FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The 100 Best Living Songwriters
-- from Bob Dylan to Outkast: Paste magazine ranks the greats --
Decatur, GA (May 30, 2006) – Bob Dylan tops Paste magazine’s list of the “100 Best Living Songwriters,”released today and published in the June/July 2006 issue. Fifty journalists and musicians (including Solomon Burke, Cameron Crowe, Patterson Hood, and many others) were enlisted to compile the list and were encouraged to vote for the songwriters they treasured the most—not the ones with the biggest sales or the greatest impact on popular culture.
The list itself ranges in age from Conor Oberst (26) to Hal David (85); in style from the aggressive politically-infused hip hop of Public Enemy to the cheeky twang of Dolly Parton; in outlook from the brooding, internal tumult of Morrissey to the unfettered, existential exuberance of The Flaming Lips. “These are very personal choices that reflect a wide variety of culture and taste,” explained Paste editor-in-chief Josh Jackson, “we hope the list inspires some heated debates, new discoveries, and lots of listening.”
The complete rankings:
1 Bob Dylan
2 Neil Young
3 Bruce Springsteen
4 Waits/Brennan
5 Paul McCartney
6 Leonard Cohen
7 Brian Wilson
8 Elvis Costello
9 Joni Mitchell 10 Prince 11 Randy Newman 12 Jagger/Richards 13 Paul Simon 14 Stevie Wonder 15 Willie Nelson 16 David Bowie 17 Holland/Dozier/Holland 18 U2 19 Patty Griffin 20 Van Morrison 21 Lou Reed 22 Lucinda Williams 23 John/Taupin 24 Jeff Tweedy 25 Chuck Berry 26 R.E.M 27 Radiohead 28 Robbie Robertson 29 Tom Petty 30 John Prine 31 Carole King 32 Leiber/Stoller 33 Pete Townshend 34 John Fogerty 35 Steve Earle 36 Beck 37 Smokey Robinson 38 Kris Kristofferson 39 Led Zeppelin 40 Bacharach/David 41 Ray Davies 42 Loretta Lynn 43 Ryan Adams 44 Al Green 45 Jackson Browne 46 David Byrne 47 Sufjan Stevens 48 Welch/Rawlings 49 Cat Stevens 50 Public Enemy 51 Penn/Oldham 52 Paul Westerberg 53 James Taylor 54 Aimee Mann 55 Dolly Parton 56 James Brown 57 Morrissey 58 Sly Stone 59 Jack White 60 Jimmy Webb 61 John Hiatt 62 Sting 63 Richard Thompson 64 Andy Partridge 65 Bill Mallonee 66 Charles Thompson 67 Conor Oberst 68 Allen Toussaint 69 Merle Haggard 70 Alex Chilton 71 Vic Chesnutt 72 Michael Jackson 73 Julie Miller 74 Over the Rhine 75 Ron Sexsmith 76 Will Oldham 77 Bruce Cockburn 78 Robert Pollard 79 Stephen Malkmus 80 Pink Floyd 81 The Flaming Lips 82 John Darnielle 83 Fleetwood Mac 84 They Might Be Giants 85 David Bazan 86 Sam Beam 87 Lyle Lovett 88 Parliament 89 Victoria Williams 90 Nick Cave 91 Drive-By Truckers 92 Alejandro Escovedo 93 Joseph Arthur 94 Sam Phillips 95 Patti Smith 96 Jimmy Cliff 97 Josh Ritter 98 Jay Farrar 99 Outkast 100 T Bone Burnett
Furthermore, beyond just a ranked list, Paste solicited colorful anecdotes and revelations on each of the 100 from fellow artists and other notable personalities. Solomon Burke discusses his admiration for Carole King, legendary journalist Ben Fong-Torres’ offers his personal take on Al Green’s brilliance, author Kaye Gibbons gushes about the genius of Loretta Lynn, and so much more.
Also included is the Paste reader’s Top 100, for which the magazine received over 18,000 responses.
To request an issue or to arrange an interview with Paste magazine editor-in-chief Josh Jackson, please contact: [xxx].
Paste magazine is one of the fastest growing independently published entertainment magazines in the country, recently named "Magazine of the Year" at the 2006 PLUG Independent Music Awards. Providing thoughtful analysis on the best in film, books and other aspects of popular (and alternative) culture, Paste is the premier magazine for people who still enjoy discovering new music, prize substance and songcraft over fads and manufactured attitude, and appreciate quality music in whatever genre it might inhabit. Now in their fifth year, Paste has grown quickly with international distribution in over 12 countries. Paste is available on newsstands all over the U.S. and Canada
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