Preston Frazier returns to a handful of favorites by the late Warren Zevon, who was born on this date in 1947:
“JEANNIE NEEDS A SHOOTER,” from BAD LUCK STREAK AT DANCING SCHOOL (1980): Warren Zevon is always here lurking in the shadows. “Jeannie Needs a Shooter,” on the other hand, is not so much in the shadows as it reared its head on co-writer Bruce Springsteen’s 2020 release Letter To You. Sure the boss calls it “Janey Needs a Shooter” and the E-Street Band gives the song a slow-burning rhythm, but we all know who’s really the boss of this song. Lyrically, Zevon took liberties with the original Springsteen tune and his band of California merrymen deliver a rollicking backing. All in all, “Jeannie Needs a Shooter” is one of Warren’s more unusual collaborations.
“TENDERNESS ON THE BLOCK,” from EXCITABLE BOY (1978): Co-producers Jackson Browne and Waddy Wachtel’s work on the album Excitable Boy produced Zevon’s best-selling album. The songs (with the possible exception of “Nighttime at the Switching Yard,” are among his best – yet the Jackson Browne collaboration “Tenderness on the Block” is often overlooked. The song, with its descriptively earnest lyrics and powerful rock backing, always deserved more attention. Zevon’s piano, Waddy Wachtel’s electric and slide guitar add muscle in contrast to the sweet hormones provided by the Gentlemen Boys (Browne, Watchel, Jorge Calderon, Kenny Edwards and J.D. Souther).
“PIANO FIGHTER,” from MUTINEER (1995): The big budgets for albums were long gone by the time we got to 1995’s Mutineer, but Warren Zevon continued to hone his craft. “Piano Fighter” shows Zevon making the best of his one-man-band. Actually, on the song, it’s Zevon on synths, guitar, and percussion with fellow piano fighter Bruce Hornsby on accordion. Strangely, this version of the song contains very little piano, but check out the solo version on 1993’s Learning to Flinch. You can almost smell Zevon’s sweat.
“LEAVE MY MONKEY ALONE,” from SENTIMENTAL HYGIENE (1987): “Leave My Monkey Alone” is a misfit toy on the rocking Sentimental Hygiene album. Co-produced and arranged by Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton, the song has a techno feel provided by its synthesizer programmers Will Alexander and Brian Bell. Zevon also does full force with the tech as he rides an Emulator over the urgent backbeat. Yes, it’s dance music. Yes, it’s funky. Yes, its Warren Zevon.
“DIRTY LIFE AND TIMES,” from THE WIND (2003): Warren Zevon’s final studio album, the Grammy-winning The Wind, is full of jewels. The opening track is one such song. Producer Jorge Calderon, who doubles on on bass, works with drummer Don Henley to provide a rhythm as stiff as starched blue jeans. But the feel flows together effortlessly with Ry Cooder’s country-tinged electric guitar. Zevon’s lyrics are as effective as always: Relatable, funny but introspective. Dwight Yoakam and Billy Bob Thorton’s backing vocals add to what is already a perfect opening song.
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