According to musictap, there will be European imports coming of a few Expanded and Remastered Warren Zevon CDs.
This includes Excitable Boy (1978), Stand In the Fire (1981), and The Envoy (1982).

These UK import releases are expected on March 19.
No word on if or when we can expect any U.S release dates.

Steve

zevon's son said on his website that these were coming over a year ago.

then he backpedalled on that and said he doesn't know when/if it will ever be.

now this comes up.

i sure hope they come out domestically, but as long as they are jewel boxes,( i just do not like the mini album formats) i'll probably buy the euro imports and be done with it.

renny

I just couldn't force myself to cough up the big bucks for the japanese mini-lps and like Renny, I'm not a big fan of that format anyway. I'll pony up the Euro prices for "Stand In The Fire" and "The Envoy" even if they're released "as is". Bonuses would encourage me to think about other titles, like "Excitable Boy".

What - no S/T?? That is the one I would want the most (assuming that these sound good).

The Japan Stand In The Fire is great. if the European matches the Japan you are in for atreat.

According to Music Tap, these are coming stateside too:


Not a great secret to most as most were probably aware that these were coming stateside after their Euro updates. However, Elektra will release Expanded and Remastered versions of three (for now) Warren Zevon titles that include Envoy; Excitable Boy (aaaroooo); and Stand in the Fire. These three reissues will street on March 27.

I found this post from Jordan Zevon (Warren's son) on http://www.warrenzevon.com:

Well it’s been a long road to get here, but I’ve just finished listening to the Rhino advance copies of The Envoy, Stand In The Fire, and Excitable Boy which will be officially released on 3/27/07.

I’ve had goose bumps for that last three hours. Listening to these albums reminds me of how much I not only loved him as a father, but was in awe of him as a musician. Stand In The Fire with four more bonus tracks that would have and should have been on the original if time allowed. Excitable Boy sounding crisp and clear like never before, and the Envoy, which I was running through almost as musical proof reading when I hit, “The Hula Hula Boys”. I hate to admit that I was a little choked up. It was the first time I had ever sung with Dad and it meant the world to me.

It’s amazing that so many of you continue to support his music and that it’s become the base for friendships that will live long past his legacy. I’ve been shown kindness that goes beyond words.

Okay, that’s all the touchy feely shit you’ll get out of me. I am a Zevon after all. Save your hugs for the panda bears, but be warned, those furry fuckers can rip your throat out in the blink of an eye.

Love,
Jordan

Very cool. Excitable & Stand are my 2 favorites.

I'm now officially relieved that I didn't spend $30+ (each) for the Japanese mini-lp versions. Not that I wouldn't still grab 'em if they were cheaper...

I agree about Excitable Boy and Stand In the Fire, but I'm particularly partial to the Envoy because that's the record that was out when I discovered WZ. It doesn't get any better than "Charlie's Medicine."

I can't wait for these releases.

"i think i'm gonna get a running start and hurl myself against the wall"

I am VERY excited about this. I've been a fan since "Excitable Boy", but I've always particularly loved "The Envoy", cover to cover. I held off on the Japanese versions and I'm glad I did. It will be interesting to see if the bonus stuff is good or merely filler.

"Charie dealt in pharmicuticals, he sold those expensive drugs..."

and the title track still rings true today. Probably my favorite WZ album hands down. I can finally get rid of my vinyl copy with all it's "pops" and "Clicks"!

Jeff

This is excellent news. I'd already grabbed the Japanese edition of "Stand In the Fire", coz, well, i had too, since i make a guest appearance on it.

Went to the Roxy with a couple of pals to grab tickets one Saturday afternoon for Sea Level, who had been advertised as playing that night. We got to the ticket window and there's a sign, "Sea Level Cancelled", and we were pretty disappointed (we'd driven there from San Pedro and were really pumped for the show). So we asked the ticket seller if anyone else was booked that night, and they say, "Yes, Warren Zevon". Our jaws all dropped!

