MUSIC VIDEOS



Werewolves Of London
Album: Excitable Boy
Year: 1978
Writers: LeRoy Marinell, Waddy Wachtel & Warren Zevon
Producers: Jackson Browne & Waddy Wachtel
Source: Official Rhino YouTube Channel

Inspired by a suggestion from Phil Everly, "Werewolves Of London" became Warren's breakthrough hit and most popular song, propelling the platinum album Excitable Boy to #8 on the Billboard Top 200. "Werewolves Of London" was released again as a single in 1986 due Tom Cruise famously lip-syncing the song in the hit film The Color Of Money. "Werewovles" endured through the years, appearing on the Time Warner Sounds Of The 70s collection and remaining a staple on virtually every Halloween music compilation. After numerous attempts at capturing the song to tape dating back to 1974, the combination of Warren, Waddy Wachtel, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie captured magic on the second take. Jorge Calderón had the honor of playing the werewolf in the promotional music video.

Warren: Phil Everly said, "I'm making another solo album. Why don't you guys write a song for me - a dance song. Call it, 'Werewolves Of London.'" I was at LeRoy's house a few days later, and he was playing that little V-IV-I figure when Waddy walked in. "What are you doing?" he asked, and we answered, "We're doing the Werewolves of London." Waddy said, "you mean, Ahhooo - those Werewolves of London?"


Nighttime In The Switching Yard
Album: Excitable Boy
Year: 1978
Writers: Jorge Calderón, David Lindell, Waddy Wachtel & Warren Zevon
Producers: Jackson Browne & Waddy Wachtel
Source: Official Rhino YouTube Channel

While "Werewolves Of London" was the breakout hit from the 1978 album Excitable Boy, various territories released follow-up singles to capitalize on the song's success. "Nighttime In The Switching Yard" was released May 1978 in the UK as the album's second single. "Nighttime" was an anomaly compared to the other eight tracks, pure disco that Asylum hoped would appeal to the masses. The UK 7" A-Side is edited to 3:43 backed by "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner" on the B-Side. Asylum also released a 12" promo vinyl in the US featuring the track unedited on both sides.

"Nighttime" was a collaboration between Warren, Jorge Calderón, David Lindell and Waddy Wachtel. Jorge suggested additional verses that clearly illustrates the main character in the song, a train track operator, is a junkie.

One omitted verse:
Bearing down on the switch
Feel that dripping sweat pouring down
Lying down on the ditch
Not a sobering soul around

All agreed additional verses would make the song too long.


Sentimental Hygiene
Album: Sentimental Hygiene
Year: 1987
Writer: Warren Zevon
Producers: Warren Zevon / Niko Bolas / Andrew Slater
Source: YouTube upload provided by mrbriefcaseMUSIC from MTV2 capture

After a five year layoff, Warren returned with the album Sentimental Hygiene, released by Virgin Records. This first of many comebacks is notable for multiple guest stars including Bob Dylan, Neil Young and the members of R.E.M. acuting as Warren's backing band. The track "Sentimental Hygiene" was one of four commercially available singles worldwide to support the album. The promotional video uses the single edit audio featured on most 7" vinyl releases.


Leave My Monkey Alone
Album: Sentimental Hygiene
Year: 1987
Writer: Warren Zevon
Producers: Warren Zevon / Niko Bolas / Andrew Slater
Source: YouTube upload provided by AnExcitableBoy from VH1 Classic capture

Warren's unlikely collaboration with the Prime Minister Of Funk, George Clinton and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers was described by Warren as, "a dance number that touches on the violent conflict between the colonialists and the Mau Mau in 1950s Africa." "Leave My Monkey Alone" was released as a worldwide single, backed with the non-album track "Nocturne" and various remixes depending on territory and format. The music video was choreographed by none other than Paula Abdul, a year before "Forever Your Girl" became a hit and launched her into stardom.


Run Straight Down
Album: Transverse City
Year: 1989
Writer: Warren Zevon
Producers: Warren Zevon / Duncan Aldrich / Andrew Slater
Source: YouTube upload provided by TransatlanticMoments from VH1 Classic capture

Warren's 1989 Virgin release Transverse City was a cyber-folk themed concept album, inspired by the writtings of William Gibson and Thomas Pynchon. Although it was only released as a promo CD in the US, a music video was produced for "Run Straight Down," featuring Pink Floyd's David Gilmour.

