Mel, the song was written in 1978 in reference to a comment about the 1935 film “Werewolf of London” that Phil Everly made to Warren Zevon (pronounced ZEE-von) in 1975. It was covered by a number of artists before Zevon put it on his 3rd album, “Excitable Boy” (recorded with John McVie on Bass and Mick Fleetwood on drums, Waddy Wachtel on guitar). It was his only Billboard Top 40 hit. It had a resurgence of popularity when it was used in the Paul Newman/Tom Cruise film “The Color of Money” in 1986. It was not used in or written for the film “An American Werewolf in London” (1981). Thanks for a fun trip down memory lane. Love this song. We lost Warren too soon. He was a brilliant songwriter.
It’s about young men prying on rich old ladies in the soho district not actually werewolves 🇨🇦✌🏻🇨🇦 According to my Rolling Stone encyclopedia of rock and roll.
No kidding about the movie. I went to see it on a date, thinking it was going to be like the song. Couldn't get past the special effects (did I mention I am squeamish?) so I spent two hours waiting for my date in the the lobby while he watched the picture.😆
“I saw a werewolf drinking a Pina Colada at Trader Vics….his hair was perfect.” That line always makes me smile. His Excitable Boy album is excellent although the title track might curl your hair.
Indeed, good sir! Warren has been a favorite of mine since the 70's. Fantastic songwriter, and he always surrounded himself with outstanding musicians. Still miss Mr. Bad Example every day.
My shits fucked up predates the diagnosis. Though it’s still one hell of a song. Keep Me in Your Heart is the real emotional one. Loved his cover of Knocking of Heaven’s Door as well.
Been a fan of Warren’s since the mid-1970’s. Many great artists have covered his songs since the early 1970’s. I cried when he passed. David Letterman was in tears when he announced his passing. I agree with many of the other comments saying that Warren never got the recognition he so rightly deserved. Truly a great legend of rock.
He's got a lot of great songs. "Carmelita" is achingly good. "Mohammed's Radio" is wonderful to. If you want to get really weird, check out "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner"
There was sort of a "clique" of musicians and singer/songwriters that hung around each other in the 70s-80s and performed on each other's albums and sang each other's songs. Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, James Taylor, Don Henley, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne...It was like a whole club and they were all immensely talented.
Definitely, the West Coast sound. From what I read in Zevon’s biography it seems like Jackson Browne was the glue that held that crew together. He had the ear of Geffen, and had everyone on each other’s records.
A story about the recording is that a musician passing through the studio heard the base being laid down and asked Warren what the song was. Warren said, 'Werewolves of London'. The musician fired back "You mean werewolves, like 'Awoo!?" Warren said 'yup'. Warren left us way too soon. Lawyers Guns and Money is another great one. He was never very 'Big' on the charts, but other musicians were influenced by him.
It’s not about werewolves it’s about guys preying in rich old ladies in the soho district since when have you seen a werewolf drinking a pina coloda in trader vicks
Love that you’re listening…. Ahoooo,. As someone who was there when the song was written, recorded and when this video was made, it’s great to see the comments! Keep ‘em coming!
I love Mr Zevon. I’m known to tear up when thinking of his appearances on Letterman. “Excitable Boy” is a fantastic song and album. I was in high school when it came out. The album remains a favorite of mine. His song “Accidentally Like a Martyr” is my favorite song of his ever. Trivia: Warren wrote “Werewolves of London” with Waddy Wachtel, who is the guitar player doing the scratching stuff in Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen”. As Warren has been quoted “Enjoy every sandwich”. He is greatly missed. 💜💜💜
This is an actual restaurant in soho called lee ho fook. He had dinner in there. That’s we’re this song came from. I’ve eaten in there myself. I’m a Londoner. If you visit London go in there it’s got a picture of warren up on the wall. Peace out brothers. Regards from south London England 🏴 👍❤️
Sadly Lee Ho Fook's closed in 2008. There is still a Chinese restaurant on the same premises, it being right in the middle of London's Chinatown. I used to eat at Lee Ho Fook's but never at Table 4, which is where Warren Zevon is said to have had his meal there.
Ah really I didn’t realise it had closed. I’ve not been up the west end for a long time now. I live in Greenwich. I read somewhere that Warren used too come too England and rent a cottage in the country side I’m not sure where. He used too love the peace and quiet too write songs. What a great artist and also a lovely human being. Sad he left us too soon. Thank you for your information. Stay safe peace out 👌👌💯💯
If you're looking for a tear jerker, listen to him singing "keep me in your heart". He is IMHO one of the greatest songwriters/performers ever. RIP Warren you were the best!
vh1 classic played his whole album with some videos made from performances and photos set to songs from his final album along with a couple new videos made just for the album. It aired repeatedly the Nighy he died. Hold me in heart definitely broke me up everytime I watched the special, I'm choked up just typing this. I probably watched the special half a dozen times that night and again when I woke up. And yes, he had terminal lung cancer the last year of his life. But he said on Letterman when he announced his cancer diagnosis he'd had a bad cough for six months or more before he went yo his doctor who determined it was cancer and ot was too far advanced for treatment. But he hung on to record one final album to take care of his pregnant wife. He got musical help om the album from many top singers. I bought his CD as soon as it went on sale, I still treasure it.
