excitable boy

Warren Zevon generated howls of excitement and his greatest success with the dark sarcasm of this cogent classic.  After the triumph of his eponymous sophomore album, Zevon worked again with producer Jackson Browne to record the followup 'Excitable Boy' at the Sound Factory in Los Angeles.  The sessions were co-produced by Waddy Wachtel and featured Zevon on organ, synthesizer, bass, guitar, piano, keyboards, and vocals; Jorge Calderón on vocals, harmony vocals, and Spanish vocals; Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar on guitar and percussion; Russ Kunkel on drums; with   Jackson Browne on guitar, vocals, and harmony vocals; Waddy Wachtel on synthesizer, guitar, and harmony vocals; Luis Damian on jarana; Manuel Vasquez on requinto; Kenny Edwards on bass and harmony vocals; Mick Fleetwood and Rick Marotta on drums; John McVie and Leland Sklar on bass; Arthur Gerst on harp and Mexican harp; Bob Glaub on bass; Jim Horn on recorder and saxophone; Greg Ladanyi on bells; Jeff Porcaro on percussion and drums; and  Karla Bonoff, Linda Ronstadt, J.D. Souther, Jennifer Warnes, and Linda Warnes on vocals and harmony vocals.

Zevon was developing a problem with alcohol during this time as well.  He would later reflect:   "In a lot of ways it was a lot of fun.  And it was all interesting. Even the agony. It made me reckless, which is always good, if it doesn’t kill ya. And if it kills ya, it doesn't hurt anybody - it's just unfortunate for you. Or so we assume...Artists are supposed to be people who are thunderstruck by the sheer awe of existence. That's all." 

'Excitable Boy' made it to number eight on the US album chart and has been certified platinum.  









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"Werewolves of London" (Marinell, Waddy Wachtel, Zevon) 
This lycanthropic single scratched its way to number twenty-one on the US pop chart.  It features the rhythm section of Fleetwood Mac Mick Fleetwood and John McVie who also provide backup vocals.  



I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain
He was looking for a place called Lee Ho Fook's
Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein
Aaoooooo!
Werewolves of London!
Aaoooooo! 
If you hear him howling around your kitchen door
Better not let him in
Little old lady got mutilated late last night
Werewolves of London again
Asoooooo!
Werewolves of London!
Aaoooooo! 
He's the hairy-handed gent who ran amuck in Kent
Lately he's been overheard in Mayfair
Better stay away from him
He'll rip your lungs out, Jim
I'd like to meet his tailor
Aaoooooo!
Werewolves of London!
Aaoooooo! 
Well, I saw Lon Chaney walking with the Queen
Doing the Werewolves of London
I saw Lon Chaney, Jr. walking with the Queen
Doing the Werewolves of London
I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's
And his hair was perfect
Aaoooooo!
Werewolves of London!
Aaoooooo! 
Draw blood...

"Excitable Boy" 

Well, he went down to dinner in his Sunday best
Excitable boy, they all said
And he rubbed the pot roast all over his chest
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy
He took in the four a.m. show at the Clark
Excitable boy, they all said
And he bit the usherette's leg in the dark
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy
He took little Suzie to the Junior Prom
Excitable boy, they all said
And he raped her and killed her, then he took her home
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy
After ten long years they let him out of the home
Excitable boy, they all said
And he dug up her grave and built a cage with her bones
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy






"Lawyers, Guns and Money" 

Well, I went home with the waitress 

You know the way I always do 

Well how was I to know 

She was with the Russians, too 

I was gambling in Havana 

You know I took a little risk 

Send lawyers, guns and money 

Daddy, won't you get me out of this 

I'm an innocent bystander 

Somehow I got stuck 

Between a rock and a hard place 

And I'm down on my luck 

Oh yea, I'm down on my luck 

Oh yea, I'm down on my luck 

Oh baby, I'm down on my luck 

I'm so far down, I don't think I'll ever get up 

If it weren't for bad luck 

Oh if it weren't for bad luck 

I wouldn't have no luck at all 

Now I'm stranded in Honduras 

I'm a desperate man 

Send lawyers, guns and money 

The shit has hit the fan 

Send lawyers, guns and money 

Send lawyers, guns and money 

Get me out of this 

Send lawyers, guns and money 

You know the shit has hit the fan

'Excitable Boy'
full album:





All songs written by Warren Zevon except as noted.

1. "Johnny Strikes Up the Band"   2:49
2. "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" (David Lindell, Zevon) 3:47
3. "Excitable Boy" (LeRoy Marinell, Zevon) 2:40
4. "Werewolves of London" (Marinell, Waddy Wachtel, Zevon) 3:27
5. "Accidentally Like a Martyr"   3:37
6. "Nighttime in the Switching Yard" (Jorge Calderón, Lindell, Wachtel, Zevon) 4:15
7. "Veracruz" (Calderón, Zevon) 3:30
8. "Tenderness on the Block" (Jackson Browne, Zevon) 3:55

9. "Lawyers, Guns and Money"   3:29