Wednesday, May 17, 2023 12am ET: Feature Live LP: Warren Zevon – Stand In The Fire (1980)

Stand in the Fire is a live album by American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, released December 26, 1980. It was recorded in August 1980 during a five-night residency at The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, California and featured two new original songs (“Stand in the Fire” and “The Sin”) and one new cover (“Bo Diddley’s a Gunslinger”). The album was dedicated to Martin Scorsese.

It was released in a limited edition, LP replica sleeve on CD April 25, 2006 in Japan. A remastered and expanded edition (four additional tracks) was released on March 26, 2007 in the U.K., March 27, 2007 in the U.S. A deluxe vinyl edition, expanded to a 2-LP set, that includes 10 bonus tracks: 4 songs previously unavailable on vinyl and 6 songs previously unreleased on any format (that is, 20 tracks in total) was released via Rhino Records on April 2, 2021.

Band members Zeke Zirngiebel, Bob Harris and Marty Stinger were in Boulder, a band signed to Elektra Records. The singer was Stan Bush. Their self-titled album was released in 1979 and it included Zevon’s “Join Me in L.A.” Bob Harris later went on to work with Frank Zappa.

Zevon called the concerts “The Dog Ate the Part We Didn’t Like Tour”.

“Stand in the Fire” – 3:26
“Jeannie Needs a Shooter” (Bruce Springsteen, Zevon) – 4:00
“Excitable Boy” (LeRoy Marinell, Zevon) – 3:52
“Mohammed’s Radio” – 4:45
“Werewolves of London” (LeRoy Marinell, Waddy Wachtel, Zevon) – 4:48
“Lawyers, Guns and Money” – 3:49
“The Sin” – 3:06
“Poor Poor Pitiful Me” – 4:08
“I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” – 4:28
“Bo Diddley’s a Gunslinger” / “Bo Diddley” (Bo Diddley) – 4:15

Warren Zevon – bass, guitar, piano, keyboards, vocals, 12-string guitar
David Landau – lead guitar
Zeke Zirngiebel – guitar, electric guitar, rhythm guitar, steel guitar, vocals, 12-string guitar
Bob Harris – synthesizer, piano, backing vocals
Roberto Piñón – bass, backing vocals
Marty Stinger – drums

Tuesday 1/24/23 10am ET: Feature Artist: Warren Zevon

Warren William Zevon (January 24, 1947 – September 7, 2003) was an American rock singer, songwriter, and musician.

Zevon’s most famous compositions include “Werewolves of London”, “Lawyers, Guns and Money”, and “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner”. All three songs are featured on his third album, Excitable Boy (1978), the title track of which is also well-known. He also wrote major hits that were recorded by other artists, including “Poor Poor Pitiful Me”, “Accidentally Like a Martyr”, “Mohammed’s Radio”, “Carmelita”, and “Hasten Down the Wind”. Along with his own work, he recorded or performed occasional covers, including Allen Toussaint’s “A Certain Girl”, Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, Leonard Cohen’s “First We Take Manhattan”, Steve Winwood’s “Back in the High Life Again”, and Prince’s “Raspberry Beret”.

Zevon’s early music industry successes were found as a session musician, jingle composer, songwriter, touring musician, musical coordinator and bandleader. Despite all this, Zevon struggled to break through in his solo career until his music was performed by Linda Ronstadt, beginning with her 1976 album Hasten Down the Wind. This launched a cult following that lasted 25 years, with Zevon making occasional returns to album and single charts until his death from mesothelioma in 2003. He briefly found a new audience by teaming up with members of R.E.M. in the blues rock outfit Hindu Love Gods for a 1990 album release, although no tour followed.

Known for his dry wit and acerbic lyrics, he was a guest numerous times on Late Night with David Letterman and the Late Show with David Letterman.

Tuesday 1/25/22 12am ET: Feature LP: Warren Zevon – The Wind (2003)

The Wind is the twelfth and final studio album by American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon. The album was released on August 26, 2003, by Artemis Records. Zevon began recording the album shortly after he was diagnosed with inoperable pleural mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the lung), and it was released just two weeks before his death on September 7, 2003. The album was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album, and “Disorder in the House”, performed by Zevon with Bruce Springsteen, won the Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance (Group or Duo). Songs from the album were nominated for an additional three Grammys.

