When music lovers compile their lists of the greatest singer-songwriters of the latter 20th century, one name that should lead the list is all-too-often ignored. Warren Zevon never achieved the superstardom of Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Billy Joel, Don Henley, Bob Dylan or many other luminaries. That is a tragedy partly brought on by Zevon’s own self-destructive behavior and partly by his refusal to compromise artistic integrity and pursue the path of least resistance to the top of the pop charts. Zevon didn’t write songs for mass consumption, although he always energized and was energized by his fans (especially those lucky enough to have seen him in concert, as I was). No, Warren Zevon wrote songs that require a listener to think, to fully engage with the music and lyrics, not just tap the toes. His songs are suffused with irony, satirical savagery, and images and metaphors that would challenge even the most erudite music fan. After all, how many song writers do you know who use words like “entropy” or “brucellosis” (a law of thermodynamics and a disease of cattle, respectively) in their songs? He was a thinking man’s rocker with a sharp wit, penetrating insight into the human condition, and an irreverently original way of expressing it all. In this writer’s opinion, Warren Zevon was the preeminent singer-songwriter of the past 40 years. And the chart toppers like Bruce Springsteen and Don Henley would agree with that assessment. After all, they jumped at the chance to be backup musicians for Zevon’s swan song album, The Wind. and worked with him on numerous occasions. Look at the liner notes for any given Zevon album, and you will see a virtual who’s who of the music world.
Coming up with 10 songs that represent this unique artist’s best work is no easy task. Any list will undoubtedly leave out some absolute gems. Every single song and album deserves serious study and consideration. The ten I have chosen, represent the songs I listen to again and again, hearing something new in them each time. Here they are, in no particular order. (Hey, it’s hard enough coming up with just ten, a true rank ordering is just impossible!)
1. Werewolves of London. This track from Zevon’s Excitable Boy album is often written off as just a quirky novelty song. Nothing could be further from the truth. Throughout the song, werewolves turn up in the most mundane places: Soho, Kent, Trader Vic’s, and so on. Why? Zevon had a keen sense of social satire. This song was released in 1978, a time when violence in major cities was skyrocketing. By placing monsters in the most everyday scenes, he was able to comment on the potential for violence in all of us. The guy sipping pina coladas next to you might just be a vicious murderer — how would you ever know? “You better stay away from him. / He’ll rip your lungs out, Jim!”
2. Excitable Boy. Since I’m on that album, I might as well address the title track. It is one of the most disturbing and devastatingly ironical pieces in Zevon’s oeuvre, and it could have been ripped right out of any newspaper or TV news story. It is about a sick killer who shows an early propensity to shocking violence. His family dismisses his “eccentricities,” saying that he is just excitable, that’s all. How many parents have we seen on television, after their child has been caught dead-to-rights, with murder weapoon in hand, and the victims blood all over him, only to say, “He’s a good boy — he could never do anything like that!” What makes this song particularly unsettling is the bouncy, Doo-Wop beat that it is set to. The juxtaposition of pop banality with the horror of rape and murder will stick in the listener’s mind for a long time to come.
3. Porcelain Monkey. In this song from the Life’ll Kill Ya album, the self-destructive Zevon comes to grips with the self-destructive “King” of rock ‘n’ roll, Elvis Presley. It portrays an Elvis who was not truly prepared for the life of a superstar, buying into the outward trappings without letting himsef be grounded by reality. The porcelain monkey represents Elvis’ tacky and ostentatious view of “success” — a view void of any values that might have been a saving grace for The King. It depicts the star’s rise from the “shotgun shacks” and the “Pentecostal hymns” to the “wrought iron gates and the TV room” of Graceland. Eventually, Elvis self-destructs, “eating fried chicken with his regicidal friends.” Was this a prophetic vision of Zevon’s own untimely demise?
4. Detox Mansion. This song is an insider’s look at celebrity drug and alcohol rehab programs from the Sentimental Hygiene album. Zevon battled substance abuse for much of his career, and this is a tongue-in-cheek, self-deprecating look at the tony detox programs available to the privileged. At one point, Zevon sings about how “me and Liz [Taylor] clean up the yard,” as part of their daily chores. But, he is all-too-acutely aware that such programs represent a “last chance” for the addict.
5. Run Straight Down. Many critics will disagree with this selection from the Transverse City album, but I think that it perfectly captures the zeitgeist of its time. Released in 1989, it depicts a world going to hell in a handbasket, a world where technology is not our savior, but is leading us down the path to our own self-demise (more prophetic musings, perhaps). Musically, one might almost consider it minimalist, especially the repetitive bass line, which makes sense, considering the worldview of such minimalist composers as Philip Glass (e.g. Koyannisqatsi).
6. Reconsider Me. One of Zevon’s most poignant love songs, Reconsider Me takes a look at second chances in a relationship that has gone terribly wrong. It is no secret from his fans, that Zevon could be abusive when he was drunk. This song is the truly repentant cry of an abuser who is in recovery and desperately seeking a second chance. “And I’ll never make you sad again, / ‘Cause I swear that I’ve changed since then,” is the plaintive refrain. Again, Warren Zevon was singing from personal experience, here. The melody is one of the most poignant and beautiful he ever wrote.
7. I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead. (From Warren Zevon’s self-titled album) Is there any better song to capture Zevon’s philosophy of life? Zevon was a man who didn’t sleep or rest until he accomplished what he set out to do, and until there was no more fun to be had!
8. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door. Yes, this song is a cover of Bob Dylan’s masterpiece (recorded on Zevon’s last album, The Wind). But, it is especially poignant, given that it was Zevon’s final album. Many artists have covered this song, but few as touchingly as Warren Zevon.
9. Splendid Isolation. This is the ultimate anthem for the loner. From Zevon’s last album, The Wind.
10. I Was In The House When The When The House Burned Down. From the Life’ll Kill Ya album, this song expresses the angst of anyone who has suffered through a failed relationship. One way or another, Life will fnd you and end you, Period! Whether you are a rock star, like Warren Zevon, or an ordinary Joe, like me, life will most certainly kill you!
