Big news! Saturday I bought a CD:
One of the most heinous crimes in rock 'n' roll was the suppression, intended or otherwise, of Warren Zevon's mind-blowing Stand In The Fire, recorded live at the Roxy in Los Angeles. It tragically disappeared many years ago from the bins of music stores and could be found only by the intrepidly obsessed, and then strictly on the inferior format of the cassette. Now, at long last, this vanquished treasure is available to decent, law-abiding citizens on the compact disc.
Much has been said and written about Warren's remarkable songwriting, but he also happened to be a sensational live performer. I was a fan long before we became friends, and I'd seen him in concert many times. It was always raw and wild and unforgettable (except to Warren, of course, who late told me that there were entire tours he couldn't recall).
In his slightly more sedate years, he favoured solo acoustic shows, which were impressive - but I can tell you that there was nothing quite like Zevon in his anti-acoustic mode, unchained and rampaging with a band. For those of us lucky enough to have experienced that seismic jolt, Stand In The Fire is a joyous and raucous ignition of memory. For those who never got to see Warren take the stage, this is a grand taste of a mad rock wizard in his prime. Hang on to your Thompson guns.~~ Carl Hiaasen.
I first bought Stand In The Fire in 1981 at the Wickham Sound Lounge in Wickham WA, the mining town in the Pilbara where I lived from 1973 to 1985. As you might imagine, the Sound Lounge wasn't exactly Tower Records or the record shop in High Fidelity. It wasn't even a record shop proper, just a general appliance retailer, video library, gift shop and chemist with a record counter in the corner. I never found out how they came to have Stand In The Fire, given the sort of stuff they stocked: An Englishman in New York (Strange Apparatus), Zenyatta Mondatta, Jon & Vangelis, Jules and The Polar Bears, Judy Tzuke, Sky I, Sky II, Sky III, Styx, Rocky Burnette's Greatest Hit, you get the drift. But there it was, propped in one of those flimsy rotating record racks that were the stamp of your lamer music outlets. Nor was I even a massive Zevon fan. I only grabbed the album because I thought it would be interesting to hear what Werewolves Of London sounded like live. What's more, Werewolves was the only Zevon song I knew. Although it was my favourite song of 1978 and came with a great film clip. (Not the one with a dress-up werewolf stalking the streets, but a studio version with the band rocking out, which is the best sort of clip. Balls to your wanky, filmy, tricked up nonsense! Just get out there and play, ya bastards!)
For some reason I was under the impression live albums were the peak of an artist's career. Don't ask me why. During the seventies all my favourite albums were live albums: The Stones' Get Yer Ya Yas Out and Love You Live, Bob Dylan's Before The Flood, The Who Live At Leeds, Otis Redding Live in Europe, The Doors Absolutely Live, Status Quo Live, Neil Young's Live Rust, Lynyrd Skynyrd's One More For The Road, Jethro Tull's Bursting Out, Full House by the J.Geils Band, Cheap Trick at the Budokan, Deep Purple's Made in Japan, Bob Marley Live, Frampton Comes Alive - well, I was only 14 in 1976, it's not as if I knew any better - and the second side of Mondo Rock's Primal Park (if you haven't heard that last one, check it out).
So it was with some relish that I raced home - what record fan didn't relish racing home with their latest purchase? - and plonked it on the turntable. Werewolves Of London was indeed a fine version, but at least three other tracks immediately revealed themselves to be better: Excitable Boy, which I realised I already knew; Poor Poor Pitiful Me, which I'd thought was a cover of a Linda Ronstadt song; and especially The Sin. Here was a great live rock n roll album!
But you know what sets it apart from all the other live albums above? I've actually listened to it in the last twenty years. In fact, I've listened to it regularly since 1981, which is much more than I can say for all those others. The exception would be the occasional lash at Powderfinger from Live Rust. Other songs that I've recently played, mainly because some passing reference peaked my curiosity, are Soul Kitchen from Absolutely Live, Forty Five Hundred Times from Status Quo Live and Space Truckin' from Made In Japan. You'll notice I haven't mentioned The Kids Are Alright by the Who. That's because it's not really a live album, but a collection of film clips and TV takes. I HAVE listened to and watched it a lot over the journey and count Baba O'Riley and Won't Get Fooled Again, both recorded at Shepperton Studios in 1978, as timeless live cuts, and A Quick One from the Rolling Stones Rock n Roll Circus in 1968 is my all-time favourite live track.
