell of a song writer. I'm Tired (Blazing Saddles), The Inquisition (History of the World), Springtime For Hitler, The French Mistake, Men In Tights, and others. He wrote High Anxiety as a Sinatra spoof. It's a pretty good song on its own. He wrote the lyrics to the Blazing Saddles theme song.

Posted by: JTB at August 29, 2026 09:06 PM (yTvNw)

118 Cale's song After Midnight was on Clapton's first solo album. He did a lot of cale's songs after that. Before that Clapton had already been in The Bluesbreakers, Cream and Blind Faith and was in Derek and the Dominos at the time

Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 29, 2026 09:06 PM (EZWVc)

119 That's dope
Posted by: BruceWayne

Leo's breakout song was his cover of Toto's "Africa."

As "breakout" as a one-man-band cover artist in Norway gets, anyway.

https://youtu.be/MH9FyLsfDzw

Posted by: mikeski at August 29, 2026 09:06 PM (VHUov)

120 A weird songwriting dichotomy. Sonny Curtis of the Crickets wrote I Fought the Law. Later he wrote the theme to the Mary Tyler Moore Show

Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 29, 2026 09:08 PM (EZWVc)

121 Starting to believe Chris Cornell was a ling of covers. I love Sinead's rendition of Prince's Nothing Compares 2 You. But Chris's is better.

Just today discovered Chris covering Billie Jean and it is *chef's kiss*.

Posted by: She Hobbit at August 29, 2026 09:09 PM (ftFVW)

122 Ummm king not ling. *facepalm*

Posted by: She Hobbit at August 29, 2026 09:11 PM (ftFVW)

123 Probably unexpected but Mel Brooks is a hell of a song writer. I'm Tired (Blazing Saddles), The Inquisition (History of the World), Springtime For Hitler, The French Mistake, Men In Tights, and others. He wrote High Anxiety as a Sinatra spoof. It's a pretty good song on its own. He wrote the lyrics to the Blazing Saddles theme song.
Posted by: JTB at August 29, 2026 09:06 PM (yTvNw)

He was a drummer. Just like Phil Collins.

Posted by: Kindltot at August 29, 2026 09:12 PM (rbvCR)

124 Ummm king not ling. *facepalm*
Posted by: She Hobbit at August 29, 2026 09:11 PM (ftFVW)

Good cod, you make me fish around for meaning.

Posted by: Kindltot at August 29, 2026 09:13 PM (rbvCR)

125 Starting to believe Chris Cornell was a ling of covers. I love Sinead's rendition of Prince's Nothing Compares 2 You. But Chris's is better.

Just today discovered Chris covering Billie Jean and it is *chef's kiss*.
Posted by: She Hobbit

There was an album that was put out in 2020 after his death called "No one sings like you anymore". All covers. The sinead cover. Patience. Janis joplin. ELO.

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 09:16 PM (YZ0Fo)

126 Way past my bedtime
Have a good night everyone

Posted by: Skip at August 29, 2026 09:17 PM (Ia/+0)

127 There was an album that was put out in 2020 after his death called "No one sings like you anymore". All covers. The sinead cover. Patience. Janis joplin. ELO.
Posted by: BruceWayne

I liked Patience okay, but didn't feel like it added to or otherwise surpassed GnR.

Posted by: She Hobbit at August 29, 2026 09:18 PM (ftFVW)

128 I liked Patience okay, but didn't feel like it added to or otherwise surpassed GnR.
Posted by: She Hobbit

Don't disagree but on the whole the album is amazing. His stay with me baby is just wow

Posted by: BruceWayne at August 29, 2026 09:20 PM (YZ0Fo)

129 119 That's dope
Posted by: BruceWayne

Leo's breakout song was his cover of Toto's "Africa."

As "breakout" as a one-man-band cover artist in Norway gets, anyway.

https://youtu.be/MH9FyLsfDzw
Posted by: mikeski

Weezer with Weird Al Yancovich also covered Toto's 'Africa'. It was oddly very good!

youtu.be/mk5Dwg5zm2U

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at August 29, 2026 09:20 PM (AdHga)

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