Friday, November 01, 2024

La Fin de la Semaine Essay Question: Special "I'm Not Gonna Even Bring Up the Hall of Fame Issue" Edition

From his 1978 masterpiece Exciteable Boy, please enjoy the late great Warren Zevon and IMHO the most beautiful song from same, the haunting "Veracruz."

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!!!

7 comments:

Cleveland Jeff said...

For me the best is Hasten Down The Wind with the magnificent Phil Everly harmony and beautiful lyric.

JB said...

Tough to pick just one but, Mohammed's Radio. Linda Ronstadt's cover of same is pretty great too.

Anonymous said...

It's a tough choice since there are so many wonderful Warren Zevon songs.
Favorites:
ballad: Keep Me In Your Heart https://youtu.be/RMTKb-pgxGI
rocker: Excitable Boy https://youtu.be/IDlpETyqweE
funny: Ain't That Pretty At All https://youtu.be/cwIsAttR6-E
cover version: Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires - Mutineer https://youtu.be/TX4nrkd0b0I

- Paul in DK

Anonymous said...

I would choose Reconsider Me original version is best Pretenders version is the worst.
rs

Allan Rosenberg said...

The song I've chosen show that Warren fully understood the music business by this point in his career "Send Lawyers, Guns & Money"!

Captain Al

mistah charley, ph.d. said...

pretty much a zevon outsider but i've always loved the line "his hair was perfect"

Alzo said...

I have to go with the 'More Werewolves of Alabama' mashup from 20 years back (long before Kid Rock ripped it off):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwTT3fwP0mg

As for originals, I'll go with 'Boom Boom Mancini.'