Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Track Listings
| 1. Johnny Strikes Up The Band |
| 2. Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner |
| 3. Excitable Boy |
| 4. Werewolves Of London |
| 5. Accidentally Like A Martyr |
| 6. Night Time In The Switching Yard |
| 7. Veracruz |
| 8. Tenderness On The Block |
| 9. "Lawyers, Guns And Money" |
| 10. I Need A Truck |
| 11. Werewolves Of London |
| 12. Tule's Blues |
| 13. Frozen Notes |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
With this 1978 LP, Warren Zevon stepped forward as something of the dark prince of California. Like fellow Southern California outcast Randy Newman, Zevon achieved some fame, albeit not what his talent would have earned him had he written songs more like his mellower pal Jackson Browne and a little less like Jack the Ripper in a convertible. Fascinated with bloodthirsty antiheroes, Zevon wrote with the flair of a desperately bright pulp writer and summoned images of mutilated mercenaries ("Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner"), pampered bad boys ("Lawyers, Guns and Money"), helpless sickos (the title track), and, of course, feral Chinese-food fiends ("Werewolves of London"). Excitable Boy's 1976 predecessor (Warren Zevon) may be a more consistent album, but this is the one that put Zevon in the public consciousness as someone to keep an eye on--for protection as well as promise. --Steven Stolder
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
...then obsessively buy every thing else he ever recorded. He never lost the ability to hit every point from diamond-hard black humour to heart-rendingly tender, sometimes in the same line.
It takes a certain cool style to come up with an album called "Life'll Kill Ya" after getting the fatal diagnosis.
If he wrote a bum line or a derivative tune, I'm damned if I can spot them.
You'll never get tired of him.
It takes a certain cool style to come up with an album called "Life'll Kill Ya" after getting the fatal diagnosis.
If he wrote a bum line or a derivative tune, I'm damned if I can spot them.
You'll never get tired of him.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Every song on the album is an absolute classic, bearing in mind that this was released in 1976. It's hard to pick a favourite, but stand out tracks are without doubt Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner (I defy anyone not to sing along) and Werewolves of London. The excellent (if scary) Excitable Boy and Lawyer's Guns and Money are really up there with the best, what ever you do - treat yourself to an album by one of the best songwriters ever. Unfortunately he's no longer with us, but once you have bought or heard this I know you will want to check out more.
This album is an absolute must for anyone serious about music..........
This album is an absolute must for anyone serious about music..........
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A great twisted album by Warren Zevon, "Werewolves of London" Zevon's break through still sounds great today. The hit single "Werewolves of London" is still a twisted track and augmented by great remastering "Excitable Boy" proves every bit as memorable from the title track that calmly documents (with killer--pardon the pun--harmonies provided by Linda Ronstandt and Jennifer Warnes)a disturbed killer and the excuses that society makes for him. It's a tour de force track topped only by the other witty and often touching songs included here.
"Lawyers, Guns and Money" continues to be a masterpiece perfectly capturing the innocent abroad theme. The ballads "Accidently Like a Martyr" and "Tenderness on the Block" (co-written with Zevon's patron saint Jackson Browne)are deft, melodic trips down the streets of romance and memory respectively. Although the overall impression is great, "Excitable Boy" is a very different album from his debut lacking some of its depth but it makes up for that lack of depth with Zevon's deadpan humor.
The reissued/remastered version of "Excitable Boy" sounds very good. The bonus tracks include the previous issued "Frozen Notes" (which Zevon once described as a still born composition. It may lack the power of some of his finest work but is still noteworthy), an early, earthy, funky and rehearsal version of "Werewolves of London" than the final version that should have been released before now. It's only flaw is that Warren's voice is so low in the mix. "Tule's Blues" and "Frozen Notes" (this version scored with strings)are low-key songs that would have fit better on the album preceding this than this one(it's still a welcome addition and Zevon fans will want this simply for these three tracks. "I Need a Truck" is a humorous a capella fragment documenting many of Zevon's vices).
