Tweet
Historian’s Top 5 Greatest Songwriter Teams
1 Burt Bacharach and Hal David
2 Gamble & Huff
3 Lennon & McCartney
4 Holland-Dozier-Holland
5 Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Honorable Mention:
6 Rodgers and Hammerstein (Richard Rodgers, music, and Oscar Hammerstein, lyrics)
7 Isaac Hayes and David Porter
------------------------------------------------------------------
Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Burt Bacharach always wrote the music, while Hal David was responsible for the lyrics, and what a combination this was! If you cannot remember their classics, just check, for example, the major hits by Dionne Warwick from the 1960s onwards!
This songwriter team first began collaboration in the late 1950s until they parted company in the late 1970s. There is no point in attempting to list their hits, because there were so many! However, in case anyone here doubts their contribution, just think of songs like “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” (BJ Thomas), “Message to Michael,” “Alfie,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Don’t Make Me Over,” “This Guy’s in Love With You,” “Always Something There to Remind Me,” “Walk On By,” and “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” (Dionne Warwick) and “What the World Needs Now is Love” (Jackie Deshannon).
Hal David died in September 2012.
Gamble & Huff
Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff were the masterminds behind the hits emanating from Philadelphia International Records. The duo, in fact, had been working together since the 1960s before forming Philadelphia International Records in 1971.
The major hits of Teddy Pendergrass, and hits by others as diverse as Aretha Frankin were written by this songwriting team. Among hits composed by Gamble and Huff are “When Will I See You Again” by the Three Degrees, “Me and Mrs. Jones” by Billy Paul, “Love Train,” “Stairway to Heaven” and “Backstabbers” by the O’Jays, “I’ll Always Love My Mama” by the Intruders, “I Miss You,” “The Love I Lost,” “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and “Bad Luck” by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, “Only the Strong Survive” by Jerry Butler (later a hit for Billy Paul), “Enjoy Yourself” by the Jacksons, and many others.
Lennon & McCartney
The work of John Lennon and Paul McCartney really needs no introduction! The songwriter team behind the Beatles (my all-time favorite group), their hits have become timeless classics! Memorable products include “The Long and Winding Road,” “All You Need is Love,” “Let it Be,” “Hey Jude,” “Ticket to Ride,” “Yesterday,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Norwegian Wood,” etc.
Holland-Dozier-Holland
Holland-Dozier-Holland were the main songwriters behind Motown’s success in the 1960s. This group of super-talented songwriters was made up of the brothers Eddie and Brian Holland and friend Lamont Dozier. The trio was responsible for classics like “The Happening” and “You Can’t Hurry Love” by Diana Ross and the Supremes (listen to the harmonizing on the latter recording), “It’s the Same Old Song” by the Four Tops, “Band of Gold” by Freda Payne, and many others.
Elton John and Bernie Taupin
I am always surprised at the large number of people I’ve spoken with who did not realize that as far as music composition is concerned, Elton John was one half of a team that started working together around 1967 (Elton John composed the music while Bernie Taupin was responsible for the lyrics). In fact, Taupin collaborated on ALL of Elton’s hits.
Isaac Hayes and David Porter
This songwriter team was the house composers for Stax Records in the 1960s. How significant they were, you’re probably wondering? Well, just think of hits like “Hold On, I’m Comin’,” “When Something’s Wrong With My Baby,” and “Soul Man” by Sam & Dave, among many other Stax hits.
By the late 196s, however, both men began to focus on their individual careers, and so the partnership eventually split.
Isaac Hayes died in August 2008.
1 Burt Bacharach and Hal David
2 Gamble & Huff
3 Lennon & McCartney
4 Holland-Dozier-Holland
5 Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Honorable Mention:
6 Rodgers and Hammerstein (Richard Rodgers, music, and Oscar Hammerstein, lyrics)
7 Isaac Hayes and David Porter
------------------------------------------------------------------
Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Burt Bacharach always wrote the music, while Hal David was responsible for the lyrics, and what a combination this was! If you cannot remember their classics, just check, for example, the major hits by Dionne Warwick from the 1960s onwards!
This songwriter team first began collaboration in the late 1950s until they parted company in the late 1970s. There is no point in attempting to list their hits, because there were so many! However, in case anyone here doubts their contribution, just think of songs like “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” (BJ Thomas), “Message to Michael,” “Alfie,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Don’t Make Me Over,” “This Guy’s in Love With You,” “Always Something There to Remind Me,” “Walk On By,” and “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” (Dionne Warwick) and “What the World Needs Now is Love” (Jackie Deshannon).
Hal David died in September 2012.
Gamble & Huff
Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff were the masterminds behind the hits emanating from Philadelphia International Records. The duo, in fact, had been working together since the 1960s before forming Philadelphia International Records in 1971.
The major hits of Teddy Pendergrass, and hits by others as diverse as Aretha Frankin were written by this songwriting team. Among hits composed by Gamble and Huff are “When Will I See You Again” by the Three Degrees, “Me and Mrs. Jones” by Billy Paul, “Love Train,” “Stairway to Heaven” and “Backstabbers” by the O’Jays, “I’ll Always Love My Mama” by the Intruders, “I Miss You,” “The Love I Lost,” “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and “Bad Luck” by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, “Only the Strong Survive” by Jerry Butler (later a hit for Billy Paul), “Enjoy Yourself” by the Jacksons, and many others.
Lennon & McCartney
The work of John Lennon and Paul McCartney really needs no introduction! The songwriter team behind the Beatles (my all-time favorite group), their hits have become timeless classics! Memorable products include “The Long and Winding Road,” “All You Need is Love,” “Let it Be,” “Hey Jude,” “Ticket to Ride,” “Yesterday,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Norwegian Wood,” etc.
Holland-Dozier-Holland
Holland-Dozier-Holland were the main songwriters behind Motown’s success in the 1960s. This group of super-talented songwriters was made up of the brothers Eddie and Brian Holland and friend Lamont Dozier. The trio was responsible for classics like “The Happening” and “You Can’t Hurry Love” by Diana Ross and the Supremes (listen to the harmonizing on the latter recording), “It’s the Same Old Song” by the Four Tops, “Band of Gold” by Freda Payne, and many others.
Elton John and Bernie Taupin
I am always surprised at the large number of people I’ve spoken with who did not realize that as far as music composition is concerned, Elton John was one half of a team that started working together around 1967 (Elton John composed the music while Bernie Taupin was responsible for the lyrics). In fact, Taupin collaborated on ALL of Elton’s hits.
Isaac Hayes and David Porter
This songwriter team was the house composers for Stax Records in the 1960s. How significant they were, you’re probably wondering? Well, just think of hits like “Hold On, I’m Comin’,” “When Something’s Wrong With My Baby,” and “Soul Man” by Sam & Dave, among many other Stax hits.
By the late 196s, however, both men began to focus on their individual careers, and so the partnership eventually split.
Isaac Hayes died in August 2008.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
. As far as she is concerned, I didn’t remember her when compiling the list, but even if I did, it would be sort of tricky to separate the great stuff she composed with Gerry Goffin and the great songs she wrote after their separation.
Comment