The 100 Greatest Singer-Songwriter Albums of All Time
My fellow editors and I put our heads together and nailed down a list of the 100 greatest records by artists who can do it on their own. Hit the comments to let us know where we made horrible, unforgivable mistakes, but head over here to read up on our selection criteria for the list in case you care to do something wacky like make an informed argument. We like arguments. That's partially why we make lists.
1. Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde
2. Carole King - Tapestry
3. Joni Mitchell - Blue
4. Nick Drake - Pink Moon
5. Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man
6. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
7. Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
8. Randy Newman - 12 Songs
9. Neil Young - Everyone Knows This is Nowhere
10. Crosby Stills & Nash - Crosby Stills & Nash
11. Simon and Garfunkel - Bookends
12. Cat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman
13. Bill Withers - Still Bill
14. Ani Difranco - Ani Difranco
15. Elliott Smith - Either/Or
16. Billy Bragg - Talking With The Taxman About Poetry
17. George Harrison - All Things Must Pass
18. Indigo Girls - Indigo Girls
19. Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years
20. Jim Croce - You Don't Mess Around With Jim
21. John Lennon - Imagine
22. Carly Simon - No Secrets
23. Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
24. Jackson Browne - Jackson Browne
25. Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
26. James Taylor - Sweet Baby James
27. Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
28. Steve Earle - Train A Comin'
29. John Prine - John Prine
30. Joan Baez - Diamonds and Rust
31. Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
32. Kris Kristofferson - Kristofferson
33. Beck - Sea Change
34. Melissa Etheridge - Yes I Am
35. John Mellencamp - Scarecrow
36. Richard & Linda Thompson - Shoot Out The Lights
37. Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt
38. Emmylou Harris - Pieces of the Sky
39. Donovan - Sunshine Superman
40. Bright Eyes - Lifted
41. Gram Parsons - GP
42. Janis Ian - Between The Lines
43. Phil Ochs - Pleasures of the Harbor
44. Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville
45. Jeff Buckley - Grace
46. Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
47. Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator)
48. Paul McCartney - Ram
49. Tish Hinojosa - Culture Swing
50. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker
51. Rufus Wainwright - Rufus Wainwright
52. Elvis Costello - King of America
53. Feist - The Reminder
54. Suzanne Vega - Nine Objects of Desire
55. Dolly Parton - Jolene
56. Neko Case - Furnace Room Lullaby
57. Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
58. Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales
59. Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
60. Sam Phillips - A Boot and a Shoe
61. Warren Zevon - Excitable Boy
62. Tim Buckley - Starsailor
63. Morrissey - Bona Drag
64. Lyle Lovett - Pontiac
65. Patty Griffin - Children Running Through
66. Marco Antonio Solis - Trozos De Mi Alma
67. Dan Fogelberg - The Innocent Age
68. Sarah McLachlan - Fumbling Towards Ecstacy
69. Harry Nilsson - The Point!
70. Lou Reed - Transformer
71. Laura Nyro - Eli and the Thirteenth Confession
72. Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen
73. Billy Joel - The Stranger
74. Mary Chapin Carpenter - Come On Come On
75. Shawn Colvin - A Few Small Repairs
76. Loggins & Messina - Sittin' In
77. Bill Callahan - Woke on a Whaleheart
78. Bonnie Prince Billy - I See A Darkness
79. Tracy Chapman - New Beginning
80. John Denver - Rocky Mountain High
81. Jenny Lewis - Rabbit Fur Coat
82. Aimee Mann - Lost in Space
83. Don McLean - American Pie
84. Loudon Wainwright III - History
85. Cass McCombs - PREfection
86. Ben Harper - Welcome To The Cruel World
87. Al Stewart - Year of the Cat
88. Andew Bird - Armchair Acrophya
89. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
90. India.Arie - Acoustic Soul
91. Cat Power - Moon Pix
92. David Sylvian - Secrets of the Beehive
93. Dashboard Confessional - The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most
94. Mirah - Advisory Committee
95. Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls..
96. Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine
97. Gian Marco - Resucitar
98. Sondre Lerche - Two Way Monologue
99. Nick Cave - No More Shall We Part
100. The Mountain Goats - Get Lonely
-- Jeff Reguilon
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Jon on July 12, 2010 at 02:19 PM
Patty Griffin's entry should be Living With Ghosts, duh, and it should be somewhere in the top 25 (It's my personal #1)
Luc on June 07, 2010 at 12:24 PM
Damien Rice "O"....has to be in the top twenty
Dimi on June 06, 2010 at 03:42 AM
LMFAO - Hey its just a "list" people - nicely picked up about subconscious stereotyping - ME, I appreciate the thought behind the initial list and all subsequent comments - I learned about some new artists tonight - Awesome - Now shut up and play your friggin guitars. And write some tunes while you're at it - Peace & Music - Dimitri Australia LLLOL
Steve on May 24, 2010 at 09:17 PM
Are you fuckin' crazy? No GORDON LIGHTFOOT??? You must be fuckin' crazy... (and not smokin' something...)
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Nowadays loud sounds like drums are prevalent in today's music. However, the soft sounds where the strings are dominant, and did not go out of style, the type of sound is just lovely for the effect of, relaxation, rather than disrupt the body as a bustling music.
Mark on February 18, 2010 at 03:28 AM
Got to have Neil Finn in there somewhere! From Split Enz, to Crowded House and solo stuff, this guy gets respect from musician peers; - plus i'm a Kiwi!
Ryan on February 15, 2010 at 09:04 PM
Don McLean should not be so far down the list. Take a look at the many people above him. Study his body of work. Now, you must by now have realized that there has been a mistake. American Pie! I have no idea what methodology you used, but by my own I would find Don McLean at least in the top 50 if not higher.
Brian on January 05, 2010 at 03:34 PM
M. Ward!
Tamara on January 03, 2010 at 10:42 PM
@ Jeff on November 25, 2009 at 08:38 PM
"Elvis was the best singer ever never he has nothing in common with a child molester like michael jackson."
Are you serious? Elvis and Michael were both child molesters...but Elvis married his victim.
P.S.
Marvin Gaye's Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology) 1971 album was one of the greatest singer-songwriter albums too...AH that voice!
Tamara on January 03, 2010 at 10:31 PM
Lauryn Hill is the BEST singer-songwriter of her generation and there is no doubt she wrote The Miseducation if you are familiar with her entire body of work. I mostly agree with the list but Lauryn's MTV unplugged CD would have made my list even though it needed to be edited. The beautiful raspy voice and meaninful lyrics will make that CD immortal.
JUST LIKE WATER by Lauryn Hill
[Verse 1]
Moving down the streams of my lifetime
Pulls the fascination in my sleeve
Cooling off the fire of my longing
Boiling off my cold within his heat
Melting down the walls of inhibition
Evaporating all of my fears
Baptizing me into complete submission
Dissolving my condition with his tears
Just Like Water, Mystery of Iniquity, I Remember, Adam Lives in Theory and Peace of Mind help make Lauryn's MTV Unplugged one of the best singer-songwriter albums ever.
Generation X produced at least one great singer-songwriter album.
vanfan on January 02, 2010 at 06:07 PM
goodbye yellowbrick road, madman across the water, honky chateau. one of em needs to be on this list, take your pick.and its missing 25 or so van morrison albums
Jenny on January 02, 2010 at 08:16 AM
Really great list! Almost identical to mine
Teo on December 28, 2009 at 09:17 AM
I am strongly disappointed by the fact that nobody has made any mention of Peter Hammill (both as leader of Van Der Graaf Generator and as soloist) and of David Tibet (as leader of Current 93). They are, I admit, cult artist for happy few, but the quality of their lyrics is absolutely oustanding and undoubtely surpasses the one of many of the singers-songwriters listed and quoted! (think of Cat Stevens or Jackson Browne or Donovan: good pop music, but texts of childish level, in most cases).
Za on December 23, 2009 at 09:22 PM
Wow another list without one of the greatest, actually the greatest song writer ever Kurt Cobain. Wow
OMFG on December 03, 2009 at 03:23 AM
Ever heard of a guy called Noel Gallagher?
Jeff on November 25, 2009 at 08:38 PM
Elvis was the best singer ever never he has nothing in common with a child molester like michael jackson.
Sad.. on November 06, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Your 'not really part of the genre' is just you whipping up a genre that includes what you want (white people) and excludes what you don't. How is Stevie Wonder anything but a singer/songwriter?
How about Sam Cooke? Curtis Mayfield? Mark Anthony Thompson? How about Stew? Trying to make it easy for you...
For any criteria you think these people violate, I'll give you someone on the who does too.
The Delta blues men of the 20s and 30s alone are some of the most important singer songwriters in American history--Charlie Patton, Skip James, Bukka White, Tommy Johnson, Sun House, Robert Johnson. I'll grant you they recorded before the album era (although I'd make the case that Robert Johnson's King of the Delta blues, recorded over 2 sessions, is as good a contender as any), but their lyrics are the subject of tomes and their style influenced quite literally everything that came after, not least of all your #1 artist on the list.
