The reason I mention all this is because...well, okay. I'm gonna get a little verklempt here.
The short version is that Friend of PowerPop© (and moi) Phil Cheese just gifted me the greatest birthday present I've had since I don't know when.
A double album vinyl version of the aforementioned Exciteable Boy LP from Mobile Fidelity. In a pristine, never been played package, cut from the original master, and -- dig this -- pressed at 45 rpm.(!!!!!!)
I really lack the words, but I'll just say -- and you'll have to take this on faith -- that the above version of "Veracruz" sounds absolutely pathetic by comparison with what I just listened to at home thanks to Phil.
Anyway -- bless you, dude, and I owe you big time.
Which brings us now to business. To wit:
...and your favorite (or least favorite if such a thing is possible) Zevon album track (or cover version of same by another artist) is...???
Here's my nominee, in case you were wondering. For least fave.
Wow. Not really very good. But hey -- they meant well, at least.
Alrighty then -- and your choice(s) would be?
And have a great weekend, everybody!!!
For me the best is Hasten Down The Wind with the magnificent Phil Everly harmony and beautiful lyric.
ReplyDeleteTough to pick just one but, Mohammed's Radio. Linda Ronstadt's cover of same is pretty great too.
ReplyDeleteI would choose Reconsider Me original version is best Pretenders version is the worst.
ReplyDeleters
The song I've chosen show that Warren fully understood the music business by this point in his career "Send Lawyers, Guns & Money"!
ReplyDeleteCaptain Al
pretty much a zevon outsider but i've always loved the line "his hair was perfect"
ReplyDeleteI have to go with the 'More Werewolves of Alabama' mashup from 20 years back (long before Kid Rock ripped it off):
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwTT3fwP0mg
As for originals, I'll go with 'Boom Boom Mancini.'
Searching for a Heart
ReplyDeleteBig Gorilla at the LA Zoo/Snatched the glasses right off my face/Took the keys to my BMW/Left me here to take his place
ReplyDeleteOh man, so many good ones. I'll go with The French Inhaler. But I do so love Porcelain Monkey:
ReplyDeleteLeft behind by the latest trends
Eatin' friend chicken with his regicidal friends
That's how the story ends
That should be "fried chicken" of course.
DeleteI loved the group Derringer but they did a really lame "Lawyers, Guns, & Money." The group was about out of gas by that time anyway.
ReplyDeleteBob in IL
Big Deadhead here, so not hating when I say their covers of Werewolves are pretty slack. As for ones I like, love the live version of Mohammed's Radio from Stand In The Fire.
ReplyDeleteToo, too many. Always loved "Disorder in the house" that Warren performed with Springsteen - the over driven guitar is nasty 🎸
ReplyDeleterbm
"Outside Chance" covered by the Turtles!
ReplyDeleteI saw what you did there!!!!
DeleteAlways liked Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead and Detox Mansion.
ReplyDeleteDave in Atlanta
A couple of tracks from the BAD LUCK STREAK IN DANCING SCHOOL album: Warren's powerful, swaggering cover (love Rick Marotta's drums) of the old New Orleans R&B song 'A Certain Girl', and the album's concluding track 'Wild Age', with the Henley-Frey harmonies (say what you will about those guys but they were really good singers).
ReplyDeleteI’d forgotten “A Certain Girl.” Fabulous.
ReplyDeleteDesperadoes Under the Eaves still thrills me especially the ending. But my favorite lyrics are from The Hula Hula Boys where he says "I didn't come to Maui to be treated like a jerk, how do you think I feel when I see the bellboys smirk?" Poor guy
ReplyDeleteSo, so many to choose from, and everything on the first two albums is so good, but…”Detox Mansion” is just effing brilliant - Bill Berry killing it on the pagan skins, Mike Mills killing it on the bass guitar, Peter Buck playing what is probably a Rickenbacker 6-string on rhythm guitar, WZ probably plays guitar on the track as well (I know he did when I saw him do this one live with a band), and the late and very lamented David Lindley plays the scorching lap steel lead. Pair all that instrumental prowess with some of the most corrosively funny lyrics of his career, and you have an unforgettable track.
ReplyDeleteI’ll also nominate “Genius” from the penultimate “My Ride’s Here” album, as a very cool change of pace, and some great lyrics too.