Rolling Stone lists 100 greatest songwriters

Seniors rock!

Rolling Stone's newly published "100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time" list is studded with boomers and the generations that followed, but the top five were all born before 1943. The list, compiled by the magazine's editors, names mainly songwriters of the rock era, which is why you'll find Taylor Swift (No. 97) but not Irving Berlin.

At No. 5 is Smokey Robinson, 75, who wrote numerous hits for his group, the Miracles, and other artists, including the classic "My Girl" for the Temptations. No. 4, Chuck Berry, 88, was honored for his influential 1950s hits such as "Maybellene." Spots 3 and 2 are held down by former Beatles John Lennon, who would be 75 if he were alive, and Paul McCartney, 73.

The top spot goes to Bob Dylan, 74. Rolling Stone said Dylan's "creativity was ceaseless" and his "vision of American popular music was transformative."

For the full list, go to nwsdy.li/songwriters.