Pure Genius: 40 of the World's Greatest Songwriters

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

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▼CD 1
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Baby Can I Hold You
engineer and mixer:
Kevin Smith (American DJ, producer and hip hop pioneer based in New York City.)
producer:
David Kershenbaum
bass guitar:
Larry Klein
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Denny Fongheiser
electric sitar and Hammond organ:
Jack Holder
electric violin:
David LaFlamme
guitar [rhythm]:
Tracy Chapman
keyboard:
Bob Marlette
vocals:
Tracy Chapman
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Elektra/Asylum Records (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor within the US) (in 1988)
recorded at and mixed at:
Powertrax Studio in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
Baby Can I Hold You
lyricist and composer:
Tracy Chapman
publisher:
EMI Songs Ltd., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. (UK), Purple Rabbit Music, Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (holding company - do not use as release label)
Tracy Chapman43:16
2Your Song
engineer:
Robin Geoffrey Cable
producer:
Gus Dudgeon
12 string guitar:
Clive Hicks
acoustic guitar:
Frank Clark (Guitar/bassist)
bass guitar:
Dave Richmond
drums (drum set):
Barry Morgan (English drummer)
guitar:
Colin Green
piano and lead vocals:
Elton John (English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer)
conductor:
Paul Buckmaster
arranger:
Paul Buckmaster
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
This Record Co. Ltd. (copyright holder)
recorded at:
Trident Studios (London, UK) in Soho, Westminster, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
part of:
Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 136) and The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 202)
recording of:
Your Song
lyricist:
Bernie Taupin
composer:
Elton John (English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer)
publisher:
Dick James Music Ltd. (renamed Universal/Dick James Music Ltd. since 1999‐07‐30) (ended), Universal‐Songs of PolyGram International, Inc., Universal/Dick James Music Ltd. (fka Dick James Music Ltd.), シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部
music quoted on:
Dandelions (from the score of the 2011 animation film "Gnomeo & Juliet")
music quoted on:
Terrafirminator (from the score of the 2011 animation film "Gnomeo & Juliet")
part of:
Moulin Rouge! (2001 film)
Elton John3.854:02
3(Something Inside) So Strong
recording of:
(Something Inside) So Strong
lyricist and composer:
Labi Siffre
publisher:
Universal Music Publishing Ltd. (UK subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group) and Universal/Empire Music Ltd.
Labi Siffre4:19
4Wicked Game
producer:
Erik Jacobsen
mixer:
Mark Needham
recording of:
Wicked Game (in 1989)
lyricist and composer:
Chris Isaak
publisher:
Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996)
Chris Isaak4.154:49
5Ironic (unplugged)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Maverick Recording Company (not for release label use, for copyrights use only) (in 1999)
live recording of:
Ironic
lyricist:
Alanis Morissette (singer-songwriter)
composer:
Glen Ballard and Alanis Morissette (singer-songwriter)
publisher:
Aerostation Corporation, Arlovol Music and Vanhurst Place Music
part of:
Jagged Little Pill (the musical)
Alanis Morissette33:56
6Babylon
programming and engineer:
Iestyn Polson
producer:
Clune, David Gray (British singer/songwriter) and Iestyn Polson
bass and drums (drum set):
Clune
guitar and piano:
David Gray (British singer/songwriter)
keyboard:
Tim Bradshaw
vocals:
Clune and David Gray (British singer/songwriter)
recording of:
Babylon
lyricist and composer:
David Gray (British singer/songwriter)
publisher:
Chrysalis and Chrysalis Music Ltd. (music publisher)
David Gray4.354:26
7How Wonderful You Are
Gordon Haskell3:58
8Piano Man
engineer:
Ron Malo
producer:
Michael Stewart (US producer/guitarist)
accordion and keyboard [keyboards]:
Michael Omartian (in 1973)
drums (drum set):
Ron Tutt (in 1973)
electric bass guitar:
Wilton Felder (in 1973)
guitar:
Larry Carlton (in 1973) and Dean Parks (American session guitarist) (in 1973)
guitar [guitar overdubs]:
William Bennett (guitarist) (in 1973)
harmonica and piano and lead vocals:
Billy Joel (in 1973)
percussion:
Bobbi Hall (in 1973)
arranger:
Michael Omartian
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
CBS, Inc. (US broadcasting company; file no releases here!) (in 1973, in 1975), Sony Music Entertainment (not for release label use! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP) (in 1973) and Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1973)
