The First Sessions
The First Sessions | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | March 18, 2003 | |||
Recorded | 1964–1967 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 33:28 | |||
Language | English | |||
Label | Varèse Vintage | |||
Producer |
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Compiler |
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Warren Zevon chronology | ||||
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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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- "Follow Me" (Violet Santangelo and Warren Zevon), by lyme & cybelle – 2:29
- "Like the Seasons" (Santangelo and Zevon), by lyme & cybelle – 1:54
- "I've Just Seen a Face" (John Lennon and Paul McCartney), by lyme & cybelle – 1:28
- "Peeping and Hiding" (Jimmy Reed), by lyme & cybelle – 2:30
- "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" (Bob Dylan), by lyme & cybelle – 2:46
- "I'll Go On" (Santangelo and Zevon), by lyme & cybelle – 2:33
- "Follow Me" (Santangelo and Zevon), by lyme & cybelle – 2:18
- "(You Used To) Ride So High (Glenn Crocker and Zevon), by The Motorcycle Abeline – 2:36
- "Outside Chance" (Zevon), by Warren Zevon – 2:13
- "I See the Lights" (Zevon), by Warren Zevon – 2:15
- "And If I Had You" (Santangelo and Zevon), by Warren Zevon – 2:34
- "A Bullet for Ramona" (Paul Evans and Zevon), by Warren Zevon – 4:03
- "Song 7" (Joe Glenn), by lyme & cybelle – 2:04
- "Write If You Get Work" (Joe Glenn), by lyme & cybelle – 1:45
Personnel
[edit]- 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
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Warren Zevon – The First Sessions". No Depression. May 1, 2003. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Warren Zevon – The First Sessions". AllMusic Guide. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- The First Sessions at Discogs
- The First Sessions at MusicBrainz (list of releases)