Photo illustration from an advertisement for Beech-Nut Gum, 1958
As someone who "just f***ing hates the Eagles, man," I don't think I can be blamed for not knowing what the Mellow Mafia was. Apparently, it was a group of like-minded musicians in the LA area in the mid-70s, sharing a penchant for smooooooth sounds and (I'd assume) large quantities of cocaine. The informal lineup of the Mellow Mafia included the Eagles, Jackson Browne, Fleetwood Mac, the post-Brian Beach Boys, and the post-everything Everly Brothers. And Warren Zevon, of course - his major-label self-titled debut of 1976 is practically a showcase of the Mellow Mafia's collective talents. With Zevon's songwriting talent already razor-sharp from working behind the scenes for acts like the Turtles and the Everlys, Warren Zevon is unusually polished and fully formed.
However, my first impression of Warren Zevon was significantly hindered by a knee-jerk dislike of the album's opening track, the cloying faux-outlaw-ballad "Frank and Jesse James". On subsequent listens, this tracks is still not a favorite, but there are plenty of great songs that come after it on the album. Jackson Browne's harmonies on the similarly country-inflected "Mama Couldn't Be Persuaded" elevate that song considerably, just as Glenn Frey and Don Henley give some depth to the creepy pimp narrative "The French Inhaler". Beach Boy Carl Wilson assembles a heavenly-sounding chorus for album closer "Desperados Under the Eaves", and you get nice vocal contributions from Stevie Nicks, Phil Everly, and Bonnie Raitt on other tracks. My favorite song on the album, though, is the underrated and Cat-Stevens-esque "Backs Turned Looking Down the Path", which features some nice guitar parts by Lindsey Buckingham. With its coke-fueled all-star cast and some first-rate songwriting, Warren Zevon is definitely a nice primer on the strengths of the Mellow Mafia if you're looking for one.
"Backs Turned Looking Down the Path" by Warren Zevon
0 comments:
Post a Comment