Rock Hall Bars Zevon (Again)

So, a dozen classic songs, plus: cartoonists slam Putin for death of Navalny.

Greg Mitchell is the author of more than a dozen books (see link) and now writer/director of three award-winning films aired via PBS, including “Atomic Cover-up” and “Memorial Day Massacre” which are still up at PBS.org. Before all that, he was a longtime editor of the legendary Crawdaddy. »»»You can still subscribe to this newsletter for free.«««

Well, it was nice while it lasted. One year ago, bellyaching and campaigning by fans like myself—joined by Billy Joel, David Letterman and others—finally succeeded in getting Warren Zevon on the ballot for the far-from-hallowed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Of course, in the end, he did not make the cut and, bing bang, he did not even make this year’s ballot, announced last week, while several not-exactly-rockers did. Oh, well, I guess we’ll have to turn to Ry Cooder, Joan Armatrading and Richard Thompson next.

Below, a (final?) look back at the Best Of Warren below. Poor, poor pitiful Warren, gone too soon at age 56 after urging us to “enjoy every sandwich.” These dozen Zevon tracks or covers arrive in no chronological order, omitting the maybe too familiar “Excitable Boy,” “Lawyers, Guns and Money” while including an alt-take of “Werewolves of London” (the latter I caught him howling in a late set at the Bottom Line in NYC with David Corn at 1 a.m.). Another dozen are nearly as good. And, of course, always had a soft spot for his ode to outspoken baseball hurler, Bill Lee.

But first, a few editorial comments on the passing of Navalny in Russia. Of course we don’t really know how he died but I think in this case it’s fair to say he was “murdered by Putin” even if it was not directed but the result of years of imprisonment.

Desperado Under the Eaves

The immortal “Roland The (Headless) Thompson Gunner” (h/t David Corn)

Alternate take for “Carmelita”

Alternate very early rough take on “Werewolves”

“Desperadoes Under Eaves,” with classic lines: “And if California slides into the ocean / Like the mystics and statistics say it will /I predict this motel will be standing until I pay my bill.”

Warren said “The Envoy” in question was ‘80s legend Philip Habib.

Ronstadt tuned to “Mohammed’s Radio”

Yet he could also find “Tenderness on the Block”

Ronstadt again, live, with “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me”

“The French Inhaler” (there are interesting theories about the ending, if you care to research

And herrrrrre’s “Johnny Strikes Up the Band”

“Accidentally, Like a Martyr”

Much later, “For My Next Trick I’ll Need a Volunteer”

Early piano demo for future Ronstadt hit “Hasten Down the Wind”