Coog97 said:

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Felice and Boudleaux Bryant

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Absolutely correct! They wrote over four hundred songs. Incredible songwriters.

McDill was great. So were Hank Sr. and Merle.

Lot of great songwriters named here, but for my money nobody tells a story like John Prine.

Glenn Frey & Don Henley - Eagles
Roger Waters & David Gilmour - Pink Floyd

That was one of the greatest things I've ever watched.

Roll the Bones said:

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Weird Al should get some consideration and no, I'm not joking.

Who else could write a song entirely of palindromes that actually rhymes, in the style of Bob Dylan?

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EOT

Since this was bumped a few that deserve mention (sorry if I missed these if already posted):

Ray Davies - I'm a huge Kinks fan. Very underrated.
Tom T Hall - His songs for kids were a family favorite when growing up.
Buddy Holly - Gets lost in the shuffle since his career was cut so short still produced many fantastic gems.
George Harrison
Dolly Parton
Pete Townsend
Elvis Costello

Froppe said:

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A few others, some of whom y'all may have to look up (most probably don't wear cowboy hats, though):
James Taylor
Neil Diamond
Paul Simon
Robert Lamm
Johnny Mercer
Cole Porter
Irving Berlin
J.S. Bach
Tchaikovsky
Richard Wagner
Igor Stravinsky

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Great list. Add George M Cohen

Bob McDill's list looks more like a list of songs than a list of great songs. Nice list, but a lot of sappy 80s poems that recording artists helped make good.

Greatest ever? I'd say Lennon/McCartney, Hank Sr, Willie, and Bob Dylan. There's also a lot of newer writers who may be equally great, but they're lost in the post-Napster shuffle.

Jimmy Webb certainly has to be on the list…