The song began as a joke by Phil Everly (of The Everly Brothers) to Zevon in 1975, over two years before the recording sessions for Excitable Boy. Everly had watched a television broadcast of the 1935 film Werewolf of London and "suggested to Zevon that he adapt the title for a song and dance craze." Zevon, Marinell and Wachtel played with the idea and wrote the song in about 15 minutes, all contributing lyrics that were transcribed by Zevon's then-wife Crystal. However, none of them took the song seriously. Soon after, Zevon's friend Jackson Browne saw the lyrics and thought "Werewolves of London" had potential and began performing the song during his own live concerts. T Bone Burnett also performed the song, on the first leg of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour in the autumn of 1975. Burnett's version of the song included alternate or partially improvised lyrics mentioning stars from classical Hollywood cinema, along with mentions of vanished labor leader Jimmy Hoffa, and adult film stars Marilyn Chambers and Linda Lovelace.
Another of the great storytellers! My favorite Zevon (pronounced ZEE-VON) story was when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. David Letterman devoted an entire show to him, since Zevon would always fill in with the band when Paul Shaffer was out. They had a beautiful conversation and Zevon offered his advice on life and living: "Enjoy every sandwich." "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner", "Hasten Down the Wind", "A Certain Girl" and the absolute tear-jerker "Keep Me in Your Heart" are must listens! RIP Mr. Zevon.
Warren was one of the best ever. Such a brilliant songwriter. He brought a sense of cynicism, brutal honesty, witt, and humor to his work that's second to no one. He doesn't get enough credit for how talented he was. Should have been in the Rock n Roll HOF years ago. There are tons of great Zevon songs you should check out. But I'll suggest "Searching For a Heart".
This was one of my mom's all time favorite songs! She passed when I was a teen but this is one of the many songs that remind me of her and I unabashedly will sing it at the top of my lungs and howl just like she would. I even have a T-shirt that says Lee Ho Fooks Restaurant ♥️
Woot woot on Lee Ho Fooks... I would love to have one of those to give to my bestie.. this is one of our favorite songs and she would get a hoot out of it.
Was lucky enough to see him perform. He killed it. When the show was over they brought up the lights and the band left the stage but the audience would not stop cheering. Warren walked over to the piano and played Hasten Down the Wind by himself to finish the show. It was one of the best SHOWS I ever saw.
The movie you're thinking of is "An American Werewolf in London" and it may have been partially inspired by this song, not the other way around. This song WAS partially inspired by another movie, "Werewolf of London" from the 30s. This song was used to PERFECTION in the Tom Cruise movie "Color of Money" from the 80s. It's where I first heard it, and loved it ever since. Every time I hear that wonderful piano intro I get so excited. Then I get crushed when it turns out to be Kid Rock.
Another song with howling in it is "Little Red Riding Hood" by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in the 60s. They are the same group that sings "Wooly Bully."
This song came out in 1978. Phil Everly (of the a Everly Brothers) was joking around and told Warren to make a song with same name as the 1935 movie, werewolves of London (which is a great black and white horror)
I love Warren Zevon. I bought his first album and every album after that. Saw him live once and he was fantastic. He was a great singer/songwriter. I was in a DVD store in West L.A. and looked over the shelves and saw Warren Zevon standing there. I had to go around the shelves and tell him how important he was to me. He seemed really touched and we talked for a while. About a month later he went on the Dave Letterman Show and announced that he was diagnosed with cancer and he was dead within a year. Such a loss. Warren was a big influence on other musicians. The movie Werewolves of London came out in 1935 and starred Henry Hull. You might also be thinking of An American Werewolf In London which came out in the 1980's.
It's Zeevon. Silver Bullet is one of my favorites too. My boys grew up with it. It's a classic. Lost Boys, also, if you like vampires. Linda Ronstadt said of Warren Zevon, if you want to write a song, study Warren. He has a beginning, middle and end in 2 minutes! He was a musicians musician. When he got cancer one of his close friends, Bruce Springsteen went to see him on his way home for Christmas. Warren had alot of famous friends and they stood by him when he was so sick. Truly, only the good die young. We lost him way to soon.
He was fantastic. Please check out Keep Me In Your Heart. Beautiful song I believe he wrote shortly before his death. I played it at my husbands memorial 💙
An American Werewolf in London is what you're thinking of! I love this song. His howling is fabulous! That Werewolf sure sounds funky but beware! A real classic!
Warren is one of the giants. Dark, dark humor but also some extraordinarily heartfelt songs. Splendid Isolation and The French Inhaler are my 2 faves but there's a ton of great stuff. You can listen to something as twisted as Excitable Boy and then a true tear-jerker like Empty-Handed Heart (with impossibly gorgeous vocals from Linda Ronstadt) or the deeply sentimental Don't Let Us Get Sick. I've been to a couple hundred concerts but Warren is the only one I saw get a legitimate extra encore, as in the houselights had been turned on and the house music started playing but people wouldn't stop cheering and stomping til he played one more.
I am going to say that I am really so sad that this is Warren's most popular song, he was such a great writer. It is Warren Zeeee-Von. This is a fun song with a lot of references to actual people, places and things in this song. Warren was a crazy man who had grown up under really terrible conditions. Thanks for reacting to this song.
Yeah, you'd think that Warren Zevon was a gimmicky musician (more like Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs) when he's actually brilliant. I love that a lot of what he mentions in Werewolves of London are upscale neighborhoods like Mayfair and Soho, going to the London Trader Vic's for pina coladas, and getting chow mein from Lee Ho Fook, which was the first Chinese restaurant in the UK to receive a Michelin star (sadly, it closed in 2008). It somehow makes the image of werewolves running around London a lot less scary and a lot more interesting.
