The best all around musician of all-time.

[daver]

Who had the best combo of songwriting, vocals, lyrics and musical talent?

I'll throw out some names, some are lacking in some departments but are so good in others they make up for it:

Bob Dylan - his songwriting on it's own puts him here
Jimmy Paige - the engine of the Zep
David Gilmour - the same for the Floyd
Neil Young - ticks off all of the boxes, many could make their guitar sing, he sang with his guitar

Click to read more...

 

[mrmovies779]

Steve Harris...doesn't sing,but certainly does everything else brilliantly

 

[barriers]

Prince

 

[MVP of West Hollywd]

I think Billy Joel has a strong all around game. I'm a fan of his vocals in addition to being excellent instrumentally (piano) and songwriter. But this is hard to answer as for example I like Springsteen's songwriting and singing more than his but presumably he gets less credit for "instrumental talent". But I think songwriting is easily the most important part so I overall prefer his talent I guess.

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

"Who had the best combo of songwriting, vocals, lyrics and musical talent?"

using the above criteria for pop/rock musicians:

freddie mercury
mark knopfler
sting
john fogerty
richie kotzen
jimi hendrix
paul mccartney
glenn tilbrook

 

[VMBM]

Jimmy Paige - the engine of the Zep

(Jimmy Page's, er, lyrics and singing? )

Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder have to be on any list; multi-instrumentalists, great singers and songwriters.

 

[Babe Ruth]

Who had the best combo of songwriting, vocals, lyrics and musical talent?

Prince has been mentioned, he's a good one. I'd add Ray Manzarek from the Doors. He was a good songwriter, and the Doors could do lots of genres skillfully.
I thought Axl Rose was a good singer/songwriter once upon a time..
Danzig has done a lot of genres well.. punk, metal, and classical compositions.
And Robert Johnson. He was such a great blues man, I think there was a legend, he had struck a deal with the Devil, to get so much talent(?)

 

[Terry Yake]

Prince

/thread

although zappa deserves a mention in my opinion

 

[Nemesis Prime]

I'm going with Chris Cornell.

 

[daver]

Dave Grohl is another

 

[nameless1]

Interesting question. The term "all-round" needs a firmer definition. If it is just pure musical composition, then Taylor Swift will get a place, as much as I like to avoid it.

Also, is dance/ performance included too? If it is, then only Michael Jackson and Prince fits the bill.

Finally, is it limited to just America? If not, then the list gets a lot longer. One name I continue to circle around is Zara Larrson. I feel she is in the Taylor Swift category, where I am not that big of a fan, and it feels weird to include her on all-around list, but one cannot deny that she can be on a list like this.

Then there is the slew of K-Pop stars. In fact, the list would probably be dominated by them. The best of them can sing, rap, compose, write lyrics, and dance too, which pretty much blows everyone out of the water. For example, members of BTS are still young, and they are about to enter their military enlistment, but a couple of them already have over 100 writing credits.

 

[barriers]

I can't argue Michael Jackson didn't have musical talent, he certainly had an ear for it. But I don't think he ever learned to play any instrument or learned much about music theory. I remember reading interviews that talked about how Jackson's rough demos for songs were just him replicating keys, bass, drums etc.. by voice. I'd love to hear those demos but have doubts they'll be released.

With that in mind Prince > Jackson as an all around musician in my opinion.

 

[Deport Ogie]

/thread

although zappa deserves a mention in my opinion

Prince and Zappa are the two I immediately thought of.

 

[SepticFish]

I'd love to hear those demos but have doubts they'll be released.

There's some demos out there. I'm not much of a Michael fan, but I remember hearing this and finding it interesting.


Also not a huge Prince fan, but you can't deny the talent. He played every instrument on his debut album. A couple people that I do love have done similar things. Steven Wilson was the only member of Porcupine Tree until their third album, and Devin Townsend recorded his Ziltoid album all by himslef. Although they lose a little credit for using drum machines.

Then there's Geddy Lee. He could sing, play bass, guitar and keys all on the same song.

 

[Elvis P]

Muddy Waters, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Prince

 

[Behn Wilson]

Lennon and McCartney come to mind off the cuff. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys was a musical genius. Zappa and Prince who were mentioned above are great choices too.

I am a metal fan and I am drawing a blank based on the criteria of vocalist and multi instrumentalist of anyone in metal that fits this. The criteria are more apt for the singer/songwriter types. Dave Mustaine is about the best example that comes to mind even if he is nto the greatest vocalist though his style fits his music.

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

Lennon and McCartney come to mind off the cuff. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys was a musical genius. Zappa and Prince who were mentioned above are great choices too.

I am a metal fan and I am drawing a blank based on the criteria of vocalist and multi instrumentalist of anyone in metal that fits this. The criteria are more apt for the singer/songwriter types. Dave Mustaine is about the best example that comes to mind even if he is nto the greatest vocalist though his style fits his music.

for metal probably james hetfield, axl rose, zakk wylde & geddy lee.

 

[Behn Wilson]

for metal probably james hetfield, axl rose, zakk wylde & geddy lee.

I like him as a guitarist but I would not rank Zack up there in that echelon, agree with the other 3.

 

[kihei]

If I had to pick just one guy, JImi Hendrix.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Prince.

edit: Tom Scholz is a close second though.

Underrated guitar player, great organ player, played every instrument on the 1st Boston album. Add to it his engineering genius and all the different pedals and sounds he invented in his basement.

 

[Unholy Diver]

Jeff Lynne

Tom Waits

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

I like him as a guitarist but I would not rank Zack up there in that echelon, agree with the other 3.

zakk does a good greg allman impression. i think he once even jammed and sang with them on stage.

you're right though - coming up a list of names from the metal field that fit's the op's criteria is pretty tough. those were the only 4 i could come up with.

 

[Deport Ogie]

I am a metal fan and I am drawing a blank based on the criteria of vocalist and multi instrumentalist of anyone in metal that fits this. The criteria are more apt for the singer/songwriter types. Dave Mustaine is about the best example that comes to mind even if he is nto the greatest vocalist though his style fits his music.

It could be tough given the general obscurity of some of the bands but I think of Dan Swano. Vocalist/songwriter for Edge of Sanity and others, guitar and drums for Bloodbath, vocalist, guitarist, AND keyboards for Witherscape, and that doesn't even account for the gazillion albums he has produced/mixed for bands like Opeth and Insomnium.

 

[Behn Wilson]

zakk does a good greg allman impression. i think he once even jammed and sang with them on stage.

you're right though - coming up a list of names from the metal field that fit's the op's criteria is pretty tough. those were the only 4 i could come up with.

The criteria seems to really fit the Bob Dylan / Joni Mitchell type singer songwriters and really is not what metal is about.

Simple categories like greatest guitarist or vocalist would be much better for ranking talent in metal.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

I am a metal fan and I am drawing a blank based on the criteria of vocalist and multi instrumentalist of anyone in metal that fits this. The criteria are more apt for the singer/songwriter types. Dave Mustaine is about the best example that comes to mind even if he is nto the greatest vocalist though his style fits his music.

Trent Reznor