Ranking Records: Warren Zevon

[@dominikstarck5340]

There's never enough talk about late great Warren Zevon. I actually became a huge fan shortly after he passed away. Not sure if it's a quote from the TV show Californication, but I love and use the expression "Sometimes my life feels like a Warren Zevon song." - and why oh why isn't he already in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?

[@mbodayle]

Hall of Fame is certainly deserved. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@gern7535]

Warren was my favorite singer/artist. I even own some of his early albums on 8-Track. I saw Warren perform live twice back in the 80's. Both concerts were awesome. He was awesome and super talented. You could never get tired of his music. He was very popular with those of us in the military. We even used the song Jungle Work and turned it into a Jody Call. I wish he was still with us and could write a few songs to give perspective to how the world has gotten even crazier.

[@rickthomsen5857]

Great run down/ranking of his albums. I pretty much agree with your ranking order. Zevon was one of my all-time favorite artists and I got to see him several times, both with a full band and solo. Before he got sick he got sober and got in great shape. It was so sad to see him get sick. Btw, his son Jordan has a great album called Insides Out. I really wish Jordan had done more. Very talented.

[@Zoso_1990]

His first three for me stand out above the rest, but the self titled debut and Excitable Boy are truly a cut above, a great artist.

[@etamommy]

Glad you shouted out that song, Bill Lee from Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School. That is a great song to an eccentric ballplayer that obviously Zevon felt some affinity with.

[@realmusiklover]

Fantastic stuff Mike, really enjoyed this ranking show. Warren still very much missed and his omission from the RnRHoF is ridiculous.

[@ijeff2005]

This is one of the first artist album ranking lists from anybody where my list would be very close. It could be great minds think alike, but I suspect it has more to do with the distinct quality of the Zevon catalog. Most Zevon fanatics of which I am one have a fairly universal opinion on what his strongest and weakest albums were. Most would agree Transverse City, Mutineer and My Rides Here are pretty weak. His first 3 albums were all outstanding. The post detox album Sentimental Hygiene was a great comeback and The Wind was a great ending. Everything else kind of falls into the flip a coin category. Also, I'll add my opinion that the live Stand In The Fire is definitely worth checking out. Zevon as the masterful front man.

[@user-ev4ky6oj7j]

Thanks for your comments. Loved them, even if I rank a few albums differently. WZ is the album that led me to discover Warren and I am very familiar with his albums, live shows and bootlegs. Several points. 1) I would also rank WZ as his best album, but I have found that Mutineer has, surprisingly, made its way up the list as I grew older. It strikes me as a statement by Warren that he had let go of chasing success and trying to write hits. To me at least, especially early in his career, he did write songs that sounded like they could have been pop hits (but weren't). 2) Also, for completists - Original session is a few Zevon pieces with some other stuff but is his White Whale days for those who are curious. The Rhino double is great and includes some material not available elsewhere. Quiet Normal Life is an Asylum greatest hits album, kind of intended by Asylum to pick up sales because WZ was working on Sentimental Hygiene at that point (in essence a bit of a dirty trick by Asylum). And I absolutely love the Bruce Springsteen cover of My Ride's Here on one of the two tribute albums (Enjoy Every Sandwich). 3) I too would have loved to have an album Warren Zevon Sings Sports (ala Johnny Horton Sings History). Could have been some great songs - "Swappin' Paint - That's Racin'" about NASCAR for example (I am not a NASCAR fan but I know that WZ could have written a great song about NASCAR). 4) Part of the reason that WZ switched to solo shows was simply that was how he was making a living. He toured sometimes with bands but it was too expensive without backing from a record company. 5) I think Please Stay off his last album is perhaps the most heartbreaking song he ever wrote and performed. He's dying and he sounds like he is dying.

[@Nazman06]

Transverse City was great. It is one of those albums that grows on you and you eventually realize it was a great album

[@danwasson1930]

I named my dog Zevon. His registered name was Xcitable Boy. I miss them both.

[@mbodayle]

Now that's cool.

[@cindyrosman2372]

Werewolves in London, was not a song that I loved.. so glad I discovered his other songs! He is one of my favorites! David Letterman was the place that I fell in love with him....so talented!! Thank you for featuring him here!

[@cindyrosman2372]

And I can't believe he isn't in the rocknroll hall of fame!!

[@mbodayle]

Thanks - loved your comments. I still miss this guy.

[@thomasnelson5758]

I know live albums weren't included in the overall equation and were just discussed at the end as sort of an aside, but as a longtime Zevon head, 'Stand in the Fire' is easily my favorite album of his and showcases him at his most electric, firebrand, rock and roller self. It's also just one of my favorite albums of all time in general and was my gateway into his music, so I am a little biased.

[@susanp5289]

While my listing is different, it’s wonderful to see a recent, in depth evaluation of Warren Zevon’s discography.

[@mbodayle]

Thanks much! Let's get him into the R&R Hall of Fame.

[@susanp5289]

@@mbodayle Yes, definitely! This great artist has been overlooked far too long. Let me know how I can support.

[@mbodayle]

@@susanp5289 There is a Facebook page about it that you can sign up for.

[@baronvonlichtenstein]

Have you heard transverse city?