recorded at:
Devonshire Studios in Burbank, California, United States (in 1973)
music videos:
Piano Man by Billy Joel
part of:
Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 421)
recording of:
Piano Man (in 1973)
lyricist and composer:
Billy Joel
publisher:
April Music Ltd., Blackwood Music Inc. (1953-02-07–1987-12-30), Home Grown Music, Inc. (work publisher), Impulsive Music, Tinker Street Tunes, ヤマハミュージックEH(CM), ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部, CBS Songs Ltd. (in 1973) and Joelsongs (in 1973)
Billy Joel4.355:38
9Father and Son
producer:
Paul Samwell-Smith
bass guitar:
John Ryan (producer a/k/a “The Chicago Kid”) (in 1970-07)
drums (drum set):
Harvey Burns (in 1970-07)
guitar and keyboard:
Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam) (in 1970-07)
guitar [2nd]:
Alun Davies (in 1970-07)
solo violin:
John Rostein (in 1970-07)
vocals:
Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam) (in 1970-07)
strings arranger:
Del Newman (British conductor, orchestrator, arranger)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Island Records Ltd. (UK) (in 1970) and Universal Island Records Ltd. (not for release label use! UK record company) (in 1970)
recorded at:
Morgan Studios (Morgan Sound Studios) in Willesden, Brent, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1970-07)
part of:
The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 408)
recording of:
Father and Son (Cat Stevens) (in 1970-07)
lyricist and composer:
Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam)
publisher:
Cat Music Ltd., Island Music Ltd., Island Music, Inc. (work publisher - NOT related to the Island imprint now owned by UMG), Freshwater Music Ltd. (from 1970 to present) and Irving Music, Inc. (from 1970 to present)
Cat Stevens4.253:41
10Cat's in the Cradle
producer:
Paul Leka
arranger:
Paul Leka
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Elektra Records (not for release label use! please use its imprint "Elektra" instead) and Elektra/Asylum/Nonesuch Records (not for release label use! a division of Warner Communications Inc.)
recorded at:
Connecticut Recording Studios in Connecticut, United States
recording of:
Cat’s in the Cradle
writer:
Sandra Campbell Chapin and Harry F Chapin
publisher:
Story Songs, Ltd, Warner Chappell Music, Inc. and Warner/Chappell North America Limited (formerly incorporated as Marmalade Music Ltd., from 1968/09/19–1999/11/09)
Harry Chapin43:48
11Love and Affection
recording of:
Love and Affection
lyricist and composer:
Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading4:25
12Oh My Sweet Carolina
assistant engineer:
Patrick Himes
engineer, producer and mixer:
Ethan Johns
piano:
Pat Sansone
vocals:
Emmylou Harris
recorded at:
Woodland Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, United States
recording of:
Oh My Sweet Carolina
lyricist and composer:
Ryan Adams (US singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer & poet)
Ryan Adams34:56
13Wildflowers
producer:
Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist), Tom Petty and Rick Rubin (American record producer and former co-president of Columbia Records)
assistant mixer:
Kenji Nasai
mixer:
Richard Dodd (mastering engineer, producer and engineer)
acoustic guitar:
Tom Petty
bass guitar and harpsichord:
Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist)
drums (drum set):
Steve Ferrone
harmonium and piano:
Benmont Tench
instruments:
George Drakoulias
percussion:
Lenny Castro
vocals:
Tom Petty
conductor:
Michael Kamen (American score composer)
orchestrator:
Michael Kamen (American score composer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint) (in 1994) and WEA International Inc. (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor for the world outside of the US) (in 1994)
mixed at:
Andora Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
Wildflowers
orchestrator:
Michael Kamen (American score composer)
lyricist and composer:
Tom Petty (in 1993)
publisher:
Gone Gator Music (ASCAP affiliated)
Tom Petty33:12
14A New England
recording engineer, engineer and producer:
Oliver Hitch (producer/engineer)
guitar:
Billy Bragg (from 1983-02-02 until 1983-02-04)
vocals:
Billy Bragg (from 1983-02-02 until 1983-02-04)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Go! Discs and Utility Records
recorded at:
Chappell Music in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1983-02-02 until 1983-02-04)
recording of:
A New England (from 1983-02-02 until 1983-02-04)
lyricist and composer:
Billy Bragg
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd. and Chappell Music Ltd.
