First Sessions [Extra tracks]

Warren Zevon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 18, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B00008NGI1
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #198,229 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Follow Me

2. Like the Seasons

3. I've Just Seen a Face [#][Demo Version]

4. Peeping and Hiding [Harmonica Version][#]

5. If You Gotta Go, Go Now

6. I'll Go On

7. Follow Me [#][Demo Version]

8. (You Used To) Ride So High [#][Demo Version]

9. Outside Chance [#][Demo Version]

10. I See the Lights [#][Demo Version]

11. And If I Had You [#][Demo Version]

12. A Bullet for Ramona [#][Demo Version]

13. Song 7 [*]

14. Write If You Get Work [*]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Early Look at Warren Zevon, March 18, 2003

By 

Dr. Rocco Malacca - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Sessions (Audio CD)

This is a collection of early recordings and unreleased tracks by Warren Zevon. Before Werewolves of London, he had some commercial success with fellow singer/songwriter Violet Santangelo in a duo called Lyme and Cybelle. A few years back, I was able to track down an old forty-five single of theirs, but this is the first time they have all been collected in one volume.

The tracks are as follows:
1)Follow Me - Lyme and Cybelle
2)Like the Seasons - Lyme and Cybelle
3)I've Seen a Face - Lyme and Cybelle
4)Peeping and Hiding - Lyme and Cybelle - previously unreleased
5)If You Gotta Go, Go Now - Lyme and Cybelle
6)I'll Go On - Lyme and Cybelle
7)Follow Me - Lyme and Cybelle - previously unreleased demo
8)(You Used To) Ride So High - The Motorcycle Abeline - demo
9)Outside Chance - Warren Zevon - unreleased demo
10)I See the Lights - Warren Zevon - unreleased demo
11)And If I Had You - Warren Zevon - unreleased demo
12)A Bullet For Ramona - Warren Zevon - unreleased demo
bonus tracks
13)Song 7 - Lyme and Cybelle (Wayne Erwin vocals)
14)Write If You Get Work - Lyme and Cybelle (Wayne Erwin vocals)

At the time of this review, the songs weren't listed, and I included them in my review because it may be the deciding factor on your decision to buy. As far as content, this is the best early work I've heard by an artist since Meet the Beatles. Better, in fact, because it's Warren Zevon. Zevon's voice throughout most of the tracks is lighter, higher in tone, and it gives the music a different feel. Some of the lyrics are sunnier than those of the later Zevon we know and love. They are good, still, and the cynical and harder edged tones start to creep into the solo works towards the end of the album. The underlying sadness that makes many of his songs shine is here. The instrumentation is already highly developed, and the lyric quality (for the kind of songs Zevon writes) can only be built upon with age. A Bullet For Ramona (later included in the Wanted Dead or Alive album) is the turning point, where his pitch dropped and became the deeper, throatier voice he uses now. It is interesting to see the transition here.

This isn't a collection of throwaways like so many other unreleased sessions by other artists, but a portrait of an artist trying to find his true voice. This is as worthy of repeat listenings as any other Zevon album. There is mention in the liner notes of an unreleased followup to Wanted Dead or Alive. Hopefully, if The First Sessions is a success, we may be treated to that one as well.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Warren Zevon, Sixties Style, March 29, 2003

By 

Mike King "Mike Vegas King" (Taunton, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Sessions (Audio CD)

In early 1965, Warren Zevon met Violet Santangelo in high school in Los Angeles. Long story short, they formed the folk duo known as Lyme & Cybelle. It's great to finally hear all of their recordings, as well as some previously unreleased demos. In addition, there are some early Warren Zevon demos, and a couple of Lyme & Cybelle songs after Warren had left the group. Musically, this collection is a mixed bag.

(1) "Follow Me" - Peaking at #65 in 1966, this Lyme & Cybelle song is a psychedelic flavored classic. It boasts a great opening riff, a catchy melody, superb musical production, and a perfect blending of Warren's and Violet's voices. This song has an insistent drumbeat and a blistering electric guitar break that are the very definition of a folk-rock song. GREAT!

(2) "Like The Seasons" - It's a mellow folk song, backed with strings. At times the melody strains to accompany the heartfelt lyrics. "You and I have learned that love can turn like the seasons." Who says Warren Zevon can't write tender love songs?