@@oregonchick76 If I recall, I believe I heard Warren say that the werewolves were musicians who seem to always be up at night and sleeping during the day. I know that the lyric "his hair was perfect" was referring to Jackson Browne who always seemed to have perfect hair no matter what. At any rate, Warren was brilliant in spite of his difficult nature as a human being. Crazy (quasi-prostitute) mom, abusive step dad and a father who was a mafia (type) leader who probably killed more people than we will ever know. Aside from that, his dad was the only person who actually loved and protected Warren and he would do anything for his son. I met Warren a few times at a recording studio and his personality ran from hot to freezing cold, from kind to the nastiest person I had ever met. Tough to grow up in the life he did and unfortunately his moods and addictions kept him from reaching his potential fame with his music. R.I.P. Warren, I hope things are easier for you now. His life was a nightmare and his story one that horror movies are spawned from.
This song has special meaning for me. It brings back faces and places of happy people from way back in the day! The entire bar would be singing this song! Without googling it, I honestly don't know if it was from the movie, I just know I love it! Peace!
It wasn't for the movie. The song's from 1978. The movie that he's thinking of (which I'm sure is "An American Werewolf In London" ) wasn't until 1981.
Warren Zevon [ZEE-von] was a genius! If you’re interested in something with a little more groove from the same record, I strongly recommend ‘Nighttime In the Switching Yard’. Some of my favourite lyrics are from Zevon. ‘Splendid Isolation’ and ‘My Shit’s Fucked Up’ (which is a great song about getting old) have great lyrics, and exemplify Zevon’s dark humour.
@@JeffTiberend I would love to see that! I can just see his expressions changing from line to line 😆. Then, after we’ve given him a solid tour of the ouvre of Warren Zevon, we will have to introduce him to the glory and genius of Tom Waits. Then on to Nick Cave! Particularly from the *Henry’s Dream*/*The Good Son* (I can’t recall which was first.) thru the *Let Love In*/*Murder Ballads* period.
@@bradhayworth2926 I first heard that song on acid. A close mate sprung it on me. Something about a line or two cracked me up, at first, but then I made him play it three more times just so I could listen to that bit-ya know the bit where there’s a chorus of voices singing: ‘Time, time, time for another peaceful war/Time stands still for Roland, til he evens up the score…’ beneath Zevon’s bridge/middle-eight. Bloody haunting, poignant, and emotionally infectious.
Saw Bob Dylan many times but one time was when Warren Zevon was about to go. Bob had him on the stage as Bob played. It was such an honor to be there. Warren didn’t last much longer.
Warren was really a genius, musically. I would recommend *any* of his songs. My current favorites are "Sentimental Hygiene", "The Envoy", "Seminole Bingo", "Mr. Bad Example", "Run Straight Down", and "Rub Me Raw".
If I remember correctly, Werewolf of London was a 1930s horror film which starred Lon Chaney. In the 80s, there was An American Werewolf in London, directed by John Landis and starring David Naughton, who was best known for the Dr. Pepper commercials he appeared in back in the early 80s.
@@Skeezer66 Thank you, for that clarification. I always forget about Henry Hull for some reason. I guess he was sort of like Glenn Strange when it came to the Frankenstein movies.
David Bowie howled on the song "Diamond Dogs". This song was specifically for Warren Zevon's 1978 album "Excitable Boy". The Werewolf scenes were only used for this video.
I wonder if you remember this from being featured in "The Color of Money" with Tom Cruise and Paul Newman. In the scene, Tom Cruise's character was showboating during a pool hustle, which was angering Paul Newman's character. That is the first time I heard this song. Great tune! 😁
Hello from London, Ontario. I remember the mascot for our baseball team was Warren Z. Von (obviously a tribute) As a Zevon fan, it was a source of pride for me.
The lyric " Little old lady got mutilated late last night..." is one of my favorites. It really gives you some insight into the cleverness of Warren Zevon's writing.
You may remember Kid Rock's hit "All Summer Long". It was a massive "Sweet Home Alabama" throwback, but the main rhythm section is actually sampled from this.
You're a complete idiot. The song was about spending summer break in Northern Michigan aroud the time Sweet Home Alabama was on the radio and they loved the song.
Whenever I went to London I had to stop at Lee Ho Fook restaurant on Gerrard Street in Chinatown and order a "Big dish of Beef Chow Mein" from one of the surly waiters. Although the staff did not seem to approve of people coming in to pay tribute to Warren Zevon - they sure made a lot of money from us! Sad to say Lee Ho Fook closed in 2008 - or around then.
One of the greatest rock and roll lyricists in the past 50 years and this is what he's most known for by the casual listener. And it's a damn shame. The list of songs by Warren that just grab you by the throat or the heart are too long to list.
'The French Inhaler' is one of the finest, darkest songs ever written. Check it out. 'Frank and Jesse James' is great as well. His whole first album is amazing. Better than excitable boy.
This is one of those songs that I can't stop myself from singing along. Get some strange looks when the earbuds are in.🤣 My Shit's Fucked Up is another.
You're absolutely correct Jamel The movie was titled "An American Werewolf In London" which would a sequel to come out some years later titled "An American Werewolf In Paris" BTW: Warren's last name is pronounced "Zee-Von"
It was used in The Color of Money by Martin Scorsese… And it was a great scene.. Of course.. It’s also the scene that inspired the name DOOM for the video game..
I saw Warren Zevon at the Great American Music Hall in 2000. He was doing his solo piano/guitar act. He was traveling with Jill Sobule and they did a duet together. Fun night 😁
"Little old lady got mutilated late last night" A fav. line: Keep that tongue busy; don't swallow any of those Ells! Then, the live version with its extra line: I saw Jackson Browne walkin down the avenue, and his heart was perfect.