1. “Dirty Life and Times” 3:15
2. “Disorder in the House” 4:36
3. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” 4:05
4. “Numb as a Statue” 4:08
5. “She’s Too Good for Me” 3:12
6. “Prison Grove” 4:51
7. “El Amor de Mi Vida” 3:34
8. “The Rest of the Night” 4:41
9. “Please Stay” 3:34
10. “Rub Me Raw” 5:44
11. “Keep Me in Your Heart” 3:28

Warren Zevon – vocals and acoustic guitar
Ry Cooder – guitar
Jorge Calderón – bass guitar
Don Henley – drums
Billy Bob Thornton – backing vocals
Dwight Yoakam – backing vocals
Jim Keltner – drums
Bruce Springsteen – electric guitar and backing vocals
Brad Davis – electric guitar and backing vocals
Steve Gorman – drums
Randy Mitchell – slide guitar and backing vocals
Tommy Shaw – 12-string acoustic guitar and backing vocals
Billy Bob Thornton – backing vocals
John Waite – backing vocals
David Lindley – lap steel guitar
Luis Conte – drums and percussion
Timothy B. Schmit – backing vocals
Reggie Hamilton – upright bass
Jordan Zevon – backing vocals
Jackson Browne – backing vocals
T Bone Burnett – backing vocals
James Raymond – piano
Mike Campbell – electric guitar
Tom Petty – backing vocals
Gil Bernal – saxophone
Emmylou Harris – backing vocals
Joe Walsh – slide guitar

Monday 1/24/22 1pm 12pm ET: Feature Artist: Warren Zevon

Warren William Zevon (January 24, 1947 – September 7, 2003) was an American rock singer, songwriter, and musician.

Zevon’s most famous compositions include “Werewolves of London”, “Lawyers, Guns and Money”, and “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner”. All three songs are featured on his third album, Excitable Boy (1978), the title track of which is also well-known. He also wrote major hits that were recorded by other artists, including “Poor Poor Pitiful Me”, “Accidentally Like a Martyr”, “Mohammed’s Radio”, “Carmelita”, and “Hasten Down the Wind”. Along with his own work, he recorded or performed occasional covers, including Allen Toussaint’s “A Certain Girl”, Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, Leonard Cohen’s “First We Take Manhattan”, Steve Winwood’s “Back in the High Life Again”, and Prince’s “Raspberry Beret”.

Zevon’s early music industry successes were found as a session musician, jingle composer, songwriter, touring musician, musical coordinator and bandleader. Despite all this, Zevon struggled to break through in his solo career until his music was performed by Linda Ronstadt, beginning with her 1976 album Hasten Down the Wind. This launched a cult following that lasted 25 years, with Zevon making occasional returns to album and single charts until his death from mesothelioma in 2003. He briefly found a new audience by teaming up with members of R.E.M. in the blues rock outfit Hindu Love Gods for a 1990 album release, although no tour followed.

Known for his dry wit and acerbic lyrics, he was a guest numerous times on Late Night with David Letterman and the Late Show with David Letterman.

Tuesday 5/4/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 80’s

Featuring tunes from this week’s Spot Light Artist – Hall and Oates, AC/DC, Warren Zevon, Joe Cocker, Michael Jackson, Kiss, Survivor, Alice Cooper, Styx and more . . .

Wednesday 4pm ET: Sounds of The 70s

This week on the Sounds of The 70s we feature music from:  Albert Hammond, Grand Funk Railroad, Undisputed Truth, Stevie Wonder, Jacksons, Elton John, Dave Edmunds, Argent, Diana Ross, Heart, Warren Zevon and more . . .

Tuesday 4pm: Sounds of The 80s

This week on Sounds of The 80s we feature music from:  Anita Baker, Hooters, Bangles, Rolling Stones, Genesis, Danny Wilson, Gordon Lightfoot, Huey Lewis and The News, Jacksons, Warren Zevon, Sheena Easton and much more. . . 

Wednesday 4pm: Sounds of The 70s

Today on Sounds of The 70s:  Cat Stevens, Bette Midler, Manu Dibango, Tommy James, Bad Company, Main Ingredient, David Cassidy, Lake, Warren Zevon, and more . .  

Wednesday 2pm: Sounds of The 70’s

Today on Sounds of the 70’s, music from Warren Zevon, Allman Brothers Band, Betty Wright, Supremes, Jimmy Buffett, Abba, Jethro Tull, Jean Knight, Carol Douglas, Doobie Brothers, Elton John, Stampeders, Led Zeppelin and more . . .  

