The Piano Man Campaigned for Warren Zevon’s Rock Hall Nomination

Vulture ^ | 2/12023 | Devon Ivie

[JennysCool]

Grab some of Warren’s later albums, “My Ride’s Here,” “Sentimental Hygiene,” Learning to Flinch,” “Life’ll Kill Ya.” Lots of farging brilliance on them as well. Happy listening!

[JennysCool]

Boston being ignored is ridiculous.

[Palio di Siena]

J. Geils Band should be in.
Nicky Hopkins should be in.

[JennysCool]

Thank you for the link!

[SamAdams76]

Cover songs are not alway ripoffs but can be a tribute to the original.

[Night Hides Not]

Todendorf. The town of Lutjenburg was a few miles off post, it came to life during the summer. Greatest concentration of newly divorced women I’ve ever seen. There were no discipline problems, and it had nothing to do with great leadership…lol. We were the only Americans for 200 miles, and these women loved my soldiers.

My GF was a waitress, normally working until 4. I’d usually close down the bar at the Hotel Ostseeblick, and head to her house for breakfast. Her two roommates usually liasioned with a couple of my troops, who were VERY surprised to see me.

Absolutely one of the best summers of my life.

[JennysCool]

Unreal that J. Geils and Peter Wolf aren’t in. That’s Rock like nobody’s bidness!

[Michael.SF.]

My future wife worked at A&M Records as a receptionist way back when. I was going to have lunch with her and was waiting in the 'reception' area. sitting there was a scruffy looking guy. We exchanged pleasantries and a little side talk. He introduced himself. I did not recognize the name. Nice enough guy.

Maybe two years later, I saw him on Letterman. Yup Warren Zevon.

Love is stuff. Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner is a fav.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Sure about that?

I see nothing but Werewolves chart in the top 40, and 1 other song below that. Others non-chart at all. Basically a 1-hit wonder.

[vivenne]

I remember WZ was on David Ketterman when he was dying of cancer. Letterman was his friend and gave him the entire hour. Letterman asked him if he had any advice or comment about life, given his circumstances. WZ said , “Enjoy every sandwich.”. I’ll never forget that interview.

[vivenne]

If you don’t know, maybe try to find out.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I’m just being glib.

She did ok with them. But I prefer the original.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I know they’re not hits by looking at the charts.

I don’t mind some people liking some off-chart pieces, and I like some things that never hit, but don’t like fringe things being given airs of greatness by their devotees. If it doesn’t really influence the culture, well, what can I say? It can’t be that big a deal if it didn’t create a whole movement, which it can’t do if it’s not popular.

[JennysCool]

Music is more than just the singles chart.

[vivenne]

I’m not sure how to respond to that. I don’t want to be rude, but most “top” music is garbage. Just because the masses like it doesn’t mean it’s good or the best. Soooo many great musicians weren’t on Casey Kasems Countdown.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Actually, no, not really.

We have these arguments all the time.

What do you think of classical music? What about early American “folk” (so-caalled by latter-day people) music? How did they get anywhere…and whom do you think of? Who put them on the map? Bach, Beethoven and Mozart? Stephen Foster that people still sing in grade school and put on period movies? How about Johann Strauss for influence?

If Elvis and Chuck Berry and Little Richard and Everly Bros. hadn’t made people like their music, and get their various pieces way up on the charts, would “rock & roll” have made much of a dent?

Sure, it might be around, but it wouldn’t have made that much impression.

That is the whole point. If you don’t get on the charts, if you are not popular, you are not changing or driving things in the culture.

[Poison Pill]

the Sex Pistols, etc.

"Bodies" by The Sex Pistols is the most Conservative rock song ever written.

[43north]

When I used to drive long distances and had a cassette player in the car I had a tape of all of WZ’s big hits and I would sing my way down the road for hours. I would classify his music as testosterone-infused poetry that still is a lot of fun.

[JennysCool]

"Desperadoes" is on his self-titled album, the one right before "Excitable Boy" and its big hit "Werewolves of London" made him a "name." It's a fantastic album, with lots of California music royalty helping out. Linda Ronstadt had hits with "Poor Poor Pitiful Me," "Hasten Down the Wind" and "Carmelita," all of which Warren wrote. The list of artists playing or singing backup on that album is unreal: Jackson Browne, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, Lindsay Buckingham, Phil Everly, Bonnie Raitt and more. It was named one of the top 10 albums of its year by Time magazine. I think no music collection is complete without it! :)

[the OlLine Rebel]

I direct you to #56.

I don’t want to be rude, but I’m tired of fringe elements acting like fringe acts really changed the world. You can’t change the world if you don’t reach and inspire the whole big populace.

That’s the main point. You can like various things but that doesn’t mean the world changed for it. I like plenty things that are not world-shakers and some that never were. I’m realistic about it.