Genres have historically been used by record companies to segregate--divide and conquer--and what you're doing by ignoring by immense impact of black singers who wrote and played their own songs on your singer songwriters list is shoving them back into the 'race record' ghetto. It's sad really.
Rob on November 06, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Robert Wyatt?
David on November 06, 2009 at 01:44 AM
hard to take such a list seriously without the inclusion of a certain Neil Diamond. Diamond is one of the greatest Songwriters ever. I'd put him somewhere in the top 15. His songwriting credits speak volumes.
Samson on October 31, 2009 at 01:12 AM
Listen y'all, its just a list. There is some great music on it and great music not shown here. Genres are not necessarily the clearest thing to delineate. What is clear is that some people are very offended and dealt with that by making aggressive and even more offensive post. Can't we be peaceful and just appreciate each others views or is it really all about being number one or who is included. Think about it, if you can even exercise tolerance online how is this world going to get any better? I rest my case and hope for a thoughtful and progressive response.
peace and love
Matthew on October 07, 2009 at 01:49 AM
Prince sucks.
Music Missing on September 21, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Eddie Vedder/Pearl Jam seem to be missing and can be added for either Ten, Vs. or Vitalogy.
Mike on August 21, 2009 at 05:27 AM
..there's nowt wrong with folk on this forum. The list has generated discussion and debate. This is a good thing!
Rosh on August 20, 2009 at 07:29 AM
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Rosh on August 20, 2009 at 07:29 AM
Hey Jeff,
I'm not going to put you down like so many of these negative comments above but I would mention an album you HAVE to check out that would be my addition to this list.
Kreg Viesselan 'The Pull' He's an insightful blend of 'Mark Twain and Bob Dylan.
Check em out: http://kregviesselman.com/
Also if your interested. I rearranged JOhnny Cash's version of the Nine Inch Nails song 'Hurt' with a five piece string section.
Took the best of Cash's Version and the best of Trent's and added a string section.
www.roshmusic.com
Tnkman62 on August 19, 2009 at 01:04 PM
What is wrong with the people reading this list? It's not a government mandate. Have your own opinion and enjoy the music. Wow!
Mike on August 18, 2009 at 04:08 AM
You have totally contradicted your selection criteria by saying 'I don't really consider Prince and Stevie Wonder as part of the singer-songwriter genre'. It's a flakey, wishy-washy statement. Innervisions should be on that list. That aside, it's an alright list. These things can never be totally objective can they. I'm assuming Kate Bush; Hounds of Love, is not there because it probably can't be 'performed on guitar, piano etc...' Rather silly perameters to set in my opinion but again, it's all subjective and I'll certainly be checking out some of the entries.
Nimz on August 06, 2009 at 05:35 AM
This list is rubbish. Where is Noel Gallagher and Oasis? - Julian Casablancas an The Strokes?
dale on July 26, 2009 at 02:50 AM
where the hell is gary cherone and david coverdale?
steven on July 09, 2009 at 01:11 AM
the Beatles released some of the best and most influential albums of all time and not a single one is on here? Sgt Pepper, Abbey Road, The White Album, REVOLVER (my favourite album of all time) all were completely written by the Beatles and the Album "A Hard Days Night" is great and included only songs written by Lennon/McCartney
Sessionkat on June 25, 2009 at 09:06 PM
How can you guys put Willie and Dylan on a list of the all time lamest albums? This is music for pussies!
alex on June 10, 2009 at 10:51 AM
if you are separating bands from singer/songwriters, i generally require proficiency with a musical instrument to be on this list. elton john and stevie wonder are the most obscenely blatant omissions. i mean, i think elton john is likely #1. prince, pete townshend? the list is very white. ray charles? jose feliciano? and do me a favor and take dashboard confessional and fiona apple and shove them up your arse.
teddy on June 10, 2009 at 10:41 AM
um. elton john? stevie wonder? prince?
roxette on May 06, 2009 at 10:27 PM
hey most Beatles songs, and many most famous songs
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J on April 10, 2009 at 10:27 AM
tapestry belongs on top
Paul Williams on April 05, 2009 at 06:22 PM
First thing I thougt when I saw this list was where are the black artists? But in reality it's not even a race thing. It's just simply inexplicable not to include Stevie Wonder in a list of great songwriters. Singer-songwriter albums? Go have a listen to Innervisions, Talking Book or Songs In The Key Of Life and tell me how you can exclude any or all of them. If you make a list of 100 great singer-songwriters and can not fit Stevie Wonder on your list, plain and simple, there's something wrong with you or your list.
joe joe on April 05, 2009 at 11:18 AM
what no Indigo Girles? Closer to fine?
