My 50 Favorite Albums (continued)
"I went home with the waitress, the way I always do. How was I to know she was with the russians too? ... Send lawyers guns and money, the shit has hit the fan"
These lyrics sum up the warped, funny, wacky, and brilliant mind of Warren Zevon.
This record, Excitable Boy, came out in 1978 and immediately changed my opinion of southern california rock. In my metal crazed mind, So Cal rock was soft stuff that required an instant change of radio station.
But when Warren strikes up the band on this record, he shows the So Cal rock can be great and it is throughout this record.
As one Amazon reviewer states, "This is a great party album, or one for a hot Saturday afternoon sitting on the back porch watching the birds play in the back yard with a couple of open Sam Adams. It's a great, classic rock album."
That it is. And now its in the Top 50 where it belongs.
Fred - I love Zevon, who continued to produce thoughtful and crazy music right up to his death. Indeed, you may have noticed I named my blog after one of his farewell tunes....and this is the one that started it all. Remember seeing him at the Palladium, must've been on the tour for this record, and it was wild and fun - no laid-back Eagles-like icon, he.
Posted by: Tom Watson | June 03, 2005 at 08:45 AM
Bravo. Warren is the man. A tragic loss. His live shows were incredible, always seemed to be in small bars.
I dig his stuff so much that I have gone out of my way to live out some of his lyrics. This past spring in London, the kids and I wandered around Soho in the rain, found Le Ho Fuk's, and had a big dish of beef chow mein (aaah, oooh!). Second time for me, first for them. They loved it.
In 1990 my wife to be and I took a detour to Mombassa and found a bar room and drank some gin. No sign of Roland.
Still multiple opportunities left - pina colada at trader vics, hollywood hawaiian hotel, veracruz, etc., etc. Historical rock rocks.
Posted by: Bob Struble | June 03, 2005 at 08:46 AM
Bravo 2X. My wife scratches her head when I throw Zevon in the player and start chuckling at his lyrics. Warren was one of many I overlooked as a kid, but got caught up quick on later in life.
RIP Warren....
Posted by: Tony Alva | June 03, 2005 at 09:02 AM
Your post occasioned one of those "coulda had a V-8" moments, prompting me (after slapping my head, of course) to reach over, queue-up some Zevon, and enjoy the wee hours in a different light (hey, it's three hours earlier out here!). And now I know that nothing wakes my two little boys in a better mood than those iconic chords opening "Werewolves" (though the wife was not as easily impressed). Ah, where have all the intelligent rockers gone? The king is dead--long live the king!
Posted by: Russ Pillar | June 03, 2005 at 09:04 AM
"Keep Me in Your Heart" is a great tribute song too.
Posted by: Matt | June 03, 2005 at 09:24 AM
Accidentally Like a Martyr never got the attention it should have - it was Zevon at his best.
Thanks for this.
Posted by: Rob Hyndman | June 03, 2005 at 09:57 AM
I did the pina colada at Trader Vic's (in San Francisco; does that count?). And my hair was perfect.
Posted by: JayR | June 03, 2005 at 10:24 AM
Whenever I'm in L.A. I try to find a Zevonument (The Pioneer Chicken Stand, Gower Avenue, you pick...). I agree with everything everybody said, specially about Accidently Like A Martyr, but before everybody breathes a big sigh - SAM ADDAMS??? What the....that shit sucks!
Posted by: jackson | June 03, 2005 at 11:40 AM
I saw Warren Zevon in late seventies at a small theater and he played a fantastic show. He was pretty much blind drunk and got into a shouting match with a guy who was heckling him in the crowd.
It was such a memorable concert and the interplay between the two was hilarious.
He was a true visionary in my opinion and his lyrics were acidic and satirical ... I miss the crazy SOB!
Posted by: Jim Hutton | June 03, 2005 at 01:31 PM
Sam Addams!!! F**k that shit, PBR!
Posted by: Frank | June 03, 2005 at 02:58 PM
It wasn't until a friend told me about Warren Zevon about 25 years ago that I realized I was already a fan through his songs performed by others.
My favorite quote from him came during an interview on Letterman shortly after Zevon was diagnosed with advanced cancer, when he said "enjoy every sandwich." He explained that it was his realization that every moment in life, even one as mundane as eating a sandwich, is worth cherishing.
I've had great fun in front of his music, but that quote brings a smile and a sense of peace whenever I think of it. Thanks for both, Warren.
Posted by: Bill A | June 03, 2005 at 06:32 PM
Excitable Boy is like Bring the Family: you mean all those great songs first appeared on the same album?
Today, I listened to Enjoy Every Sandwich, the WZ tribute album, and posted a little about it, including in the post a photo of WZ with Jill Sobule, who sings on the album, who is very wonderful, on whose site I found the photo, and who would never write a sentence as straggly as this one.
Posted by: Andrew | June 03, 2005 at 09:32 PM
Darn it Fred...you keep listing albums that are going to be on my yet to be started list. Go ahead...steal my thunder!!!
Seriously great record...from the opening lines of Johnny to "Dad, get me out of this"...this mostly all sounds fresh after all these years.
If I count correctly, you only have 9 picks left. The suspense mounts.
Posted by: mark | June 04, 2005 at 02:21 AM