WARREN ZEVON
Warren Zevon
It’s one of my greatest musical regrets that I never got to see one of my heroes live.I had tickets for one of his last concerts at the Lowry but for some forgotten reason I couldn’t go.
All of you will be familiar with his one and only hit ,the novelty song ‘Werewolves of London’. But there was a lot more to WZ than that ,he made numerous albums and his songs were covered by such luminaries as Bob Dylan,Linda Ronstadt ,Shawn Colvin, Jackson Browne and Jason Isbell.He was often called a genius so his best of ,was called ‘Genius’
His father ‘Stumpy ‘was a gangster working for the infamous Micky Cohen.
Warren was classically trained from a young age.His early musical career led him to being the band leader for the warringEverly Brothers.
He was part of the Laurel Canyon scene , although he was already known
as a hell raiser.
He is the only artist to take up a whole show of Letterman , hence the clue, he also stood in for Paul Schaffer as leader of the house band.In his last appearance before his untimely death from lung cancer,David asked him how he felt ‘enjoy every sandwich’was the reply.
A tribute album called ‘Enjoy Every Sandwich’ was released shortly after his death with Covers by Springsteen,Henley ,Earle to name but a few.
There’s also a documentary worth watching on the making of his last album which he managed to finish just before he died.
He lived a very much rock roll lifestyle which unfortunately led to his premature death ,although he cleaned up in later years like many others.
If you want to know more there’s a good read
‘I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon’
written by his ex wife.
After hearing WOL I immediately went and bought the album ‘Excitable Boy’ which was one of the choices I was considering but due to it containingWOL, I decided this his sopho album was the better pick.
Released in 1976 he accompanied by lots of LC musicians and the album is produced by another favourite of mine Jackson Browne.
The album opens with ‘Frank and Jesse James’ a ragtime piano led ode to the famous outlaws which always reminds me of one of my favourite films’The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford’.
After ‘Backs turned looking down the road ‘
We have a run of classic WZ songs a number covered by Linda Rondstat and others
Starting with ‘Hasten down the wind’ a break up song that definitely sums up one of my failed marriages, but with strings.
The upbeat ‘Poor Poor Pitiful me’ he wrote ironically about his alcohol and drug addictions.
‘The French Inhaler’ a cruel yet mockingly funny attack on his ex girlfriend.
‘Mohammed’s Radio’ a comment on LA life for the not so rich back in the 70s which could easily be relevant today, I love the smokey saxe on this track.
‘I’ll Sleep When I’m dead ‘ which builds up to being one of his rockier songs
with his harmonica playing and typical WZ lyrics.
‘Carmelita’ with its accordion accompaniment and Spanish guitar again about his drug problems.
up to ‘Join me in LA’ which has a funky/ jazz groove and always reminds me of one of my favourite bands Little Feat.
The album concludes with one of my favourite tracks with its strings,
‘Desperados Under the Eaves’ another familiar WZ song both poignant yet funny,Like a lot of his later songs injected with black humour, right up to his last album ‘The Wind’ which had a number of gallows humour tracks.
I love most types of music but singer song writers are my favourite,I had this album on vinyl and would spend many a hour studying the lyrics whilst listening to the amazing musicians accompanying Warrens voice which although not great was perfect for his songs.
Track listing[edit]
All songs written by Warren Zevon.
Side one
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Frank and Jesse James" | 4:33 |
| 2. | "Mama Couldn't Be Persuaded" | 2:53 |
| 3. | "Backs Turned Looking Down the Path" | 2:27 |
| 4. | "Hasten Down the Wind" | 2:58 |
| 5. | "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" | 3:04 |
| 6. | "The French Inhaler" | 3:44 |
Side two
| No. | Title | Length |
| 7. | "Mohammed's Radio" | 3:40 |
| 8. | "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" | 2:56 |
| 9. | "Carmelita" | 3:32 |
| 10. | "Join Me in L.A." | 3:13 |
| 11. | "Desperados Under the Eaves" | 4:45 |
Personnel[edit]
- Warren Zevon – harmonica, piano, rhythm guitar, string arrangements, vocals
- Jackson Browne – harmony vocals on tracks 2, 3 & 11, piano on track 10, slide guitar on track 3
- Lindsey Buckingham – guitar on track 3, harmony vocals on tracks 5 & 7
- Rosemary Butler – harmony vocals on track 10
- Jorge Calderón – harmony vocals on tracks 8 & 11
- Marty David – bass guitar on track 3
- Ned Doheny – guitar on track 10
- Phil Everly – harmony vocals on tracks 1 & 4
- Glenn Frey – rhythm guitar on track 9, harmony vocals on tracks 6 & 9
- The Gentlemen Boys – background vocals on track 11
- Bob Glaub – bass guitar on tracks 1, 2, 4 – 7 & 9 – 11
- Don Henley – harmony vocals on track 6
- Billy Hinsche – harmony vocals on track 11
- Bobby Keys – saxophone on tracks 5, 7 & 10
- David Lindley – banjo on track 1, fiddle on tracks 1, 2 & 5, slide guitar on tracks 4 & 7, guitar on track 9
- Gary Mallaber – drums on tracks 3 & 8
- Roy Marinell – bass guitar on track 8
- Stevie Nicks – vocals on track 7 & 10
- Bonnie Raitt – harmony vocals on track 10
- Fritz Richmond – jug on track 8
- Sid Sharp – strings on tracks 4, 6 & 11
- J.D. Souther – harmony vocals on tracks 2 & 11
- Waddy Wachtel – guitar, vocals
- Carl Wilson – harmony vocals on track 11, vocal arrangements
- Jai Winding – piano on track 5, organ & synthesizer on track 10, vocals on track 11
- Larry Zack – drums on tracks 1, 2, 4 – 7 & 9 – 11
- The Gentlemen Boys consisted of: Jackson Browne, Jorge Calderón, Kenny Edwards, J. D. Souther and Waddy Wachtel.