The talk show host, David Letterman, was a huge music fan, and Warren was his all-time favorite performer, When Warren put out his final album, knowing he was dying, Dave had him on for the whole hour; no monologue, no other guests, nothing. Powerful television. The standout song on the album was "Keep Me in Your Heart", an absolute tearjerker. (Eddie Vedder did a great cover at the Kennedy Center Honors in memory of Warren, who had passed by then. Only 53. Motherf…)
Mel, the song was written in 1978 in reference to a comment about the 1935 film “Werewolf of London” that Phil Everly made to Warren Zevon (pronounced ZEE-von) in 1975. It was covered by a number of artists before Zevon put it on his 3rd album, “Excitable Boy” (recorded with John McVie on Bass and Mick Fleetwood on drums, Waddy Wachtel on guitar). It was his only Billboard Top 40 hit. It had a resurgence of popularity when it was used in the Paul Newman/Tom Cruise film “The Color of Money” in 1986. It was not used in or written for the film “An American Werewolf in London” (1981).
Thanks for a fun trip down memory lane. Love this song. We lost Warren too soon. He was a brilliant songwriter.
Thanks Rebecca! I had the album when it came out but at that age I didn't pay attention to who played on albums. He was so brilliant.
Solid run down
I knew the lead guitarist was from Linda Ronstadt. I was thinking Andrew Gold. I forget about Waddy.
It’s about young men prying on rich old ladies in the soho district not actually werewolves 🇨🇦✌🏻🇨🇦
According to my Rolling Stone encyclopedia of rock and roll.
No kidding about the movie. I went to see it on a date, thinking it was going to be like the song. Couldn't get past the special effects (did I mention I am squeamish?) so I spent two hours waiting for my date in the the lobby while he watched the picture.😆
“I saw a werewolf drinking a Pina Colada at Trader Vics….his hair was perfect.” That line always makes me smile. His Excitable Boy album is excellent although the title track might curl your hair.
Agreed! Excitable Boy is an awesome, but disturbing song!
I LOVE that line, too.🎶♥️
One of the best lines, and delivery, of all time. One right after another.
True the title is about a very broke boy.
Especially if you listen to Excitable Boy... Damn good juxtaposition though.
Warren Zevon is an all time favourite, doesn’t get anywhere near enough to the love he deserves.
You speak the truth.
Always here for the Excitable Boy. I love his unbridled cynicism undercut with true optimism. Enjoy every sandwich.
YES. This is song is was just SO original, one-of-a-kind. I love this guy....
YES - Isaac - Warren Zevon was genius -- how about "Lawyers Guns & Money"?
Indeed, good sir! Warren has been a favorite of mine since the 70's. Fantastic songwriter, and he always surrounded himself with outstanding musicians. Still miss Mr. Bad Example every day.
I adored this song as a little kid. When I got a bit older I realized Warren Zevon was a genius.
One of my favorite songs ever; so witty but simple.
Warren got cancer and wrote a song he titled "My Shit's Fucked Up".
one of a kind
Kind of funny - my friend sent me that song this morning as a motivational song!
My shits fucked up predates the diagnosis. Though it’s still one hell of a song. Keep Me in Your Heart is the real emotional one. Loved his cover of Knocking of Heaven’s Door as well.
I just discovered this recently. It’s in constant rotation now.
I saw Warren two years before he past. He opened solo for Little Feat in Seattle and I was BLOWN away. :)
@@redbarchetta8782 That would have been a heck of a show. Little Feat are great
This song was also used in a key scene in the Scorsese movie “The Color of Money”.
Tom Cruise plays pool to this song …. Classic.
Money won is twice as sweet as money earned.
@@bretdebelak1694 …nah.
Yep…beat me to it. Great scene.
"I believe Warren Zevon is the only man in the history of human communication to use the word 'brucellosis' in a song."
--David Letterman
and how about the Russian/Ukranian section of "Turmoil"
Also a Waring Blender reference probably has never come up in song before.
Warren and David were friends. I still remember Warren appearing on David's show when he was terminally ill.
@@brianmiller1077 I asked a Russian coworker to translate that for me, and she was like its about a farm and his accent is terrible, LOL.
Johnny Cash used 'histoplasmosis' in Beans for Breakfast... 😂
Been a fan of Warren’s since the mid-1970’s. Many great artists have covered his songs since the early 1970’s. I cried when he passed. David Letterman was in tears when he announced his passing. I agree with many of the other comments saying that Warren never got the recognition he so rightly deserved. Truly a great legend of rock.
"Lawyers, Guns and Money" is another banger
I joke that it's a bucket list of mine to get into a situation where I really do need Lawyers, Guns and Money
@@brianmiller1077 dude that's so funny, your comment is now my go-to first thought when I hear this song👏👏👏
Yes. Great song
it is but i also like the meatloaf cover
Was coming to say the same thing
I don't care if you've never hit a high note in your life....when this song comes on, you HOWL!!!! So glad you liked this one!
He's got a lot of great songs. "Carmelita" is achingly good. "Mohammed's Radio" is wonderful to. If you want to get really weird, check out "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner"
Great choices. Roland is my favorite song by him. I listen to it weekly
Jungle Work, Gorilla You're A Desperado, Frank and Jesse James, The Envoy, Jenny Needs A Shooter, With Our Backs Turned, I could go on and on...
Seconding "Carmelita". Also "Desperadoes Under the Eaves".
Excitable Boy and I'll Sleep When I'm Dead are also great.
@@hankbarcelona7314 Thirding. And I would like to add "Bed of Nails" to that list.
He needs to be recognized as the brilliant artist that he
Was.
RIP!
There was sort of a "clique" of musicians and singer/songwriters that hung around each other in the 70s-80s and performed on each other's albums and sang each other's songs. Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, James Taylor, Don Henley, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne...It was like a whole club and they were all immensely talented.
