Warren Zevon, Stevie + Lindsey

[dontlookdown]

For those of you who haven't heard Warren's first few albums, Stevie and Lindsey make a few appearances. The best track to seek out is Mohammad's Radio which features Stevie on harmony/duet vocals. The other is Poor Poor Pitiful Me featuring Lindsey on vocals. Both of these were covered by Linda Ronstadt as well as a bunch of others. These are excellent records and they're a nice document of that time. Some of the musicians like Jorge Calderon and Jim Keltner also played on Buckingham Nicks. I think Jorge also lived in that group house full of musicians that Stevie often talks about. She had a waitress job and everybody else hung out and practiced....

Ahh to be young and living in LA.....

[Livia]

And that's Mick and John on "Werewolves of London."

:)

[darklinensuit]

I was listening to his version of Reconsider Me in the car yesterday. I love the vocal.
(For those who don't know, Stevie''s version of his song is on her boxed set.)
Warren Zevon is my favorite singer (next to you-know-who).

- Jake

[Johnny Stew]

Shame on me for not knowing this for certain, but isn't Christine on "Werewolves Of London" too?

There's a piano part on there that sure sounds like her style.

[chiliD]

The personnel on "Werewolves Of London":

Warren Zevon: Piano, vocals
Waddy Wachtel: guitar
John McVie: bass
Mick Fleetwood: drums


So, by using the criteria of "if Mick & John are the rhythm section, it is Fleetwood Mac", wouldn't that actually make this song an incarnation of Fleetwood Mac??? :laugh:

[Johnny Stew]

Thanks, chili!

I was just double-checking Christine's discography as you were typing that.

I guess I must've just always thought Christine was playing on the song, because Warren's piano part sounds like her style. To my ears, at least.

And... uh... it ain't Fleetwood Mac unless the album cover says so! ;) :laugh:

[DeeGeMe]

Hey Darklinensuit--I'm with you on Warren. He's been my next-best-to-FM fave for years and years. In fact, I became aware of his work because I heard that Lindsey & Stevie sang on Mohammed's Radio! I brought that album, and I've been buying Warren's work ever since. I'm just heartbroken that he's leaving us but at least he's leaving behind some brilliant, brilliant work and wonderful memories. Having said that, I hope that his departure is very much delayed and send all good wishes his way!

[wetcamelfood]

One of my faves from the selftitled 1976 WZ album is "Backs turned looking down the path" (Lindsey's on that one too). :)

John

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by DeeGeMe
Hey Darklinensuit--I'm with you on Warren. He's been my next-best-to-FM fave for years and years. In fact, I became aware of his work because I heard that Lindsey & Stevie sang on Mohammed's Radio! I brought that album, and I've been buying Warren's work ever since. I'm just heartbroken that he's leaving us but at least he's leaving behind some brilliant, brilliant work and wonderful memories. Having said that, I hope that his departure is very much delayed and send all good wishes his way!

MR got me to investigate, too. I wish it would have been included on the Genius album.
Months ago I did a Zevon post on the Chit Chat forum, but it got little response. The only other Ledgie I know who's a Zevon fan is Shackin'Up.
What are your favorite songs? I love Mr. Bad Example (especially the live Learning to Flinch version with just the guitars) and Roland. I hate that I'll never see him in concert.
And I'll say this, David Letterman moves up in my book by recognizing the greatness of Stevie Nicks and Warren Zevon.

- Jake

[DeeGeMe]

Originally posted by darklinensuit
MR got me to investigate, too. I wish it would have been included on the Genius album.
Months ago I did a Zevon post on the Chit Chat forum, but it got little response. The only other Ledgie I know who's a Zevon fan is Shackin'Up.
What are your favorite songs? I love Mr. Bad Example (especially the live Learning to Flinch version with just the guitars) and Roland. I hate that I'll never see him in concert.
And I'll say this, David Letterman moves up in my book by recognizing the greatness of Stevie Nicks and Warren Zevon.

- Jake

I hardly ever check out the Chit Chat forum--sorry. Did you catch David last night praising the CD and telling everyone to go out and buy two copies? He is a class act. Anyway, my favorite Warren tunes? That's a tough one. I honestly can say that I have every one of his CD's--well, I will when The Wind finally arrives from Best Buy! I love MR, of course, and I've always liked Reconsider Me. I remember being very happy when I heard Stevie was going to cover one of WZ's songs. Some of my favs include: Empty Handed Heart, Lawyers, Guns, and Money, Boom Boom Mancini, For My Next Trick I'll Need A Volunteer, Desperados Under the Eaves, Accidentally Like a Martyr, Even A Dog Can Shake Hands, the now very ironically titled, "Life Will Kill Ya".
The list goes on and on and on. . . I pretty much keep Warren and FM (and especially Stevie) in heavy rotation.

[shackin'up]

Originally posted by DeeGeMe
I hardly ever check out the Chit Chat forum--sorry. Did you catch David last night praising the CD and telling everyone to go out and buy two copies? He is a class act. Anyway, my favorite Warren tunes? That's a tough one. I honestly can say that I have every one of his CD's--well, I will when The Wind finally arrives from Best Buy! I love MR, of course, and I've always liked Reconsider Me. I remember being very happy when I heard Stevie was going to cover one of WZ's songs. Some of my favs include: Empty Handed Heart, Lawyers, Guns, and Money, Boom Boom Mancini, For My Next Trick I'll Need A Volunteer, Desperados Under the Eaves, Accidentally Like a Martyr, Even A Dog Can Shake Hands, the now very ironically titled, "Life Will Kill Ya".
The list goes on and on and on. . . I pretty much keep Warren and FM (and especially Stevie) in heavy rotation.

good selection, but I'll have to add my personal fave:

Detox Mansion

Just a pity that stevie didn't hear that one during the time of Mohammed's Radio.;) ;)

Oh ,and I just love Poor, poor pityful me!!!

gerald

[cliffdweller]

Yeah, "Mohammad's Radio" is greatness. I remember the first time I heard that song and thinking, that really
sounds like Stevie singing back-up and sure enough, it was. I Didn't know that John and Mick played on "Werewolves of London", interesting.

