Customer Reviews

Enjoy Every Sandwich: The Songs of Warren Zevon

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This tribute album to - in Springsteen's words, "one of the great, great American songwriters" - does a good job of capturing the spirit of Warren Zevon, as well as some of the quirkiness and humor that made him special. Some of the songs are notable in how different they are, and while some stay truer to the original versions, all of them have something in them to recommend them.

"Searching for a Heart" sounds like it could have been written and originally sung by Don Henley. It has a bit of a reggae-like beat to it, but Henley's voice fits this song perfectly, (odd, because his voice is so different than Zevon's), and the lyrics could just as easily be found on "Building the Perfect Beast," or "The End of the Innocence."

Similarly, Dylan was made to sing "Mutineer." Before I even heard him sing it, I knew exactly HOW he would sing it - like the pre-1975 versions of "Just like a Woman," (sans harmonica) the nasally Dylan twang included, phrasing it ("I was born to rock the booooaaat") in Dylanesque fashion. Real neat. Though Zevon still sings it better.

Jackson Browne's "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" isn't as edgy, or as funny, ("I don't wanna talk about it . . .") as Zevon's, but it ain't Linda Ronstadt either. He changes the beat, and the melody, a few lyrics too, and he kind of opens up the song. It all works pretty well.

Probably the only song I wasn't originally thrilled with was Billy Bob Thornton's "The Wind." Not that it sounded bad, and I'm not really familiar with how Thornton usually sings, but his whispery vocals didn't sound quite right. Maybe that is his normal singing voice, but it sounds as if he is trying to imitate Zevon's voice, but he can't quite do that. And I suppose he was trying to create a mood for the song, but I'm not sure it really works. Though I have to say, now that I have listened to it a few more times, its starting to grow on me.

On the other hand, Adam Sandler (!)'s rendition of "Werewolves of London" is as perfect as a werewolf's hair. He doesn't break into that "Operaman" or "Chanukah Song" voice (which is funny on its own, but would be too obvious a spoof here), but he retains the quasi-goofiness and silliness the song deserves. He stays very true to the Zevon version, but manages to give it his own little twists here and there (He holds one of the "ahoooooo's for a longgggg time.) Originally I thought using him was more of a publicity stunt to sell the CD, but he surprised me in how well he does it, and how much fun he makes this song.

Springsteen's live version of "My Ride's Here," recorded shortly after Zevon's death, is terrific.

Soozie Tyrell's violin dominates the otherwise sparse music in the song, and gives it a haunting quality I'm not even sure the original has. And Springsteen's "Nebraska"-esque vocals fit the song perfectly.

The Wallflower's "Lawyers, Guns and Money" is pretty true to the original (except for the "WARREN, get me out of this"), though maybe a little jazzier. Jakob Dylan sometimes sounds more like Zevon than he does his more famous Dad.

And talk about channeling your dad - Jordan Zevon sounds almost as much like his father on "Studebaker" as Julian Lennon did when he released "Too Late for Goodbye" after John Lennon's death. You know, where you get some goose bumps when you hear the song, knowing that what your ear hears (Warren/John), and what your head knows (that Warren/John couldn't have recorded the song), don't go together. The song is a good choice too, though I'm not entirely sure why - it just felt right.

Steve Earle's "Reconsider Me" has the same feel as the original, with a dose of Dylan/Tom Petty thrown in. Kind of an interesting mix, since Zevon seemed to sing it with more desperation, while here it is sung more punkish, almost defiantly, sort of like " reconsider me - but if you don't, I'll move on."

Jill Sobule sings "Don't Let us Get Sick, " one of my favorite lesser known Zevon songs, quietly and sweetly, though it isn't the combination of a sweet, yet sardonic prayer that seems - to me at least - to be in the Zevon version. But it was great hearing this song anyway - I was surprised to see it on the CD, but glad it was included.

Jorge Calderon makes "Keep me in Your Heart" more of an orchestral piece, layering the music, which makes the heart wrenching lyrics a little softer. though no less appealing. Maybe knowing the about the friendship between Calderon and Zevon influenced how I hear this version, but you can tell the sadness in Calderon's voice. Jennifer Warnes' accompanying/backup vocals add a nice touch to the sound of the song.

All in all - terrific tribute album. And yeah, there are songs I would have liked to have seen included: Hasten Down the Wind, Fistful of Rain, Excitable Boy, Life'll Kill Ya, For My Next Trick I'll Need a Volunteer . . . but unless they reproduced half of Zevon's catalog, I would always have that complaint. Maybe I'm biased, since I like all things Zevon, but all the artists seem to care about the songs they perform, leading one to believe they cared about Zevon and his music too. Its nice for Zevon fans to hear covers of his songs, and its also good for those not too familiar with Zevon, in that they get to hear their own favorite artists sing some really terrifically written songs.

The late Warren Zevon was the Grim Reaper's personal poet laureate and court jester throughout his long career. Hard to believe that only one of these songs (as far as I know) was written after he learned of his diagnosis. Son Jordan and longtime producer/cowriter/bassist Jorge Calderon assembled many of Zevon's closest collaborators, sidemen, cronies and admirers for a romp through both the sardonic, gallows-humor pieces he was famous for, but also the vulnerable, emotionally raw ballads he was equally adept at writing and delivering.

