Warren Zevon – Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School – Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Original Master Recording 180-gram 45 r.p.m. 2-LP special numbered edition, *****:
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab releases an excellent 2-LP audiophile vinyl of rock iconoclast Warren Zevon.
(Warren Zevon – guitars, strings, string synthesizer; piano, harmonica; organ, vocals; Jorge Calderon – guitar, vocals; David Lindley – guitar, lap steel guitar; Leland Sklar – bass; Rick Marotta – drums, tubular bells, vocals; Waddy Wachtel – guitar; Linda Ronstadt – descant, harmony vocals; Jackson Browne – harmony vocals; Joe Walsh – guitar; Glen Frey – harmony vocals; J.D. Souther – harmony vocals; Don Henley – harmony vocals; Ben Keith – pedal stell guitar)
In 1979, Warren Zevon entered the studio to follow-up his breakthrough album Excitable Boy. His music depicted the outlaw cultures of the Los Angeles scene in “noir-crime” imagery, mixing crisp rock, folk and blues into complex arrangements. He was a classically trained pianist (one of his teachers was Igor Stravinsky) who also played guitar. While critically acclaimed, he never achieved significant mainstream success. Fellow musicians recognized his talent and unique songwriting. (Dylan famously referred to him as a “musician’s musician”, albeit tortured). Zevon’s career included 13 albums over a thirty year period until his untimely death in 2003.
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab has released a 180-gram 45 r.p.m. 2-LP numbered edition Original Master Recording of Zevon’s 1980 album, Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School. This collection of songs epitomizes the Zevon brand, with sardonic reflections on society, mercenaries, dark humor and emotional vulnerability (at this time, he was struggling with sobriety), immersing himself into the hard-boiled culture. Joining him in the studio was a bona fide L.A. Rock And Roll hall of fame lineup, including several members of the Eagles, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, J.D. Souther, Waddy Wachtel, Leland Sklar and David Lindley.
Side One opens with the hard-rocking confessional title cut. After a brief string intro and actual .44 Magnum shots, a straight ahead guitar arrangement evolves with Lindley’s lap steel providing textured accents. Zevon’s agonized pleading (…”Swear to God I’ll change, down on my knees in pain…”) showcase the raw fervor of his psyche.
An early surprise is the cover of Naomi Neville’s 1960’s r& b song, “A Certain Girl”. Zevon engages in classic New Orleans-style call and response vocals (Jackson Browne) against a rock groove, but with trademark edgy vibes. On “Jungle Work”, his fascination with cold-blooded mercenaries re-emerges. The gritty arrangement features Joe Walsh and has a counter string synthesizer and a tough, chanting coda.
In a change of pace, “Empty-Handed Heart” is a gospel-infused piano ballad describing remorseful memories of a relationship. Linda Ronstadt contributes a stirring descant harmony. Zevon reaches back into his classical training with a haunting string interlude that leads into another gut-wrenching rocker, “Play It All Night Long”. Here, a near-dystopian view of rustic life touches on sickness, incest and even cattle brucellosis, with a shout out to Lynyrd Skynyrd (…”Sweet Home Alabama, play that dead band’s song…”).
A collaboration with Bruce Springsteen (“Jeannie Needs A Shooter”) is like a pulp Western narrative about desperate love. Another evocative string interlude fades into a charming piano/harmonica blues tribute to Red Sox pitcher, Bill “Spaceman” Lee. Warren takes aim at L.A. culture (with his pals from The Eagles, Glen Frey and Don Henley and J.D. Souther) on “Gorilla You’re A Desperado”. It is a satirical jaunty number that lightens the mood.
Side D has two different kinds of tracks. “Bed Of Coals” expresses his ongoing angst (…”I’m too old to die young and too young to die now…”). With a country-infused resonance, there is pedal-steel shading (Ben Keith) and more harmony from Ronstadt. The finale (“Wild Age”) is another ironic observation of devil-may-care lifestyle choices and consequences (…Some of them keep runnin’, ’til they run straight to their graves…”). Piano hooks, smooth background vocals and Zevon screams deliver the goods.
Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School is a bodacious genre-shifting personal journey. The re-mastered GAIN 2 sound mix ((Krieg Wunderlick)/ sourced directly from original 1/4-inch 15 IPS Dolby A Analog Master with DSD 256 transfer to analog console and cutting lathe) captures the variety of instrumental tonality, especially the searing electric guitars and blistering percussion with ample separation. It also presents the layered vocals and strings with dulcet resonance and increased detail.
The superior packaging includes a high-quality Stoughton gatefold and protective inner sleeves. Front cover art with Zevon posing with a ballet class and a rear cover shot of ballet slippers and automatic weapon encapsulate the complex aura of this performer.
Highest recommendation!
Warren Zevon – Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School
TrackList:
Side One: Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School; A Certain Girl; Jungle Work
Side Two:Empty-Handed Heart; Interlude No. 1; Play It All Night Long
Side Three: Jeannie Needs A Shooter; Interlude No. 2; Gorilla You’re a Desperado
Side Four: Bed Of Coals; Wild Age.
—Robbie Gerson
From Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, a 2 LP Vinyl release of Warren Zevon with “Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School”. Music Review by Robbie Gerson.