I live in Ohio. James Taylor and Jackson Browne are touring together and will be in town shortly.
I wonder if Jeff Lynne hung out with them. He seems to be on every record in the 70's.
Definitely, the West Coast sound. From what I read in Zevon’s biography it seems like Jackson Browne was the glue that held that crew together. He had the ear of Geffen, and had everyone on each other’s records.
Don't forget Dan Fogelberg.
Andrew Gold too
His hair was perfect!
A story about the recording is that a musician passing through the studio heard the base being laid down and asked Warren what the song was. Warren said, 'Werewolves of London'. The musician fired back "You mean werewolves, like 'Awoo!?" Warren said 'yup'. Warren left us way too soon. Lawyers Guns and Money is another great one. He was never very 'Big' on the charts, but other musicians were influenced by him.
Wasn't it Waddy Watchel? Quick google search isn't giving me anything.
It’s not about werewolves it’s about guys preying in rich old ladies in the soho district since when have you seen a werewolf drinking a pina coloda in trader vicks
@@Dervanism what does this have to do with what we were discussing?
@@jessegifford7913 It could well have been.
@@Dervanism I wouldn't put it past Warren to have an underlying 'meaning'. Or two.
Love that you’re listening…. Ahoooo,. As someone who was there when the song was written, recorded and when this video was made, it’s great to see the comments! Keep ‘em coming!
My favorite is Lawyers, Guns and money. Absolute banger!
I love Mr Zevon. I’m known to tear up when thinking of his appearances on Letterman. “Excitable Boy” is a fantastic song and album. I was in high school when it came out. The album remains a favorite of mine. His song “Accidentally Like a Martyr” is my favorite song of his ever. Trivia: Warren wrote “Werewolves of London” with Waddy Wachtel, who is the guitar player doing the scratching stuff in Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen”. As Warren has been quoted “Enjoy every sandwich”. He is greatly missed. 💜💜💜
Great choice. Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner by Warren Zevon is fantastic too.
And Jungle Work
YES
So many great Zevon songs!
This is an actual restaurant in soho called lee ho fook. He had dinner in there. That’s we’re this song came from. I’ve eaten in there myself. I’m a Londoner. If you visit London go in there it’s got a picture of warren up on the wall. Peace out brothers. Regards from south London England 🏴 👍❤️
Sadly Lee Ho Fook's closed in 2008. There is still a Chinese restaurant on the same premises, it being right in the middle of London's Chinatown. I used to eat at Lee Ho Fook's but never at Table 4, which is where Warren Zevon is said to have had his meal there.
Ah really I didn’t realise it had closed. I’ve not been up the west end for a long time now. I live in Greenwich. I read somewhere that Warren used too come too England and rent a cottage in the country side I’m not sure where. He used too love the peace and quiet too write songs. What a great artist and also a lovely human being. Sad he left us too soon. Thank you for your information. Stay safe peace out 👌👌💯💯
If you're looking for a tear jerker, listen to him singing "keep me in your heart". He is IMHO one of the greatest songwriters/performers ever. RIP Warren you were the best!
Yes, I love that song. He recorded it while terminally ill.
This song tore my heart out. I still can’t listen to without tears.
I'm using this song when I die...
vh1 classic played his whole album with some videos made from performances and photos set to songs from his final album along with a couple new videos made just for the album. It aired repeatedly the Nighy he died.
Hold me in heart definitely broke me up everytime I watched the special, I'm choked up just typing this. I probably watched the special half a dozen times that night and again when I woke up.
And yes, he had terminal lung cancer the last year of his life. But he said on Letterman when he announced his cancer diagnosis he'd had a bad cough for six months or more before he went yo his doctor who determined it was cancer and ot was too far
advanced for treatment. But he hung on to record one final album to take care of his pregnant wife. He got musical help om the album from many top singers.
I bought his CD as soon as it went on sale, I still treasure it.
I'm almost 69 and I've loved this song since I was like 21 !
The song began as a joke by Phil Everly (of The Everly Brothers) to Zevon in 1975, over two years before the recording sessions for Excitable Boy. Everly had watched a television broadcast of the 1935 film Werewolf of London and "suggested to Zevon that he adapt the title for a song and dance craze." Zevon, Marinell and Wachtel played with the idea and wrote the song in about 15 minutes, all contributing lyrics that were transcribed by Zevon's then-wife Crystal. However, none of them took the song seriously.
Soon after, Zevon's friend Jackson Browne saw the lyrics and thought "Werewolves of London" had potential and began performing the song during his own live concerts. T Bone Burnett also performed the song, on the first leg of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour in the autumn of 1975. Burnett's version of the song included alternate or partially improvised lyrics mentioning stars from classical Hollywood cinema, along with mentions of vanished labor leader Jimmy Hoffa, and adult film stars Marilyn Chambers and Linda Lovelace.
Huh!! Interesting!!
No s? This is officially the coolest lore I've heard in a bit, thanks! Assuming it's true...hahaha
I remember a version where Warren sings he saw Jack Nicholson drinking pina coladas...
Warren Zevon is one of the all time greats. One of my best buds back in school Danny introduced me to his music, and I've loved it ever since.
As a Canadian I always liked his hockey song " Hit somebody". I'm sure I'm not the only one who misses this humorous musical genius.
Yes!
Another underrated gem. I love the fact that he's got David Letterman "singing" on it.
The "Hit Somebody!" spoken part in the song was his close friend David Letterman.
Written by writer Mitch Albom
His David Letterman interviews were great as well. if you've seen the last one, "Enjoy every sandwich!".
