 WARREN
ZEVON
Mutineer
Giant Records 1995
www.warrenzevon.com
What’s the 4-1-1?
Warren Zevon was born in Chicago Illinois in 1947. He started out his long,
and in my book very distinguished, music career in the 1960’s as
a songwriter for The Everly Brothers and Linda Ronstadt. One of his best
known songs, “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” was actually written and
became a hit for Ronstadt.
He released his first solo album Wanted: Dead or Alive under the moniker “Zevon” in
1969. However, he has long disavowed the album, considering the 1976 self-titled
CD his “debut.” While he was always considered a great songwriter,
his solo career didn’t
involve selling many records.
His smash 1978 album Excitable Boy changed that
for a while with the inclusion of three now classic hit songs including the
instantly recognizable “Werewolves of London.” Zevon had a successful battle with alcoholism in the 1980’s and emerged
from that to turn out what can only be considered some of the finest work of
his career. He had the respect of his peers, who worked with him on his own music,
and performed his songs during their concerts. He dabbled a bit in acting, and
filled in as musical director for David Letterman when Paul Shafer was unavailable
or on vacation.
There was even an album he did with REM that was released under
the name Hindu Love Gods.
While battling terminal lung cancer he recorded what would be his final album
The Wind. It was released to some of the best reviews he’d ever received
and it brought him some industry acclaim that had been long overdue when he won
two Grammys.
His son, Jordan, now keeps his father’s memory alive. There was a tribute
CD Enjoy Every Sandwich – The Songs of Warren Zevon, there are plans to
release a box set as well as a forthcoming biography. The albums he released
that are not yet available on CD are in the works.
The self-produced 1995 Mutineer album is one that is probably best
described as hit and miss. There are some fantastic songs on this album that
deserve
at least
a shot at being listed among his best material, and there are some songs
that simply die on the vine.
Warren Zevon is one of the most literate songwriters out there and it shows
not only in his own material but in his collaborations with others as
well. He wrote
two songs with author Carl Hiassen for this CD. Those two songs, “Seminole
Bingo” and “Rottweiler Blues” are among the best songs
alongside “Piano
Fighter.”
On other albums he’s worked with poets, a sportswriter,
and even a well-known talk show host.
Mutineer splits its focus between a solid rocking nature and songs that lean
towards a sparer outlook in both music and vocal delivery. The tracks range from
the rocking nature of “Rottweiler Blues” to the beautifully bleak
sound of “Mutineer.” Interestingly enough, the piano on the opening
of “Piano Fighter” sounds just like a toy piano that I had when I
was a kid. There’s his version of the 1972 song “Jesus Was a Cross
Maker.” He even manages to come up with lyrics to “The Indifference
of Heaven” that allow him to bring in references to Billy Joel and Bruce
Springsteen.
The Verdict
This isn’t the best album Warren Zevon ever did, but fully half
the album is excellent and that half helps raise the overall likeability
of the CD. Obviously this is a must buy for any Zevon fan, but it may
not be the best album to use as an introduction to a potential new
fan.
That’s my objective view of Mutineer. However, for me personally, it’s
Zevon and that’s good enough for me!
Did You Know?
Warren Zevon passed away from lung cancer at the age of 56 on September 7th,
2003. Carl Hiassen’s book Skinny Dip is dedicated to Warren, who died
before it was completed..
Rating:  out
of 5
-- Jay Roberts
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