As autumn leaves fall and Halloween looms near, the iconic strains of Warren Zevon’s legendary hit, Werewolves of London, resurface again. Its freshly minted HD video clip, buzzing once more across digital channels, reiterates Zevon's profound mark on the musical world.
With a liking for humor as deep as his insight, he stands tall as one of the most compelling songwriters of yesteryears. Each song he created weaves tales that gain more popularity & wisdom as the years roll by. Werewolves, in particular, are an emblem of his ability to captivate audiences, breaking barriers and captivating hearts worldwide.
Not to mention, it's catchy, amusing, and a favorite for bands everywhere. It's fascinating how some revered songwriters gain immense fame from their lighter, more playful compositions. And “Werewolves of London” is no exception.
What started as a casual jam session among Zevon, Waddy Wachtel, and LeRoy Marinell soon turned into a catchy track, its birth influenced by Phil Everly's 1975 watch of the old classic film Werewolf of London. A film, a title, a howl, and voilà! In merely 15 minutes, a chart-topping tune was born. Yet, initially, the trio did not want to work on the song.
But as fate would have it, Jackson Browne saw the lyrics of this infectious tune. He decided to bring it to his live performances. Even T-Bone Burnett couldn't resist showcasing it during Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1975.
It wasn't until the production of Excitable Boy that Zevon ventured to record it. Even then, he demanded numerous takes and varied musician ensembles before he felt it hit the right note.
That's the enigmatic beauty of art and music, isn't it? Like hidden treasures, some tunes wait patiently in the shadows, biding their time. And when they emerge, it’s with a bang. Zevon gifted us countless masterpieces, but Werewolves of London, with its foot-tapping melody and humor, is truly in a league of its own.
If Werewolves of London brought you joy in the past, it's still around on Amazon now. A purchase through us means we get to keep doing what we love and paying for cat food too.
