There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls."
- George Carlin
Something that grates on me a bit is when an artist I'm fond of is known only for a novelty song. I'm talking about musicians with a huge body of serious work, who somewhere in their career just happened to drop an oddball tune that became popular and it's the only thing they're known for.
For example, Loudon Wainwright III has released 26 albums over a career that spans 53 years. He deftly captures the confounding nature of human relationships with humor and grace in his work. Family dynamics and the turmoil of romance are his specialities. “You'll laugh, you'll cry” is cliche to say, but it's true about some of his songs.
Sadly, though, Wainwright is known to the general public, if he's known at all, for a goofy song off of his first album released in 1972 called Dead Skunk. I've seen him live three times. It never failed that cries would come from the audience, “Dead Skunk!" Really? That's why you're here?
And then there is Frank Zappa. He released 62 albums in his lifetime. He was certainly not everyone's cup of tea, but it's inarguable that his music was sophisticated and complex. Yet, Frank Zappa is known by the average person, again, if known at all, for one song, Valley Girl. Much to his chagrin when he was alive, I would add.
Which brings me to Warren Zevon and Werewolves of London. This is the Halloween season, so you're probably hearing it more than usual. Zevon was a musician's musician, a songwriter's songwriter, much revered by others in the calling. He released 12 albums in his career. His songs were chocked full of dry, acerbic wit that he used to examine life's emotional aches and contradictions. His personal life was a wild ride. I've read two biographies on him, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead and Nothing's Bad Luck. They left me amazed that he lived as long as he did. In the end, though, it wasn't the rock-n-roll life that killed him. In 2002, at the age of 55, he was diagnosed with the cancer, mesothelioma. He refused treatment fearing it would incapacitate him and he continued to record until his death in September of 2003.
In his last months, David Letterman, a long-time passionate fan, dedicated an entire show to Zevon with him as the only guest. Letterman asked at some point if, given the terminal situation he faced, did he have any advice for those of us who would remain. His often-quoted response was, “Enjoy every sandwich.”
Werewolves of London was written in 15 minutes. Some of the lyrics never fail to make me grin. “I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand” - “He's the hairy-handed gent, who ran amuck in Kent” and “I'd like to meet his tailor.” Only Warren Zevon.
It's a clever and fun song. A complete original. I celebrate it and I'm glad it's remained popular. I just wish more people were aware of what else was is in the Warren Zevon vault. Or, then again, maybe I don't.
Birthdays in Music: Larry Mullen, Jr (1961) Bass/U-2
Johnny Marr (1963) Guitarist/The Smiths
Name That Movie: “Tell 'em Large Marge sent cha!”