As the show began, Warren announced that the show was being taped for a live album. I think almost immediately my devious mind began to work on my "guest appearance". It was probably an asshole move to make, but i was young and foolish, y'know. So, the original plan was for "Lawyers, Guns and Money", since it was my favorite song of his at the time anyways, and had the perfect dramatic pauses to suit my evile plan. So right after the first line of the song, "I went home with a waitress", during those vocal-less chords before the next line, there is a well-placed "howl", which did make it onto the LP. And that howl (among the many others, of course) reappears throughout that song, often solely, in the same or similar strategic spots within the song's rhythm. Naturally i would've been howling anyways, but not so precisely.... And it's all over the album, even just the times when i know 100% for sure. But it was a great show, and i still have my original LP, which came with an extra label for side one that was just sitting on top of the glued label; so yet another souvenir. And that was one of the few shows i've seen when i completely lost my voice for a day or two from all of the howls of delight. I'd never been to a venue where you could see a top name act and be served drinks at a table. There was much imbibement, and we even cuffed a bone around the table at one point (and we definitely weren't the only ones doing that). It was a great time, one of my top 5 shows, all things considered.

Can't wait to hear the bonus tracks.

The MusicTap lists the bonus tracks as follows:

Excitable Boy - "I Need a Truck" (Outtake) / "Werewolves of London" (Alternate) / "Tule's Blues" (Solo Piano Version) / "Frozen Notes" (Strings Version)
Stand in the Fire - "Johnny Strikes Up the Band" / "Play It All Night Long" / "Frank and Jesse James" / "Hasten Down the Wind" - All Previously Unreleased cuts from the original
The Envoy - "Word of Mouth" (Outtake) / "Let Nothing Come Between You" (Alternate) / "The Risk" (Outtake) / "Wild Thing" (Outtake).

TJS

is it "wild thing" by the troggs?

renny

This item appeared in today's edition of the NY Times:

"Fans of the sardonic rock ’n’ roller Warren Zevon (1947-2003) can mark May 1 on their calendars as the date for the release of a new two-CD set and a memoir. The set, “Preludes — Rare and Unreleased Recordings” (Ammal/New West), features 16 songs, including 6 unreleased tracks, compiled by Zevon’s son, Jordan, from 126 unreleased outtakes and demos recorded before 1976. The memoir, “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon” (Ecco/HarperCollins), was assembled at his request by his former wife and lifelong companion, Crystal Zevon, from the recollections of his colleagues, friends and lovers."

Maybe it's just me, but 16 songs on 2 cds seems a little sparse....of course if they are really long songs.......

I'm up for the remasters definitely, but 2 CDs of unreleased stuff from before he made his best material does not interest me at all.
Why do people feel listening to demos is a thrill? (I'm not speaking of anyone here, just when record labels assemble bonus tracks and comps like this appear).

I have my doubts about this as well, since like you stated it's before his first "official" solo album. I have "Wanted Dead or Alive" which came out before the self titled album, and it's terrible!
But since his son has put this together, I doubt he'd let anything out that would tarnish Warren's legacy.

I like listening to some demos. Some can shed a whole new light on a well known song.

Jeff

I have my doubts about this as well, since like you stated it's before his first "official" solo album. I have "Wanted Dead or Alive" which came out before the self titled album, and it's terrible!
But since his son has put this together, I doubt he'd let anything out that would tarnish Warren's legacy.

I like listening to some demos. Some can shed a whole new light on a well known song.

Jeff

Oh, I do agree about soem demos which can reveal a few things about the origin of some songs, but in general, they're just demos.
I think when remasters like The Cure remasters where the bonus CDs are almost nothing but a full disc of bad sounding demos-then I'm not interested at all-that's why I bought the straight remasters on those.
And, I hope Warren's son isn't becoming one of those children who forget the legacy and start cranking out crap. I don't think he will though-he seems like a classy guy.
P.S.
I agree about Wanted Dead Or Alive-I don't even consider that a Zevon album- it's worse than watching Ishtar again!

Wanted Dead or Alive was definitely released before he hit his stride.

But I must admit to being rather fond of this recording.

there is a CD out there with material from before 'wanted dead or alive".

it is on varese.

renny