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The First Sessions

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The First Sessions
A photo of Zevon looking to the camera, wearing a hat, sunglasses, a turtleneck, and a vest
Compilation album by
ReleasedMarch 18, 2003 (2003-03-18)
Recorded1964–1967
Genre
Length33:28
LanguageEnglish
LabelVarèse Vintage
Producer
Compiler
  • Bones Howe
  • Cary E. Mansfield
Warren Zevon chronology
Genius: The Best of Warren Zevon
(2002)
The First Sessions
(2003)
The Wind
(2003)

The First Sessions is a 2003 compilation album of early recordings by American rock musician Warren Zevon, including his short-lived folk pop duo lyme & cybelle.

Recording and release

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The First Sessions represents most of the early recordings from Zevon, when he was a member of the Los Angeles folk rock scene of the 1960s, including his time in the duo lyme & cybelle with Violet Santangelo.[1] The compilation is mostly made up of a series of singles the group recorded, along with scattered sessions that Zevon did as a solo artist.[1]

The final two tracks, "Song 7" and "Write If You Get Work", were recorded by lyme & cybelle after Zevon had left the duo, and Wayne Erwin had taken over as "Stephen Lyme". Zevon had no involvement in any capacity whatsoever on these tracks.

Reception

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The editorial staff of AllMusic Guide gave the release three out of five stars, with reviewer Richie Unterberger emphasizing how uneven the compilation is, going from "nice folk-rock-pop tunes" to "dull" ones.[2] A review in No Depression calls the compilation "missed opportunities" that has several desirable qualities, from the liner notes and design of the packaging, to Zevon's "rapier wit" and a "powerful solo" in "A Bullet for Ramona".[1]

Track listing

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  1. "Follow Me" (Violet Santangelo and Warren Zevon), by lyme & cybelle – 2:29
  2. "Like the Seasons" (Santangelo and Zevon), by lyme & cybelle – 1:54
  3. "I've Just Seen a Face" (John Lennon and Paul McCartney), by lyme & cybelle – 1:28
  4. "Peeping and Hiding" (Jimmy Reed), by lyme & cybelle – 2:30
  5. "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" (Bob Dylan), by lyme & cybelle – 2:46
  6. "I'll Go On" (Santangelo and Zevon), by lyme & cybelle – 2:33
  7. "Follow Me" (Santangelo and Zevon), by lyme & cybelle – 2:18
  8. "(You Used To) Ride So High (Glenn Crocker and Zevon), by The Motorcycle Abeline – 2:36
  9. "Outside Chance" (Zevon), by Warren Zevon – 2:13
  10. "I See the Lights" (Zevon), by Warren Zevon – 2:15
  11. "And If I Had You" (Santangelo and Zevon), by Warren Zevon – 2:34
  12. "A Bullet for Ramona" (Paul Evans and Zevon), by Warren Zevon – 4:03
  13. "Song 7" (Joe Glenn), by lyme & cybelle – 2:04
  14. "Write If You Get Work" (Joe Glenn), by lyme & cybelle – 1:45

Personnel

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  • Warren Zevon – vocals, bass guitar, guitar, except on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to Work", production on "A Bullet for Ramona"
  • Jim Bell – backing vocals on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to Work"
  • Ben Benay – guitar on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to Work"
  • Lou Blackburn – trombone on "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"
  • Hal Blaine – drums on "Follow Me", "Like the Seasons", "Peeping and Hiding", "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", and "I'll Go On"
  • Curt Boettcher – backing vocals and production on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to Work"
  • Dennis Budimir – guitar on "Follow Me", "Like the Seasons", "Peeping and Hiding", "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", and "I'll Go On"
  • Jules Chaiken – trumpet on "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"
  • Mike Deasy, Sr. – guitar on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to Work"
  • Joseph DiFiore – cello on "Like the Seasons"
  • Dawn Eden – liner notes
  • Jesse Ehrlich – cello on "Like the Seasons"
  • Wayne Erwin – vocals and guitar on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to Work"
  • Toxie French – drums on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to Work" (possibly Jimmy Troxell)
  • Daniel Hersch – digital remastering
  • Bones Howe – percussion on "Follow Me"; "Like the Seasons"; "Peeping and Hiding"; "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"; and "I'll Go On", drums and percussion on "(You Used To) Ride So High", production on "Follow Me", "Like the Seasons"; "Peeping and Hiding"; "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"; "I'll Go On"; and "(You Used To) Ride So High", compilation
  • Larry Knechtel – organ and piano on "Follow Me", "Like the Seasons", "Peeping and Hiding", "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", and "I'll Go On"
  • Dick Leith – trombone on "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"
  • Lynn Malarsky – violin on "Like the Seasons"
  • Lee Mallory – backing vocals on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to Work"
  • Cary E. Mansfield – compilation
  • Ollie Mitchell – trumpet on "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"
  • Michele O'Malley – backing vocals on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to Work"
  • Joe Osborn – bass guitar on "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"
  • Bill Pitzonka – art direction, design, artwork
  • Lyle Ritz – bass guitar on "Follow Me", "Like the Seasons", "Peeping and Hiding", and "I'll Go On"
  • Sandy Salisbury – backing vocals on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to Work"
  • Violet Santangelo – vocals on lyme & cybelle tracks, photography (credited as Laura Kenyon)
  • Joe Saxon – cello on "Like the Seasons"
  • Jerry Scheff – bass guitar on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to Work"
  • Tommy Tedesco – guitar on "Follow Me", "Like the Seasons", "Peeping and Hiding", "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", and "I'll Go On"
  • Bob Thompson – conduction on "Follow Me", "Like the Seasons", "Peeping and Hiding", "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", and "I'll Go On"
  • Jimmy Troxell – drums on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to Work" (possibly Toxie French)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Warren Zevon – The First Sessions". No Depression. May 1, 2003. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  2. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Warren Zevon – The First Sessions". AllMusic Guide. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
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