The Songwriters Hall of Fame has sent its ballot to the general membership. Voters can choose two performing songwriters and three non performers from quite an illustrious group. Performers include BB King, Elvis Costello, Fleetwood Mac, Ray Davies of the Kinks, Aerosmith, Jimmy Buffett, the Eurythmics, Vince Gill, Bobby Womack, and Foreigner.
For non performers: “Chain of Fools” songwriter Don Covay, country music songwriter Bobby Braddock and Holly Knight, who co-wrote Pat Benatar’s “Love Is a Battlefield” and Tina Turner’s “Better Be Good to Me,” plus Linda Perry, the writer behind Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful,” is also nominated alongside Bob McDill, Rick Nowels, Randy Goodrum, Tony Hatch, and JD Souther plus writing teams Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, and P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri.
Look at this carefully. Everyone is so talented, it’s a shame they can’t all get in. My personal choices: Don Covay, J.D. Souther, and Tony Hatch in non performers. Elvis Costello and Vince Gill in performers. Ray Davies is a strong runner up.
Non-Performer Songwriters
Bobby Braddock – * Would You Catch A Falling Star? * D-I-V-O-R-C-E * Golden Ring * He Stopped Loving Her Today * Time Marches On
Don Covay – * Chain Of Fools * Sookie, Sookie * Mercy, Mercy * Tonight’s The Night * Seesaw
Randy Goodrum – * You Needed Me * Bluer Than Blue * I’ll Be Over You * Foolish Heart * Oh Sherrie
Tony Hatch ‑ * Downtown * Don’t Sleep In The Subway * I Know A Place * My Love * Sign Of The Times
Holly Knight - * Love Is A Battlefield * Simply The Best * Better Be Good To Me * Obsession * The Warrior
Dennis Lambert/Brian Potter – * Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got) * Don’t Pull Your Love * It Only Takes A Minute * One Tin Soldier (The Legend of Billy Jack) * Country Boy (You’ve Got Your Feet In L.A.)
Bob McDill – * Amanda * Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On * Gone Country * It Must Be Love * Song of the South
Rick Nowels– * Heaven Is a Place on Earth * White Flag * The Power of Good-Bye * Standing Still * Fallin’ for You
Linda Perry– * Get the Party Started * Beautiful * Hurt * What You Waiting For? * What’s Up?
P.F. Sloan/Steve Barri ‑ * Secret Agent Man * Eve Of Destruction * Where Were You When I Needed You * You Baby (Nobody but You) * A Must To Avoid
JD Souther – * Faithless Love * Best of My Love * You’re Only Lonely * Heartache Tonight * New Kid in Town
Rod Temperton – * Always and Forever * Give Me the Night * Rock with You * Yah Mo B There * Boogie Nights
Performer/Songwriters
Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie/Stevie Nicks (p/k/a Fleetwood Mac) – * Go Your Own Way * Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow * Rhiannon * Over My Head * Dreams
Jimmy Buffett – * (Wastin’ Away in) Margaritaville * Cheeseburger in Paradise * Come Monday
* Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes * Fins
Elvis Costello – * Accidents Will Happen * Alison * Veronica * Pump It Up * Watching The Detectives
Ray Davies – * Lola * Tired of Waiting * Well-Respected Man * Waterloo Sunset * You Really Got Me
Vince Gill – * Don’t Let Our Love Start Slippin’ Away * I Still Believe in You * One More Last Chance * If You Ever Have Forever in Mind * Never Knew Lonely
Mick Jones/Lou Gramm (p/k/a Foreigner) – * Juke Box Hero * Waiting For A Girl Like You * Cold As Ice
* Hot Blooded * Double Vision
BB King – * Bad Luck * Lucille * Rock Me Baby * Woke Up This Morning * Sweet Sixteen
Annie Lennox/Dave Stewart – * Here Comes The Rain Again * Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
* Would I Lie To You * Missionary Man * Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves
Jeff Lynne – * Evil Woman * Do Ya * Don’t Bring Me Down * Mr. Blue Sky * Strange Magic
Steven Tyler/Joe Perry (p/k/a Aerosmith) – * Dream On * Dude (Looks Like A Lady) * Love In An Elevator * Sweet Emotion * Walk This Way
Steve Winwood – * Gimme Some Lovin’ * Back In The High Life Again * Dear Mr. Fantasy * Can’t Find My Way Home * Higher Love
Bobby Womack – * Across 110th Street * It’s All Over Now * That’s the Way I Feel About Cha * Breezin’
* I’m In Love
