Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-Worthy Acts #6 - Warren Zevon
@teamfreak16 (43421)
Denver, Colorado
July 9, 2019 7:14am CST
I've been counting down, in no particular order, ten acts that I feel deserving of inclusion into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You might disagree with me, and please feel free to do so (although I hope you bring something more than "They suck" to your argument.) Well, THIS guy should have been inducted lonnnnnggggg ago (ask @FourWalls, she'll tell you!) We are at #6: Warren Zevon.
True, there are many that only know the late Warren Zevon for his 1978 hit (#21 on the Billboard Hot 100,) "Werewolves of London," but this dude was a damn great songwriter! True, during his 38-year career, Zevon had exactly two songs make the Hot 100, if you believe Wikipedia's chart information, but he was one of those guys that were more interested in crafting a great song than churning out a bunch of pop hits. Oh, he could do that, too: Linda Ronstadt helped make Zevon a rich man by working her magic on a few of his tunes ("Poor Poor Pitiful Me" is the best example, but she also had a way with other Zevon compositions, notably "Hasten Down the Wind" and "Carmelita," among them.)
Warren Zevon released 12 studio albums (1978's Excitable Boy being his most successful,) three live albums, six compilations, and 32 singles, all of which deserved better - other than the majority of the general public's disdain for hockey, what the hell kept "Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song)" off the charts? Or the fantastic "Lawyers, Guns and Money?" Or...well, you get the point.
Halls of Fame are well known for a "Well, he's dead, so we might as well put him in" mentality. Well he's dead, so put him in! What the hell?
(Info verified by Wikipedia)
From the 1987 Virgin Records release " Sentimental Hygiene. I do not own the copyright to this.
7 people like this
5 responses
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Jul 19
I cannot think of another myLot member who will agree with you lol!
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
9 Jul 19
I know. If only he were capable of writing Hall of Fame lyrics like "All about the bass, no treble," or "M-E-T-H-O-D-O-F-L-O-V-E the method of modern love,' instead of that utterly dreadful high school dreck he came up with, he'd actually be in!
3 people like this
@FourWalls (62130)
• United States
9 Jul 19
@teamfreak16 — speaking of the m-e-t-h-o-d, what the blue blazes happened to them? They go from things like “Rich Girl” and “Back Together Again” to that crap? Lots of people sold out in the 80s, but dang their free fall is mind boggling!
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
9 Jul 19
@FourWalls - I even thought their cover of "You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling" wasn't bad. But, overall, I rank their 80's output right down there with that of Heart and Chicago's. Yuck.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
9 Jul 19
I had no idea, other than "Werewolves...". Also I didn't know that's what he looked like
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205727)
• Walnut Creek, California
17 Jul 19
@teamfreak16 I didn't know that!
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
9 Jul 19
That song I linked to, his backup band was Peter Buck, Bill Berry, and Mike Mills from R.E.M. and Neil Young.
3 people like this
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
19 Jul 19
I had never heard the name but recognize ome of the songs
@dgobucks226 (34365)
•
14 Jul 19
Extremely talented songwriter who could craft a song with some real quirky lyrics, see- Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner. Yet, could also come up with a tune like Poor Poor Pitiful Me and Hasten Down The Wind which were covered beautifully by Linda Ronstadt. Although successful with a devoted cult following (me included) Zevon just was not mainstream enough to be Hall Worthy since it seems to be a popularity contest or back stage politics to be inducted. There really seems to be a diverse criteria as opposed to a precise one in considering nominees. It just makes the process so subjective that being inducted now, although an honor, has become watered down to the point of tainting the achievement of really deserving artists and groups.
1 person likes this
