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Warren Zevon: The Envoy (Remastered + Expanded) CD Track Listing

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Warren Zevon The Envoy (Remastered + Expanded) (1982)
The Envoy (Remastered + Expanded)\n2007 Asylum/Rhino\n\nOriginally Released July 16, 1982\nRemastered + Expanded CD Edition Released March 27, 2007\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: While moderation was never Warren Zevon's strong suit, his efforts to clean himself up in the early '80s resulted in two of his finest albums, 1980's literate but corrosive Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School and the following year's explosive live set Stand in the Fire. It seemed as if the wired chaos of Zevon's personal life had been channeled into his art on those LPs, but after another bout with the bottle and another attempt at sobriety, Zevon tried another approach at merging his music and his life on 1982's The Envoy. On The Envoy's best songs, Zevon tackles his dangerous appetites head on; "Charlie's Medicine" is a chilling requiem for a drug dealer who used to sell him dope, "Jesus Mentioned" is a spare but curiously moving meditation on the death of Elvis Presley, who "went walking on the water with his pills," and the ragged but right "Ain't That Pretty at All" is an unlikely but powerful recovery anthem in which he howls "I'd rather feel bad than not feel anything at all." When Zevon confronts his own demons on The Envoy, the album is intense and compelling stuff, but unfortunately there aren't enough of these moments to prop up the rest of the set, which is smart and literate but not especially exciting. Novelist Thomas McGuane co-wrote "The Overdraft," a hard-charging rocker that unfortunately doesn't make much sense, while the languid "The Hula Hula Boys" plays like a joke in which the punch line got lost, and the two love songs, "Let Nothing Come Between You" and "Looking for the Next Best Thing," manage to sound at once heartfelt and like lesser variations on themes he'd covered with greater strength before. The Envoy would prove to be Zevon's last album for five years after he took another stumble into addiction, but while it's an often brave and ambitious disc, the high points don't quite redeem its weaknesses. [In 2007, Rhino Records gave The Envoy its belated debut on CD in a remastered and expanded edition featuring new liner notes from David Wild and four bonus tracks recorded during the album's original sessions. There's an alternate take of "Let Nothing Come Between You" with some alternate lyrics and a sloppy pass at the Troggs' "Wild Thing" that's fun but hardly revelatory. More interesting are "Word of Mouth," a taut and rhythmic instrumental, and "The Risk," which sounds like it wasn't quite finished but walks a provocative line between Zevon's tales of romance and self-destruction; it would have made a nice coda for the album, and is the one really essential new track on this edition.] -- Mark Deming\n\nAmazon.com Editorial Review\nAfter The Excitable Boy and its attendant, longstanding hit, "Werewolves of London," Warren Zevon could afford to beef up his sound. His live show, captured fantastically on Stand in the Fire, clearly helped shape the richer guitars on 1982's The Envoy, and the prescient title track finds Zevon describing a chaotic, war-torn Middle East (and elsewhere) that's sadly familiar. In a more poignant mood, Zevon gives us "Jesus Mentioned," with its trip-to-Graceland theme (pre-dating Paul Simon, by the way) and this classic line: "Can't you just imagine/Digging up the King/Begging him to sing/About those heavenly mansions Jesus mentioned." Sure, some of the brighter-lit guitars and keyboards sound dated, but Zevon's acerbic wit and songwriting win the day. "Charlie dealt in pharmaceuticals/Charlie used to sell me pills," Zevon dryly sings. Amid some of his biggest rock-riffing guitars, Zevon continues, "Yesterday his sister called to me he'd been killed...Some respectable doctor from Beverly Hills/Shot him through the heart/Charlie never felt a thing/Neither of them did." That's Zevon's world, sending and catching bullets in a place beyond sensation.--Andrew Bartlett \n\nAmazon.com Product Description\nTHE ENVOY, the reflective 1982 masterpiece that Zevon once described as "The Excitable Boy Grows Up," makes its CD debut with this release. Highlights include the title track, the moving "Never Too Late For Love," "The Hula Hula Boys," and "The Overdraft," a co-write with novelist Thomas McGuane featuring a ripping Lindsey Buckingham solo. Four previously unreleased tracks include outtakes of "Word Of Mouth" and "Wild Thing," and the romantically skewed gem "Let Nothing Come Between You." Liner notes by Rolling Stone editor David Wild. