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WHO'S THE GREATEST LYRIC WRITER?

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poetr...@my-deja.com

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Nov 8, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/8/99
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Who is the greatest writer of lyrics in the history of rock, pop and
soul music? If you know read below and let us know.
We feel it is an appropriate time to find the writer of the most poetic
lyrics in popular music. With the music scene populated with songs that
sound similar it is the lyric writer that can seperate a well written
song from the run of the mill. Should you know of a song (s) that
features what you feel are the most inspiring lyrics of all time then
let us know. You MUST send the name of the song, the lyric writer, THE
COMPLETE LYRICS and if possible the copyright information. You can
nominate a song by e-mail at "poe...@freemail.com.au". A panel of
judges including music critics, literature experts and general public
will look at all nominations individually. Generalised sweeping
statements such as 'a certain writer is the best poet in rock' will not
be accepted. The judging will be on individual songs only. You may
NOMINATE MORE THAN ONE song from any artist or songs from different
artists. We do ask that you include lyrics as we are receiving thousands
of nominations and do not have the time to search for lyrics no matter
how common or widely known a song may be. The name of the songwriter
will be kept hidden from the judging panel to avoid bias. Nominations
close December 6th 1999. Stay tuned for news of a web-site dedicated to
the lyric writers of this century, that will keep you updated with the
judging process.
Who will it be? Joni Mitchell, Sting, Dylan or Jewel, or some unknown or
under-rated writer? Let us know which song it will be. Do not rely on
others to nominate your choice no matter how well known a song may be.
Don't forget to tell all your friends, but remember there is no
advantage in nominating the same song more than once. Only those songs
nominated by the public will be considered. This will NOT however be
decided on a voting basis- that is on which song or writer receives the
most nominations.


Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

Dennis

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Nov 8, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/8/99
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1. John Lennon
2. Stephen Stills

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Vedran Dracic

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Nov 8, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/8/99
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<poetr...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:805af8$24b$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...

> let us know. You MUST send the name of the song, the lyric writer, THE
> COMPLETE LYRICS and if possible the copyright information. You can
> nominate a song by e-mail at "poe...@freemail.com.au". A panel of

Too complicated.

Steven E. Bruun

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Nov 8, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/8/99
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In article <8073v0$t0r$1...@as102.tel.hr> , "Vedran Dracic" <vdr...@foi.hr>
wrote:

I agree, but if pressed, I would nominate Smokey Robinson with "What's So
Good About Goodbye?"

- SteveB

Bruce Burtin

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Nov 8, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/8/99
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Steven E. Bruun (seb...@worldnet.att.net) wrote:
: >
: I agree, but if pressed, I would nominate Smokey Robinson

Ditto. Smokey even surpasses Dylan.

I know this is a sixties ng but, I'll give a huge shout to Rod Temperton.

Respectfully,
--
Bruce
b...@execpc.com

_I feel so alive, I quit my nine to five!_

Peter Joseph La Prade The Only RedViper

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Nov 9, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/9/99
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On Mon, 08 Nov 1999 01:53:45 GMT, , poetr...@my-deja.com shared his
insight or lack thereof about WHO'S THE GREATEST LYRIC WRITER?
representing Deja.com - Before you buy., in
rec.music.rock-pop-r+b.1950s

>Who is the greatest writer of lyrics in the history of rock, pop and
>soul music?

I nominate Carole King, who you forgot on your list, but Jewel and
Dylan write good also.

Peter J. LaPrade, the kl00 inheritor
Personal quotes: Don't Vote for a Kennedy! AOL is the Evil Empire,
Islam is the Truth.

Visit the best a.a-s pages:
http://www.anti-aol.org
On the site: JM Hunter Commentary,
KnightHeart's Realm, J.J, et al.