We also get booklet notes by Rolling Stone writer David Fricke (he seems to write these for everyone lately)that are interesting and reveal some of the turmoil from Zevon's life at the time. Although lacking the subtly of his second album "Warren Zevon", "Excitable Boy" captures Zevon's wit and dark humor in fine form making a perfect top 10 album (it rose all the way up to #8 on Billboard's Album Charts just on the strength of the first single). Twisted and still fun, "Excitable Boy" is still a lot of fun. 4 1/2 stars
"Lawyers, Guns and Money" continues to be a masterpiece perfectly capturing the innocent abroad theme. The ballads "Accidently Like a Martyr" and "Tenderness on the Block" (co-written with Zevon's patron saint Jackson Browne)are deft, melodic trips down the streets of romance and memory respectively. Although the overall impression is great, "Excitable Boy" is a very different album from his debut lacking some of its depth but it makes up for that lack of depth with Zevon's deadpan humor.
The reissued/remastered version of "Excitable Boy" sounds very good. The bonus tracks include the previous issued "Frozen Notes" (which Zevon once described as a still born composition. It may lack the power of some of his finest work but is still noteworthy), an early, earthy, funky and rehearsal version of "Werewolves of London" than the final version that should have been released before now. It's only flaw is that Warren's voice is so low in the mix. "Tule's Blues" and "Frozen Notes" (this version scored with strings)are low-key songs that would have fit better on the album preceding this than this one(it's still a welcome addition and Zevon fans will want this simply for these three tracks. "I Need a Truck" is a humorous a capella fragment documenting many of Zevon's vices).
We also get booklet notes by Rolling Stone writer David Fricke (he seems to write these for everyone lately)that are interesting and reveal some of the turmoil from Zevon's life at the time. Although lacking the subtly of his second album "Warren Zevon", "Excitable Boy" captures Zevon's wit and dark humor in fine form making a perfect top 10 album (it rose all the way up to #8 on Billboard's Album Charts just on the strength of the first single). Twisted and still fun, "Excitable Boy" is still a lot of fun. 4 1/2 stars
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excptional album
Really great. Not a bad track. It just sounds fresh and great from the first listen, then grows on you!
Published 22 months ago by Peter M. Adamson
A strong, short album but heavily cherry-picked by a Best Of
This is a good solid album but rather on the short side at only 31 minutes. There's nothing here that I would class as truly essential if you already own the Genius Best Of. Read more
Published 23 months ago by BS on parade
Dark wise funny excellence
Each of these songs tells a varied and interesting tale. The music is excellent and the CD is full of killer lines, mixed in with some stirring music and, in places, surprising... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Dave's Magic Codpiece
One of his best
Excitable Boy showcases Warren Zevon's musical genius to good effect. Catchy, witty songs, performed with gusto and with great musical accompaniment throughout. Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2009 by Jl Adcock
Best of 70's West Coast Rock?
As someone who's been listening to West Coast rock since the mid 1970's - Ronstadt, The Eagles, Jackson Browne, the McGarrigle sisters, etc. Read more
Published on 24 April 2009 by Jan J. Mikula
Incredible stuff - one of the best albums from one of the best...
This is an outstanding and powerful album. The entire first half unfolds one masterpiece after another, although the whole lot are superb. Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2008 by CJ
So many highs and one all time low from Warren here
In many ways this is almost the finest album Warren recorded for Asylum Records, with many of his classics (the title track, Werewolves of London, Johnny Strikes Up The Band,... Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2007 by Widnes Bob
A brassy Warren Zevon uses catchy melodies to distil his brand of...
Warren Zevon was a very gifted singer-songwriter. On his second Asylum album, he appears much more brassy than on the preceding "Warren Zevon". Read more
Published on 19 May 2007 by jayhikkss
Excitable Listening!
I bought this as an LP when it was originally issued in 1978 and at once took to it. The sound is a little astringent and refreshingly lacks that '70s FM tasteful blandness which... Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2007 by Stan
Arguably His Best
This was Warren's 2nd album and it still bristles with his patent brand of sardonic wit and tender ballads 25 years later. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2003 by 9ftneil
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