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nClassic album sounds quite good with some cool bonus tracks!, March 28, 2007\nReviewer: My Science Fiction Twin (My Little Blue Window, USA)\nAlthough there are a couple of weak tracks, "The Envoy" features Warren Zevon in classic form. Referred to as "Excitable Boy" grows up when it was first released, "The Envoy" sounds quite good in the latest edition from Rhino. A pity that this wasn't released while Warren was alive. This album was available previously as an expensive import and key tracks were on Warren's two CD retrospective on Rhino but this is the first time (to my knowledge) that the whole album has appeared on CD. This captures Mr. Bad Example in very fine form indeed. \n\n"Jesus Mentioned" played on acoustic guitar is very spare sounding thoughtful song about Elvis Presley and, of course, has plenty of Warren's humor in it. The title track is a killer rocker. "Looking for the Next Best Thing" is one of Warren's great ballads. "Let Nothing Come Beween You" is probably the sweetest song Warren ever wrote. "Not That Pretty at All" isn't my least favorite tune but the sythesizer seems a little overbearing on this track. Overall this album provides a perfect transition to Warren's brilliant "Sentimental Hygene". After this album Warren who had a drinking problem and cleaned up his life briefly fell back into the spiral of addiction before pulling himself out of it five years later. \n\nWe get the original album plus a number of great extra tracks here including "The Risk", "Word of Mouth" an alternate version of "Let Nothing Come Between You" and "Wild Thing". The former has all the hallmarks of New Wave at the time with its boxy sounding drums and sythesizer. "Word of Mouth" opens with a mix of sythesizer, piano and guitar and doesn't sound finished as there's no vocal track recorded for it. The arrangement could have been fleshed out a bit more but it's a nice track. Some of the bonus tracks are better than others but don't diminish the original album. "Let Nothing Come Between You" is an alternate take that provides pleasant listening although I prefer the released version. "Wild Thing" is an off-the-cuff performance of the classic Chip Taylor song that sounds like it was recorded during the rehearsal sessions. It's a loose performance that probably wasn't ever intended for release. It sounds like the band was just having fun. \n\nWe get extensive sleeve notes as well giving us a bit of background on the recording of the album written by Rolling Stone writer David Wild. We also get photos, original lyrics and credits for the album.\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nSend the Envoy, April 15, 2007\nReviewer: Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States)\nWarren Zevon once claimed this album was "the Excitable Boy grows up." Instead of weird werewolves or kinky serial killers, we had Government deal makers. In a song that sounds timely even two decades later, Warren Zevon snarls \n\n"Nuclear arms in the Middle East \nIsrael's attacking the Iraqis \nThe Syrians are mad at the Lebanese \nAnd Baghdad does whatever she please. \nLooks like another threat to world peace \nfor the Envoy." \n\nNot bad for a song written in 1982. This is Zevon's great lost album, which pretty much went into commercial no-man's land when it was first released. (Which probably explains why it had not reached CD till after his death.) When new wave and wild videos were making inroads, Zevon's California rock probably sounded archaic. The swooping synths that spot the CD - and which sound terribly dated now - seem like a concession to that moment. But they most certainly do not mar the terrific songs. \n\nThe title track, "The Overdraft" and "Looking For The Next Best Thing" are among some of Zevon's best. Lindsey Buckingham's manic vocals on "The Overdraft" add to the edginess of Zevon's collaboration with novelist Thomas McGuane. It was this kind of songwriting that placed the spotlight on the maturity of Zevon's work. The most telling and intense moment comes via "Charlie's Medicine." Charlie is a dealer who breaks into a Doctor's office and gets killed. Where the Warren Zevon that loved guns and spent more than a little time with foreign substances coursing through his body might have rationalized making a hero out of Charlie, he now makes the realization that it was all a sham. \n\n"Charlie dealt in pharmaceuticals \nhe sold those expensive drugs. \nI gave Charlie all of my money. \nWhat the hell was I thinking of?" \n\nIt is a stunning revelation on an album that was - at least for me - a harbinger of the the classic "Sentimental Hygiene." One that album, Zevon was in full confessional mode about "Detox Mansion" and begged you "Reconsider Me." On "The Envoy," he realized that his past worst habits weren't worth keeping, and began to write more emotionally open songs like "Let Nothing Come Between You" and "Never Too Late For Love." I have been waiting a long tome for this artistic link of Zevon's to hit CD. It was well worth it. \n\n"Who am I to say I know the way you feel \nI felt your pain and I know your sorrow \nYou could try to let the past slip away \nLive for today \nDon't stop believing in tomorrow."