Warren Zevon - a song writer with a sad ending

Warren Zevon's best known compositions include Werewolves of London, Lawyers Guns and Money and Poor poor pitiful me.

He started out as a jingle composer – which might explain his somewhat dark and ironic outlook on life.  He roomed with Stevie Nicks.  He overcame drug and alcohol addictions.  He had an obsessive compulsive disorder.

His final album, The Wind, was recorded after he had been diagnosed with cancer.  When the cancer became publicly known he is reported to have said that he just hoped to live long enough to see the next James Bond movie, a goal he accomplished. Coincidentally, the film was titled Die Another Day.

My favourite Warren Zevon song is Keep Me in Your Heart For A While.

Shadows are falling and I'm running out of breath
Keep me in your heart for a while

If I leave you it doesn't mean I love you any less
Keep me in your heart for a while

When you get up in the morning and you see that crazy sun
Keep me in your heart for a while

There's a train leaving nightly called when all is said and done
Keep me in your heart for a while

...

Sometimes when you're doing simple things
around the house
Maybe you'll think of me and smile

You know I'm tied to you like the buttons on
your blouse
Keep me in your heart for awhile

Warren Zevon died in 2003 aged 56.

My top 25 (actually 43) favourite tracks of all time in alpha order

No doubt this list of favourite tracks says a lot about me inadvertently!  I started out thinking I would only list 25 but that proved much too hard.  The list does demonstrate how you can get stuck in a time warp with music.  I wish there was an easy way to find great new music – it must be out there surely?

(Everything I do) I do it for you – Bryan Adams

1972 – Josh Rouse

5.01am – Roger Waters

Ain’t No Cure for Love – Leonard Cohen

April Sun in Cuba – Dragon

Big Spender – Peggy Lee

Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

Boogie Street – Leonard Cohen

Desperado - the Eagles

Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – The Animals

Forgiveness – Christine McVie

Funeral for a Friend – Elton John

Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac

Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen

Home Again – Carole King

Honky Tonk Women – Rolling Stones

House of the Rising Sun – The Animals

I Got You Babe – Cher

I’ve Never Been to Me – Charlene

It Doesn’t Matter Any More – Buddy Holly

Keep Me In Your Heart – Warren Zevon

Lay Down Sally – Eric Clapton

Love Hurts – Gram Parsons w Emmy Lou Harris

Mustang Sally – The Commitments

Night and Day – Ella Fitzgerald

Nine Million Bicycles – Katie Melua

Northern Lights – Goldenhorse

Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps – Doris Day

Postcards from Paraguay – Mark Knopfler

That Don’t Impress Me Much – Shania Twain

The End of the Innocence – Don Henley

The Gnu Song – Flanders & Swan

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance – Gene Pitney

Those Three Days – Lucinda Williams

Trav’lin Light – Billie Holliday

Under the Boardwalk – the Drifters

Volare – Dean Martin

We Don’t Need Another Hero – Tina Turner

Why Worry – Dire Straits

Willie and Laura Mae Jones – Dusty Springfield

Words – The Bee Gees

Yesterday – The Beatles

You Can Leave Your Hat On – Joe Cocker

It would be great to get suggestions about what other tracks I should consider adding to this list.