Ken on March 19, 2009 at 05:49 PM
Innervisions-Stevie Wonder, 1973. He wrote each song on that one, and didn't have one co-writer, and sung on each song on the album, and you didn't include that one in your list????
Plus the fact that he had 5 albums in the 1970's that are still referenced today by the hip-hop/soul/pop generation, and even people in diverse styles of music like Prince and Kanye West respect what the man did back then???
Amazing that this list has so much shortsightedness.
Woodstock on March 08, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Why no Lennon/McCartney? Beatles as opposed to members solo efforts. My pick would be Sgt Pepper,but Abbey Road or the white album would have been fine too.
That been said glad you included some great,ignored folk artists like Phil Ochs and Townes Van Zandt.
Tim on March 06, 2009 at 04:42 PM
Kudos for acknowledging Melissa Etheridge, she is a true star. Not only is her songwriting passionate and deep, but her voice is simply WOW. I went to her concert last year for the first time and was really just taken aback by her incredibly powerful voice and her ability to put in an amazing three hour show that was non-stop rock. She's one of the greats.
Jeff Reguilon on March 06, 2009 at 02:59 PM
Pete, since reading comprehension skills clearly aren't your friend, I'll guide you through a few things. First of all, in the paragraph at the start of this list, I posted a link where you could see my selection criteria, basically joking that if you didn't look at that first, your argument would be uninformed. Secondly, this is not a list of the greatest singer-songwriters as artists; it's a list of the greatest singer-songwriter ALBUMS. While Beck has made some records that clearly don't fall into the singer-songwriter genre, Sea Change is basically him pouring his heart out over simple acoustic guitar-based arrangements. We would never have thought to include something like Midnite Vultures, since it's not a singer-sonwriter album.
Pete on March 06, 2009 at 02:48 PM
Jeff I think your gonna have to define your "singer-songwriters" term, cause you have some artists that stared with dance electronic, New Wave and funk, and some others that made a lot of Pop crap, I mean if you have Beck why not Prince? or if you have Morrisey why not The Replacements?, or even if you have Nick Cave why not Trent Reznor?? This list is a big contradiction.
Jorge on March 06, 2009 at 02:32 PM
Pablo tienes razón, novatos como Ben Folds Five y Dashboard Confessional tienen más discos que han probado estar en la lista de lo mejor de todos los tiempos, mi fanatismo contra tu experiencia no es nada. que bueno que te tomaste la molestia de escribir para contradecir un argumento en contra de Cerati y no de otros que aparecen "muy merecidamente" en la lista.
Por cierto jamás he comprado ni tengo un disco de Cerati ni Soda Stereo.
Besos!
king vidor on March 06, 2009 at 01:04 PM
Neil Young and Crazy Horse's "Everybody Knows," is not a singer song writer album. Of course Neil Young belongs on the list, but this is just stupid. There are at least 4 albums that should be included, but not this one. Same with Blonde on Blonde. Fucking stupid.
Pablo on March 06, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Jorge! Cerati como uno de los mejores cantantes-compositores de todos los tiempos? Bocanada? Creo que tu fanatismo te ciega en exceso.
Bruuuuuuuuuuce on March 06, 2009 at 06:41 AM
No Stan Rogers? No Steve Goodman, or Harry Chapin? No Leadbelly, or Woody Guthrie? And what were you thinking, including Shoot Out The Lights over Rumor and Sigh? Stevie Wonder has got to be here, and I can only guess that the reason you omit Odetta is that she does so many covers.
Time to take a mulligan, and do this list, version 2.0, to get it closer to right.
madgirl on March 06, 2009 at 04:47 AM
Props for picking Aimee Mann, Ben Folds Five, and Dashboard Confessional. I would've picked Shawn Colvin's Steady On, but glad she's on the list.
How could you leave out Say Anything? Max Bemis is arguably the most talented singer/songwriter of his generation.
Tim on March 05, 2009 at 04:17 PM
Your criteria seem to include "white musician, preferably strumming a guitar while singing," otherwise the list certainly would have included Stevie Wonder, "Songs in the Key of Life." He wrote and performed everything on that and produced the thing also. And it's wonderful, inspiring music.