\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nAn oft-overlooked, but essential Zevon album, April 13, 2007\nReviewer: DanD (Central Illinois)\nTHE ENVOY was a great rock record. Period. It kicks off with a politically-charged number that's as important today as it was then, fueled with electric guitars and impassioned vocals. It ended (the original, at least) with a beautiful ballad about never giving up (the last words of the song: "Don't stop believing in tomorrow." It's a shame the bonus features follow this song; because this line is, overall, the message of the album. \n\nI hope I'm not boring you by reading something philisophical into Zevon's music; Zevon fans have been doing it for longer than I've been alive. And, let's face it, Zevon records are FUN; you never know where he's gonna go next. The title track is tongue-in-cheek political commentary; "The Hula Hula Boys" is probably the most hilarious break-up song I've ever heard (the image of a woman leaving a rocker for "the fat guy from the swimming pool" is classic; and then there's the Polynesian chanting...). "Jesus Mentioned" is the creepiest (and tenderest) Elvis tribute of all time; when Zevon's not singing about digging up the King's body, he's reminding us how Elvis walked on whater (with his pills, of course). "The Overdraft," lyrically beautiful, is made all the better by Lindsey Buckingham's crazed background vocals. In "Charlie's Medicine," a drug pusher dies (and Zevon shows up to pay his bill). And "Looking For the Next Best Thing" remains an anthem for all those who are willing to settle for silver. The "new" instrumental "Word of Mouth" is compelling; as is "The Risk" and Zevon's take on the classic "Wild Thing." \n\nThe reissue of THE ENVOY makes a great addition to Zevon collections, or rock collections in general. It is simply a great rock record, one of many Warren Zevon managed to make before his untimely death. Zevon was one of the great folk/rock artists whose legacy will live on as long as there is music for us to listen to.\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA Perfect Re-Issue, April 3, 2007\nReviewer: Brandon J. Smith\nThe first thing anyone will say about this release is (and should be) to point out that it has shamefully not been released on CD before. This release, above all else, is long, long overdue. That said, thank goodness it's finally here, though it took the artist's death to make it happen. \n\nThe Envoy is a lost masterpiece, created at a time when (musically) Zevon still could do no wrong. The title track is outstanding, still sounding current in its comments about conflicts in the Middle East. It's wonderful to hear the great Lindsey Buckingham join in on "The Overdraft" with his signature backing vocals (which, as usual, are more like a second lead-vocal than simply a harmonizing voice in the background). The Envoy contains one of the best jokes to be found on any rock album (other Zevon albums contain many of the others) in the song "Looking for the Next Best Thing," punning on the phrase "next best." This album rocks as well as it moves emotionally with the slow songs; it tells stories and jokes as only Zevon albums can; and it does it all with energy and enthusiasm. (Much credit is due as well to the excellent work of the band, too, particularly Waddy Wachtel's once-again stunning lead guitar.) \n\nI call this re-issue "perfect" because of the way it finally solidifies Zevon's catalog. The remastering is fantastic. Other than the synth sounds that clearly place the recording in the early '80s, it sounds like it could have been recorded this year. The bonus tracks included are very good, particularly the instrumental "Word of Mouth," and the liner notes are well-written by Rolling Stone's David Wild. \n\nIt may not have been appreciated at the time of its release, but, finally given the treatment it deserves, The Envoy comes through in every way. \n\nThis is the cd Zevon fans have been waiting for.\n\n\nHalf.com Details \nProducer: Jackson Browne, Waddy Wachtel \n\nAlbum Notes\nLiner Note Author: David Wild.
This rock cd contains 13 tracks and runs 45min 10sec.
Freedb: b60a940d
Buy: from Amazon.com

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Warren Zevon: The Envoy (Remastered + Expanded) CD Track Listing

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