Videos by American Songwriter
The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced their list of nominees for 2010, a list which includes John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen, and Elvis Costello. Among the non-performing songwriters on the list are Luther Dixon and Mutt Lange.
Ballots have been mailed to the SongHall membership for their vote, with the return deadline of December 11th, and the new slate of inductees will be announced next year. Three songwriters will be chosen by the membership from the Non-Performing category, and two from the Performing. The nominees are as follows (please note that the song titles listed are only intended as illustrations of the nominees work):
Non-Performer Songwriters
Tommy Boyce (d)/Bobby Hart – * Come A Little Bit Closer * I’m Not Your Steppin’ Stone * I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight? * Last Train To Clarksville * Valleri
Jackie DeShannon – * Bette Davis Eyes * Breakaway * Dum Dum * Everytime You Walk In The Room * Put A Little Love In Your Heart
Luther Dixon – * Big Boss Man * Boys * I Don’t Want To Cry * Sixteen Candles * Soldier Boy
David Foster – * After The Love Is Gone * I Have Nothing * Look What You’ve Done To Me * The Prayer * You’re The Inspiration
Mark James – * (You Were) Always On My Mind * Eyes Of A New York Woman * Hooked On A Feeling * Moody Blue * Suspicious Minds
Robert John “Mutt” Lange – * Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car * Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman * (Everything I Do) I Do It For You * Photograph * That Don’t Impress Me Much
Johnny Mandel – * A Time For Love * Emily * Suicide Is Painless (Theme from M*A*S*H*) * The Shadow Of Your Smile * Where Do You Start?
Jerry Ragovoy/Bert Berns (d) – * Cry Baby * Here Comes The Night * Pata Pata * Piece Of My Heart * Time Is On My Side
Harvey Schmidt & Tom Jones – * Much More * My Cup Runneth Over * Soon It’s Gonna Rain * They Were You * Try To Remember
Billy Sherrill – * Almost Persuaded * Every Time * Most Beautiful * My Elusive Dreams * Stand By Your Man
Joe South – * Down In The Boondocks * Games People Play * Hush * I Never Promised You A Rose Garden * Walk A Mile In My Shoes
Paul Vance & Lee Pockriss – * Catch A Falling Star * Dommage Dommage * Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini * Playground In My Mind * She Lets Her Hair Down
Performer/Songwriters
Bono (Paul Hewson)/The Edge (David Evans)/Adam Clayton/Larry Mullen (U2)– * Beautiful Day * I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For * New Year’s Day * Sunday, Bloody Sunday * Where The Streets Have No Name
Garth Brooks – * If Tomorrow Never Comes * Papa Loved Mama * The Thunder Rolls * What She’s Doin’ Now * Unanswered Prayers
Leonard Cohen – * Bird On The Wire * Hallelujah * Hey That’s No Way to Say Goodbye * So Long Marianne * Suzanne
Elvis Costello – * Accidents Will Happen * Alison * Radio, Radio * Pump It Up * Watching The Detectives
Dion DiMucci – * Born to Cry * Donna The Prima Donna * King Of The New York Streets * Love Came To Me * Runaround Sue
David Gates (Bread)– * Baby I’m-a Want You * Diary * Everything I Own * If * Make It With You
Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) – * Moonshadow * Morning Has Broken * Peace Train * The First Cut Is The Deepest * Wild World
Tommy James – * Crimson And Clover * Crystal Blue Persuasion * Draggin’ The Line * I Think We’re Alone Now * Mony, Mony
John Mellencamp – * Jack And Diane * Lonely Ol’ Night * Pink Houses * Small Town * The Authority Song
Lou Reed – * Heroin * Pale Blue Eyes * Rock & Roll * Sweet Jane * Walk On The Wild Side
Leon Russell– * A Song For You * Delta Lady * Superstar * This Masquerade * Tight Rope
Maurice White/Philip Bailey/Verdine White/Larry Dunn/Al McKay (Earth, Wind and Fire) – * Reasons * September * Shining Star * Sing A Song * That’s The Way Of The World
About The Songwriters Hall of Fame: The Songwriters Hall of Fame celebrates songwriters, educates the public with regard to their achievements, and produces a spectrum of professional programs devoted to the development of new songwriting talent through workshops, showcases and scholarships. Over the course of the past 40 years, some key Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees have included Desmond Child, Loretta Lynn, John Sebastian, John Fogerty, Isaac Hayes and David Porter, Steve Cropper, Dolly Parton, Richard and Robert Sherman, Bill Withers, Carole King, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Sir Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, Hal David and Burt Bacharach, Jim Croce, Phil Collins, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Jimmy Webb, Paul Williams, Van Morrison, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Cy Coleman and many, many others. The Songwriters Hall of Fame was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond.
Full biographies and a complete list of inductees are available at the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s Virtual Museum at http://songwritershalloffame.org/.
Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens without a doubt is a truly worthy nominee.
Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart should have been inducted years ago for their contributions and multitude of sixties pop hits. Please members, let’s make this right this year.
I understand the songs are just a brief representation, but all songs listed for Elvis Costello are off his first album! He’s written for over 30 years since then, in every genre from pop to country to classical.
The few titles listed, while great songs, hardly do him justice. It makes it appear as if he never released anything since My Aim is True.
It’s so nice to see Leon Russell get some of the recognition he is long overdue.
