Wanted Dead or Alive (Warren Zevon album)
Encyclopedia
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:
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.
Engineered by Johnny Golden
Warren Zevon
Warren William Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician noted for including his sometimes sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical themes.Zevon's work has often been praised by well-known...
, released by Imperial Records
Imperial Records
Imperial Records is a United States based label started in 1947 by Lew Chudd and reactivated in 2006 by label owner EMI.- The independent and Liberty Records years :...
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
Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy is a 1969 American drama film based on the 1965 novel of the same name by James Leo Herlihy. It was written by Waldo Salt, directed by John Schlesinger, and stars Dustin Hoffman and newcomer Jon Voight in the title role. Notable smaller roles are filled by Sylvia Miles, John...
as "He Quit Me." "Tule's Blues" was written about his lover, Marilyn "Tule" Livingston, mother of his son Jordan
Jordan Zevon
Jordan Zevon is an American singer, musician and songwriter. He is the son of rock musician Warren Zevon. Following his father's death in 2003, Jordan, his half-sister, Ariel, and longtime Zevon collaborator Jorge Calderón accepted Warren's two posthumous Grammy Awards for Best Rock Vocal...
.
Kim Fowley
Kim Fowley
Kim Vincent Fowley is an American record producer, impresario, songwriter, musician, film maker, and radio actor. He is best known for his role behind a string of novelty and cult rock pop singles in the 1960s, and for managing The Runaways in the 1970s...
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
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
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
The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
. His next album, the critically acclaimed classic Warren Zevon
Warren Zevon (album)
Warren Zevon is a rock and roll album by Warren Zevon. This album was recorded in 1975 and released in 1976 . Warren Zevon Collector's Edition, a remastered version of this album with special bonus tracks, was released in 2008 by Rhino Records.-Track listing:All songs written by Warren Zevon#"Frank...
, 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
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
format by One Way Records in 1996. Following the announcement that Zevon had terminal lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
, Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
put out a remastered version of the album in early 2003.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Warren Zevon; except where indicated- "Wanted Dead or Alive" (Kim FowleyKim FowleyKim Vincent Fowley is an American record producer, impresario, songwriter, musician, film maker, and radio actor. He is best known for his role behind a string of novelty and cult rock pop singles in the 1960s, and for managing The Runaways in the 1970s...
, Martin Cerf) – 2:36 - "Hitchhikin' Woman" – 2:16
- "She Quit Me" – 4:48
- "Calcutta" – 2:19
- "Iko-IkoIko Iko"Iko Iko" is a much-covered New Orleans song that tells of a parade collision between two "tribes" of Mardi Gras Indians. The song, under the original title "Jock-A-Mo", was written in 1953 by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford in New Orleans. The story tells of a "spy boy" or "spy dog" "Iko Iko" is a...
" (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
Personnel
- Warren Zevon - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Skip BattinSkip BattinClyde "Skip" Battin was an American singer–songwriter, performer and recording artist. He is best remembered as a member of The Byrds, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, and the Flying Burrito Brothers...
- bass - Ed Caraeff - percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
- Jon Corneal - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Toxey French - drums
- Gary MallaberGary MallaberGary Mallaber is a Los Angeles session drummer, percussionist and singer. He got his start playing drums in a band from Buffalo, New York, known as Raven....
- drums - Brent Seawell - bass
- Sweet Trifles - vocals, background vocals
- Drachen Theaker - drums
Engineered by Johnny Golden