Billy Bragg4.652:14
15You're So Vain
recording engineer and engineer:
Robin Geoffrey Cable
producer:
Richard Perry (producer)
bass:
Klaus Voorman (from 1972-09 until 1972-10)
drums (drum set):
Jim Gordon (US drummer with Derek and the Dominos) (from 1972-09 until 1972-10)
guitar:
Jimmy Ryan (American guitarist and singer/songwriter) (from 1972-09 until 1972-10)
percussion:
Richard Perry (producer) (from 1972-09 until 1972-10)
piano and lead vocals:
Carly Simon (from 1972-09 until 1972-10)
background vocals:
Mick Jagger (from 1972-09 until 1972-10)
background vocals [additional background vocals]:
Carly Simon and Doris Troy
strings arranger:
Carly Simon
orchestrator:
Paul Buckmaster
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Elektra Records (not for release label use! please use its imprint "Elektra" instead) (in 1972), Elektra Entertainment (renamed from Elektra 1989–2004; revived as Elektra 2009-06-01) (in 1978) and Rhino Entertainment Company (not for release label use!) (in 2015)
recorded at:
Trident Studios (London, UK) in Soho, Westminster, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1972-09 until 1972-10)
part of:
The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 495)
recording of:
You’re So Vain (from 1972-09 until 1972-10)
lyricist and composer:
Carly Simon
publisher:
C’est Music
Carly Simon4.854:20
16Love the One You're With
engineer:
Andy Johns
producer:
Bill Halverson and Stephen Stills
bass:
Calvin Samuels (in 1970-03)
congas:
Jeff Whittaker (in 1970-03)
guitar, organ, percussion and lead vocals:
Stephen Stills (in 1970-03)
steelpan:
Stephen Stills
background vocals:
Rita Coolidge (in 1970-03), David Crosby (in 1970-03), Graham Nash (in 1970-03), Priscilla Jones (American folk, rock and pop singer) (in 1970-03) and John Sebastian (in 1970-03)
recorded at:
Island Studios (London) in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1970-03)
recording of:
Love the One You’re With (in 1970-03)
lyricist and composer:
Stephen Stills
publisher:
Gold Hill Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing, LLC (1995–2020) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部
Stephen Stills33:06
17Catch the Wind
recording of:
Catch the Wind
lyricist and composer:
Donovan Leitch (Scottish singer, songwriter and guitarist)
Donovan2:17
18Morning Glory
engineer:
Bruce Botnick
producer:
Jerry Yester
bass:
Jimmy Bond (in 1967-05)
flute and strings:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.)
guitar and lead vocals:
Tim Buckley (1960s~1970s US vocalist, songwriter, guitarist & producer) (in 1967-05)
membranophone:
John Clauder (in 1967-05)
piano:
Don Randi (in 1967-05)
background vocals:
Tim Buckley (1960s~1970s US vocalist, songwriter, guitarist & producer) (in 1967-05) and Jerry Yester (in 1967-05)
recorded at:
Western Recorders (@ 6000 Sunset Blvd., part of United Western Recorders studio complex 1957–1985) in Los Angeles, California, United States (in 1967-05)
recording of:
Morning Glory
lyricist and composer:
Larry Beckett and Tim Buckley (1960s~1970s US vocalist, songwriter, guitarist & producer)
publisher:
Third Story Music, Inc.
