Warren Zevon Songs Ranked

Warren William Zevon (/ˈziːvɒn/; January 24, 1947 – September 7, 2003) was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician. Zevon’s most famous compositions include “Werewolves of London”, “Lawyers, Guns and Money”, and “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner”, all of which are featured on his third album, Excitable Boy (1978), whose title track is also well-known. He also wrote major hits that were recorded by other artists, including “Poor Poor Pitiful Me”, “Accidentally Like a Martyr”, “Mohammed’s Radio”, “Carmelita”, and “Hasten Down the Wind”. Along with his own work, he recorded or performed occasional covers, including Allen Toussaint’s “A Certain Girl”, Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, Leonard Cohen’s “First We Take Manhattan”, Steve Winwood’s “Back in the High Life Again”, and Prince’s “Raspberry Beret”. Known for his dry wit and acerbic lyrics, he was a guest numerous times on Late Night with David Letterman and the Late Show with David Letterman. Here are all of Warren Zevon’s songs ranked.

Click below and listen to one of the most influential artists of all time. Reminisce the timeless music of Warren Zevon.

20. Mutineer (Mutineer, 1995)

“There is one song on The Mutineer that sounds like it had 95% of the recording budget spent on it, and that is the title track. It’s a beautiful number and one that does not sound out of place when compiling Warren Zevon’s best material, despite the deceptively simple keyboard wash of a musical arrangement”

19. Gorilla You’re a Desperado (Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School, 1980)

“I wonder if Warren was familiar with this Georges Brassens’ song “Le gorille” which “tells, in a humorous fashion, of a gorilla with a large penis (and admired for this by ladies) who escapes and, mistaking a robed judge for a woman, forcefully sodomizes him; the song contrasts the wooden attitude that the judge had when sentencing a man to death by the guillotine, with his cries of mercy when being assaulted by the gorilla.””

18. Johnny Strikes Up the Band (Excitable Boy 1978)

“”Johnny Strikes up the Band” is one of the most logical openings to an album ever. Warren Zevon has always been a little too smart with his lyrics by half in my opinion.  When his songs work they are fun and cool, when they don’t the lyrics are clunky.”

17. Play It All Night Long (Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School, 1980)

“Peppered throughout the album are string quartet fragments – for example at the start of the first track and in the introduction to ‘Play it all Night Long’ (a classic Zevon number which paints a somewhat bleak picture of country living). ‘Interlude No 2’ is a skillfully written miniature for string quartet which echoes Copeland and Stravinsky – this leads us into the puzzling ‘Bill Lee’.”

See more: Warren Zevon Albums Ranked

16. Desperados Under the Eaves (Warren Zevon, 1976)

“While there are many of Zevon’s most durable songs to be found on this album, perhaps its most iconic moment is “Desperados Under The Eaves”, where you can literally hear the cocaine piling up in drifts as our hero rides into the sunset.”

15. Mr. Bad Example (Mr. Bad Example, 1991)

“Mr Bad Example is typical Zevon. An eclectic mix of musical styles and lyrics varying from the deeply caustic to the touchingly sentimental, it’s as good an example as any for those interested in gaining access to one of America’s most interesting songwriters. One who is as likely to write something to make you laugh out loud as to well up with tears.”

14. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (The Wind, 2003)

“Another major highlight is the world-weary cover of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, which could come across as mawkish in the hands of a lesser talent, but Zevon pretty much nails it.”

13. Looking for the Next Best Thing (The Envoy, 1982)

“The Envoy does boast a trio of stand-out tracks though. “Looking for the Next Best Thing”, is undoubtedly the album’s most commercial moment and should have got a lot more airplay than it did at the time, as it may very well have saved this album from semi-obscurity.”

12. Carmelita (Warren Zevon, 1976)

“Almost all the songs here are my favorites – “Carmelita” is on the top of the list, beautiful mexican-flavoured ballad that could have easy turn into cheesy corn in somebody’s else hands but Zevon brings it to Heavens with his voice and yes, lyrics are unusual story (junkie song,basically) so this grabs the attention.”