Norm Katuna

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Nov 9, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/9/99
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On 8 Nov 1999 23:12:39 -0600, in rec.music.rock-pop-r+b.1950s,
b...@earth.execpc.com (Bruce Burtin), wrote:

>Steven E. Bruun (seb...@worldnet.att.net) wrote:
>: >
>: I agree, but if pressed, I would nominate Smokey Robinson
>
>Ditto. Smokey even surpasses Dylan.
>
>I know this is a sixties ng but, I'll give a huge shout to Rod Temperton.

I guess nobody is paying any attention to the fact that this was crossposted to
4 groups, most of which have nothing in common. This leads to quite of bit of
off-topic posting to the other three groups when you don't cut out the groups
that don't belong from the newsgroup list.

The person that started this is a real winner. He hadn't the faintest idea that
by crossposting this to unrelated groups that he was going to be causing a big
problem in regards to off-topic posts.

That is why you need to think things out before crossposting and if you are
responding with something that won't fit the other groups, then cut out the
other groups and only post to the appropriate group.

For anybody that hasn't noticed, these are the 4 groups that all of these posts
have been going to:

rec.music.rock-pop-r+b.1970s,rec.music.rock-pop-r+b.1960s,rec.music.rock-pop-r+b.1950s,rec.music.rem

Norm K


Jac

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Nov 9, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/9/99
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poetr...@my-deja.com wrote:

> Who is the greatest writer of lyrics in the history of rock, pop and

> soul music? If you know read below and let us know.
> We feel it is an appropriate time to find the writer of the most poetic
> lyrics in popular music. With the music scene populated with songs that
> sound similar it is the lyric writer that can seperate a well written
> song from the run of the mill. Should you know of a song (s) that
> features what you feel are the most inspiring lyrics of all time then

> let us know. You MUST send the name of the song, the lyric writer, THE
> COMPLETE LYRICS and if possible the copyright information. You can
> nominate a song by e-mail at "poe...@freemail.com.au". A panel of

Bob Roman

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Nov 9, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/9/99
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rox...@mindspring.com wrote:
> poetr...@my-deja.com wrote:
> >Who is the greatest writer of lyrics in the history of rock, pop and
> >soul music?
>
> I nominate Carole King, who you forgot on your list

Carole King was a songwriter who collaborated with lyricists. She wrote
very few of the lyrics in her best known songs.
She did not write the lyrics to "Will You Love Me Tomorrow".
She did not write the lyrics to "Up On the Roof".
She did not write the lyrics to "One Fine Day".
She did not write the lyrics to "Don't Bring Me Down".
She did not write the lyrics to "A Natural Woman".
She did not write the lyrics to "It's Too Late".

Bob Roman

Santo Pantalones del Carne

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Nov 9, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/9/99
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Three words:

Cole Fuckin' Porter.

That's all.

Gilbert George Neal

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Nov 9, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/9/99
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Andy Partridge

Dan Carlsson

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Nov 9, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/9/99
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On Mon, 08 Nov 1999 01:53:45 GMT, poetr...@my-deja.com wrote:

>Who is the greatest writer of lyrics in the history of rock, pop and
>soul music?

This was an easy one! Bob Dylan of course, no other come even
close....


Neil Vinall

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Nov 9, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/9/99
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John Lennon

No arguments please.....

Neil

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Neil Vinall ICQ: 18350760

Web Site: http://www.sawnoff.demon.co.uk

For: Only Fools and Horses - The Prodigy - Full Metal Jacket -
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Dan Carlsson

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Nov 9, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/9/99
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On Tue, 9 Nov 1999 17:39:48 +0000, Neil Vinall
<ne...@sawnoff.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>John Lennon
>
>No arguments please.....
>

Do we have a argue here :-)

Bod Dylan, period.

Richard Elias

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Nov 9, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/9/99
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If your talking 50's music...Hank Williams.

Jody Rosen

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Nov 9, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/9/99
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Would you please take rec.music.rem off your reply list? Thanks.

--
"Did someone say "rock and roll"? Jandek's neither "rock" nor "roll." He's
not even 'and.'" -- Irwin Chusid


Richard Elias <rje...@execpc.com> wrote in message
news:3828a46d$0$97...@news.execpc.com...

