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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing re-release, May 7, 2003
Many of you who are interested in this disc have probably already purchased the original CD release of Wanted Dead Or Alive from One Way Records in 1996. The original release publicity for this Capitol re-release announced that it would include all tracks from an unissued album entitled Leaf In The Wind in addition to the Wanted songs. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the bonus tracks could not be included, and were quietly removed, pushing the CD release date back from April to May. It seems that many people are not yet aware of this development, and could be in for an unpleasant surprise when they open the plastic shrink wrap and find they are stuck with the same disc they already have.The upshot is that this Capitol reissue DOES NOT HAVE ANY BONUS TRACKS ON IT. If you have the One Way Release, you have all you're going to get on this one. Get this only if you want to see how the same album you already have sounds remastered.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Uneven solo debut from outstanding talent, May 7, 2003
Reissued and remastered, Wanted: Dead or Alive (ironically titled given the circumstances under which it has been reissued)features glimmers of Zevon's talent. His songwriting became more confident by the time of his self titled solo album in 1976. There aren't any bonus tracks but the sound quality is slightly better than the previously issued edition.
The title track and a couple of the other originals here make this worthwhile for long time and hardcore Zevon fans. I'd suggest Zevirgins and the curious stick to Warren Zevon, Excitable Boy, Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School, Mr. Bad Example, Sentimental Hygiene and Life'll Kill Ya. My Ride's Here always has very strong songwriting and performing as well.
Also pick up "Stand in the Fire" his great, great live album with bonus tracks available on the Rhino reissue. I finally caught Zevon on the tour to support Bad Luck (Stand was recorded during that tour)at the Old Wardorf in San Francisco. Not much has been said about Zevon's skills as a live performer. Quite simply, he's an amazing singer/songwriter. The emotions that inspired him to write many of his best tunes continued to be evident on later tours as well. He managed to instill each song with unique performance each and every time.
Recorded after Zevon's short stint in Lyme & Cybelle and after serving as music director for one of the Everlys, Wanted has enough sparkle to it to make it worthwhile after investigating the Zevon's best albums. Incidently, if picking up every album seems a bit much, I'd recommend the Rhino boxed set released 5 or 6 years ago. It manages to distill the essence of each important album while adding a number of goofy singles, songs written for television and unreleased tracks onto two packed CDs.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A pleasant surprise...really not too bad at all., August 30, 2007
I became a fan of Warren Zevon with "Werewolves of London" and "Lawyers, Guns and Money." Thankfully, I decided to did deeper and (for the most part) have been very happy with what I found. Since Zevon's death in 2003 from lung cancer (specifically inoperable mesothelioma), I decided to collect all of his albums on CD (including compilations, Hindu Love Gods, etc.). With my list all but complete, I reluctantly decided to order Wanted Dead or Alive.
Having read all of the reviews (here and elsewhere) and listening to the samples from the 1996 version of the disc, I assumed I'd listen to this disc once and put in on the shelf to commence with the dust collecting. While there is no question that this 10-song collection does not measure-up to Zevon's best work, it was much better than I had been led to believe.
First off, I want to stress that if you are going to buy this album, you should definitely get the 2003 version from Capitol Records. The sound quality is far improved over the 1996 version from One Way Records, Inc. (Who?). When considering this disc from the right perspective, it is a brilliant collection of songs form a great singer/songwriter at the beginning of his career. Listening to this disc feels similar to finding a high school picture from someone who went on to become rich and famous; they look different, but you can still tell it's them. The seeds of Zevon's brilliance are here and while they are starting to sprout, they have not yet bloomed.
01. WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE: One of the better songs on the album. Easy to see in hindsight that this song details the beginnings of the spirt of songs like "Mr. Bad Example" and "Lawyers, Guns and Money" (in terms of content if not musically).
02. HITCHHIKIN' WOMAN: A bluesy number. Not entirely successful.
03. SHE QUIT ME: Emotional ballad that was used (in another form) on the soundtrack from "Midnight Cowboy."
04. CALCUTTA: Great music with an oddly affected vocal. Zevon's trying a little too hard to sound like an old black blues singer!
05. IKO-IKO: WHAT? This song is almost to cheerful and light to be in the Zevon cannon but (like his later cover of Steve Winwood's "Back In The High Life"), it works. I'm not sure how or why, but it does work. It's enjoyable and gives the listener and idea of what it might sound like if WZ ever recorded a children's album!!!
06. TRAVELING IN THE LIGHTNING: Rowdy song with some slighty cheesy reverb and reverse drum effects near the end of the song. All in all, a good early Zevon effort.
07. TULE'S BLUES: Beautiful. Early proof that WZ had an underappreciated skill at writing love ballads. (The title character is Marylin "Tule" Livingston, the mother of Warren's first child, Jordan. Sadly, Tule also died from cancer not long after Zevon).
08. A BULLET FOR RAMONA: A gloomy song in the vein of "Jeannie Needs A Shooter," but without the trademark dark humor and wit.
09. GORILLA: A jungle rave-up that sounds as if the percussion was supplied by restless natives dancing around a fire. Again, great guitar and piano work from WZ. Not one of my favorites, but worth a listen.
10. FIERY EMBLEMS: A fantastic up-tempo instrumental with some great electric guitar work.
In summary, this album is not likely tomake it onto your "heavy rotation" playlist, but it is much better than many give it credit for. If you like hearing an artist in the early stages of development, thant this album is for you. If you are looking for Werewolves-era Zevon, than you are better off picking up the expanded reissue of 1976's "Excitable Boy."
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