Tim Buckley32:53
19Everybody Here Wants You
producer:
Tom Verlaine
mixer:
Andy Wallace (engineer)
recording of:
Everybody Here Wants You
lyricist and composer:
Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley3.554:46
20Layla (unplugged)
producer:
Russ Titelman
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Viacom International Inc. (in 1992)
recorded at:
Bray Film Studios (on 1992-01-16)
live recording of:
Layla (on 1992-01-16)
writer:
Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon (US drummer with Derek and the Dominos)
publisher:
Casserole Music Corp., E.C. Music (UK work publisher for Eric Clapton), Throat Music, Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部
Eric Clapton44:32
▼CD 2
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Mr Tambourine Man
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1965-01-15)
producer:
Tom Wilson (producer, worked with Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Zappa, VU, etc.)
part of:
Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 106) and The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 164)
recording of:
Mr. Tambourine Man (on 1965-01-15)
lyricist and composer:
Bob Dylan (from 1964-02 until 1964-04)
publisher:
Blossom Music Ltd., M. Witmark & Sons, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Bros. Music (publisher; do NOT use as release label), Warner Brothers Music Ltd. (UK subsidiary, so named between 1970/01/23–1971/04/26 and 1972/04/25–1988/08/23), Warner/Chappell (from 1964 until 1992) and Special Rider Music (from 1992 to present)
Bob Dylan45:30
2Wild Wood
recording of:
Wild Wood
lyricist and composer:
Paul Weller
Paul Weller3:42
3Ain't No Sunshine
recording engineer:
Bill Halverson and Bill Lazarus
producer:
Booker T. Jones
mixer:
John Golden (mastering engineer)
vocals:
Bill Withers
arranger:
Booker T. Jones
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1972)
part of:
Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 280) and The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 309)
recording of:
Ain’t No Sunshine (in 1971)
lyricist and composer:
Bill Withers
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS-affiliated) and EMI Songs Ltd.
Bill Withers4.452:06
4Brown Eyed Girl
assistant mixer:
Matt Lawrence
mixer:
Walter Samuel (engineer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Exile Productions Ltd. (not for Label Release) (in 2008)
live recording of:
Brown Eyed Girl (in 1973)
lyricist:
Van Morrison (in 1967)
composer:
Van Morrison
publisher:
Artist Alliance, Gallo Music Publishers, PolyGram Music Publishing Ltd., Songs of PolyGram International, Inc., Universal Music Publishing (use ONLY if no country-specific information is available), Universal Music Publishing Ltd. (UK subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group), Universal‐Songs of PolyGram International, Inc. and Web IV Music Inc. (in 1967)
Van Morrison3:27
5Mother and Child Reunion
recording of:
Mother and Child Reunion
lyricist and composer:
Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel)
publisher:
Pattern Music Ltd (publisher) and Paul Simon Music (in 1971)
Paul Simon2:56
6Mandolin Wind
producer:
Rod Stewart
acoustic guitar:
Martell Brandy (in 1971-01), Martin Quittenton (in 1971-01) and Rod Stewart (in 1971-01)
bass:
Andy Pyle (in 1971-01)
bass guitar, guitar and pedal steel guitar:
Ron Wood (UK guitarist, member of The Rolling Stones, also goes by Ronnie Wood) (in 1971-01)
double bass:
Danny Thompson (English double bass player) (in 1971-01)
drums (drum set):
Micky Waller (in 1971-01)
organ:
Ian McLagan (in 1971-01)
piano:
Pete Sears (in 1971-01)
slide guitar:
Sam Mitchell (in 1971-01)
violin:
Dick Powell (Violinist and double-bass player) (in 1971-01)
lead vocals:
Rod Stewart (in 1971-01)
vocals:
Madeline Bell (in 1971-01)
recording of:
Mandolin Wind (in 1971-01)
lyricist and composer:
Rod Stewart
publisher:
MRC Music, Inc.
