Warren Zevon
Genius - The Best Of Warren Zevon

THE REVIEW

“I went in for the heart, and look what they found.” Those were the words Warren Zevon used to describe to David Letterman and the world his situation as a terminal lung cancer patient during the famous show of the American anchorman where Warren presented his latest album “The Wind.” Warren Zevon, a man who had the chance to board the train of worldwide success at the time of the film “An American Werewolf in London,” but derailed, hurting himself seriously. A life constantly teetering between madness and the abyss, full of opportunities to become known and appreciated by a small circle of the public and a vast array of illustrious colleagues, including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Jackson Browne, in short, people who avoid listening to nonsense whenever they can.

In this comprehensive anthology (absolutely ideal for newcomers wishing to approach the work of one of the most famous "unknown songwriters of America"), his entire career up until 2002, the year the album “My Ride's Here” was released, is analyzed. From his second album, simply titled “Warren Zevon” released in 1976 (the first was from 1969, titled “Wanted Dead Or Alive” and of which no traces exist), two beautiful ballads titled “The French Inhaler” and “Hastle Down The Wind” are extracted, along with the more well-known and rocking “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” a track also known in Jackson Browne's version (who, by the way, produced the album) and the folk-rock of “Carmelita.” “Excitable Boy,” from 1978, is perhaps the most famous album and contains the most potential hits by Warren (“Werewolves Of London,” perhaps his most famous song, the same “Excitable Boy” and “Lawyers, Guns & Money”). The 1980 work, “Bad Luck Streak In a Dancing School,” is represented here by only two tracks, the rock ’n’ roll of “A Certain Girl” and the almost “classical” sweetness of “Play It All Night Long,” preceded by a brief but significant interlude. The more classic rock style of Warren Zevon returns in “The Envoy” from 1982, with a good duet of electric guitar and organ in “Looking for the Next Big Thing.” Then a long break due to health reasons and various detoxifications, and the comeback in 1987 with various big names, including consistently R.E.M. and occasionally Mr. Dylan and Mr. Young (Neil) helping him for “Sentimental Hygiene” from which three great songs are extracted, “Reconsider Me” and the electrifying “Detox Mansion” and “Boom Boom Mancini,” dedicated to the boxer Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, world lightweight champion in the early ’80s, protagonist of a tragic match with Korean Duk Koo Kim, who died several days after the tremendous KO suffered by Ray.

Another beautiful album is “Transverse City,” represented here by a catchy song with a gripping chorus as well as a beautiful harmonica, “Splendid Isolation.” Then he decides to call back R.E.M., gather them in a basement for a couple of days, and record an album under the name Hindu Love Gods, that is Warren and R.E.M. having fun with blues and rock ’n’ roll covers, including a Prince song, “Raspberry Beret.” Another excellent album is “Mr. Bad Example,” from 1991, from which we hear the march of the title track, a splendid soft-rock titled “Searching For a Heart” and the more rocking “Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead” (what a title!). “Mutineer” is Bob Dylan's favorite song, who indeed doesn’t mind reinterpreting it in concerts, and it is a very sweet ballad from the eponymous 1995 album. The collection concludes with two previously unreleased tracks that perfectly fit the album's context, “I Was In The House When The House Burned Down” and “Genius” which gives the title to the anthology.

I know very well that perhaps reviewing an anthology is not very “cool,” but since the author is unfortunately not known as much as he deserves, it is ideal for those who want to delve into the sometimes gritty, sometimes dark, sometimes dreamy atmospheres of this great “mutineer” of music whom we miss and will continue to miss.