Tournament of Singer-songwriter Heavyweights

Back when I was really passionate about music, before I settled down to just passionate, I'd always considered Leonard Cohen and Dr. John to be among the best at what they do-write and make music, singer-songwriters. They were in the category of the best of the best, right below Dylan and Tom Waits, next to Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Lou Reed, Lyle Lovett, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and Neil Young.

This list was for the living and iconic; Brian Wilson, Jim Morrison, Chuck Berry, and Buddy Holly have been dead, and so have Roy Orbison and Bo Diddley; the Stones and Beatles don't fit into this category. I have never been able to distinguish a true top between Dylan and Waits, and still can't. They are very different and very original. I always separated Cohen and Dr. John from the others because they are out of the limelight somewhat, more offbeat, more unique, with Lou Reed clinging to them because of that factor. So my favorite singers were kind of tiered that way.

I decided to pit Leonard Cohen against Dr. John, to determine a true Number Two, with Dylan and Waits as 1a and 1b. I thought it would be a grueling battle, Dr. John carrying with him the essence of New Orleans, voodoo, and that skull and piano, Cohen with his poetry, his way with words, his literary awards and sexual innuendos. The battle wasn't even close. Cohen won easily.

The way it worked: Each got five songs. I would collect five from each, those that best represented their work. After each had five, I'd make a top ten list, and whoever seemed to dominate the list would win. I thought it would be very close. It wasn't. So I started thinking about Lou Reed versus Dr. John; that was closer, but Dr. John won. So he is three, with Reed and Van Morrison fighting for the fifth spot. Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Lyle Lovett, and Joni Mitchell round out the top ten in that order, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young were left on the outside looking in; I know they are devastated.

So once all that was settled I thought it would be fun to make it interesting, a real battle, a tournament in fact. Dylan and Waits get a first round bye and it would ultimately result in a match between those two, I figured. The same battle criteria would apply. To make it even more interesting, I allowed songs from Cream and The Dominos, Velvet Underground, Simon & Garfunkel, and Them. Here's an overview of Round One (Reed and Van Morrison flipped a coin for seeding and Morrison won that):

Here are the songs for each artist:

Joni Mitchell: All I want, Carey, California, That song about the Midway, Both sides now

Lyle Lovett: If I had a boat, Walk through the Bottomland, L.A. County, Nobody knows me, Which way does that old pony run?

Eric Clapton: Layla, Sunshine of your love, Lay down Sally, Wonderful tonight, Tears in Heaven

Paul Simon: America, Mrs. Robinson, Homeward bound, Graceland, Diamonds on the soles of her shoes

Lou Reed: Some kinds of love, Pale blue eyes, Sister Ray, Walk on the wild side, Coney Island Baby

Van Morrison: And it stoned me, Hey girl, Brown eyed girl, Astral weeks, Madame George

Dr. John: Junko Partner, Such a night, Right place wrong time, How come my dog don't bark (when you come around)?, Goin back to New Orleans

Leonard Cohen: Famous Blue Raincoat, Chelsea Hotel No. 2, Is this what you wanted? The Captain, Everybody knows

Tom Waits: Downtown train, Jitterbug boy, The piano has been drinking, Better off without a wife, The heart of Saturday night

Bob Dylan: Like a rolling stone, Stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again, All along the watchtower, Girl from the North Country, You're gonna make me lonesome when you go

Round One

Joni Mitchell (10) @ Leonard Cohen (3)

Both sides now
Carey
The Captain
All I want
Everybody knows
California
Is this what you wanted?
That song about the Midway
Chelsea Hotel No. 2
Famous Blue Raincoat

Lyle Lovett (9) @ Dr. John (4)

L.A. County
Nobody knows me
Goin back to New Orleans
How come my dog don't bark (when you come around)?
Right place wrong time
Such a night
Walk through the Bottomland
Which way does that old pony run?
Junko Partner
If I had a boat

Eric Clapton (8) @ Van Morrison (5)

Tears in Heaven
Sunshine of your love
Wonderful tonight
Hey girl
And it stoned me
Lay down Sally
Astral weeks
Madame George
Layla
Brown eyed girl

Paul Simon (7) @ Lou Reed (6)

Mrs. Robinson
America
Homeward Bound
Some kinds of love
Sister Ray
Coney Island Baby
Pale blue eyes
Walk on the wild side
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes
Graceland

Winners:

Leonard Cohen (3)-Joni made a great showing, really given Cohen a run for his money, but with the top two songs, especially "Famous blue raincoat," Cohen had too much.

