Warren Zevon - The Album, the Man, the Mortality

While straightening the CDs at Himmel Library, I came across Warren Zevon the first major release by, of course, Warren Zevon.  Some 20 years ago, this album was a favorite of mine.  Somehow, it did not make it through the transition of my music collection into the digital world, and I had not heard many of the tracks in a long while.  I checked out the CD and immediately realized why I had so much fondness for this CD and this artist.  It also compelled me to re-watch the VH1 documentary about the making of Zevon's final album, The Wind, recorded following Zevon's diagnosis of terminal lung cancer in 2002.  Read on to find out more about both of these great works.


Originally released in 1976, Warren Zevon is an album chock full of great songs.  In fact, I would say there isn't even a dog (a bad song) on the entire record.  The songs are diverse; alternatively moving, fun, sweet, rocking, humorous, and sometimes many of those all in one track.  Starting with "Frank and Jesse James," Zevon sings of the virtues of the those outlaws brothers.  Next is "Mama Couldn't Be Persuaded" a catchy number I have been singing all day today (probably to my co-workers displeasure).  It is an upbeat song about a woman who marries a gamblin' man despite her parents warning, told from the perspective of the child.  It is likely rather autobiographical as Zevon's father was a bookie and his mother was Mormon.  The next pair of tunes, "Backs Turned, Looking Down the Path," and "Hasten Down the Wind" are equally lovely.  I could go on telling you the many wonderful virtues of all these songs, but just trust me when I say that it is a phenomenal work which deserves the attention of any fan of Rock-n-Roll's singer-songwriters.  There is even a local connection to the album, as our own Linda Rondstadt recorded 4 songs off this record, with great success.

VH1 (Inside) Out - Warren Zevon was released in 2004 and chronicles the making of Zevon's final album, The Wind.  While Pima County Public Library does not have this work, one can watch the entire documentary on youtube.  There are many wonderful moments in the documentary, it is really quite fascinating to get to have such access to a popular musician as he directly faces his imminent demise.  At one point in the documentary, after Zevon struggles with some vocals, his friend and producer Jorge Calderon suggests that they try again in the morning, when Zevon is "fresh."  Zevon replies, "Jorge, I'm dying, I don't have no 'fresh'."

Another great moment in the doc is when Zevon's friend Bruce Springsteen comes to the studio and rips through some vocals and a screaming guitar solo.  Zevon explains to the camera, "I love Bruce very much, and the thing about Springsteen is, he's exactly the person that everybody hopes he would be."

Zevon becomes too ill to record, but after months off, he is feeling well enough to attempt to finish the last song "Keep Me in Your Heart," which was the first song he wrote after his terminal diagnosis.  In a fitting Hollywood ending, after months of being too sick to record, Zevon just nails the vocals.  A fine farewell from a man who gave us so much great music over his short lifetime.

In addition to Warren Zevon, the PCPL collection contains Excitable Boy, Zevon's best-selling album.  Click here for a link to those items.

Also, freegal has 2 albums, My Ride's Here, and his final album, the one that was the subject of the documentary, The Wind.  Click here for a link.

For the documentary, just search "Warren Zevon" in youtube.

Cheers, and "enjoy every sandwich,"
Brian