September 09, 2003

ZEVON 1-10

Sydney reader Tony O. sends his Top Ten Warren Zevon songlist:

1. Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner. Proof the man was a genius.

2. Desperados Under the Eaves. Got the album as a 16-year-old in 1978 (?). I remember laughing out loud at the “air conditioner humming” line.

3. Mohammed's Radio.

4. Lawyers, Guns and Money. Everybody sing: 'I'm stranded in Honduras, I'm a desperate man ...'

5. The Long Arm of the Law. Great track from the Transverse City album.

6. Play It All Night Long.

7. Mr Bad Example. With the neat Adelaide/Aboriginal/workers comp lines.

8. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead. I guess he will.

9. Werewolves of London.

10. When Johnny Strikes up the Band.

UPDATE. Please take the time to read Brian Linse’s touching obit.

Posted by Tim Blair at September 9, 2003 03:26 PM
Comments

Somehow missing:

Leave My Monkey Alone
Rehab Mountain
Carmelita

Posted by: Paul Wright at September 9, 2003 at 07:48 PM

I'd add "Excitable Boy"...simple, if gruesome, and effective.

Posted by: JonT at September 9, 2003 at 08:00 PM

Yes, one album provides a great many of my favourites. But what about Hasten Down the Wind? Warren was a great balladeer when he wanted to be. And Bed of Coals, Bed of Nails, a duet with Ronstadt on Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School.

Warren was a one-off.

Posted by: Dave F at September 9, 2003 at 10:23 PM

There's a link here to Wazza's own home site, with a link for condolences and donations to a music fund he set up. (If the link is broken, there's another one on my site below.)

Posted by: Habib Bickford at September 9, 2003 at 11:02 PM

No, no, you can't leave out "Hit Somebody (the Hockey Song)." Sheer wonder.

Posted by: Bruce at September 9, 2003 at 11:08 PM


Can anyone tell me the name of Warrens song with the lines :

I heard Woodrow Wilsons guns
I heard Maria call.....ing
Vera Cruz is dy..ing

Such haunting lyrics, beautifully sung. Farewell to a man who made an difference to me many moons ago.

Posted by: Jafa at September 10, 2003 at 01:43 AM

Werewolves of London is my fave, but then again that is not a shock now is it? The rest of the list is good too, but Werewolves has got to be his best.

Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge at September 10, 2003 at 03:19 AM

The song about Veracruz is "Veracruz" from Excitable Boy.

What about "Poor Poor Pitiful Me"? That's a rocker.


I met a girl in West Hollywood
She asked me if I'd beat her

Gosh I'm gonna miss him.

Posted by: Dave Himrich at September 10, 2003 at 03:52 AM

While I do love his songs that are a bit twisted, my favorite has been and will always be Hasten Down the Wind. Maybe it's because I'm a girl, but I prefer the ballads.

Posted by: Polly at September 10, 2003 at 03:59 AM