Audio CD review:
Warren Zevon - I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology)

Warren Zevon - I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology)

Band: Warren Zevon Title: I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology) Rating: Release Date: 1996-09-17 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Frank and Jesse James 2: Hasten Down the Wind 3: Poor, Poor Pitiful Me 4: I'll Sleep When I'm Dead 5: Carmelita 6: Desperados Under the Eaves 7: Johnny Strikes up the Band 8: Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner - Warren Zevon, Lindell, David 9: Excitable Boy - Warren Zevon, Marinell, LeRoy 10: Werewolves of London - Warren Zevon, Marinell, LeRoy 11: Accidentally Like a Martyr 12: Lawyers, Guns and Money 13: Frozen Notes 14: Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School 15: Gorilla, You're a Desperado 16: Play It All Night Long 17: Mohammed's Radio 18: Jeannie Needs a Shooter - Warren Zevon, Springsteen, Bruce 19: The Envoy 20: The Hula Hula Boys 21: Let Nothing Come Between You 22: Looking for the Next Best Thing - Warren Zevon, Edwards, Kenny [3] 23: Sentimental Hygiene 24: Boom Boom Mancini 25: Detox Mansion - Warren Zevon, Calderon, Jorge 26: Bad Karma 27: Reconsider Me 28: Run Straight Down 29: The Long Arm of the Law 30: Splendid Isolation 31: You Don't Know What Love Is - Warren Zevon, DePaul, Gene 32: Raspberry Beret - Warren Zevon, Prince 33: Suzie Lightning 34: Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead - Warren Zevon, Marinell, LeRoy 35: Searching for a Heart 36: Mr. Bad Example - Warren Zevon, Calderon, Jorge 37: Roll with the Punches 38: The French Inhaler 39: The Indifference of Heaven 40: If You Won't Leave Me I'll Find Somebody Who Will 41: Real or Not 42: Seminole Bingo - Warren Zevon, Hiaasen, Carl 43: Monkey Wash Donkey Rinse - Warren Zevon, Aldrich, Duncan 44: Mutineer

Warren Zevon - Outstanding Career Overview It is a stunning collection of music that once again gives credence to Zevon's claim of being one of the great American songwriters of our generation. This two disc mini-box set contains a plethora of material from Zevon's career up to 1996. 44 tracks are represented on this collection and just about all of them are great with only a few exceptions. Zevon really only had one hit single in "Werewolves Of London" along with a few songs that got some AOR airplay like "Lawyers Guns And Money" and "Excitable Boy", so the majority of this collection are songs that many non Zevon fans may have never heard. Zevon was a genius with lyrics that most of the time featured either a biting cynicism or character studies of rather twisted and flawed people. Zevon was able to maintain a surprisingly consistent career throughout the 2 decades represented here with some of his strongest material appearing on his later less heralded albums. If you are a Zevon fan and are looking for a great career overview or if you really strong songwriting, but have never given him a chance, this album is a perfect place to start. Great Zevon Collection This collection contains the popular stuff and some of his eclectic material. I was looking for a collection of Zevon music that spanned his repertoire. This collection was not available on iTunes at the time I purchased it. Best album ever It has both the early and his final songs released. This album is the best released of Warren Zevon. Couldn't be better. A GREAT OVERVIEW BUT... . . there should be more live material or Elektra should get off their butts and release STAND IN THE FIRE. . . C'MON NOW, IT'S A CRIME TO HOLD IT BACK (what's the matter, legal problems or something?) Anyhoo, this collection is chock full of nutty songs from a real musical genius. . The Incomparable Warren Zevon: Music's Gruff, Sardonic, Moralist Wordsmith. This anthology includes 44 songs originally released 1976-1996, representing 12 studio albums plus 4 previously unreleased tracks -3 songs from soundtracks and a previously unreleased version of "Frozen Notes". I'm not familiar with Warren Zevon's studio albums, so I can't say if "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead " has omitted anything essential, but what's here is terrific. Zevon's last 3 albums are not represented, as they were recorded later. There are twice as many songs in "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" than in 2002's "Genius: The Best of Warren Zevon", although that album includes 3 tracks that this one doesn't. Bruce Springsteen called Warren Zevon a "moralist in cynic's clothing". Jackson Browne described him as "the first and foremost proponent of song noir". That's a catchy, although vague, way of putting it, but Zevon does approach his themes with a sardonic, fatalistic eye, always personal and introverted, that distinguishes his work. Zevon's lyrics tend toward narrative, are frank and thoughtful, usually unsentimental, though somehow intensely empathetic, with a touch of dark humor and a sharp edge. This anthology of Zevon's great songs and gravelly voice is simply a pleasure. Disc 1 features 22 songs (1 hour, 15 minutes) from the "Asylum Era", originally recorded 1976-1982. It begins with the folk song "Frank and Jesse James" and moves onto love songs, hard rock, and lighthearted fun. Hits include "Werewolves of London", "Poor Poor Pitiful Me", and "Lawyers, Guns, and Money". "Accidentally Like a Martyr" is a particularly melancholic and moving love song. "The Envoy" and "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" are overtly political but, as always, express their ideas through characters. "Mohammed's Radio" and "Jeanne Needs a Shooter" are live versions. Disc 2 covers "The Virgin/Giant Era" with another 22 songs (1 hour, 17 minutes) that might be even more eclectic than Disc 1, originally recorded 1987-1996. "You Don't Know What Love Is" and "Searching for a Heart" are both love songs from the "Love At Large" movie soundtrack, but the former is a gravelly, sensual jazz standard, and the latter is gentle and optimistic. Zevon's popular cover of Prince's "Raspberry Beret" gives the song a rough edge, but it's surprisingly more memorable than the original. "Run Straight Down" and "Seminole Bingo" are political. "Mr. Bad Example" is a comical celebration of sociopathic greed to a polka tune. Three previously unreleased songs from television soundtracks are the brief "If You Don't Leave Me I'll Find Someone Who Will" from "Route 66", "Real or Not" from "Tek Wars", and "Roll With the Punches" from "Tales from the Crypt". "Reconsider Me" is the single, not album, version. "The French Inhaler" and "The Indifference of Heaven" are live versions. The CDs are in separate jewel cases inside a cardboard slipcase, along with a companion booklet. The booklet has 5 sections: "Quotes" about Warren Zevon by friends and fellow musicians. "Notes" say a little about the story behind each song. "Lyrics" provide lyrics and writing credits for all the songs. "Track Information" lists the musicians for each track. "Album Information" supplies catalog numbers, producers, and technical personnel for the albums and soundtracks. There is also a letter from friend and author Hunter S. Thompson, now deceased. . You can see a complete list of all Warren Zevon discography, or go back to the Warren Zevon tabs