Another of the great storytellers! My favorite Zevon (pronounced ZEE-VON) story was when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. David Letterman devoted an entire show to him, since Zevon would always fill in with the band when Paul Shaffer was out. They had a beautiful conversation and Zevon offered his advice on life and living: "Enjoy every sandwich."
"Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner", "Hasten Down the Wind", "A Certain Girl" and the absolute tear-jerker "Keep Me in Your Heart" are must listens! RIP Mr. Zevon.
Warren was a great songwriter. Love this song. Top ten hit ♥️🎼🎶🎵🇨🇦
"And his hair was perfect"...my favorite line. Thanks for the fun reaction, Jamel..... enjoyed it. Take care and be well. Peace.
For some reason???
One of my favorite lyrics PERIOD
“I saw a werewolf drinkin’ a pina colada at Trader Vic’s”
“His hair was perfect. “
👍👍
@@Bamaboompa while watching Tom Cruise play pool
Warren was one of the best ever. Such a brilliant songwriter. He brought a sense of cynicism, brutal honesty, witt, and humor to his work that's second to no one. He doesn't get enough credit for how talented he was. Should have been in the Rock n Roll HOF years ago. There are tons of great Zevon songs you should check out. But I'll suggest "Searching For a Heart".
This was one of my mom's all time favorite songs! She passed when I was a teen but this is one of the many songs that remind me of her and I unabashedly will sing it at the top of my lungs and howl just like she would. I even have a T-shirt that says Lee Ho Fooks Restaurant ♥️
Woot woot on Lee Ho Fooks... I would love to have one of those to give to my bestie.. this is one of our favorite songs and she would get a hoot out of it.
Always loved this fun song! Ahhhhooooo werewolves of London!!!! I will be singing that all day...🤣🤣🤣
Was lucky enough to see him perform. He killed it. When the show was over they brought up the lights and the band left the stage but the audience would not stop cheering. Warren walked over to the piano and played Hasten Down the Wind by himself to finish the show. It was one of the best SHOWS I ever saw.
The movie you're thinking of is "An American Werewolf in London" and it may have been partially inspired by this song, not the other way around. This song WAS partially inspired by another movie, "Werewolf of London" from the 30s. This song was used to PERFECTION in the Tom Cruise movie "Color of Money" from the 80s. It's where I first heard it, and loved it ever since. Every time I hear that wonderful piano intro I get so excited. Then I get crushed when it turns out to be Kid Rock.
Another song with howling in it is "Little Red Riding Hood" by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in the 60s. They are the same group that sings "Wooly Bully."
This song came out in 1978. Phil Everly (of the a Everly Brothers) was joking around and told Warren to make a song with same name as the 1935 movie, werewolves of London (which is a great black and white horror)
I love Warren Zevon. I bought his first album and every album after that. Saw him live once and he was fantastic. He was a great singer/songwriter. I was in a DVD store in West L.A. and looked over the shelves and saw Warren Zevon standing there. I had to go around the shelves and tell him how important he was to me. He seemed really touched and we talked for a while. About a month later he went on the Dave Letterman Show and announced that he was diagnosed with cancer and he was dead within a year. Such a loss. Warren was a big influence on other musicians. The movie Werewolves of London came out in 1935 and starred Henry Hull. You might also be thinking of An American Werewolf In London which came out in the 1980's.
It's Zeevon. Silver Bullet is one of my favorites too. My boys grew up with it. It's a classic. Lost Boys, also, if you like vampires. Linda Ronstadt said of Warren Zevon, if you want to write a song, study Warren. He has a beginning, middle and end in 2 minutes! He was a musicians musician. When he got cancer one of his close friends, Bruce Springsteen went to see him on his way home for Christmas. Warren had alot of famous friends and they stood by him when he was so sick. Truly, only the good die young. We lost him way to soon.
The late, great Warren Zevon. One of my generation's greatest songwriters.
He was one of the coolest music artists I can remember. Funny, honest, to the point, no sugar coating, and sang what he wanted to sing!
This song overlays perfectly with "Sweet Home Alabama". Ask Kid Rock.
Check out Kid Rock on stage with Lynrd Skynrd singing Sweet Home Alabama.
The song was All Summer Long where he merged the two music tracks. And yes, he got permission from Zevon's family and Lynyrd Skynyrd to use the music.
Kid Rock is such an untalented hack.
Kid rock is absolute garbage. Dont waste your time
Too bad Kid Rock overlays terribly with both.
Poor Poor Pitiful Me is a must listen by Zevon. A genius who gets almost none of the due he deserves.
He was fantastic. Please check out Keep Me In Your Heart. Beautiful song I believe he wrote shortly before his death. I played it at my husbands memorial 💙
“I’d like to meet his tailor.” What a great line.
When I first heard the song I thought he said 'I'd like to meet Liz Taylor'.
An American Werewolf in London is what you're thinking of! I love this song. His howling is fabulous! That Werewolf sure sounds funky but beware! A real classic!
The song from that movie was Bad Moon Rising.
@@77tml Exactly.
Or it could have been Werewolf of London. A classic from the 1930's. Without more info it is hard to say which one he saw.
American Werewolf in London was released 3 years after this song.
American Werewolf in London was a great movie at the time, both funny and scary.
Congratulations for discovering the poet laureate of Los Angeles. Go forth and enjoy his genius.
Warren is one of the giants. Dark, dark humor but also some extraordinarily heartfelt songs. Splendid Isolation and The French Inhaler are my 2 faves but there's a ton of great stuff. You can listen to something as twisted as Excitable Boy and then a true tear-jerker like Empty-Handed Heart (with impossibly gorgeous vocals from Linda Ronstadt) or the deeply sentimental Don't Let Us Get Sick. I've been to a couple hundred concerts but Warren is the only one I saw get a legitimate extra encore, as in the houselights had been turned on and the house music started playing but people wouldn't stop cheering and stomping til he played one more.
