Nearly finished with my Voyage Into Zevon... and it has been more rewarding than I'd expected, if only for a couple of excellent, engaging songs on his later records that grab me in ways his '80s work never managed to do. Softer spoken, oftentimes recorded at home, better arranged than pretty much any single song he recorded in the '80s (save perhaps for a couple from Bad Luck Streak).
My favorite post '70s Zevon song has turned out to be called "Something Bad Happened to a Clown," from his 1995 record Mutineer, and I'm actually moved enough to find a place to put it and link to it, making this blog about 100% more valuable. Hope it works! (enter the code near the top right of the page, get rid of any pop ups and you're set)
Posted on 08/23/2006
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My Trusted MOGs
It worked but that service is a pain. That song is really great. Thanks for posting. I'm a big fan of Warren Zevon. I loved Excitable Boy. I think of the song often. Love to hear what you think are your favorite tracks. I'm onto you on this trek Spencer. First you were all about Steely Dan and now Warren Zevon. Next it's going to be Al Stewart, Gerry Raferty, Dan Fogelberg, and Joan Armatrading. :) My dad would be proud. I got to looking and in this vein I apparently need to check out Karla Bonoff and James McMurty. Have you heard of either of these? I haven't. Just curious. Awesome post. I haven't heard of much from Mr. Zevon and I now have more guidance thanks to thee. Thanks a bunch!
My Trusted MOGs
Funny that you say that, I've actually had Al Stewart's Year of the Cat in my one of my to-listen playlists on iTunes for a little while now. It's actually been there longer than Zevon or even the Dan (or even Prince), but I have not listened.
I listened to that song I linked to probably 25 times total yesterday. I foresee a few more plays today. Glad you liked it. Apparently both Amazon and Allmusic single out that song in their reviews as a confusing, bad song. More for us, I suppose.
My Trusted MOGs
Oh, and I forgot, my favorite Zevon tracks after surveying almost his entire career (I'm missing out on one out-of-print album, Mr. Bad Example): "The French Inhaler," "Desperados Under the Eaves," "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner," "Accidentally Like a Martyr," "Lawyers, Guns & Money," "Something Bad Happened to a Clown," "My Shit's Fucked Up." Plenty more gems where those came from, though. (Honorable mention goes to David Letterman's appearance on 2002's "Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song).")
My Trusted MOGs
My fave Zevon is the live Standing In The Fire album, though it is only available in the US as an expensive import. It sounds like Warren backed by the 1970s Rolling Stones. I got a cassette and dubbed it onto CD-R and it sounds surprisingly pristine, with no hiss. A great live album. There is also a great bootleg floating around of a radio broadcast of Zevon live at The Metro in Boston 1982 with ace versions of "Play It All Night Long," "Carmelita," and (my fave) "Charlie's Medicine."