Tuesday 2pm: Sounds of The 80’s

Today on Sounds of The 80’s we feature:  Christopher Cross, Pointer Sisters, Missing Persons, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Van Halen, Barry Manilow, Warren Zevon, Gregory Abbott, Blue Oyster Cult, Four Tops and more . . . 

Tuesday 10pm: Feature LP: Warren Zevon – Excitable Boy (1978)

Excitable Boy is the third studio album by American musician Warren Zevon. The album was released on January 18, 1978, by Asylum Records. It includes the single “Werewolves of London”, which reached No. 21 and remained in the American Top 40 for six weeks. The album brought Zevon to commercial attention and remains the best-selling album of his career. A remastered and expanded edition was released in 2007.

“Excitable Boy” and “Werewolves of London” were considered macabrely humorous by some critics. The historical “Veracruz” dramatizes the United States occupation of Veracruz; likewise, “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner” is a fictionalized account of former mercenary David Lindell’s experiences in Africa. “Lawyers, Guns and Money” is a tongue-in-cheek tale of a young American man’s adventures in Cold War-era Latin America. In addition, there are two ballads about life and relationships (“Accidentally Like a Martyr” and “Tenderness on the Block”), as well as the funk/disco-inspired “Nighttime in the Switching Yard”. – Wikipedia

Sunday with Ron Kovacs (8a – 12p) ET

Join Ron Kovacs for another edition of Sunday.  This week music from Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull, Steeleye Span, The Band, The Beach Boys, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Mamas & the Papas, Simon & Garfunkel, Ryan Adams, Joan Armatrading, Beck, Jackson Browne, Harry Chapin, Tracy Chapman, Jim Croce, Donovan, Bob Dylan, Dan Fogleberg, Steve Forbert, Ben Howard, Carole King, Mark Knopfler, Gordon Lightfoot, Van Morrison, Patrick Park, Ed Sheeran, Bruce Springsteen, Cat Stevens, Teddy Thompson, Eddie Vedder, Neil Young, Warren Zevon and more . .. .   Live starting 8am on RadioMaxMusic.

Feature LP: Warren Zevon – Wanted Dead or Alive (1970) 5:30pm ET

Wanted Dead or Alive is the first album by singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released by Imperial Records in 1970 under the moniker “Zevon.” The album was a commercial and critical failure.

The track “She Quit Me” was featured in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy as “He Quit Me.” “Tule’s Blues” was written about his lover, Marilyn “Tule” Livingston, mother of his son Jordan.

Kim Fowley began the project as producer, but he left after disagreements with Zevon and did not take credit for production duties. Fowley later remembered:
[Warren] wanted to play all the instruments himself. He wouldn’t listen to anybody. I wasn’t trying to produce him because you really couldn’t produce Warren, at least not in those days, but I was trying to help him make a record that might sell more than ten copies, all purchased by his friends. But, he didn’t listen to anyone about anything, and one day I just walked in thinking I’d had enough.

Zevon chalked up his disagreement with Fowley to a “sudden attack of taste.”

The album was released “to the sound of one hand clapping,” as Zevon later remarked. Sales were poor, and critics ignored the album. Jackson Browne later commented, “I don’t remember thinking [the album] was as good as he really was.” Attempts to record a follow-up album, called Leaf In The Wind, were abandoned, and Zevon found work as band leader and musical coordinator for the Everly Brothers. His next album, the critically acclaimed classic Warren Zevon, was not released until 1976. Once Zevon reached stardom, Wanted Dead or Alive ended up as an all-but-forgotten relic of his early career.
Wanted Dead or Alive was initially released on the CD format by One Way Records in 1996. Following the announcement that Zevon had terminal lung cancer, Capitol Records put out a remastered version of the album in early 2003.

• “Wanted Dead or Alive” (Kim Fowley, Martin Cerf) – 2:36
• “Hitchhikin’ Woman” – 2:16
• “She Quit Me” – 4:48
• “Calcutta” – 2:19
• “Iko-Iko” (Marilyn Jones, Sharon Jones, Joe Jones, M. Thomas) – 1:54
• “Traveling in the Lightning” – 3:05
• “Tule’s Blues” – 3:32
• “A Bullet for Ramona” (Zevon, Paul Evans) – 3:50
• “Gorilla” – 3:23
• “Fiery Emblems” (instrumental) – 3:15