Splendid Isolation and The Vast Indifference of Heaven are my two favorites, but its hard to wrong with Warren.
The movie “Werewolf of London” was released in 1935. This song is from 1978.
The studio recording featured Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood and John McVie on drums and bass.
Wow!
I didn’t know that, every day is a school day 🌟
Warren Zevon was great! One of my favorites. So happy to watch your reaction.
I am going to say that I am really so sad that this is Warren's most popular song, he was such a great writer. It is Warren Zeeee-Von. This is a fun song with a lot of references to actual people, places and things in this song. Warren was a crazy man who had grown up under really terrible conditions. Thanks for reacting to this song.
Yeah, you'd think that Warren Zevon was a gimmicky musician (more like Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs) when he's actually brilliant. I love that a lot of what he mentions in Werewolves of London are upscale neighborhoods like Mayfair and Soho, going to the London Trader Vic's for pina coladas, and getting chow mein from Lee Ho Fook, which was the first Chinese restaurant in the UK to receive a Michelin star (sadly, it closed in 2008). It somehow makes the image of werewolves running around London a lot less scary and a lot more interesting.
@@oregonchick76 If I recall, I believe I heard Warren say that the werewolves were musicians who seem to always be up at night and sleeping during the day. I know that the lyric "his hair was perfect" was referring to Jackson Browne who always seemed to have perfect hair no matter what. At any rate, Warren was brilliant in spite of his difficult nature as a human being. Crazy (quasi-prostitute) mom, abusive step dad and a father who was a mafia (type) leader who probably killed more people than we will ever know. Aside from that, his dad was the only person who actually loved and protected Warren and he would do anything for his son. I met Warren a few times at a recording studio and his personality ran from hot to freezing cold, from kind to the nastiest person I had ever met. Tough to grow up in the life he did and unfortunately his moods and addictions kept him from reaching his potential fame with his music. R.I.P. Warren, I hope things are easier for you now. His life was a nightmare and his story one that horror movies are spawned from.
Absolutely! Such great stuff!
Your reaction is THE BEST! I was in a bit of a funk and this made my day! Blessings dear friend! God sent me here to smile.
This song has special meaning for me. It brings back faces and places of happy people from way back in the day! The entire bar would be singing this song! Without googling it, I honestly don't know if it was from the movie, I just know I love it! Peace!
It wasn't for the movie. The song's from 1978. The movie that he's thinking of (which I'm sure is "An American Werewolf In London" ) wasn't until 1981.
Everyone howling along was always the best part.
@@philpennington826 Good to know! Thanks!
@@snakelite61 I've been howling along as well for a lot of years to this one! I love it too!
I got to see Warren at a small bar outside Denver back in the day. Our table was about 10 feet from him. He was fantastic. RIP, Mr. Zevon.
Warren Zevon [ZEE-von] was a genius! If you’re interested in something with a little more groove from the same record, I strongly recommend ‘Nighttime In the Switching Yard’. Some of my favourite lyrics are from Zevon. ‘Splendid Isolation’ and ‘My Shit’s Fucked Up’ (which is a great song about getting old) have great lyrics, and exemplify Zevon’s dark humour.
My Shit's Fucked Up blew my mind. I hope Jamel does a reaction to that one.
@@JeffTiberend Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner. Fantastic.
Lawyers, Guns, and Money is another great song.
@@JeffTiberend I would love to see that! I can just see his expressions changing from line to line 😆.
Then, after we’ve given him a solid tour of the ouvre of Warren Zevon, we will have to introduce him to the glory and genius of Tom Waits.
Then on to Nick Cave! Particularly from the *Henry’s Dream*/*The Good Son* (I can’t recall which was first.) thru the *Let Love In*/*Murder Ballads* period.
@@bradhayworth2926 I first heard that song on acid. A close mate sprung it on me. Something about a line or two cracked me up, at first, but then I made him play it three more times just so I could listen to that bit-ya know the bit where there’s a chorus of voices singing: ‘Time, time, time for another peaceful war/Time stands still for Roland, til he evens up the score…’ beneath Zevon’s bridge/middle-eight. Bloody haunting, poignant, and emotionally infectious.
IMO, Warren ZEE-von was pure genius. He produced a fantastic body of work. My personal favorite artist ever.
Such a fun song and the track features Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood and John McVie on drums and bass.
Whoa. Didn't know that.
One of a kind and a true genius. Love this tune by Warren.
Saw Bob Dylan many times but one time was when Warren Zevon was about to go. Bob had him on the stage as Bob played. It was such an honor to be there. Warren didn’t last much longer.
Classic song!!! I'm a Minnesotan just like Warren Zevon!
"An American Werewolf in London". Pretty good horror flick.
The original WEREWOLF OF LONDON was from1935, and that’s where the song’s title is taken from.
So fun to see him being discovered for the first time. Priceless. Thank you!
An important and powerful song to listen to would be "Keep Me in Your Heart."
There was never ANYONE like Warren Zevon (Zeevon). New rabbit hole my friend. Good luck down there!!
Warren was really a genius, musically. I would recommend *any* of his songs. My current favorites are "Sentimental Hygiene", "The Envoy", "Seminole Bingo", "Mr. Bad Example", "Run Straight Down", and "Rub Me Raw".
Thank you for mentioning Mr Bad Example. Like most of his stuff, it never gets enough love.
