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Song of the Day #3,251: ‘Louisiana 1927’ – Randy Newman vs. Adele

Women have faced an uphill battle in this first round of Montauk Madness, going up against the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, David Byrne, Elvis Costello and Ben Folds Five. Here’s another example, as the talented and mega-successful Adele faces off against one of our greatest songwriters, Randy Newman.

I feel bad for Adele, who I like both as an artist and a personality, but this is an easy call for me. Newman is a unique and special talent who deserves to go far in this contest.

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Song of the Day #3,250: ‘Perfect Couples’ – Belle & Sebastian

I recently registered my vote for Talking Heads over Stevie Wonder in the Montauk Madness competition. Today’s random SOTD is one of the reasons why.

I hear the influence of Talking Heads all over the music I like. I’d never expect the delicate Scottish band Belle & Sebastian to lay down a groove like this, but here they are, channeling David Byrne’s ground-breaking work in a move that makes me appreciate both bands even more.

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Song of the Day #3,249: ‘One More Cup of Coffee’ – Roger McGuinn and Calexico

This year marks the tenth anniversary of Todd Haynes’ unique and excellent Bob Dylan biopic, I’m Not There, probably best known for featuring Cate Blanchett in a gender-bending, Oscar-nominated turn as mid-60s Dylan.

The movie contains mostly songs by Dylan himself, including a rare recording of the title song. But the original soundtrack album, a 2-disc set, features covers of Dylan songs by a host of other artists, both well- and little-known.

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Song of the Day #3,248: ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ – The Rolling Stones vs. Toad the Wet Sprocket

Here’s another Montauk Madness Round One matchup pitting a legend against a mere mortal.

Toad the Wet Sprocket is one of my favorite 90s bands and I have outsized affection for them due to the role they played in the early years of my relationship with my wife. But it takes more than that to topple The Rolling Stones, inarguably one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

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Song of the Day #3,247: ‘Off the Wall’ – Michael Jackson vs. Belle & Sebastian

Here’s a Montauk Madness first round matchup that has me hoping my blog audience skews more toward my sensibility than popular consensus. I assume R&B and pop legend Michael Jackson would take down Scottish indie act Belle & Sebastian in a poll of any significant size, by way of name recognition if nothing else.

But as much as I love the King of Pop, especially in his Off the Wall and Thriller days, I can’t give him the nod over one of my very favorite bands.

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