The Beatles, why? Because they have tried out every songwriting technique that existed before them (ok the rhyming scheme of Come Together was definitely most likely their own) but never was popularized as much before them either. They took advantage of what was already available to them.
3 is tough. I’ll pick some out of time from one another knowing full well I’m answering this question differently by the hour: Gustav Mahler, Ray Davies, Aimee Mann
Van mcCann, Wilbur Soot (I know what he's done and I have no respect for him as a person, but his songwriting has definitely inspired me) and Elijah Woods
Richard Edwards, Roger Waters 🤮, and Connor Oberst influenced me the most although my favorites are Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, and Tom Waits like my Reddit name.
Bear with me in that last one. My (incredibly derivative) process is to change the lyrics to Garteful Dead or Bob Dylan songs, and change the tunes/chords to better match the new lyrics. Repeat through enough iterations, and it becomes something "new."
The final products don't stand up against the slightest scrutiny from anyone who understands music theory (I don't), but it's enough to impress family/friends.
Rant
I’m learning that when writing music, it is very hard to write for what “you” like or to “your” skill level
It’s very easy to want to pretend you’re this or that, I do it all the time and sometimes it yields results
But truly getting lost in your own work, at your skill level, accepting whatever comes out of you, even if it isn’t what you “thought” you were “suppose” to be writing, well this is very difficult to do.
Personally David Gilmour, is my bar, and it’s rather crazy of me to judge my work through that lens
Or John Williams as a bar.
It’s one thing to take inspiration and go write, it’s another to lambast yourself because it’s not John Williams.
This is a psychological disaster for many of us.
To conclude on a positive note,
I wrote something yesterday that was utter trash, but it sounded like nothing else I had ever heard. It was me. My burgeoning self, whispers of music in between the bad stuff.
I’m convinced if I do this 100 times or so, “my voice and style” will emerge.
Fat Freddy's drop - first album based on a true story. Incredible relatable lyrics and meaningful from start to finish
Gnarles Barkley - song crazy: if you ever gone mad then you will know why his lyrics for that song are so accurate and magnificent
Led Zeppelin: stairway to heaven, Kashmir
Pink Floyd: on a whole other level where there whole album Darkside of the moon is flawless and critically acclaimed best ever rock n roll album
I can only say the two best bands put words together. Cryptic words but if you delve in depth you find answers. Both bands share familiar interests in esoteric cultism and the prince of darkness Mr Crawley the man the myth the legend.
Ed Sheeran great modern day legend of singer songwriter producer talent overload
David Bowie can not be forgotten he is a legend and will be one of the greatest to ever live
Queen: Freddie Mercury voice of a god and the band were all geniuses
Mine are also musicians, Daughter, Florence and the Machine, and Melissa Etheridge. I don't know if they write all their own songs, but their songs definitely inspire me still
Townes, Elliott Smith, Connor Oberst