I was fortunate to see Warren several times live. Solo and with the band. Great shows.
If I remember correctly, Werewolf of London was a 1930s horror film which starred Lon Chaney. In the 80s, there was An American Werewolf in London, directed by John Landis and starring David Naughton, who was best known for the Dr. Pepper commercials he appeared in back in the early 80s.
And in the 90s there was American werewolf in Paris.
@@knightsedge7379 So true!
The actor in Werewolf of London is Henry Hull, Lon Chaney Jr. was famous as the Wolfman.
@@Skeezer66 Thank you, for that clarification. I always forget about Henry Hull for some reason. I guess he was sort of like Glenn Strange when it came to the Frankenstein movies.
Warren Zevon was one hell of a performer and songwriter. I miss him a lot. He was one of a kind. RIP Warren.
David Bowie howled on the song "Diamond Dogs". This song was specifically for Warren Zevon's 1978 album "Excitable Boy". The Werewolf scenes were only used for this video.
I love this song!! It gets stuck in my head fir DAYS!!
You need to hear "Lawyers, Guns, and Money!"
I don't recall any other songs by this man, but I sure did love this one ‼️☺️💗👍💙
I wonder if you remember this from being featured in "The Color of Money" with Tom Cruise and Paul Newman. In the scene, Tom Cruise's character was showboating during a pool hustle, which was angering Paul Newman's character. That is the first time I heard this song. Great tune! 😁
Hello from London, Ontario. I remember the mascot for our baseball team was Warren Z. Von (obviously a tribute)
As a Zevon fan, it was a source of pride for me.
The lyric " Little old lady got mutilated late last night..." is one of my favorites. It really gives you some insight into the cleverness of Warren Zevon's writing.
Massive Thankyou's Jamal ... you elevate every song you review ... keep up your brilliant work !!!
You may remember Kid Rock's hit "All Summer Long". It was a massive "Sweet Home Alabama" throwback, but the main rhythm section is actually sampled from this.
"Sweet Home Alabama, play that dead man''s song. Turn those speakers up full blast, play it all night long..."
American Werewolf in London is my all time favorite movie. David Naughton got me to love horror at age 6.
The Kid Rock song “All Summer Long” is built around a sample from Werewolves…. You should check it out!
Not if he likes music.
Not if he likes music.
Not if he likes music.
Song set in Michigan , done to tune of Werewolves of London, referencing Sweet Home Alabama. Clearly Kid Rock has no damn idea where he is.
You're a complete idiot. The song was about spending summer break in Northern Michigan aroud the time Sweet Home Alabama was on the radio and they loved the song.
"His hair was perfect" -one of my favorite lines ever! 😂😂😂
Whenever I went to London I had to stop at Lee Ho Fook restaurant on Gerrard Street in Chinatown and order a "Big dish of Beef Chow Mein" from one of the surly waiters. Although the staff did not seem to approve of people coming in to pay tribute to Warren Zevon - they sure made a lot of money from us!
Sad to say Lee Ho Fook closed in 2008 - or around then.
This dudes songs just flow so well and paint great pictures. "Boom Boom Mancini"
His hair was perfect.
The uniqueness of voice and lyrics was the genius of Warren Zevon. His was perfect.
One of the greatest rock and roll lyricists in the past 50 years and this is what he's most known for by the casual listener. And it's a damn shame. The list of songs by Warren that just grab you by the throat or the heart are too long to list.
I still hear this on the radio and yes... I howl along with him. Such a fun song
You need to check out
Grateful Dead
Ware wolves of London
Jerry howling!
Hey now! (~);} Halloween isn't the same without it!
this song is timeless......it will always be cool.....
Zee-von. Yes there's a movie. An American Werewolf In London.
Beware the moors!
Right? Beautiful Sir! Yeah! Best song from the 80!'s
Jamal, he was ALWAYS drunk...that's how/why he did it!
'The French Inhaler' is one of the finest, darkest songs ever written. Check it out. 'Frank and Jesse James' is great as well. His whole first album is amazing. Better than excitable boy.
A classic!!!!!! Love Warren Zevon!
An absolute classic.
Short and so so sweet 🙃
This is one of those songs that I can't stop myself from singing along. Get some strange looks when the earbuds are in.🤣 My Shit's Fucked Up is another.
You're absolutely correct Jamel
The movie was titled "An American Werewolf In London" which would a sequel to come out some years later titled "An American Werewolf In Paris"
BTW: Warren's last name is pronounced "Zee-Von"
The song was not written for a movie. Song is from 1978, AWiL was released in 1981
It was used in The Color of Money by Martin Scorsese… And it was a great scene.. Of course..
It’s also the scene that inspired the name DOOM for the video game..
I saw Warren Zevon at the Great American Music Hall in 2000. He was doing his solo piano/guitar act. He was traveling with Jill Sobule and they did a duet together. Fun night 😁
"Little old lady got mutilated late last night" A fav. line: Keep that tongue busy; don't swallow any of those Ells! Then, the live version with its extra line: I saw Jackson Browne walkin down the avenue, and his heart was perfect.
When my kids would hear this on the radio, ohh about 23, 24 years ago, they all broke out in song and howls. love it.
Please check out excitable boy by warren Zevon
I second this request!
The talk show host, David Letterman, was a huge music fan, and Warren was his all-time favorite performer, When Warren put out his final album, knowing he was dying, Dave had him on for the whole hour; no monologue, no other guests, nothing. Powerful television.
The standout song on the album was "Keep Me in Your Heart", an absolute tearjerker. (Eddie Vedder did a great cover at the Kennedy Center Honors in memory of Warren, who had passed by then. Only 53. Motherf…)