Zevon liked singing actors for their ability to deliver the emotional content of a song, so he'd be pleased by Sandler's surprisingly muscular delivery on Werewolves and Thornton's gravelly, Tom Waits-meets-Robbie Robertson take on the spooky dirge The Wind (NOT from the album of the same name - is this an unreleased song from that project?) Springsteen makes My Ride's Here sound like an outtake from one of his first two albums, rich with the kind of wit and literate wordplay he hasn't employed since. Both Dylans do their selections justice -have they ever appeared on the same album together before? Despite the presence of so many of Zevon's studio cohorts these versions sparkle with fresh ideas, from Waddy Wachtel's hint of ska on Werewolves to his "Summertime Blues" like riff on Poor Poor Pitiful Me. The Pixies remind us that there was a jagged punk edge beneath Zevon's laid-back L.A. veneer. I'd have liked to hear a double CD with some more of Zevon's buddies (REM, Neil Young) and contemporaries (Richard Thompson, Lyle Lovett) but a single CD will do.

There are some standout moments on this CD. If you really love Zevon's music, just try to listen to the contributions of Bruce Springsteen or Jill Sobule and not get choked up. Pete Yorn and Lindley/Cooder also provide outstanding takes on "Splendid Isolation" and "Monkey Wash, Donkey Rinse," respectively.

There are some weak moments, however. I deeply love the Pixies, but their version of "Ain't That Pretty at All" felt like it was discussed, rehearsed once or twice, then recorded. And Billy Bob Thornton's take on "The Wind" is so excruciatingly bad as to be barely listenable.

Zevon fans will enjoy this album, but probably not as much as they would enjoy an actual Warren Zevon album.

I approach tribute albums somewhat warily. Often they only succeed in making me want to hear the original songs by the original artist instead. Enjoy Every Sandwich is a pleasant exception. The cover artists do a really good job of staying faithful to the spirit of Zevon's material, while (mostly) managing not to be too literal with their interpretations. Part of what makes this CD work so well is the involvement of people who have a previous history with Warren and his work, people such as Waddy Wachtel, Jackson Browne and Jorge Calderon. And even those who DON'T have much of history (Pixies, Pete Yorn) seem to have achieved an understanding.

Among the highlights of Every Sandwich are Mr. Browne's scorching "Poor Poor Pitiful Me," with Bonnie Raitt, and the fun, zydeco-ish duet by David Lindley and Ry Cooder on "Monkey Wash, Donkey Rinse." I was also suprised by Adam Sandler's powerful take on the signature tune ("Werewolves"), and struck by son Jordan Zevon's singing on "Studebaker." There were only a couple of disappointments, especially actor Billy Bob Thornton's tepid version of "The Wind." He really doesn't belong on this CD with the other artists.

"Enjoy Every Sandwich" seems an odd title for an album, but not if you know the history of the line. After being diagnosed with his fatal cancer, Warren Zevon appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. Letterman is/was a huge fan of Zevon's and the two became friends during Zevon's many appearances on the Late Show. Zevon, in fact, was the only artist to regularly sit in for Paul Shaffer as band leader, and Shaffer regularly "plays out" commercials with Zevon's creations. Anyway, on his last appearance in the Letterman guest chair, Dave asked a rather interesting question. The question was something like, "Knowing what you know now about your cancer, is there anything that you've learned or would try to do if you had it to do all over again?" To which Warren Zevon replied, "Yes, I'd try to enjoy every sandwich..."

As this is a review, let's get to it. Enjoy Every Sandwich is a fine tribute to a fine artist and lyrical songwriter. I always find it especially interesting when artists who would not usually be considered inside the fallen artist's genre cover their songs. I mean, when Jackson Browne and Bonny Raitt cover a Zevon tune, you expect it. They were good friends and have some real similarities in their craft. But when the Pixies cover "Ain't That Pretty at All," you get a real sense for how far-reaching was the artist. Even Adam Sandler gets a chance to pay his respect, doing a very respectable and listenable cover of "Werewolves of London." Billy Bob Thornton, actor, musician, and fellow Obsessive Compulsive, does a nice job with "The Wind." Thornton was once a neighbor of Zevon's in the same apartment complex. According to Thornton, they used to hang out together and compare the facets of their OCD, discovered while the pair met outside at the complex mailboxes.

Fans of Warren Zevon will find a lot of good things in this disc. It also serves as a decent entree into his body of work, showing his creativity and clever turn of phrase in the lyrics of the selected songs.

To sum up: for fans, you probably already own it. For those interested in Warren Zevon, even if you only know "Werewolves of London," pick it up, too. You will find something to enjoy here, too.

Rest in Peace Warren. I will miss you, too.

