The greatest female songwriter?

[ADK]

I've heard Jason Isbell referred to as the best songwriter of his generation. Springsteen was the next Dylan, and Dylan is the king of them all. I usually don't put much stock in statements like that. But it's interesting to note that lists of best songwriters include Cohen, McCartney, and lots of other guys.

What about women? There are plenty of great female songwriters in the pop/rock era. But just for fun, if you had to pick one... Who is the greatest (most prolific and influential) in your opinion?

[gwlee7]

Carol King pops to kind immediately.

[sully151]

Joni Mitchell
Patty Smith

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by gwlee7

Carol King pops to kind immediately.

Carole King.
I think she is the only artist to have their own song plus another version of that same song, by a different artist, both make No 1 in the same year.
'You've Got A Friend' written by Carole was a hit for herself and James Taylor too in 1971.

[Mycroft]

Lucinda Williams

[lone eskimo]

Joni Mitchell and yes Carole King but Carole didn't write her lyrics. For combining music and lyrics Joni has few equals. Her lyrics are in the master class with Leonard Cohen and Dylan- and musically she is way beyond those guys- earning praise and tribute from artists like Herbie Hancock, Elton John, Prince and had some jazz greats like Pat Metheny, Larry Carlton, and Jaco Pastorious (and many others) gracing her recordings. And to think she considers herself an artist first (painter) then a musician..

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by lone eskimo

Joni Mitchell and yes Carole King but Carole didn't write her lyrics. For combining music and lyrics Joni has few equals. Her lyrics are in the master class with Leonard Cohen and Dylan- and musically she is way beyond those guys- earning praise and tribute from artists like Herbie Hancock, Elton John, Prince and had some jazz greats like Pat Metheny, Larry Carlton, and Jaco Pastorious (and many others) gracing her recordings. And to think she considers herself an artist first (painter) then a musician..

Did I read somewhere that she made up her own tunings on guitar too?

[Mandobart]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

Lucinda Williams

Beat me to it. I would add Eilen Jewell, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Joan Baez.

[DenverSteve]

From quantity, quality and from other's recording hits of hers - Dolly Parton. However Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow are right up there for me.

[Tele1111]

I would suggest Lynn Miles, Marie Digby, Rickie Lee Jones, Ellen McIllwaine and about a hundred more that escape me presently.
There are as many, if not more, great women writing as there are men.

Mark

[Charmed Life Picks]

Joni Mitchell was my first thought, then I too thought of the Wilson sisters. Mitchell seems to stand pretty much alone at the top of that mountain.

sm

[Guitars+gems]

Yes, I would have to say Joni Mitchell. Prolific, profound, and influential.

But, Laura Nyro, too, deserves recognition. Her albums are full of dramatic and poignant stories of love, sung in her glorious voice that accompanied her piano so well. And she made hits for other stars, Stoned Soul Picnic, Wedding Bell Blues, Save the Country, Blowing Away, And When I Die...so many.

[Silurian]

Sandy Denny is right up there for me.

[ishtar]

This is all so not easy... Joni, for sure. But I'd add to the great list of female singer songwriters above, the Roche sisters, Joan Armatrading, Sarah Harmer, Ann Walton, Erin McKeown, Jane Siberry...

[LarryVe]

How about Maybelle and Sara Carter from The Carter Family. They wrote songs that have been rewritten times over and considered classics.