Wampus Multimedia introduces Hurry Home Early: the Songs of Warren Zevon. Featuring 13 Zevon classics interpreted by emerging artists from the U.S. and England, Hurry Home Early focuses on Zevon's contribution to literate, modern songcraft, and tracks his 35-year journey as acerbic troubadour and cynical romantic. It traces Zevon's career from the late 1960s until his untimely death from mesothelioma, an inoperable lung cancer, in 2003. From Phil Cody's "Splendid Isolation" to Robb Johnson's "Suzie Lightning," the CD tells the story of an artist torn between hopeful and dark impulses, locked in a struggle between heart and mind. From Tom Flannery's "Boom Boom Mancini" to Neil Luckett's "Mutineer," it explores the emotional interior of a composer who has been called the Hunter S. Thompson of audio journalism.

Wampus Multimedia started the Zevon project in 2001, after it released its first tribute CD, If I Were a Richman: a Tribute to the Music of Jonathan Richman, and was working on its second, After Hours: a Tribute to the Music of Lou Reed.

Hurry Home Early runs the gamut of Zevon's career, from Simone Stevens' and Jordan Zevon's reading of the previously unreleased "Warm Rain" to early nuggets (Last Train Home's "Desperados Under the Eaves," Rachel Stamp's "Carmelita," The Matthew Show's "Mohammed's Radio") to spirited pop-rock (Roughly Enforcing Nostalgia's "Run Straight Down," Robbie Rist's "Mr. Bad Example," Alpha Cat's "Reconsider Me") to latter-day ironies (The Simple Things' "I'll Slow You Down," Brook Pridemore's "Life'll Kill Ya").

Hurry Home Early portrays an uncompromising artist making accessible records, a surgically precise writer conveying a vision through the lens of Hollywood. The CD hit #2 at CD Baby in August 2005, and is available from Amazon, CD Baby, iTunes, and other retailers.

Listen to tracks from Hurry Home Early on the Wampus iPod.

Wampus is donating one dollar from the sale of each Zevon CD to the American Cancer Society.

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"While Phil Cody's cutting take on 'Splendid Isolation' comes nearest to capturing Zevon's ferocity, other attempts add other nuances, particularly The Matthew Show's soaring cover of 'Mohammed's Radio,' Alpha Cat's entreating 'Reconsider Me,' an industrialized take on 'Run Straight Down' by Roughly Enforcing Nostalgia, and the folk-like finesse of Brook Pridemore's ironic 'Life'll Kill Ya.' Jordan Zevon's contribution on the heretofore-unreleased 'Warm Rain' adds additional legitimacy, although unlike the previous Zevon tribute, Enjoy Every Sandwich, Hurry Home Early eschews more familiar fare (no 'Werewolves of London' found here) in favor of the more obscure. Still, some things never change; when The Matthew Show sing 'Everybody's desperate and trying to make ends meet/You work all day and still can't pay the price of gasoline,' Zevon's lyrics suddenly seem remarkably prophetic." --Lee Zimmerman, Amplifier Magazine

"It was just a few months ago that I reviewed the Warren Zevon tribute album, Enjoy Every Sandwich, featuring an all-star cast interpreting some of Zevon's best-known tunes. I had to ask myself what new insight could possibly be forthcoming from a second such album, similar in many ways, but featuring generally more obscure song choices interpreted by generally more obscure independent artists. After a couple of listens to Hurry Home Early, the answer hit me like a self-administered whack in the forehead. Tribute albums aren't so much about the artist being honored, or the artists honoring that person. They're about the songs themselves. And Warren Zevon left behind one hell of a songbook. By turns caustic, reflective, raucous and brilliantly funny, Zevon used the entire emotional palette to paint bold strokes on his sonic canvas. From the prideful iconoclasm of 'Splendid Isolation' to the gentle entreaty of 'Mutineer,' this disc covers a huge amount of that tonal ground." --Jason Warburg, The Daily Vault

"Alter-ego to 2004's star-studded Enjoy Every Sandwich, this spotlights lesser-knowns rifling through Zevon's songbook. Sketchy but heartfelt, highlights include Robbie Rist's 'Mr. Bad Example,' The Simple Things' 'I'll Slow You Down,' and Jordan Zevon and Simone Stevens on the stately, previously unknown ballad 'Warm Rain.'" --Luke Torn, Uncut Magazine