As asserted by many other reviewers, I must agree that tribute albums can be tricky business. That being said, this is a solid and genuinely heartfelt effort to celebrate the songs of one of the finest - yet most underrated - artists in rock history. It's an up and down affair, as one might expect from a tribute album. Don Henley does a solid, if not particularly creative, take on the ballad "Searching for a Heart" to open the album. This is followed by perhaps the album's biggest surprise, comedian Adam Sandler's rousing cover of Zevon's biggest hit "Werewolves of London." It's an inspired effort, and not inundated with the silliness one familiar with Sandler's comedy albums might expect. Later on, David Lindley & Ry Cooder churn out a wonderful version of "Monkey Wash, Donkey Rinse," perhaps the album's best moment.

Others fall flat, such as Jackson Browne & Bonnie Raitt's vanilla take on the oft-covered "Poor Poor Pitiful Me," and Pete Yorn's weirdly disjointed cover of "Splendid Isolation." The album's two live recordings - Bruce Springsteen's "My Ride's Here" and Bob Dylan's "Mutineer" are not necessarily badly performed, but will take some getting used to.

Zevon fanatics, who (like myself) will buy the album regardless, will definately want to grab the album for its two unreleased tunes - the excellent "Studebaker," performed here by Zevon's son Jordan, and "The Wind," perfomed by acclaimed actor and Zevon friend Billy Bob Thornton. Not to mention that much of the album's guitar is done by none other than Waddy Wachtel.

Overall, this is a standout tribute album. The performers - many who were close friends of Zevon - seem to have put great effort into presenting respectable renditions of some of Zevon's finest songs. Newer fans - or simply those curious about the man and his music - would be better suited buying an original Warren Zevon album (the self-titled release is a nice start). Longtime Zevon fans, however, will surely want to pick this one up, as it's quite possibly the last catalog addition to an outstanding body of work so sadly cut short a year ago.

Maybe the reason this tribute album feels like a bittersweet party celebrating Warren Zevon's life is that Warren wrote songs recorded by a wide spectrum of artists that we all know and love, as well as recording his own tunes.

If it seems natural to hear Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne's rendition of Poor, Poor Pitiful Me, it might be because they, along with Don Henley, who also covered a track for this CD, were there at the beginning, in 1976, when the track was featured on the debut album, Warren Zevon. Browne produced the album and Raitt and Henley were among the rockers who backed up some of the tracks on that and other Zevon classics.

Even though no one could ever sing Warren's songs like Warren did, it's apparent in this tribute that his work lives on. The heartfelt covers of his songs by artists who were his friends and family are new ways to hear his familiar classics. It's all good.

I've been haunted by Billy Bob Thornton's version of The Wind. The emotion in Thornton's rendition gave it a special poignancy. When Springsteen sang My Ride's Here, I could just picture Warren riding off into the sunset.

Warren's still with us, not only in the legacy of words and music that he left us, but in his son Jordan Zevon. Listening to Jordan's track, Studebaker, it's clear that talent runs in the family.

Seeing Warren's cartoon likeness on the cover of this CD, it's easy to imagine him kicking back, enjoying a sandwich and this party in his honor.

Warren Zevon was one hell of a songwriter. This collection lets you bask in that talent of his--while other sings, some good, some not so good, tackle his material. Even when the performances lag (which they rarely do), you are left with great songs that, in most respects, cannot be ruined.

Ah, but let's not dawdle with the few-and-far-between flaws of this album (namely, the Pixies' unlistenable rendition of "Ain't That Pretty At All"). Instead, let's check out Don Henley's bluesy cover of "Searching for a Heart," or Adam Sandler's nearly-flawless "Werewolves of London." How about Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt bringing some country/rock to "Poor Poor Pitiful Me?" Bruce Springsteen's touching "My Ride's Here" is unforgettable. And The Wallflowers' version of "Lawerys, Guns and Money" is superb. Jordan Zevon brings heartfelt blues to "Studebaker," with Jorge Calderon and Jennifer Warnes' moving rendition of "Keep Me In Your Heart" closing out the album (save the hidden score).

ENJOY EVERY SANDWICH is a great album, whether you are a fan of the artists listed here (chances are this is so; after all, these people span pretty much every conceivable genre), or just a fan of Warren Zevon's music. This is an album that will be replayed repeatedly, because it is that good--great songs by a great songwriter, played by some of music's best.

This c.d. is a must for any fan of W.Z. But they already know this and own a copy. My plan is to get copies for friends not familiar with the most underappreciated writer of his time.

Introduce it to a Springsteen or Dylan fan, and say "This album has a live cut by the Boss/ Bob not available anywhere else" or "Have you heard the new tune by Wallflowers?" etc. Then as they listen they discover a hidden treasure any pirate would be thrilled to find. I've always considered Zevon the Edgar Allen Poe of Rock & Roll. Hopefully one day the masses will be familiar with this genius. Get a copy and enjoy every bite.

This posthumous collaboration does do Zevon's dark and outrageous wit justice, but no one does Zevon like Zevon. He's one of the few singer-songwriters who isn't that easily covered. Still, the lineup paying Warren tribute is top drawer. Bruce Springsteen's version of "My Ride is Here" could have been penned by his own hand. Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt rock out us on their cover of "Poor Poor Pitiful Me."

The artists were well chosen for the tributes and all well done, but I'd still take any of Zevon's original work over this. Still, it's good to fill out your collection if you're a die hard Zevon fan like me.