Much of the power on Stand In The Fire comes from the band. In the studio, Zevon had L.A.'s best session musicians at his elbows. But at the Roxy, except for his friend and lead guitarist David Landau, Zevon came armed with an actual group, Boulder, that he picked up whole from the Colorado club circuit. Their specialty: rough-house covers of Zevon tunes.
~~ David Fricke
A couple of points. One) Stand In The Fire is so good it stopped me from ever going to see Zevon play live. As Hiaasen says, he switched to mainly solo acoustic, but I only ever wanted - Dead Or Alive, ho ho, ha ha, it is to laugh - Roxy Zevon. And two) the bonus tracks aren't really necessary. Sure, they are fine, but I'm sure if they passed muster in 1980, they would have been included back then. Nice, but no thanks.
Stand In The Fire will not be everyone's cup of tea. Boynton: "Very seventies." But if you, like me, are a bloke of a certain age, you simply must buy this album. The third time you listen to it, at the part where Warren introduces "David Laannndaaaauuu!!!", shivers will shoot up your spine. They will.
"peaked my curiosity"?
Tsk, tsk. And I thought you were a fellow sub.
Posted by: sid | 17 June 2008 at 17:31
Isn't that funny - I have been enjoying the 'Genius' CD for the last couple of months. So now I will have to check this out.
Always thought 'Carmelita' was a terrific song, but I had no idea Zevon wrote 'Raspberry Beret' until this year. My son agrees with B. - it is rather seventies ('wow', he says, 'a scale!'of PPPMe). But the dryness of the lyrics is what gets you in. 'So long, Norman'.
Posted by: genevieve | 17 June 2008 at 17:46
This blog consistently fails to address the issue of bum.
Posted by: Woollymoof | 17 June 2008 at 17:54
Sid: Sorry, correct you are. Accidentally Like a Typo.
Gen: Speaking of PPPM, click on the link below.
Woolly: Au contraire. This blog has bum AND Zevon.
Posted by: Tony T | 17 June 2008 at 18:19
Ahh, you missed a lot by not seeing WZ live! But if you'd like copies of some field recordings, just email me with your snail addy. As a member of the Warren Zevon Bulletin Board (sadly, having maintenance problems right now), where we weed, trade and just plain give away field recordings with the OK of the Zevon estate, I'll be happy to send you a selection gratis. (DVDs with live appearancres, too.)
Posted by: Charlene Komar Storey | 17 June 2008 at 20:31
with all due respect your honour - I wouldn't be thinking of boynton when asking someone for guidance on best live albums of the last 30 years.
Posted by: Francis Xavier Holden | 17 June 2008 at 22:55
While I'm complaining (see peaked experience above) why no blog about Pieterson's switch hit? There is much chuntering about it here in the more established civilisation. Good news that the MCC has passed the stroke as legal on the ground that "it also offers bowlers a good chance of taking a wicket".
V wise, I think. And contrary to Mikey Holding's view that the stroke should be notified to the umpire in the same way as a bowler changing hands or going the other side of the wicket. Point is that the bowler's changed action is relatively riskless and also a d*mned sight easier.
Also...ARE you a sub?
Posted by: sid | 17 June 2008 at 23:48
I liked this post so much, I bought the CD. Amazon has a bunch on sale right now.
It had better be as good as you say it is Tony, otherwise you owe me US$10.99.
So far, the CD cover looks good.
http://www.amazon.com/Stand-Fire-Warren-Zevon/dp/B000MGV9W0/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1213709645&sr=8-4
Speaking of rediscovering old stuff, I never really paid attention to the Allman Brothers. Boring old hippie redneck guitar solo farts, before my Buzzcocks, Stranglers and P-Funk time.
But having just watched 'The Devils Rejects', I was quite struck by how effectively Rob Zombie made use of 70s Southern fried guitar boogie to make his mise en scenes work so well. Not least an inspired choice of the Allman Bros 'Midnight Rider' for the title credits. So I'm now in the middle of a Southern seventies guitar rock safari. But not too far off the beaten track. I draw the line at Black Oak Arkansas.
On the other hand I am pissed now and as Mr James L. "Jim Dandy" Mangrum observes "Nobody falls as hard as the high flyer." Indeed.
Posted by: Nabakov | 17 June 2008 at 23:53
Nabakov, you should check out Grand Funk Railroad if you haven't already. They're not southern 70s guitar gods, and they were heavily maligned in their time, but they were seriously very good.
