Discography Rabbit Hole Warren Zevon: Warren Zevon-Warren Zevon (1976)

Warren Zevon

After his debut album bombed it took Zevon 6 years to record another album. In the time he toured with The Everly Brothers, moved to Spain before finally moving back To LA and hung out with the members of Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Linda Rondstandt, Carl Wilson, and Jackson Browne who produced this album. Right away you can hear the difference in production quality from his previous album. Also, this album has more of a country-rock laurel canyon sound rather than the bowiesque sound of his debut album.

The album opens with “Frank And Jesse James' ' is about the famous outlaw brothers but also acts as a metaphor for the two Everly Brothers who Zevon would tour with regularly. It has this country rock groove that would appear throughout the album.  ON  “Mama Couldn’t Be Persuaded” you can definitely hear the Jackson Browne influence. He appears in the harmonies of the song and Eagles guitarist JD Souther also appears on the track. “Back Turned Down The Bath” has this breezy 70’s LA sound. “Hasten Down The Wind” is this nice little heartbreak ballad. It was covered by Linda Rondstandt on her 7th album. Phil Everly is featured in the harmony. “Poor Pitiful Me” is the sound I most associate with Zevon. With his sarcastic lyricalism and his power punch of classic 70’s rock and crisp guitar tones. Lindsey Buckinham is featured on backing vocals. It is another Zevon song covered by Rondstandt. “French Inhaler” is this nice 70’s yacht rock tune featuring Eagles members Glen Fry and Don Henely. It really does sound like an early eagles song. I love the great piano riff and the harmonies are some of the best on the album. “Mohammed's Radio is either inspired by a Halloween parade that Zevon witnessed in Aspen or he just liked how the two words sounded together. There were also different interpretations of the song. It's either about the redemptive power of music or it could be a negative portrayal of LA. It features Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckinham and Stevie Nicks on backing vocals. “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” has this folksy bluesy sound. It gives me “Rainy Day Woman #12 & #35” vibes without the undercover drug reference. “Carmelita” has a very country rock sound. It was written by Zevon but originally recorded by Murray Mark Lauchlin. It gives me Eagles and Jackson Browne vibes. Which is no surprise since Zevon was hanging out with at the time. “Join Me In LA” has a nice breezy jazzy sound with saxophone and female backing vocals adding to that sound. I think it highlights Zevon’s unique vocal style. Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Nicks, and Rosemary Butler handle those backing vocals and Bobby Keys is featured on Sax. The album closes with “Desperados In Eaves” has this sadness to it. The song deals with Zevon’s growing alcoholism and his negative feelings about LA. It has this lush string arrangement done by Zevon and harmonies from Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche of The Beach Boys, JD Southerner, and Jackson Browne. It is a nice way to end the album. 

This is a jump in production and songwriting from his debut album. I loved the 70’s vibes that are splattered all over this record. A defiant bucket list album with some classic Zevon tunes. It makes you look forward to what is to come.