VStax

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Nov 9, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/9/99
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David Lee Roth

John Hiatt

Bernie Taupin

John and Paul

Robin Petty

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Nov 10, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/10/99
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Santo Pantalones del Carne wrote in message:

> Three words:
>
> Cole Fuckin' Porter.
>
> That's all.

Ahh....I often wondered what the F. stood for in Cole F. Porter :)

--
Robin

'Chill bumps appear and I am frozen in the web they weave'

bobdirk

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Nov 11, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/11/99
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DianeE wrote in message <80ao3s$p83$3...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>...
>
>Bob Roman wrote in message <809fgm$1js$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>...

>>rox...@mindspring.com wrote:
>>> poetr...@my-deja.com wrote:
>>> >Who is the greatest writer of lyrics in the history of rock, pop and
>>> >soul music?
>>>
>>> I nominate Carole King, who you forgot on your list
>>
>>Carole King was a songwriter who collaborated with lyricists. She wrote
>>very few of the lyrics in her best known songs.
>>She did not write the lyrics to "Will You Love Me Tomorrow".
>>She did not write the lyrics to "Up On the Roof".
>>She did not write the lyrics to "One Fine Day".
>>She did not write the lyrics to "Don't Bring Me Down".
>>She did not write the lyrics to "A Natural Woman".
>>She did not write the lyrics to "It's Too Late".
>-----------------
>Did she write the lyrics to "It Might As Well Rain Until September"?
>Did she write the lyrics to "The LocoMotion"?
>Did she write the lyrics to "Papa Oo Mow Mow"? I wish I did!
>
>DianeE
>
Jimmy Van Heusen isn't just turning over in his grave, he's churning down
even deeper. Is there a 40's newsgroup? If so, I can't find it. But just
you wait, they tell me that we'll all be "connected" shortly. Does it count
if you were "almost" in the 50's?

No? Then how's about Lou Christie?

I

Bobby

Peter Joseph La Prade The Only RedViper

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Nov 11, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/11/99
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On Thu, 11 Nov 1999 00:09:44 -0500, , "bobdirk"
<bob...@email.msn.com> shared his insight or lack thereof about Re:
WHO'S THE GREATEST LYRIC WRITER? representing , in
rec.music.rock-pop-r+b.1960s

<snip Carole King discussion>


>Jimmy Van Heusen isn't just turning over in his grave, he's churning down
>even deeper. Is there a 40's newsgroup? If so, I can't find it. But just
>you wait, they tell me that we'll all be "connected" shortly. Does it count
>if you were "almost" in the 50's?
>
>No? Then how's about Lou Christie?

I'm sorry, but I can't help you there, but jumping in with a '40's
question, when the previous post which you quoted was about Carole
King. That just seems off-topic.

Luc Klinkhamer

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Nov 12, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/12/99
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For me there are 2 greatest lyric writers:
Robbie Robertson (The Band)
Roger Hodgson (Supertramp)
L:uc

Peter Joseph La Prade The Only RedViper schreef:

--
Luc Klinkhamer PO Box 350 2180 AJ Hillegom The Netherlands

http://www.lucsperennialworld.com

bobdirk

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Nov 12, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/12/99
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Peter Joseph La Prade "The Only RedViper" wrote in message
<382b278b...@news.mindspring.com>...

>On Thu, 11 Nov 1999 00:09:44 -0500, , "bobdirk"
><bob...@email.msn.com> shared his insight or lack thereof about Re:
>WHO'S THE GREATEST LYRIC WRITER? representing , in
>rec.music.rock-pop-r+b.1960s
>
><snip Carole King discussion>
>>Jimmy Van Heusen isn't just turning over in his grave, he's churning down
>>even deeper. Is there a 40's newsgroup? If so, I can't find it. But
just
>>you wait, they tell me that we'll all be "connected" shortly. Does it
count
>>if you were "almost" in the 50's?
>>
>>No? Then how's about Lou Christie?
>
>I'm sorry, but I can't help you there, but jumping in with a '40's
>question, when the previous post which you quoted was about Carole
>King. That just seems off-topic.
>
It wasn't a 40's question. In fact, it wasn't a question.
The original post went to all three (50s, 60's, 70's) groups- Lightning
striking again and again and again.
Bob

Phinatical

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Nov 13, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/13/99
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Geddy Lee is undoubtely the greatest lyric writer

JBartos

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Nov 14, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/14/99
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Cole Porter!!