On mise-en-scène guitar, why is it that every sound editor who shows a scene of a desert, or lonely town, even in Australia, immediately slaps down a lonely and plaintive single note slide guitar? It is as ubiquitous as green desk lamps in lawyers' offices on film sets (check the motorcycle in the library scene in the latest Indiana Jones movie for a plethora of green lamps).
Posted by: Professor Rosseforp | 18 June 2008 at 07:34
Prof R - I blame Paris Texas. Mind you I was glad to see Ry Cooder get some mainstream recognition but those tracks or close facsimilies pop up on any 4WD ad, Oz tourism infomercials and anything with a road in it with less than two cars visible.
And TonyT - whilst its not to my discerning taste theres no denying that Frampton Comes Alive is a great live album.
Posted by: Francis Xavier Holden | 18 June 2008 at 11:07
Good Grief,
I use to have some of those albums. Can't say Warren's album was one of my favourite live albums.
sounds like you have been wearing FXH's safari suits too often.
Try Rocknroll animal or 801 live just for starters. some of those you have mentioned are not too bad and some are horrible.
Posted by: Celine Dion | 18 June 2008 at 14:11
I was well acquainted with a fella from Wickham. Hadn't seen him for years when I found myself playing against his footy team in Perth J-grade scrubbers league. Bastard accidentally broke my nose with his big fat bonce.
As we're leaving on the team bus I was semi kicking myself for not saying g'day after the game.
Later that night he broke the "bar record" for drinking shooters at The Hurlingham in South Perth. Went back to his mate's house and FREAKIN' KARKED IT on his spare bed.
The pub and staff involved wound up in deep do do from the authorities.
Posted by: Big Ramifications | 18 June 2008 at 15:18
You would have got Rory Gallagher's live album Irish Tour '74 at around the same time I'd expect. I'm suprised the good old "Sound Lounge" would be on the Rory Gallagher record distribution list. He would've been good to see live. I still play his 1st Self Titled album to my drunk Irish mates when they come over at New Years.
Come to think of it how the hell did you accumulate so many records with the "Sound Lounge" and the Pilbara in general having as many good vinyl outlets as Uzbekistan? The internet would have been handy back in the late 70's / early 80's.
Speaking of Wickham guys getting on the sauce, I went to a Perth Test in about the mid 70's and a guy in the crowd got sauced up and did a streak. First streaker at the WACA, maybe even in Australia, so it resulted in a fair bit of media. Red headed guy from memory (not that I was noticing). Guy was from Wickham. They should have had a plaque outside Elders.....
Posted by: RT | 18 June 2008 at 16:33
Powderfinger Neil Young check it out on u tube. Includes the line ...red means run,son numbers add up to nothin....
This of course refers to the way both sides of the climate debate use statistics, data , and graphs to argue their case.
You know it makes sense.
Posted by: chrisl | 18 June 2008 at 18:31
aah Homer - so what's up dood in your hood? Getting ready for the Pope's visit?
Posted by: Francis Xavier Holden | 18 June 2008 at 19:25
Sid, what's a sub? Seriously. I mean, I assume you don't mean an Ohio class boomer sneaking up on a Russian Akula in a Tom Clancy novel. And I'm not a sub-editor. Or a twelve inch salad roll with meat balls and double sauce.
I DO have doubts about Pietersen's switch hitting; pretty much for all the reason's explained in the press over the last couple of days. Now that the ICC have allowed it, though, it will be interesting to see how many batsmen try it on; and also to see who will be the first batsman to get out to it at a key moment in a big game, a la Mike Gatting's reverse sweep.
Biggy, I knew the bloke you are talking about quite well. In fact, if I could summon up the energy I'd probably unearth the cutting from the West in which his "death from misadventure" was chronicled. He was a nice bloke; bit of a lunatic. He was into binge drinking before that term became fashionable, and years before anyone who knocked back the occasional shandy was deemed a piss-head.
Rich, that streaker worked at Robe (or CRRIA, as it was back then - Uncle Cliffs to its employees). He had a big tattoo on his date and when the judge passed sentence (he got fined) said "The sun up there must have addled your brain." "Up there" being up the Pilbara, of course. Carry On, your Honour.
I got very few of those albums in Wickham, most of them were purchased in Melb & Perth.
