Taken broadly, singer-songwriter can refer to any artist who has a hand in writing their own songs to perform. However, this list narrows the field somewhat to those who are specifically identified by pop fans as being notable for singing their own songs both live and on record. A number of the artists here were key parts of the "golden era" of singer-songwriters in the early 1970s.
1. Bob Dylan
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Bob Dylan is considered by many to be the top songwriter of all time in popular music. He has released 16 platinum certified albums. Among his songs are such protest classics as "Blowin' In the Wind" and "The Times They Are A-Changin." Bob Dylan has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame and the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. He has received 11 Grammy Awards and six of his recordings have been inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame.
Top Pop Hits
- "Like a Rolling Stone" - 1965 - #2
- "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" - 1966 - #2
- "Positively 4th Street" - 1965 - #7
- "Lay Lady Lay" - 1969 - #7
2. Bruce Springsteen
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In an interesting twist, early in his career Bruce Springsteen was considered to possibly be a "new Bob Dylan" due to the word pictures he would paint in his songs and his chronicling of the American experience. However, it was not long before he carved out his own unique place in popular music. Bruce Springsteen has sold over 65 million albums in the US alone. He has received 20 Grammy Awards. His first 10 studio albums have all been certified platinum and his mammoth Live: 1975-1985 set has been certified 13 times platinum on its own cementing Bruce Springsteen's status as one of the top live performers of all time.
Top Pop Hits
- "Dancing In the Dark" - 1984 - #2
- "Hungry Heart" - 1980 - #5
- "Glory Days" - 1985 - #5
- "Brilliant Disguise" - 1987 - #5
- "I'm On Fire" - 1985 - #6
3. Billy Joel
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As depicted in his first hit single "Piano Man," Billy Joel did serve a six month residency at the Executive Piano Bar on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles in 1972. 17 of his albums have been certified platinum and his two disc greatest hits collection has been certified an amazing 21 times platinum. Billy Joel is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. 13 of his singles have hit the pop top 10.
Top Pop Hits
- "It's Still Rock and Roll To Me" - 1980 - #1
- "We Didn't Start the Fire" - 1989 - #1
- "Tell Her About It" - 1983 - #1
- "Just the Way You Are" - 1977 - #3
- "My Life" - 1978 - #3
4. Prince
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Prince has gained acclaim for his flamboyant performance style, but it is his powerful songwriting that underscores all of the surface style. He has won seven Grammy Awards and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Prince has sold over 100 million records worldwide. 16 of his albums have been certified platinum led by the Purple Rain soundtrack certified for over 13 million in sales.
Top Pop Hits
- "When Doves Cry" - 1984 - #1
- "Lets Go Crazy" - 1984 - #1
- "Kiss" - 1986 - #1
- "Cream" - 1991 - #1
- "Batdance" - 1989 - #1
5. Paul Simon
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In 1970 Paul Simon left his performance partnership with Art Garfunkel to seek what became an even more successful solo career. He is known for the intricacy of the social interactions depicted in his songs. Paul Simon has won 13 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. The Library Of Congress presented him with their first Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2007.
Top Pop Hits
- "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" - 1975 - #1
- "Kodachrome" - 1973 - #2
- "Loves Me Like a Rock" - 1973 - #2
- "Mother and Child Reunion" - 1972 - #4
- "Slip Slidin' Away" - 1977 - #5
6. Carole King
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Carole King is known both for writing more than two dozen pop chart hits in the 1960s for other artists with her husband Gerry Goffin, and also for her success recording her own songs in the 1970s. By 2000 she had written or co-written 118 songs that reached the Billboard Hot 100. Carole King's Tapestry album is considered by many to be the definitive singer-songwriter album. It has spent over 300 weeks on the Billboard album chart and has sold over 10 million copies in the US alone. Carole King is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame and Songwriters Hall Of Fame.
Top Pop Hits
- "It's Too Late" - 1971 - #1
- "Jazzman" - 1974 - #2
- "Sweet Seasons" - 1972 - #9
- "Nightingale" - 1975 - #9
7. Joni Mitchell
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Joni Mitchell wrote some of the definitive folk pop songs of the 1960s including "Big Yellow Taxi," "Both Sides Now," and "Woodstock." Following her top 10 pop success in 1974 she began to veer more into jazz-influenced music. She is one of the most critically acclaimed songwriters of all time. She has won nine Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
Top Pop Hit
- "Help Me" - 1974 - #7
8. Neil Young
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Neil Young first gained fame writing songs and performing as part of the groups Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. However, since branching out as a solo artist he has become noted for deeply personal music and a wide ranging exploration of musical styles. Neil Young has been twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame as a solo artist and as a member of Buffalo Springfield. Neil Young has released seven platinum certified albums as a solo artist.
Top Pop Hit
- "Heart Of Gold" - 1972 - #1
9. Alanis Morissette
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Alanis Morissette set a new standard for female singer-songwriters with her landmark 1995 album Jagged Little Pill. It presented an independent, emotional, and often angry woman with songs that made their way to the upper reaches of the pop singles chart one after another. Ultimately Jagged Little Pill sold 16 million copies in the US alone. It spent over a year in the top 10 on the album chart. She has won seven Grammy Awards and released three #1 hit albums.
Top Pop Hits
- "Thank U" - 1998 - #2
- "Head Over Feet" - 1996 - #3
- "Ironic" - 1996 - #4
- "Uninvited" - 1998 - #4
- "You Learn" - 1996 - #6
10. Dolly Parton
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Dolly Parton is best known as a country singer and songwriter, but her songs have had major impact in the pop arena as well. She wrote "I Will Always Love You" which topped the country chart in her version and reached the adult contemporary top 20. Whitney Houston's version hit #1 on the pop singles chart and stayed there for a phenomenal 14 weeks. Dolly Parton also hit #1 on the pop chart with the song "9 to 5" which she wrote. It earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Song From a Motion Picture and earned four Grammy Award nominations.
Top Pop Hits
- "9 to 5" - 1980 - #1
- "Here You Come Again" - 1977 - #3