No one can match his lyrics.

Jim

bobdirk

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Nov 14, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/14/99
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JBartos wrote in message <382E5300...@columbus.rr.com>...

>Cole Porter!!
>
>No one can match his lyrics.
>
>Jim

Finally- the correct answer.
Bob

LRossi3940

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Nov 14, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/14/99
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>Geddy Lee is undoubtely the greatest lyric writer
>

: ) I love RUSH's lyrics too, but Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson write the music
and Neil Peart writes all the lyrics.


Peace

LRossi3940

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Nov 14, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/14/99
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In rock n roll, Id go with :

Pete Townshend
Roger Waters
Ray Davies
Lennon/McCartney
Henley/Frey
Bono
Neil Young
Bruce Springsteen
Brian Wilson
Peter Gabriel


Peace

Beards

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Nov 14, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/14/99
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I think that we are all forgetting Bernie and Elton.
Bernie was the lyric writer, while Elton did the music.
After Lennon/McCartney, undoubtedly, the best writing pair in R&R history.

Beards
AKA Dale

Bob Roman

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Nov 14, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/14/99
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lross...@aol.com (LRossi3940) wrote:

> Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson was a songwriter who collaborated with lyricists. He
wrote very few of the lyrics in his best known songs.

Mike Love wrote the lyrics to a lot of the Beach Boys' feel-good
songs: "Surfin' Safari," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Good Vibrations," etc.

Roger Christian wrote the lyrics to most of their hot-rod songs: "Shut
Down," "Little Deuce Coup," even the great "Don't Worry Baby."

"In My Room" was supposed to be the isolated and neurotic Wilson's
early signiture song. But Gary Usher wrote the lyrics.

Tony Asher wrote most of the introspective "Pet Sounds lyrics: "God
Only Knows," "Caroline No," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," etc.

Van Dyke Parks wrote the mopey, philosophical late-60s lyrics: "Heroes
and Villains," "Surf's Up," and all of the "Smile" album that everyone
knew had to be genius because no one ever heard it.

Ed Cate

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Nov 14, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/14/99
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>I think that we are all forgetting Bernie and Elton.
>Bernie was the lyric writer, while Elton did the music.
>After Lennon/McCartney, undoubtedly, the best writing pair in R&R history.
>

You betcha!
"Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band"
Now that's some deep stuff!

Ed

Simon Fox

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Nov 15, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/15/99
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bobdirk <bob...@email.msn.com> wrote in message
news:OLOMPjmL$GA.251@cpmsnbbsa03...

I don't know much about Cole Porter, but of the modern era, Adam Duritz of
the Counting Crows is an amazing wordsmith. Their new album is AMAZING.....

Simon Fox

Per Rannug

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Nov 16, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/16/99
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Pete Sinfield (King Crimson)
Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
Bernie Taupin (Elton John)
Jon Anderson (Yes)
Tony Banks (Genesis)
Frank Zappa (no introduction necessary!!)
Bob Dylan
Steve Harris (Iron Maiden - 80s...)
Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
Chuck Berry (I mean it!!)

--
Per Rannug
http://home.sol.no/~prannug/
e-mail: pra...@online.no

G.T. Tyson IV

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Nov 16, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/16/99
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this may be OT for this newsgroup but anyone remember Ron Mael from
Sparks? He probably set some kind of record for cramming the most
syllables into one line.

GTTysonIV
Tar...@skantech.com


Ukali Mwendo

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Nov 17, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/17/99
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Who's the *greatest* writer?!

Curtis Mayfield, of course.

(got any hard questions?)


