Warren Zevon – ‘Werewolves Of London’

Writers: Warren Zevon, LeRoy P. Marinell, and Waddy Wachtel
Producers: Jackson Browne and Waddy Wachtel
Recorded: 1977 at the Sound Factory, Los Angeles
Released: January 24th, 1978
Players:
Warren Zevon — vocals, piano
Waddy Wachtel — guitars
John McVie — bass
Mick Fleetwood — drums
Album: Excitable Boy (Elektra/Asylum, 1978)
Also On:
Stand In The Fire (Asylum, 1981)
A Quiet Normal Life: The Best Of Warren Zevon (Asylum, 1986)
I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (An Anthology) (Rhino, 1996)
Prior to the success of “Werewolves Of London,” Warren Zevon was best-known as a songwriter whose work had been recorded by others, particularly Linda Rondstadt with “Hasten Down the Wind” and “Poor Poor Pitiful Me.”
Jackson Browne was an early Zevon supporter, and helped broker his record deal with Asylum and produced his first two albums.
“Werewolves Of London” hit Number 21 on the pop chart, and gave Zevon a commercial boost that faded as he battled substance abuse.
The early commercial success raised expectations for Zevon among record companies. Though he has made several comebacks, none of his hits have sold as many copies or charted as high as “Werewolves Of London.”
In the liner notes to his 1996 collection I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (An Anthology), Zevon wrote: “Phil Everly said, ‘I’m making another solo album. Why don’t you guys write a song for me — a dance song. Call it “Werewolves Of London.”‘ I was at LeRoy (P. Marinell)’s house a few days later… when Waddy (Wachtel) walked in. ‘What are you doing?’ he asked, and we answered, ‘We’re doing the “Werewolves Of London.’ Waddy said, ‘You mean, “Ahhooo” — those “Werewolves Of London?”‘”
One verse mentions a real Chinese restaurant in London called Lee Ho Fook’s, where you can in fact order beef chow mein. Zevon’s photo is in the front window of the restaurant.

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“Werewolves Of London” provided the soundtrack for Tom Cruise‘s pool table choreography in the 1986 film The Color Of Money.
Zevon also did a version of the song called “Werewolves of Bryn Mawr,” which he performed live when in Philadelphia.
It apparently inspired a 1981 film called An American Werewolf In London — which didn’t feature the song at all.
Jimmy Buffett covered the song for the soundtrack of the film Hoot.
The Grateful Dead played the song in concert several times.
Zevon’s friend David Lindley and his band El Rayo-X did a ska-reggae version of “Werewolves Of London” on their album Very Greasy in 1988.
In 1989, Zevon recorded tracks with members of R.E.M. The ensemble dubbed itself the Hindu Love Gods and released the tracks on an album the following year.
Wachtel has made his own name as a sideman and producer, working with Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards‘ Xpensive Winos, and the Church, among others.
It was announced in September 2002 that Zevon, a former smoker, had a terminal case of lung cancer and likely didn’t have much time left. He decided then to dedicate himself to spending time with his family and recording as much music as possible.
He released his final album The Wind in 2003. It featured guest appearances from Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers lead guitarist Mike Campbell, Bob Dylan, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit from the Eagles, and Tommy Shaw from Styx, among others.
Grammy voters gave The Wind two awards — Best Contemporary Folk Album, and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for “Disorder In The House,” Zevon’s duet with Springsteen.
Zevon died September 7th, 2003, at age 56. The cause of death wasn’t cancer from his smoking days — it was mesothelioma, which is caused by exposure to asbestos and which takes root in the chest and abdomen.