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4.0 out of 5 stars
LOOKING BACK DOWN THE PATH., July 4 2004
In the 1960's, the relaxed, sun-drenched mood of star-studded Southern California was celebrated in song by harmonizing choral groups like The Beach Boys, The Fifth Dimension and The Mamas & The Papas. But by the mid 70's, a new type of singer had arrived to illuminate in music the dark underbelly of Lost Angeles; showing us those aspects of "The City Of Angels" not ordinarily exposed by the flash bulb of the tourist's camera. -------- Until I began contemplating writing this review, it had never dawned on me that what I consider to be the three greatest song lyrics ever penned all originated with this (at that time) new breed of singer/songwriter. Those three songs are (in this order): SAN DIEGO SERENADE by Tom Waits; DESPERADO by Don Henley & Glenn Frey (of The Eagles); and...well...we'll get to the third one in just a moment. -------- Unlike the burlesque flamboyance of Waits or the commercialized polish of The Eagles, WARREN ZEVON recorded straight-forward, unsanded classic rock. (You know you've gotten old when they're calling the music that you grew up with "classic".) ZEVON came from that "subset" of singer/songwriters who wrote considerably better than they sang (think Dylan, Young, Springsteen, etc.) and I don't listen to this album for his deep, just-this-side-of-monotone vocals. Nor for his mostly basic musical arrangements. I listen to Zevon for his ironic, slightly-warped and often amusing observations on the shadowy side of L.A. street life - a dynamic I have seen and experienced to a lesser degree. "I MET A GIRL AT THE RAINBOW BAR; SHE ASKED ME IF I'D BEAT HER. SHE TOOK ME BACK TO THE HYATT HOUSE - I DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT IT," he sings in POOR, POOR PITIFUL ME. Maybe once or twice a year I revisit my ancient past via the WAYBACK MACHINE - this, Zevon's eponymous debut recording from 1976. By the time that vinyl records had evolved into compact discs, my musical preferences had evolved to Jazz. Very little of my previously "bitchin'", "groovy" and "far-out" record collection got re-purchased on cd. This one WARREN ZEVON album did, however, and that should tell ya something. -------- In many of these pretty catchy songs, Warren prowls the back alleys and 90 proof Juice Joints of Tinsel Town like a hungry, footloose animal searching for scraps, trouble and temporary salvation. One must have a modicum of taste for black comedy in order to appreciate Zevon's funny and/or disturbing musical playground. But if YOU do, then you are sure to appreciate much of his unique perspective. Be forewarned, however, that some of his material is hardly what one would describe as "uplifting." -------- Because DESPERADOS UNDER THE EAVES is clearly the masterpiece of this set, and because it is the "third song" that I alluded to above, I will post it here in full: "I WAS SITTING IN THE HOLLYWOOD HAWAIIN HOTEL. I WAS STARING IN MY EMPTY COFFEE CUP. I WAS THINKING THAT THE GYPSY WASN'T LYING - ALL THE SALTY MARGARITAS IN LOS ANGELES, I'M GONNA DRINK 'EM UP. AND IF CALIFORNIA SLIDES INTO THE OCEAN LIKE THE MYSTICS AND STATISTICS SAY IT WILL, I PREDICT THIS HOTEL WILL BE STANDING UNTIL I PAY MY BILL. DON'T THE SUN LOOK ANGRY THROUGH THE TREES? DON'T THE TREES LOOK LIKE CRUCIFIED THIEVES? DON'T YOU FEEL LIKE DESPERADOS UNDER THE EAVES? HEAVEN HELP THE ONE WHO LEAVES. STILL WAKIN' UP IN THE MORNINGS WITH SHAKING HANDS; AND I'M TRYING TO FIND THE GIRL WHO UNDERSTANDS ME, BUT EXCEPT IN DREAMS, YOU'RE NEVER REALLY FREE. DON'T THE SUN LOOK ANGRY AT ME! I WAS SITTING IN THE HOLLYWOOD HAWAIIN HOTEL. I WAS LISTENING TO THE AIR CONDITIONER HUM. IT WENT HMMMM HMMMM HMMM-HMMM-HMMM-HMMM-HMMM...LOOK AWAY DOWN GOWER AVENUE! LOOK AWAY!........" -------- Trivia: Has the desperate paranoia of the underdog ever been so concisely captured before or since? And with such wit? And notice how the previously celebrated Southern California sun of The Beach Boys songs has become the singer's nemesis. The Hotel (now an apartment complex) was located at the intersection of Yucca & Grace, minutes from The Hollywood Bowl, and seven blocks west of Gower (officially named "street", not "avenue".) Zevon sings the final lines repeatedly and with such zest that one suspects that the storyteller expects to find some form of salvation, or at least solace, down Gower. So, what IS down Gower? The street descends into the bowels of scuzzy Hollyweird. A mile or so south is the Hollywood Cemetery abutting Paramount Studios, and then just more seediness. And so, this great song ends as an entriguing enigma. -------- A little more trivia: Amongst the numerous L.A. "landmarks" mentioned in this album is the infamous "Pioneer Chicken Stand." Now long gone, it was located adjacent to Echo Park on the east side of Alvarado Street between Reservoir and Scott Avenue. When I was a kid in the early 70's, my Grandfather used to take me to Dodger games. He would drive north on Alvarado, turn right on Scott and take it up the hill to the