A Soul man,

Ukali


J.L. Johnson

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Nov 17, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/17/99
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Sweet choice!

Barry Robin and Maurice as well

J.L. Johnson, representin' the AOL nation

"Did your brain go AWOL boy? - Damon Wayans '99
"Yo' Mama Pays Full Commission" - Shannon Sharpe '99
"Dont Play Me...'cause when you play me you play yourself" - The Artist '99

Matthew Montchalin

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Nov 18, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/18/99
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On 17 Nov 1999, Ukali Mwendo wrote:

| Who's the *greatest* writer?!
|
| Curtis Mayfield, of course.

And speaking of whom, I managed to get my hands on a copy of his book,
"Poetic License" (published by Dove Books, ISBN 0-7871-0680-1). Everybody
should get a copy. The book contains the lyrics to 72 of his top selling
songs.

Yes, he is a truly amazing man. :)


Matthew Montchalin

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Nov 18, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/18/99
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On Thu, 18 Nov 1999, Matthew Montchalin wrote:
| On 17 Nov 1999, Ukali Mwendo wrote:
| | Who's the *greatest* writer?!
| |
| | Curtis Mayfield, of course.
|
| And speaking of whom, I managed to get my hands on a copy of his book,
| "Poetic License" (published by Dove Books, ISBN 0-7871-0680-1).

For what it's worth, that's 'DOVE Books' not 'Dover Books.'

| Everybody should get a copy. The book contains the lyrics to 72 of his
| top selling songs.
|
| Yes, he is a truly amazing man. :)

He says in his book that he is no longer able to work as an entertainer
because of his quadriplegic condition (snapped spine). I trust he can
find some escape in Internet and computers, if nowhere else. It can be
quite absorbing, and in \certain\ ways more rewarding than doing other
things in life. (Sigh!)


Matthew Montchalin

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Nov 18, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/18/99
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On Tue, 16 Nov 1999, G.T. Tyson IV wrote:

| this may be OT for this newsgroup but anyone remember Ron Mael from
| Sparks? He probably set some kind of record for cramming the most
| syllables into one line.

Now, wait a second. Screamin' J.J. Hawkins did a pretty good job with
nonsense lyrics (m-m-m-m-mu-) in 'Little Demon' (the flipside of
'I Put a Spell on You'). That's where every 'm' represents an inchoate
syllable unto itself. OTOH, which song did Ron Mael set a record with?


TeddyBoy

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Nov 18, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/18/99
to
How come I'm not seeing John Hiatt in there,,,,this man wrote some GREAT
songs
as did
Burt Bacharach
Jimmy Webb
Tim Hardin
Bobby Darin
Dozier Holland and Dozier
Lieber and Stoller
Smokey Robinson
Lee Hazelwood

Good luck finding just ONE..to be #1
TB
bobdirk wrote in message ...

Andrew Stewart

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Nov 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/22/99
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On Tue, 16 Nov 1999 17:21:23 -0500, "G.T. Tyson IV"
<Tar...@skantech.com> wrote:

>this may be OT for this newsgroup but anyone remember Ron Mael from
>Sparks? He probably set some kind of record for cramming the most
>syllables into one line.

Undoubtedly. David Bowie once said "I keep writing lyrics with too
many syllabbles so I end up having to sing them faster", but Mael took
that to the very extremity of possibility.

Mael is an example of a brilliant lyricist whose lyrics don't look as
good written down. For example, "This Town Ain't Big Enough For The
Both Of Us" - nothing without that camp falsetto delivery, but one of
the funniest lyrics ever written with. A lot of people think of "good
lyrics" as "looks like poetry when written down", but they're really
not the same thing at all.

(np: Best Of Bowie 69/74)
____________________________
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'hours...' is a richly textured and emotionally vivid set....
This time around, Bowie sounds influenced by nobody except himself, and he couldn't have picked a better role model."

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Fotograffa

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Nov 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/24/99
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I think it would have to be Brian May from QUEEN.
Sharon
www.momentsoffame.com/more_from_person.html?=364
Check out my photos

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