Warren: Woozy from reading the Thomas Pynchon canon at a sitting, so to speak, I conceived of Transverse City as a multi-layered cyberpunk album. This track, with several simultaneous vocal lines including a list of carcinogens in the environment I got from the Sierra Club, suggests the dense texture I was striving to create when I ran out of Virgin's money. We sent the 24-track tape to David Gilmour in London, and he recorded his leads and sent it back.


Raspberry Beret
Album: Hindu Love Gods
Year: 1990
Writer: Prince
Producers: Niko Bolas / Andrew Slater
Source: YouTube upload provided by Art Varkington from VH1 Classic capture

At the conclusion of the Sentimental Hygiene sessions, Warren Zevon and R.E.M. members Mike Mills, Peter Buck and Bill Berry returned to the studio to jam and record some potential bonus tracks to be used as B-Sides. The result was released three years later in 1990 as Hindu Love Gods, which awarded Zevon a three album solo deal with Giant Records. At manager Andy Slater's suggestion, the group recorded "Raspberry Beret" which was released as a single in the UK and throughout Europe.


Searching For A Heart
Album: Mr. Bad Example
Year: 1991
Writer: Warren Zevon
Producer: Waddy Wachtel
Source: Official Rhino YouTube Channel

"Searching For A Heart" was written for Alan Rudolph's 1990 film Love At Large. The following year, the track was included in Lawrence Kasdan's film, Grand Canyon; a music video was produced featuring Warren, Waddy Wachtel and Jeff Porcaro intermixed with clips from the movie. A proper single was released in Germany on 7" and CD. A cassette single and promo CD were made available in the US. The cover photo for the single, taken by Diego Uchitel, was later used on the 2025 box set Piano Fighter: The Giant Years.

David Letterman was fond of the song, quoting the lyrics multiple times ahead of Warren performing it live on June 26, 1992. Warren's son, Jordan, performed the track on the Late Show in 2007 to promote the release of Preludes.

Warren: I wrote this for Love At Large, the aforementioned Alan Rudolph picture. Alan told me he'd use anything I wrote, and he said Neil had written a song for his last movie - "He took the script home and wrote it that night!" "Oh, yeah?" I said, "Did it have a bridge?" Lawrence Kasdan also used the song in Grand Canyon. I liked both films very much. They both stiffed.


Keep Me In Your Heart
Album: The Wind
Year: 2003
Writer: Warren Zevon & Jorge Calderón
Producers: Jorge Calderón / Noah Scot Snyder / Warren Zevon
Source: Official MNRK Nashville YouTube Channel

As Warren was battled terminal cancer, work on his final album, The Wind, had slowed. Unable to return to the studio, Warren recorded his final song from home. "Keep Me In Your Heart" is a touching goodbye to his fans, becaming an instant classic. The music video is a compilation of clips from the 2002 documentary VH1 (Inside) Out: Warren Zevon. In subsequent years, "Keep Me In Your Heart" has been famoulsly performed by Eddie Vedder and Willie Nelson.


She's Too Good For Me
Album: The Wind
Year: 2003
Writer: Warren Zevon
Producers: Jorge Calderón / Noah Scot Snyder / Warren Zevon
Source: Official MNRK Nashville YouTube Channel

"She's Too Good For Me" first appeared on Warren's final album, The Wind and notably includes backing vocals by Eagles alum Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit. The song got a second lease of life in the form of a music video to support the compilation Reconsider Me: The Love Songs. The video debuted on February 14, 2006 on VH1 Classic, airing every hour that day.


Werewolves Of London (Official Lyric Video - 2020)
Album: Excitable Boy
Year: 1978
Writers: LeRoy Marinell, Waddy Wachtel & Warren Zevon
Producers: Jackson Browne & Waddy Wachtel
Source: Official Rhino YouTube Channel


Werewolves Of London (Official Lyric Video - 2021)
Album: Excitable Boy
Year: 1978
Writers: LeRoy Marinell, Waddy Wachtel & Warren Zevon
Producers: Jackson Browne & Waddy Wachtel
Source: Official Rhino YouTube Channel


Werewolves Of London (Official Lyric Video - 2022)
Album: Excitable Boy
Year: 1978
Writers: LeRoy Marinell, Waddy Wachtel & Warren Zevon
Producers: Jackson Browne & Waddy Wachtel
Source: Official Rhino YouTube Channel