Dr. John (4)-This one was very close and Dr. John got some good calls from the hometown referees. There was a little voodoo in the air and it seems that it's not only the music but also some intangibles that come into play. In the end, Dr. John went on a little run and Lovett couldn't quite recover. Maybe next year.

Van Morrison (5)-Some might say Clapton wasn't fairly represented, with less-powered songs like "Wonderful tonight" and "Tears in Heaven." His guitar songs are his bread and butter. But in a lyric-driven tournament, the more sentimental songs were his better shot, but they weren't enough. Van the Man's Astral Weeks album might carry him far in this tournament.

Paul Simon (7)-Simon pulls off the upset. While Reed and his one-of-a-kind personality dominated for much of the game, Rhymin' Simon was too strong out the gates with his solo work from Graceland. His lyrical work there is top notch, although he has a great test next week in Bob Dylan.

Round Two

Paul Simon (6) @ Bob Dylan (1)

You're gonna make me lonesome when you go
America
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes
Mrs. Robinson
Homeward Bound
Graceland
Stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again
Girl from the North Country
All along the watchtower
Like a rolling stone

Van Morrison (5) @ Tom Waits (2)

Hey girl
And it stoned me
Jitterbug boy
The piano has been drinking
Better off without a wife
Astral weeks
Downtown train
Madame George
Brown eyed girl
The Heart of Saturday Night

Dr. John (4) @ Leonard Cohen (3)

Goin back to New Orleans
The Captain
Everybody knows
How come my dog don't bark (when you come around)?
Is this what you wanted?
Right place wrong time
Such a night
Junko Partner
Chelsea Hotel No. 2
Famous Blue Raincoat

Winners:

Bob Dylan (1)-Taking the first four songs, this one wasn't even close. Simon did show up, making a five-straight run, but that was an afterthought to Dylan's.

Tom Waits (2)-In Waits' first showing of the tournament, it is evident that his repertoire has some flaws-he doesn't have dominating songs. His collection is vast and incredible, but none of them stand out far above the others, and none of them carry an immense weight. The Heart of Saturday Night, in itself, might not top a lot of lists, but because it represents Waits' essence, it does here. And one and four plus a sweep of six through eight was enough to top Van's strong two, three and five showing.

Leonard Cohen (3)-Cohen comes out on top with his one-two punch. It seems he might have had an easier match-up than Waits. Van Morrison might have earned a four-spot through all of this.

Semifinals (Dylan got another bye)

Leonard Cohen (3) @ Tom Waits (2)

The Captain
Everybody knows
Is this what you wanted?
Jitterbug boy
The piano has been drinking
Better off without a wife
Chelsea Hotel No. 2
Downtown train
The Heart of Saturday Night
Famous Blue Raincoat

Winner:

Tom Waits (2)-Cohen got the one off but not the two, and after that Waits had too much.

Finals

Tom Waits (2) @ Bob Dylan (1)

You're gonna make me lonesome when you go
Jitterbug boy
The piano has been drinking
Stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again
Better off without a wife
Downtown train
The Heart of Saturday Night
Girl from the North Country
All along the watchtower
Like a rolling stone

Winner:

Bob Dylan (1)-That one next to his name was there for a reason; he is the Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Final Results:

1. Bob Dylan
2. Tom Waits
3. Van Morrison
4. Leonard Cohen
5. Dr. John
6. Paul Simon
7. Lou Reed
8. Lyle Lovett
9. Joni Mitchell
10. Eric Clapton

Maybe next year I'll give Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young a shot to take over Clapton, and possibly even Joni and Lyle.