(3) "I've Just Seen A Face" - It's a homemade recording with surprisingly good sound quality. Lyme & Cybelle's version of the Beatles' classic features their vocal harmonies and Warren's acoustic guitar playing to great effect.

(4) "Peeping And Hiding" - This Jimmy Reed blues song, better known as "Baby, What You Want Me To Do," was performed by Elvis in his 1968 Comeback Special. Lyme & Cybelle's rocking version of this tune features bluesy piano and harmonica backing. Warren's love of blues music is evidenced by the songs he did many years later on the Hindu Love Gods album.

(5) "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" - The prominent horns and organ turn this Bob Dylan song into a pop tune. It's enjoyable to listen to, but not among the best of the many Dylan cover songs done in the sixties.

(6) "I'll Go On" - It's a very mellow folk song, pleasant but unremarkable.

(7) "Follow Me" - A homemade demo, it proves that this tune works well as an acoustic folk song.

(8) "(You Used To) Ride So High" - After leaving Lyme & Cybelle, Warren recorded this demo under the fictitious group name of The Motorcycle Abeline. It's a hard rocking song with a memorable melody.

(9) "Outside Chance" - Another rocker, this song is most famous for being covered by Warren's White Whale labelmates, the Turtles.

(10) "I See The Lights" - It's a folk song lamenting a lost love. Warren's voice strains a bit on the last high note.

(11) "And If I Had You" - It sounds like a wandering troubadour trying to win the hand of his lady fair with this plea for love. This is about as far from "Werewolves Of London" as you can get!

(12) "A Bullet For Ramona" - This demo, featuring Warren at the piano, is the only song in which you can recognize Warren's familiar, deep voice. Unfortunately, it's also the only demo with poor sound quality. Warren would later record this song for his "Wanted Dead Or Alive" album.

(13) "Song 7" - This was released by Lyme & Cybelle after Warren Zevon had left the group. This overproduced pop song sounds like it was taken from an episode of the Partridge Family TV show.

(14) "Write If You Get Work" - It's a novelty song that would have sounded right at home on the "Winchester Cathedral" album by the New Vaudeville Band.

Clocking in at 33 minutes and 33 seconds, I can highly recommend this collection to diehard Warren Zevon fans, like myself. Casual fans may want to think twice before buying this CD.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Everybody has a skeleton in their closet...., May 28, 2003

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: First Sessions (Audio CD)

Everybody has a skeleton in their closet. The Beatles had Live in Hamburg. The Stones had Got Live If You Want It (and they chose to release it). Bruce had that CD of early songs (the name of which escapes me). My point is (and I do have one) that every major artist has taken a wrong turn, gone down a one way street the wrong way or turned into a court expecting a through street. This is Warren Zevon's. It was the 60's and Zevon had yet to find his voice as a composer/singer/performer. While First Sessions has a number of charming and interesting tracks, none of them are essential. These quasi-folk-mellow rock songs sound nothing like what Zevon did in the 70's.

Unlike Wanted: Dead or Alive, First Sessions offers little that suggests Zevon's best and greatest material was yet to come. There are a couple of songs that might not have sounded out of place on his first or second albums (Outside Chance--a hit for The Turtles; A Bullet For Ramona actually did reappear on W:DOA;Ride So High which was never released in any form). That's not to suggest this is a bad compilation--it's probably something Zevon never thought would see the light of day during the 70's (and it did).

Now that Warren is terminally ill, Varese Sarabande has chosen to re-release these early sides recorded as part of the duo lyme & cybelle and as early songwriting demos. The remastering by Dan Hersh improves the sound over earlier editions but doesn't improve the quality of the songs. The early material co-written by Zevon and Violet Santagelo)it typical of the mid-60's folk-rock movement. They're derivative but, overall, nothing to get too excited about.

The later material recorded when Zevon was shopping for a deal as a solo performer (and as songwriting demos to sell to other artist's) show some of the promise Zevon exhibited later in his career. Again, they're not bad but none of them reflect the experience, sharp wit or poetic sensibility at the heart of Warren's later material. I'd recommend them for hardcore Zevon fans who must have everything the man recorded. Otherwise, steer clear and purchase any of his fine albums from Warren Zevon up to and including the terrific My Ride's Here.

The bonus tracks are, again, for completist. Warren doesn't appear on them nor did he write the last single recorded by Wayne Erwin and Violet as lyme and cybelle. They have little in common with the previous singles sounding like out takes from an Association recording (not surprising given the producer involved).