Rod Stewart35:33
7All This Useless Beauty
recording of:
All This Useless Beauty
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello4:41
8She Cries Your Name
recording of:
She Cries Your Name
lyricist and composer:
William Orbit (English musician, composer and record producer) and Beth Orton
Beth Orton3.754:49
9Walking in Memphis
recording engineer, engineer and mixer:
Ben Wisch
producer:
Marc Cohn and Ben Wisch
bass and organ:
John Leventhal
drums (drum set):
Dennis McDermott
guitar:
Marc Cohn and John Leventhal
Hammond organ:
Chris Palmaro
keyboard:
Eric Rehl
background vocals:
Vivian Cherry, Dennis Collins (backing vocalist), Ada Dyer (American soul singer) and Darryl Tookes
guest background vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
vocals:
Marc Cohn
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Atlantic Recording Corporation (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor within the US) (from 1991 to present) and Warner Music H.K. Ltd. (in 1997)
recording of:
Walking in Memphis
lyricist and composer:
Marc Cohn
Marc Cohn3.854:19
10Me and Bobby McGee
recording of:
Me and Bobby McGee
lyricist and composer:
Fred Foster and Kris Kristofferson
publisher:
Combine Music Corp.
Kris Kristofferson4:27
11Anchorage
recording of:
Anchorage
lyricist and composer:
Michelle Shocked
Michelle Shocked3:26
12If I Were a Carpenter
recording of:
If I Were a Carpenter
lyricist and composer:
Tim Hardin
publisher:
Allen Stanton Productions and Faithful Virtue Music
Tim Hardin2:44
13Short People
recording of:
Short People (in 1977)
lyricist and composer:
Randy Newman (American singer-songwriter and score composer)
Randy Newman52:56
14Song From Hope Street
David Kitt4:19
15Hands
recording of:
Hands
writer:
Jewel Kilcher (singer-songwriter Jewel Kilcher) and Patrick Leonard (american producer, songwriter and pianist)
publisher:
No Tomato Music, WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) and Wiggly Tooth Music
Jewel3:49
16Rainy Night in Georgia
recording of:
Rainy Night in Georgia
lyricist and composer:
Tony Joe White
publisher:
Combine Music Corp. and EMI Songs Limited
Tony Joe White3:36
17Time Has Told Me
engineer:
John Wood (UK producer)
producer:
Joe Boyd (US producer, founder of Hannibal Records)
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Nick Drake
electric guitar:
Richard Thompson (UK folk rock singer/songwriter)
guest bass:
Danny Thompson (English double bass player)
guest piano:
Paul Harris (American keyboardist/pianist session player)
recording of:
Time Has Told Me
lyricist and composer:
Nick Drake
Nick Drake4.454:29
18Shining
assistant engineer and assistant co-producer:
Andrea Wright
engineer:
Ken Nelson (UK record producer ('98-active))
co-producer:
Ken Nelson (UK record producer ('98-active))
producer:
Badly Drawn Boy
acoustic guitar and piano:
Badly Drawn Boy
cello:
Matt McGeever
French horn:
Sam Morris
vibraphone:
Ian Smith (Alfie, The Beep Seals)
vocals:
Badly Drawn Boy
strings arranger:
Badly Drawn Boy
recording of:
The Shining
lyricist and composer:
Damon Gough
Badly Drawn Boy4.355:21
19Where the Wild Roses Grow
recording engineer:
Tony Cohen and Victor van Vugt
producer:
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Tony Cohen and Victor van Vugt
mixer:
Gregg Jackman
acoustic guitar and guitar:
Mick Harvey
bass:
Martyn P. Casey
bell:
Jim Sclavunos
cello:
Helen Mountfort
drums (drum set):
Thomas Wydler
guitar:
Blixa Bargeld
piano:
Nick Cave (Australian singer-songwriter, musician and score composer)
viola:
Kerran Coulter
violin:
Jen Anderson and Sue Simpson
background vocals:
Mick Harvey and Conway Savage
lead vocals:
Nick Cave (Australian singer-songwriter, musician and score composer) and Kylie Minogue
strings arranger:
Nick Cave (Australian singer-songwriter, musician and score composer) and Mick Harvey
mixed at:
Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, Kensington and Chelsea, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
recording of:
Where the Wild Roses Grow
lyricist and composer:
Nick Cave (Australian singer-songwriter, musician and score composer)
writer:
Roy Khan and Thomas Youngblood
Nick Cave4.353:58
20Perfect Day (live)
live recording of:
Perfect Day
lyricist and composer:
Lou Reed
publisher:
EMI Music Ltd., Oakfield Avenue Music Ltd. and Screen Gems–EMI Music Ltd.
Lou Reed3:53