Search - Warren Zevon :: Warren Zevon (Collector's Edition)

Zevon's seminal self titled second album terrific upgrade wi

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 11/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Each one of these tracks on disc two have their own unique, quality that make them essential for Zevon fans BUT a couple are actually superior in their own way to the final versions. For example the plain demo and vocal version of "The French Inhaler" packs a wallop as does the solo piano version of "Mohammed's Radio". As with the "Elton John" two disc release that had demos on the second disc, this is one of those few albums that was great to begin with but has been improved by including these terrific alternate takes and solo demos. The band version of "Carmelita" captures the live vibe of how this sounded with a full band and I actually prefer it to the more somber reading on the original album (although both are exceptional). "Frank and Jesse James" is SO intimiate you can hear the helicopter that passes over Warren's home briefly at around the 3 minute mark.







Warren Zevon considered this his debut but it was really his second solo album ("Wanted: Dead or Alive" was his first an album he really disliked). The cream of L.A. musicians appear on this terrific album. Zevon's vision focuses on the dark side of L.A. and America. "Hasten Down the Wind", "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" and "Carmelita" were all tackled by Linda Ronstandt on various albums and as great as her versions are they lack the bittersweet quality Zevon infuses in his versions. The original album sounds good--not great in this remaster. It's louder, more compressed than the original but fans will really be picking this up for the second disc out outtakes and alternate versions of the songs on disc one.





The track listing below represents what is on the second disc.



1. Frank And Jesse James(Solo Piano Demo)

2. The French Inhaler(Solo Piano Demo)

3. Hasten Down The Wind(Band Demo)

4. Carmelita(1974 Demo)

5. Mohammed's Radio(Solo Piano Demo)

6. Backs Turned Looking Down The Path(Alternate take)

7. Join Me In L.A.(Alternate take)

8. Poor Poor Pitiful Me(Alternate take)

9. Frank And Jesse James(Alternate take)

10. Mohammed's Radio(Alternate take)

11. The French Inhaler(Alternate take)

12. Carmelita(Alternate Version)

13. Desperados Under The Eaves(alternate take)

14. Mama Couldn't Be Persuaded(Live)

15. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead(Alternate Version)



Highly recommended for fans of Zevon. The remaster sounds solid although it doesn't have quite the dynamic range of the original CD. While it is louder the mastering by Gavin Lurssun isn't bad just not ideal.

"

Great re-issue

Invento C. srl Sergio | Rome, Italy | 12/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I fell in love with both "Mohammed's Radio" alternate versions on CD2, which is obviously the real thing of this set. Both versions made me feel like listening to music for the first time, which is something that happens rarely these days...



The package contains also a great booklet, with many stories great to know if you love the guy as I did. Warren was one of the great ones, but surely underrated as many artists from the 70's. Hope they'll do the same treatment to Excitable Boy sooner or later...



"

I Miss Him

Trish Chaffee | Oregon | 12/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the greatest singer/songwriters we've had in the past 50 years! His vocals and sound are all his own. One of music's originals! Warren Zevon, and his songs, should be remembered and revered - they are in my book!"