I love Linda Ronstadt's versions of Warren's songs, she's my second favorite singer, well, maybe tied with Ann Wilson.

:wavey:

[darklinensuit]

Linda sings back-up on Excitable Boy, quite a disturbing song.

DeeGeMe, I love For My Next Trick I'll Need a Volunteer and Desperadoes under the Eaves, too. Also Fistful of Rain. And Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (esp. the Waddy line).
I am sure he knew the diagnosis when he did Life'll Kill Ya. That song My S***'s F***ed Up sums it up.

[DeeGeMe]

Originally posted by shackin'up
good selection, but I'll have to add my personal fave:

Detox Mansion

Just a pity that stevie didn't hear that one during the time of Mohammed's Radio.;) ;)

Oh ,and I just love Poor, poor pityful me!!!

gerald

Detox Mansion is one of my favs too. "I've been raking leaves with Liza, me and Liz clean up the yard." Cracks me up everytime I hear it. Poor Warren, he detoxed before it was cool to detox! I think that Sentimental Hygiene may be my favorite WZ album of all.

[shackin'up]

Originally posted by DeeGeMe
Detox Mansion is one of my favs too. "I've been raking leaves with Liza, me and Liz clean up the yard." Cracks me up everytime I hear it. Poor Warren, he detoxed before it was cool to detox! I think that Sentimental Hygiene may be my favorite WZ album of all.

Yep.
Mine, too.

good quote, but what about

" It's tough to be somebody, it's hard to keep from fallin' apart, here on rehab mountain we all learn these things by heart..."

... and then that TOTALLY cool hardrocking and swinging riff....
AAAARGHHH, I'm gonna play it now!:]

zevonrocksbigtime.

gerald

[DeeGeMe]

It's such a joy to find out that there are other folks in the world who love WZ and FM so much too!

[darklinensuit]

I agree.
Now a word about the new album.
Please Stay is an instant classic, but Emmylou sounds awful. It would have been PERFECT with Stevie. Too bad she was unavailable.

- Jake

[DeeGeMe]

I'm so sorry to say that I don't have my copy of The Wind yet. I live in a town without a music store. Wal-Mart doesn't have it and had no idea who Warren Zevon is. So I ordered it from Best Buy. I've had good experiences with them in the past. Of course, not this time. I've been doing the on-line tracking thing on it and according to the website, my package has been sitting in a mail warehouse since Wednesday! I've emailed the USPS but no reply. I'm an extremely unhappy camper right now. I knew I should have ordered it from Amazon instead! At least I've been able to listen to the entire CD via VH1's website. And it is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. And re: Emmylou--I know she's all that but I've never particuarly cared for the sound of her voice. I would have preferred that Warren have had someone else on that tune too.

[darklinensuit]

Strangely, the new album is less death-obsessed, and less upbeat, than Life'll Kill Ya, which is an album I loved on the first listen. But the new one is not a downer like Mutineer. It has a raw sound, like you're hearing him in the studio before the album has been tweaked and polished.
Songs 1, 4, and 9 are my fvorites so far.
I predict that come Grammy time, he'll either be onstage with his many music friends, or they'll be singing Knockin' on Heaven's Door in tribute to him. (And his version of this song IS a downer.)

Good luck getting it.

- Jake

[DeeGeMe]

I loved Life Will Kill Ya too, but just couldn't get into Mutineer either. You summed it up perfectly, it's just too dark. I'm usually okay with dark but this wasn't dark in a good way, it was dark in a depressing way, if that makes any sense.

[darklinensuit]

I think the only song that is a little upbeat is the monkey shine one (going to a party in the center of the earth), but that song disturbs me for some reason. Ah, nihilism.

- Jake

[DeeGeMe]

I'm very happy to say that I finally have my copy of The Wind! And you're all right--it is less death obsessed than some of his previous works. Listening to it, I just kept thinking, Warren is happily rocking onward til the end." And that made me happy. . . and sad. . . all at the same time.

[darklinensuit]

Yeah, I'm glad for him, but IMO Life'll Kill Ya is a more enjoyable album for the listener, even with the darker themes.

- Jake

[DeeGeMe]

Just heard that Warren passed away this morning. He will be missed.

[darklinensuit]

:distress:

- Jake

[jeffles]

Lindsey also sang backup on a great lost classic Zevon song called The Overdraft which came off of Zevon's long forgotten (but great) 1982 album The Envoy.
Definetely worth checking out.

I've been listening to his music for at least 12 years. I heard Werewolves of London on classic rock radio, loved the song and went out and bought A Quiet Normal Life (best of) and eventually bought all of his records. I've been hooked since...

[Janet]

Wow you guys are going to get me to listen to him more.

I had the songs S/L were invovled in and I always got mad the radio NEVER mentioned that Mick and John were on Werewolves...I just thought it strange. Great song.

I love his voice.

During his tribute I heard Excitable Boy (* didn't know that was Linda*) and I heard his take on Casey Jones from the Greatful Dead tribute album. I know my classic rock station also played his new album tonight.

But I'll have to get into him more!

Its awesome he played until the end...