"These reinterpretations mine the folk soul at the heart of Zevon's urbane presentation.... A straightforward folk approach is employed by Tom Flannery, whose bone-chilling version of 'Boom Boom Mancini' marks the disc's pinnacle. Whereas Zevon's versions paint Mancini as a modern-day folk hero, Flannery's haunting vocal delivery gives the boxer's story a terrifying, stone-cold killer interpretation....This collection deserves space in the collection of any Zevon fan. Furthermore, because these tributes demonstrate the lasting depth of Zevon's songwriting, it deserves a listen by anyone who favors mature, meaningful music." --Ron Davies, Splendid

"Wampus has produced a strikingly good CD here.... Thirteen tracks in all, and to be honest each and every one is a great song. I guess it would have been a bit too obvious to stick 'Werewolves' on here, and to underline this, the songs are more reflective and show a side of Zevon that folks like me ain't heard. Damn fine project." --Dave Hughes, Modern-Dance

"This album is best suited for a Warren Zevon fanatic, as opposed to many albums that attempt to turn people into fans with the siren call of their favorite musical acts. Beyond the appearance of 'Warm Rain,' a Zevon fan will find there are enough interesting reinterpretations here to warrant a purchase.... Hurry Home Early: The Songs of Warren Zevon does justice to its honoree." --Hunter Felt, Pop Matters

"Hurry Home Early is refreshing because it's not just a collection of pop-'punk' bands called on to give their interpretations of Warren Zevon's songs. The artists on this album did a great job capturing the darkly humorous spirit of Warren Zevon." --Gary Schwind, antiMUSIC

"What's amazing is how the songs lend themselves to so many styles on this tribute album, showing that the songs have strength in themselves apart from how they get played, sung, and delivered. The fact that so many of these artists have delivered the songs in meaningful, passionate ways only adds to the joy." --Music Spectrum

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phil cody splendid isolation

Phil Cody: guitars, vocals / Andy Kamman: drums / Roger Len Smith: bass / Rami Jaffee: B3 organ / Jay Schwartz: piano / Bryan Smith: percussion / Matt Cartsonis: guitar

Produced by Phil Cody. Recorded and mixed by Michael Dumas at Mad Dog Studio, Burbank, CA.

Visit: www.philcody.com

 

the simple things I'll slow you down

"We all appreciate Zevon's music and the attitude behind it. He was always able to balance cleverness with meaning and honesty. When we heard about this project, we decided to look at some of his more recent work (with which none of us were very familiar) for ideas. The thing that surprised us all was that his later albums were as strong as some of his more well-known earlier material. We hadn't really followed his career that closely in the later years, so it was great to find out that he had maintained his talent, conviction and sense of humor until the end. The only genuine problem we had was picking a favorite to record. "

Jimmy Catlett: vocals, guitar / David Edwards: bass, vocals / Stuart Gunter: drums, vocals / Lisa Van Fossen: vocals

Produced by Grant Rutledge & The Simple Things. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Montana Studio, Richmond, VA.

Visit: www.stuart.gunter.com

 

last train home desperados under the eaves

Eric Brace: acoustic guitar and vocals / Martin Lynds: drums / J. Carson Gray: electric bass / Bill Williams: Mandolin, 12-string electric guitar, dojo and backing vocals / Dave Van Allen: steel / Scott McKnight: electric guitar and organ / Chris Watling: accordion

Produced, engineered, and mixed by Jared Bartlett at Assembly Line Studios, Vienna, VA. Production assistance from Scott McKnight.

Visit: www.lasttrainhome.com

rachel stamp carmelita

"This was one of the fastest and most relaxing recording sessions we've ever done. We're longtime admirers of the incomparable Mr. Zevon's way with a song and hopefully we caught some of the magical vibe of the original in our own style. Notice our Ronstadt-esque placing of the verses -- although I did read that it was Warren's original intention to have them in this order -- it's a tribute to everyone!"

David Ryder-Prangley: vocals / Will Crewdson: acoustic guitar / