Vinyl Tap: Warren Zevon - Stand In The Fire
Published June 28, 2006
Once you hear these live versions of some of Zevon’s best known songs, it's hard to go back to listening to the relatively tame originals. You might even find yourself sneaking a listen to Stand's “Mohammed’s Radio” just to hear the call-and-response, outdated reference though it may be, between Zevon and the girly chorus: “Even the Ayatollah has his problems”/ “What a cry-baby!” But it’s a close-call when it comes to “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” another solid rocker here but, to make way for on-stage tomfoolery, my favorite lines (up there with the "Waring Blender" ones) get all messed up and muddled:
- Well, I met a girl at the Rainbow bar
She asked me if I'd beat her
She took me back to the Hyatt House...
...I don't want to talk about it.
All in all, though, Stand In The Fire — though a reminder of how much Warren Zevon is missed — is still a sumptuous treat. You'll enjoy every sandwich.
Gordon Hauptfleisch, alias Neanderthal Hawthorne, is a Blogcritics Books Editor, free lance writer, and book reviewer for the San Diego Union Tribune. He's also an enigmatic visionary of unfathomable secrets and many a guise, or at least he plays one in his delusions of grandeur. His mandate also includes weird bugs.
In a previous life he was a leprous horse thief. 
- Vinyl Tap: Warren Zevon - Stand In The Fire
- Published: June 28, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Pop, Music: Classic Rock and Oldies, Music: Rock
- Part of a feature: Vinyl Tap
- Writer: Gordon Hauptfleisch
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Comments on this articleComments
Thanks Mark--if you've heard the 1993 live album "Learning to Flinch," what do you think of it?
i've gotta look at home. i think i may own that cd but haven't listened to it in a long time.
that's the solo acoustic live thing, right?
the only time i saw Zevon was in a format like that. just acoustic guitar and piano. pretty great.
Zevon is one of my favorite artists of all time, but I have not heard this before. I must now!
I had the opportunity to see him in the solo acoustic setting back in 1998, wonderful show.
Thanks Chris--I would've also liked to see him in acoustic setting, but when I saw him he was full-blast electric.
Mark--yes the acoustic solo. I've not heard it so I was curious. I'll no doubt buy it.
All readers of this will no doubt be glad to know that this vinyl only classic is already out on CD for the first time in Japan, and is headed for U.S. release shortly as well. Sadly, no bonus tracks...but I think we'll still take it, right?
Thanks Matt--I probably should've timed this review better to coincide with the US release...
Question:4. On the inside jacket of Warren Zevon's live album, Stand in the Fire, there's an unattributed quote. What is it?
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you are so right gordon. Stand In The Fire really does show off Zevon at his best.
i totally wore out my vinyl copy of this one.