Get Yer Ya Yas Out: From a music shop about 100 yards down Bourke Street from the Southern Cross. It might have been a Brashes.
Love You Live: See Ya Yas.
Before The Flood: See Love You Live.
The Who Live At Leeds: 78s, Hay Street Perth
Otis Redding Live in Europe: 78s, Hay Street, Perth
The Doors Absolutely Live: Wickham Sound Lounge
Status Quo Live: See Before The Flood
Live Rust: Myers, Bourke Street
One More For The Road: Myers, Bourke Street
Bursting Out: Allans, Collins Street
Full House: Allans, Collins Street
Cheap Trick at the Budokan: Myers, Bourke Street
Made in Japan: Karratha
Bob Marley Live: Perth Airport
Frampton Comes Alive: Bairnsdale (I was staying with Pidge, Easter 1976. Coincidentally, Pidge's favourite album was Kiss Alive.)
FX, I've often mused on the enigma of Peter Frampton. He was a lowish profile, capable guitarist before 1976, made a massive album, then went back to being lowish profile, capable guitarist. With the exception, naturally, of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (the movie). Spot the mistake: "quite possibly the greatest movie ever conceived."
Primal Park: From my cousin's mate's (Paul) record shop in Avalon, Christmas/New Year 1980/81.
Indeed, got Rory Gallagher Irish Tour '74. Pur-Chased it at 78s in Hay Street, Jan 1980.
And how could I forget! The first ever album I bought was Hot August Night. Well, first of two since I bought it at the same time (and place - Myers, Bourke Street, Dec 1974) as Quatro.
Nabs & Prof: No matter how much I try to like it I can't warm to The Allman Brothers Live At The Fillmore East. I don't dislike it, or anything, I just find it a bit boring. That's probably a naughty thing to say, but there you go.
I will raise your Black Oak Arkansas with an Ozark Mountain Daredevil, who introduced me to puns with their album Nuclear">http://www.supeline.com/nuclear.html">Nuclear Fishin'. Which, I hasten to add, was owned by a friend of mine.
Homer, me chinny crooning Canadian, it's fair to say I'm none too proud of quite a few of those albums, but when you're a teenager you're prone to moments of mis-judgement. Creedence Live was another dull-witted caprice.
Chris, that's how I teach.
Just listened to side two of Primal Park. First time in ages. Gotta say it holds up OK. Pretty fair piece of work from Mr Wilson.
Posted by: Tony T | 18 June 2008 at 22:52
Currently listening to the Best of Traffic.
So there!
Posted by: Tony T | 18 June 2008 at 23:13
A sub meaning a sub-editor. You always do these smart headlines, and in your comments on some Aussie paper or other you often go on about the 'subby', so I thought...
Re other batsmen trying the KP switch-hit: Scott Styrus tried a reverse sweep at Edgebaston today and fluffed it, raising a sarky laugh from KP.
Glad you like Werewolves of London: I've cited it as my favourite track ever since I used to hop and bop to it across Sarth London 15 years ago.
Posted by: sid | 19 June 2008 at 05:55
Tony T., I didn't say I like the Allmann brothers LP, but can I praise you for remembering the oft-forgotten Traffic?
Didn't Freaky Freddy Frolic partake of Molly's stew?
"Take extra care not to lose what you feel
Capturing moments so simple and real"
Posted by: Professor Rosseforp | 19 June 2008 at 08:02
Sid: The headlines are the best part of most papers. I know the likes of Ben Elton go on about your dreadful red-tops, but from where I'm reading over here on the other side of the world, the tabloid headlines are brilliant. Pity most of the content is lame.
Prof: Best of Traffic is a looonnnng time fave.
Posted by: Tony T | 19 June 2008 at 15:20
TonyT - an oft quoted fact from me (nfi where i got it from)- at one stage 1 in every 4 Australian households had a (vinyl) copy of Hot August Night. Sold more per capita in Oz than anywhere else.
On any objective view still a great live album.
Posted by: Francis Xavier Holden | 19 June 2008 at 18:11
"a studio version with the band rocking out, which is the best sort of clip"
Couldn't agree more. Loved the way the old 60s pop TV shows showed the bandin long shot then ALL of them, (eg Mick; Keith; Brian; Bill; & Charlie). Compared to Hunters & Collectors live on Hey Hey It's Saturday and the camera never went near guitarist Baz Palmer ONCE. I still don't know what he looks like.
