Don't care how stoned he was. Don't care what he drank. That is missing the point. Warren Zevon is one of the most under rated artists. I wish more young people could understand the poet merged music phenom. I do my best to show him to my musical appreciative friends but he deserves so much more. Rest in peace Warren.
I had a girlfriend in the early 70's who lived near Echo Park. We would walk through the neighborhood out there. I was sitting with another friend from L.A., we were both stationed in Germany. When we first heard this, he mentions the Pioneer Chicken Stand on Alvarado St, we both knew that Pioneer off of Alvarado and Sunset. It was like someone brought back a little bit of home 6000 miles away.
This is so stunningly beautiful. I don't think people really delve deeply enough into what they are hearing here. Beautiful, dead-on voice, with natural vibrato, and delicate piano talent. Classical, genius and a totally real passionate human, laced with some mysterious inherent knowledge of pain and the strangeness of existance. I wish I had known him.
Karen Hughes You write as though you had known Warren. I was blessed to meet him in the '90's in a Borders Bookstore in The Falls, Florida. I dove into the store to get out of a typical afternoon deluge, and I was scanning the poetry section, when my naughty female gaze was caught by a gorgeous male fanny. Add to that a long blonde ponytail trailing down the back of a light grey T-shirt like a fall of captured sunlight, acid-washed jeans covering the aforementioned magnificent rear end....I had time for a long appreciative stare, then the owner of the glorious male fanny turned profile, and I nearly had a heart attack. Unmistakable. I knew I'd never have such an opportunity again, so I approached him and spoke very softly, (combination of sheer worshipfulness, and not wishing to end his privacy) and told him how very much his music meant to me. He thanked me so nicely...a perfect gentleman, and when I made as if to leave, he said, "What's that book?" It was Rod McKuen's "Stanyan Street And Other Sorrows", and he asked to see it, opened it and read a moment. He asked me about my preferences in books, and I believe we spoke for about 10-15 minutes..how does one time their Moment in Paradise?...then a couple recognized him and ended my brief time in Heaven On Earth. I excused myself, and Warren said, "I've enjoyed our talk, Kat." I'm sure I must have blurted something appropriate, then left, my right hand still warm from his handshake. I'd been a devoted fan before I met him...I've been an adoring worshipper ever since. You're one of the few who've described my God of Music with depth and feeling. Just so you know....he is a kind, amazing human being as well as an Irreplaceable, Incredibly Gifted Talent. I say "is" because Gods and Legends never die...and Warren Zevon is BOTH. The book I had that day sits on my shelf, a tangible memento of a Precious, Perfect Experience. P.S. My middle name is Katherine, I go by Kat, and if one wishes to have me reply, that's the name they call me. It's the name I used that day to introduce myself. Just an explanation of the difference between my posted name and his quote...best wishes always to a fellow Zevonite.
Its 7 Sep 2023. 20 years ago already since we lost this brilliant man and his genius talent. Saw him in Adelaide, Australia in 1990..? if i remember correctly, and it was one of the BEST shows ever. Back of an Aussie pub, no more than 60 odd people and we were, up front, eyeball to eyeball. Visceral, incredible and unforgettable. Thank you Mr Zevon hope you're having a drink with Roland. Cheers. From Australia 🇦🇺
It was the Big Ticket - upstairs club on Hindley Street. He made a joke about The Eagles and ‘Don Hindley’ that night. One of the best gigs ever, even if his Roland keyboard did ironically break down during the long intro to Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner. He finished the song on his ovation acoustic with a fierce fury. You can hear me call out “go for it” on the intro to Poor Poor Pitiful Me on the learning to Flinch live LP. I was a metre away from him the whole night. Magical.
"Enjoy every burrito"! Seriously, this is a lovely rendition made even better by the unexpected sight/sound of David Lindley playing Spanish-sounding licks on an ordinary acoustic guitar (and not the lap steel slide guitars or mutant electric guitars he is better known for).
Well, perhaps, it is, but I don't think Warren Zevon ever lived in Mexico, or was strung out looking for a fix in the cold, dead, angry, angst-ridden streets of Juarez or Tijuanna because "Blondie" would have been used as a rent boy by a Cartel. If Zevon was a junkie, I don't think his mind would be focused on or capable of writing such beautiful songs. Zevon writes songs about his surroundings as a detached observer in the third person which is similar to what Hemingway tried to do with his writing.
There's only one song on my collection that has more than 20 versions of it by different artists, each one beautiful in its own way.. It's a g0ddammned painting. Perfection.
Absolutely one of the best songs ever written. You might want to give “San Francisco Mabel Joy“ a listen. Written by Mickey Newberry, the version I like the best is sung by Waylon Jennings.
This is my favorite RU-vid video ever. I smile every time I hear that guy talk to Warren, tell him he knows who he is. He reminds me of someone I've lost, a woman like a mother to me. Just his mannerisms and the words he says .how he says "Y'know?" Hearing Warren always makes me think of another friend I lost who was hit by a train. As silly as it is, I can always come here and listen and feel like they are both right here with me still..even if only for a minute.
Thanks to all of you who miss me, it's hard writing songs in the afterlife especially when your fingers go right through the keys but thoughts from you Norma and Pat keep me going. Adios
John Paul Rosas, I'm glad that it's not just me and somebody else saw the guitarist and thought, despite the fuzzy video and the camera angle from the side or rear, that that's Lindley on guitar. For a minute I thought I was imagining it. Anyway, this is lovely and sublime almost beyond words or description..
Absolutely Wonderful song! I first heard Linda Ronstadt's lovely version on her album with Tumbling Dice and Blue Bayou many years ago (1970s bought her album immediately). I knew Ronstadt was born 'n raised in Tucson, AZ and later lived in Los Angeles so it seemed understandable how she may have conjured the song. However, I did not discover until age 62 in 2022 that Warren Zevon wrote the song. OMG! I have been a lead singer and rhythm guitarist in bands, and although born and raised in Virginia but lived 12 years in American Southwest, I was amazed that a dude like Zevon, born and raised in UK, wrote a song about S. Cal of this beauty, truth and caliber. I love his Werewolves of London but Zevon must have spent some interesting time in Southern California during this or a previous incarnation. Furthermore, the lead guitarist who renders the Spanish guitar solo on this is so incredibly beautiful as to make this version a modern musical masterpiece. So truthful, touching and lovely on multiple levels! Thank you Warren Zevon and everyone else who contributed to your original Camelita.
Only Zevon could paint such a desperate horrible situation and give it beauty. The mariachi static on the radio is such a keen observation of someone going through opiate withdrawal? There’s no comfort of sleep just the hot n cold burn up with the mind racing at a million miles an hour that could give the appearance of mariachi music. Stuck on the outskirts of town faced with having to pawn something is as desperate as it gets.
When the great Warren Zevon died a part of me died also. Thank you for the wonderful video. Warren meeting people in Echo Park. And ordering a machaca at Burrito King. The only thing I buy there. I love you more now. And for dessert I think that is David playing. Thanks again.
@@williammcdonough2291 , at 2:27 Warren says "David" quietly and Lindley plays a guitar solo. A rare moment where he isn't decked out in polyester! There's also a video of on RU-vid of Lindley and Bonnie Raitt recording "Everywhere I Go" in the studio, with David dressed in basic black.....
Wow! What an incredible, magical video. A great performance of one of Warren’s most beautiful songs, with such tasteful accompaniment by David Lindley, and the sequence with the local fan just makes it that much more special. Thanks for posting.
@@huarenxivonne9662 The nights watch has fallin’ and I’m runnin’ out of breath, keep me at the Wall for awhile, there’s a raven leaving nightly called “I bang my aunt for fun” stab me in the heart for awhile.
Alvarado St, Pioneer Chicken, Burrito king, Echo Park, Belmont High School, East Edgeware road, love ins at Griffith Park, 70's in L.A..~💖✌😎~ All the memories!
Always loved this song. Found a strangely worthy cover of this song by punk rock maniac GG Allin . GG was strung out at a party , with a needle in the feedstock of his guitar, like Eddie van Halen with a smoke. Seeing him sing it with an acoustic, was the most musical I ever heard GG, his music usually was a bit hard to digest, but there is so much honesty and soul to his rendition. Sad and powerful, worth a listen if you love this song. Now I'm going to listen to this version a couple more times.....fantastic!
If I could go to Rock and Roll Heaven and see one performer I never saw in this life - no question who it would be. (Good news is I'm seeing Jackson Browne next week for the sixth or seventh time.)
I saw Warren once. Turns out it was his last scheduled public appearance in August 2002 at EFMF. He made an appearance on Letterman after all the bad health issues were discovered.
the letterman conversations -- talking about how he didn't think anything could be wrong with him when his dentist told him he had to get right to a doctor or, urgent, the news of his diagnosis and prognosis hit him like a giant sack of potatoes. Dave and him were friends going back, Dave had promoted his music, Dave asked good questions in the interview, Warren answered openly and as if he felt at home in who his is and where he was. He talked about his relationship with his kids. i'm not sure if i ever watched anything on Dvd Letterman before, ii watched it on you tube, memorable, just him being him.
This scene was shot at the Burrito King on the corner of Sunset and Alvarado in Echo Park. I was last there a few days ago. The Bean and Cheese Burritos ain't .60 cents no more; now they are $4.50 - but "Burrito King" and old LA live on!
Thank You Travis, that comment somehow made my day :) Up here on the north side of Portland, we've got a King Burrito around the corner. It's a far cry, but it'll have to do.
Exactly!! Regardless of anything he put in himself...he was able to reach more deeply with both his lyrics and music.that very few artists have been able to reach!! He was amazing! Thank you Warren!!
than it was heroin, today it is speed and oxys... i am born in 1989, in Croatia, Europe... Whole different part of the world, that was fucked up by war in the 90s... and whole differnet ball game... But still, some things are similair. When i started with drugs in 2005, 16 years old, i started with heroin, and now, there is hardly any heroin on the streets, older guys (now 28, but in junkie therms here, an older guy) like me are on methadone and benzos, and younger guys are on speed... and there is no therapy for that shit. they put them on buprenorphine (without naloxone here) to ease theri craving for speed... But, as you sadi... 70s were hardcore. I read a lot of musicians biographies, so i know. It seems like a chilled out time, but for a junkie, it was heaven and hell in the same time. but still... some of the greatest music was made!
@@Bojan849 Which part of Croatia you living at? My friend from here in England moved over there last year and has been active in setting up 12 step meetings in the Split area
Perhaps Warren's songs might not have been so poignant had he not experienced these addictions himself. And Warren did not live in Orange County either. He was always scratching to eke out a living. Warren was writing about his neighborhood "Echo Park". What a monumental talent he was.
@MDBrookman Warren had a huge drink / drugs problem and somehow still always managed to pull off all his live performances, the state he was really in never seemed to come across fully in his live performances, so yes, i'd say he was on drugs, drink, a concoction of both!! i'm reading 'I'll Sleep When I'm Dead' The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon at the minute, gives you an even further insight into the emotion in his songwriting....continually leaves me in awe!!