11. My Shit’s Fucked Up (Life’ll Kill Ya, 2000)

“Marries dark lyrics of mortality with great tunes and a wicked,humourous slant. “My Shit’s Fucked Up” is one of Zevon’s most morbid and prophetic tunes, with the profanity used ensuring that it gets no mention on the tracklisting on the back of the album”

10. Detox Mansion (Sentimental Hygiene, 1987)

“This song takes a tongue in cheek approach to describing Warren’s treatment for alcoholism. Nowadays, it’s almost a requirement for a successful celebrity to go in for rehab.”

9. Splendid Isolation (Transverse City, 1989)

Do I love the song “Splendid Isolation”? Oh yes, I do.  The rest of this record is pretty good too, but considering the guest stars (and I do mean stars) appearing here, it’s a bit disappointing as a whole.  Just not enough ideas are expressed here to justify a whole disk and all this talent spread around on it.”

8. Hasten Down the Wind (Warren Zevon, 1976)

“The breakup song ‘Hasten Down The Wind’ is also incredibly sad, the air of resignation making it even more so. This man (Warren Zevon) was a genius in every way especially his song writing. Tightly woven lyrics that really bring it home. “She’s so many women, he can’t find the one who was his friend, … so he tells her to hasten down the wind.” How can one hasten down the wind. The wind goes free like this woman. I interpret this as she just can’t commit to him. He knows she wants to be free and still loves her. Sweet, tender music and vocals are featured in the song. The song sounds so lovely yet still has an edge to it and shows you how painful love can be. The use of assonance rhymes is unusual but it works very well hear.”

7. Accidentally Like a Martyr (Excitable Boy, 1978)

“Only the ballad “Accidentally Like a Martyr” fails miserably and that’s because the ‘failed romance’ subject matter isn’t bitter or clever or sardonic or anything Zevon really excels at.”

See more: The White Stripes Albums Ranked

6. Poor Poor Pitiful Me (Warren Zevon, 1976)

“Warren’s ironic sense of humor surfaces most clearly on “Poor Poor Pitiful Me.” A man who is loved by so many young women,that he is driven to despair.Some guys have all the luck!Good ironic rocker that was also covered by Linda Ronstadt and Terri Clark.”She took me back to the Hyatt house and . . . I don’t wanna talk about it.HAH!”

5. Lawyers, Guns and Money (Excitable Boy, 1978)

“With the second half of Excitable Boy being almost totally overshadowed by the first, it is saved from ending with deflating disappointment by the appropriately amusing mis-fit narrative of closing track, “Lawyers, Guns and Money”, another of Zevon’s career highlights.”

4. Werewolves of London (Excitable Boy, 1978)

“Zevon’s lyrics are smarter than his melodies, but his eccentricity shines through with the help of a pretty damn solid line-up of musicians. Even the songs devoid of any sarcasm or wit make a decent impression. He’s definitely no Randy Newman, but at least he’s got his own tangible style outside of the wide, wide spectrum of male 70s singer/songwriters.”

3. Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner (Excitable Boy, 1978)

“The real capper has to be Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner. A song about a Belgian mercenary in the Congo Wars. That much of a grasp of history combined with such musical flair and panache as Zavon display is enough to make jean-creaming ensue.”

2. Excitable Boy (Excitable Boy, 1978)

“If the previous eponymous release was Zevon’s breakthrough album then Excitable Boy is probably his first essential one. For those with only a passing interest in the man, this is the album which includes his most recognisable compositions and, apart from a greatest hits package, will be the place to begin and end – and be none the wiser of the treasure trove lying elsewhere in Zevon’s catalogue.”

1. Keep Me in Your Heart (The Wind, 2003)

“This song really empowers the listener to think back and reminisce the work of Warren Zevon or anyone else they cared about for that matter. For all you out there who haven’t heard it know that you have to listen to it all the way through at least once to honor this great man.”