An LP I bought when much younger but still listen to frequently and yet it's not a fave or a recognized classic: Heavy Traffic.
Posted by: Lad Litter | 19 June 2008 at 19:54
I recently read a Q & A article featuring Steve Winwood and one of the Q's was something like - it must have been great when you and the band went to a Berkshire cottage (English countryside) to make music during those early Traffic days. SW - "It was amazing, with a touch of Withnail & I".
The mark of a great band / LP is that the unknown / lesser known, so-called "filler tracks" on the album are close to 5 star and on a par with the hits. Traffic's first couple of albums don't have a wasted track. Credence's Green River is another album that comes to mind for some illogical reason. You get Green River and Lodi but also get Sinister Purpose and Tombstone Shadow.
Posted by: RT | 19 June 2008 at 20:53
FX: I still rate Crunchy Granola, but went past the rest of the album years ago, and not just because of the dag factor, either. Sure, it's a great live recording/document, but the songs - meh! That's an AGB Once Only Offer meh.
Lad: Heavy Traffic goes alright, but steer away from a live Traffic album called On The Road. It's recorded in Germany and they sound like they are trying their hand at Krautrock meets the Allman Brothers. Stick with Can, Kraftwerk and Neu.
Rich: Not just GR, Cosmo's Factor has hits: Travelin' Band, Ooby Dooby - Come on Subi! - Lookin' Out My Back Door, Run Through The Jungle, Up Around The Bend, Who'll Stop The Rain, I heard It Through The Grapevine and Long As I Can See The Light. In fact, Cosmo's is a Beatle-esque collection of hits. Yet, my favourite song on the album is the lesser known Ramble Tamble.
Posted by: Tony T | 19 June 2008 at 22:29
Lad Litter: true dat when you talk about old video clips, but you forgot to mention that every time the lead guitarist took a lead break, some dickheaded cameraperson would zoom in for a closeup of the bass player.
Posted by: Professor Rosseforp | 19 June 2008 at 22:31
Carl Hiaasen's opinion is always valid on any matter.
I hope you saw Mr Zevon's appearance in an episode of The Larry Sanders Show.
The storyline was that he agreed to appear but would absolutely not perform Werewolves.
yep.
send lawyers guns and money!
the shit has hit the fan.
RIP Warren
Posted by: dysthymiac | 20 June 2008 at 11:42
Well, I saw Lon Chaney walkin’ with the Queen
That would possibly (but maybe not) be close to top in my "memorable lyrics" list. That and You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht, your hat strategically dipped below one eye. Your scarf: it was apricot.
Not sure why. Possibly coz ya have to know who the long-dead gent is and what he did for a living, and it makes you feel all tingly and clevarr inside that you get the meaning?
Posted by: Big Ramifications | 20 June 2008 at 12:19
I'm a great Warren Zevon and Randy Newman (before he got pixered) fan but neither wrote as viciously tuneful and sardonic song as T-Bone Burnett's "Humans From Earth".
And none of them had the voice and presence or indeed prescience of Tom Waits.
But if you put those four horsing around songwriters of the apoplectic together, you really are looking at...well four great timeless American songwriters/performers - any one of which could beat the lachrymose crap out of Leonard Cohen or Nick Cave with just one well chosen line.
"You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht, your hat strategically dipped below one eye. Your scarf: it was apricot."
And great though that line was, it wasn't even the best line in the song. No doubt others may feel Carly Simon had an impressive career, but to me she'll always be a one hit wonder. But what a fucking great hit.
Disclaimer: I'm now quite tanked up to here on Glenfiddich while listening to CCS's big brass band version of "Whole Lotta Love".
Posted by: Nabakov | 24 June 2008 at 01:42
And this'll make you all rinse, spit and adjust your strides.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiXcqxms3Bs
But it'll groove the kids.
Posted by: Nabakov | 24 June 2008 at 02:07
And oh yes, George Carlin has gone to meet his maker.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o
Who is now having a good drink and a great laugh with George and Warren Z.
Posted by: Nabakov | 24 June 2008 at 03:01
I'm positive that was Christopher Guest in the Hush background.
Posted by: Tony T | 24 June 2008 at 10:52
I'm sure Leonard Cohen has some great songs - although I haven't heard any - but I was sick of him after what seemed like the 555th rendition of The Stranger Song in McCabe & Mrs Miller.
Posted by: Tony T | 24 June 2008 at 13:52