[@reeseraines5136]

My favorite Zevon song is The Rosarita Beach Cafe. Could be my life story. I get all wistful when I hear it.

[@xrandy11]

Actually "Jeanie Needs A Shooter" is not really a co-write between Springsteen and Zevon. Zevon heard the title and asked Springsteen if he could use it for a song and Bruce agreed and Warren wrote a song using that title. If you listen to Springsteen's "Letter To You" album you'll hear his version of the song and you'll see that they only they share is the title.

[@baronvonlichtenstein]

Transverse City is my favorite. But then I've only heard about 4. I think it sounds better than Excitable Boy. Splendid Isolation, Networking which was years ahead of it's time, They Moved the Moon, Run Straight Down, etc

[@patricksexton3822]

Transverse City is a hugely underrated Album. It's excellent.

[@brianmiller1077]

Funny how malls have pretty much died out in the meantime.

[@reeseraines5136]

@@brianmiller1077 Indeed. But it places the song in a time capsule. All the best songs are in time capsules.

[@kainvld]

I think 'Run Straight Down' is one of his best, albeit a bit a-typical for Zevon

[@susanp5289]

I like Transverse City very much. They Moved the Moon is excellent. Very moody.

[@Jonatan_SE]

Great video man!

[@CharlesWorthington-z7s]

I have all of his albums and two books about him !!!

[@jensmaas555]

All time favorite Warren song Boom boom Mancini. Miss his writing

[@MrSparklespring]

My favourite album is 'Sentimental Hygiene' followed by 'Warren Zevon'.

[@gavincritchley404]

Great tear jerking version of 'MY RIDEs HERE' from Springsteen on 'ENJOY EVERY SANDWICH' - Almost a self-penned epitaph.

[@mbodayle]

Yes indeed!

[@paulhare662]

Nice job. Particularly liked you notice of Tenderness on the Block. I first heard it at age 18 and I found it touching. It later took on a new meaning at age 47 when my Daughter was in her late teens. I once tried to rank my Mary Chapin Carpenter collection and just plain gave up. I'd be interested to hear your opinion. Thanks.

[@mbodayle]

Thanks for commenting. Not sure I know Mary's catalog well enough, but we will see!

[@c.s.mcleod7383]

Transverse City is in his top 3 for me.

[@JCStorm76]

Excitable Boy is his best album for me

[@greggallucci607]

I'ts funny how when an artist is able to densely packed a forty minute album with so many good songs, like The Beatles or Pink Floyd, how diverse the opinions become on what is their favorite of the bunch. Case in point you chose "Tenderness On The Block" as a highlight on "Excitable Boy", where I feel it is one of the weakest cuts. It's pretty much boy meets girl stuff. On the other hand "Accidentally, Like A Martyr" cuts to the chase about lost love with brutal honesty. I'm fairly comfortable with your listing, but I'd flip the top two, and put Sentimental Hygiene third, easily ahead of The Wind.

[@attygarland6909]

Is this THE "Music Mike" of "Flashback Favorites" on KZbin? The former radio d.j.? Doesn't look like the same dude though ..

[@jimmycoleman5853]

My ride’s here is penultimate

[@margaretfogler1848]

Preludes is amazing!

[@frogtown7005]

The easiest way to know if I'll get along with someone: Ask them if they like Warren Zevon. Tells me everything I need to know about a person.

[@fasteddie9867]

The fact that Linda Ronstadt is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Warren is not is a testament to what a joke the RRHOF is. Ronstadt just sang everyone else's songs--Warren wrote the words and music. bullshit.

[@Michael_Dominic]

Transverse City was way ahead of its time

[@Nintendofan1984]

Loved Zevon

[@pjhaas57]

Hard to argue with you, but I would have expected a little love for "My Shit's F*cked Up."

[@mbodayle]

Dang - I had intended to mention that but forgot!

[@pjhaas57]

(That came off a little stern! I really enjoyed the segment, but I *did* wonder!)

[@mbodayle]

@@pjhaas57 Nope - I understood you 100%

[@jimholt2937]

MY RIDE'S HERE! NOT THIS RIDE'S HERE!

[@mbodayle]

Oops! Just the raw, unrehearsed side of me.

[@nickjohnson2715]

dish not bowl

[@SH-ud8wd]

Completely agreed!

[@glenpearce2527]

he is my favorite behind only Bruce Sprinsteen its a travisty that he is not in the hall of fame ,im boycotting it till he gets in .

[@c.s.mcleod7383]

'Dancing School' is a European term for whoerhouse.

[@RaoulDuke-bc1pm]

On the title track to Bad Luck Streak...the two percussion beats that transition the song from the orchestral stringed intro and the electric guitar are a recording of Hunter Thompson firing a .38 into a trashcan full of rocks...recorded when Warren was visiting Hunter at the Owl Farm. Now you know.

[@katharper655]

I GOTTA TELL YOU...FOR A FAN OF WARREN...YOU DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIM. WZ AND THE BOSS COLLABORATED ON WRITING "JEANNIE NEEDS A SHOOTER"

[@randyubriacosr6580]

Looks Like 👍 FINALLY he’s IN !

[@attygarland6909]

Pretty worthless review ..