How come Paul Weller and Delbert McClinton are not up there?
No women? What the hey!
Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen are worthy candidates.
Leon Russell. FINALLY. His discography is so extensive, and his songs so widespread, and covered, he should have been here, and the R&R Hall of Shame years ago. Way to go! Members should have no problem making the decision to pay tribute to the man, the legend, the Master of Space and Time.
John O’S Well said, Juli R. Costello is truly deserving. Joe South, Jackie De Shannon – non-performers – since when?!!
Actually the songs listed for Costello are off his first three albums. But, I agree there is still quite a body of work beyond My Aim is True, This Year’s Model, and Armed Forces.
Excuse me where the hell is JUSTIN HAYWARD!!!!
Earth,Wind &Fire are the stars that shine this world and his spirit, with their music, thanks.
I am not only argueably the biggest EWF fan, but a big fan of Maurice,Verdine,Philip,Larry, Al , Ralph, Andrew,Johnny and Fred individually. I actually bought a champagne color BMW 7 series once because I wanted to be like Larry, boy, I can just go on & on. It fills my heart that Reese, Verdine, Larry, Philip and Al are nominated.Thank you guys from the bottom of my heart, I wish you got back together again as EWF. Long live Lui Lui and Don.
Elvis Costellos songbook is enormous and theres great songs on every one of his records over the 32 years of artistry. Listen to his latest “Secret, profane & sugarcane ” for instance. Few other artists have keept on blossomed like Elvis.
EWF is best band of the world
Earth Wind and Fire is the best band that ever was and ever will be. They write the best songs and give the greatest performance. Long live EWF , God Bless them and may they forever make great music together. Please give them the honor they so deserve and vote them in!
The music, the lyrics and positive message of Earth, Wind and Fire has inspired people around the world. They are truly “Shining Stars”
It is scandalous that year after year the Songwriters Hall of Fame inducts inductees into the Hall – and fails to welcome, to acknowledge the repertoire of the late great LAURA NYRO (1947-1997). It remains a crime to this very day, how very sad a commentary on the Hall and its legacy that is…she who powerfully paved the way as a musical pioneer for so many artists, men and women alike, and whose profound influence is credited by none other than Joni Mitchell, Elton John, Elvis Costello, and Kenny Rankin. Whose work, was admired by the likes of Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Miles Davis. Her songbook will one day stand as part of the American songbook, too. What about Laura Nyro? When will this rank injustice be righted, once and for all – by the Hall — and its leadership?
Leon Russell taught so many other performers how to play, stage , and write songs. He certainly is more deserving of this honor than anyone. He is such a versatile musician, a knock-out singer, and has influenced music mightily with his mixes of different types of music. His lyrics ring true and sometimes have such a poignancy, and at other times such emotion and intellectualism. His music makes you feel good and comforted in some way. Leon Russell
is a genius.
Earth, Wind & Fire is, has always been, and will forever be, the greatest band to ever grace this planet, bar none. no disresoect to any other band, but lets keep it real. Name me one band from the 60’s or 70’s that sold out every concert back then, and now 35 years later, still selling out all of their concerts sing the same songs they wrote 35 years ago. Most of todays artist will never know what that is like, trust me. The three things you will always need are, God first, true talent, and loyal fans.
Im very happy,Charles and Harry Tobias,were voted into the SHOF. Charles Tobias,CO-WROTE,with Eddie Cantor,Merrilie We Roll Along,A Looney Tune Melody.
Jeffrey Tobias
EWF……..THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD!!!!! CONGRATS!
The best band ever and continues to do it all after all of these years. I love you guys keep keeping on with the best music God has given to you to give to this world. Be Blessed my brothers…
Sorry to see I. Levine/L.R. Brown missing from this year’s nominees. I just loved all the big Tony Orlando hits they wrote together in the 70’s and the others Brown did for Mitch Ryder, the Four Seasons, Johnny Mathis, T.S. Monk,
E. Humperdink, and others. Please keep them on your radar chart for next year.
EWF: Inspiring and inspired; their music is a part of the soundtrack of my life, and millions of others.
If George Harrison had only written “Something” and “Here Comes The Sun” that would and should be MORE than enough to merit his induction. Jon Bon Jovi is there?? What a travesty.
I never realized that Johnny Mandel, who should have been inducted into the SHF more than three decades ago, is only now receiving his due. He has composed such classics as “Emily”, “The Shadow of Your Smile”, “A Time for Love”, the Theme from M*A*S*H (“Suicide Is Painless”, and “A Christmas Love Song”, and at age 84 he is still active as an arranger and conductor. Last week I saw him guest-conduct the all-female Diva Jazz Orchestra at NYC’s Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, and last November he was aboard The Jazz Cruise on Holland-America’s MS Westerdam (just after arranging Barbra Streisand’s latest CD, Love Is the Answer. Congratulations to this treasure of American music!
Where’s Kim Carnes place in the Songwriters Hall of Fame??? She truly deserves this!!
WHERE IS RAY DAVIES???
How do you pick one out of that lot… Impossible… Best I can do is shorten to these:-
Bono (Paul Hewson)/The Edge (David Evans)/Adam Clayton/Larry Mullen
Elvis Costello
Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens)
Lou Reed
IM VERY HAPPY CHARLES TOBIAS AND HENRY AND HARRY TOBIAS WERE INDUCTED INTO THE SHOF. Jeffrey Tobias