stadium. I often wondered why all those scroungy characters were always gathered around the Pioneer Chicken Stand every time we passed by. Some years later I bought this record and got my answer. "The Rainbow Bar" in West Hollywood is right next door to the famous Roxy on fabled Sunset Strip and it has long been a rock star roost. "The Hyatt" Hotel is just a few blocks east. The "Tropicana" Hotel, razed in 1988, was a notorious hangout for the bohemian rock crowd and has been called "home" by the likes of Jim Morrison, Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen, Iggy Pop, Jackie Wilson, The Ramones, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Blondie, The Byrds, and many others. -------- Now then, having told you all of this, let me tell ya about the lady I myself once met in West Hollywood....no, on second-thought....West Hollywood is a lot like Las Vegas - what happens there, stays there. "I DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT IT" either. "NEVER MIND!"
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Blossoming Under the Eaves, Sep 18 2003
When Warren Zevon got the chance to make his first real album, he was more than prepared. He had a couple misfires ("Wanted Dead Or Alive" and the Lyme and Cybelle sessions) that you can easily pass up, but like John Mellencamp, he learned from the experience and came back strong. Although the associations with Jackson Browne and Linda Ronstadt drew in many first (including me), "Warren Zevon" had less to do with the whole Southern California scene and more to do with great western novels and hard-boiled film noir detective stories. "Frank And Jessie James" put that notion to the fore immediately, as the heroes' exploits are chronicled in a very literary manner. (It is also a precursor to the more outlandish "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner.") There was less of the dreamy romanticism of Jackson or the Eagles and a much tougher edge to a ballad like "Carmalita" and her wretched loser of a heroin addict boyfriend, and a heck of a lot more genuine pain to "Hasten Down The Wind." Even sweeteners like the Beach Boys chiming in at the end of "Desperados Under The Eaves" couldn't take away from the rapier wit of the writing.Warren's ironic sense of humor surfaces most clearly on "Poor Poor Pitiful Me." Complete with Lindsay Buckingham's exuberant background vocal and a hall of fame lyric that rhymed "gender" with a "Waring blender." Lest we not forget the racy final verse - the one Linda left off the hit version - and Warren's admonishment at the song's end to "never mind!" rather than describe the experience. There were enough endearing moments of such contradictory genius that I remember being floored when I first bought this album in the seventies, and being in high anticipation of his next.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
The first sign of genius......., May 24 2003
As i'm sure most of Warren Zevons fans know by now he has beed diognosed with terminal lung cancer and the world may shortly lose one of it's most under appretiated artist of the last thirty years. I have decided that I will write reviews of Mr Zevons work becouse I have owned almost all of his albums at one point or another and if someone see's my reviews and decided to check out Warren Zevon I will be one happy guy.
I have already reviewed My Ride's Here and this time I decided to go way back and review his first album this time.
Warren Starts off the album with "Frank and Jessie James", the story about the two outlaw brothers It's a nice quiet way to start off the album. After "Mama Couldn't Be Presuaded",a good quick diddy about parents diaproval, comes two of the best ballads ever made in "Backs Turned Looking Down The Path" and "Hasten Down The Wind" a song about a man who has his emotions toyed with by the love of his life (Linda Ronstat covered this song fantasticly).
Next comes "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me" about the exesses of fame with a really funny overtone.
"French Inhaler" about a women who makes all the wrong decisions in life and the haunting " Mohammed's Radio" brings the album downa notch and asks you to think while you listen.
However Zevon dose not let us get to sentimental with the song " I'll Sleep When I'm Dead " good luck not not laughing.
Then as if to mess with our heads he then gives us "Carmelita" about a heroin addict begging his women for help.
The only misstep on this album is "Join Me in L.A.". A nice song that stays with you for a short time.
And as if a reward for listening to this album we are treated to the brilliant song "Desperados Under the Eaves".
Warren Zevon hits a home run with his very first album. He however dosen't do what most artist do and is unable to reproduce the magic of his first. Zevon would only get better.
I will finish this review and every other review of Warren Zevon albums with the same thing.
Thank You Mr Zevon for giving me, and the rest of the world, your music. It will live forever........
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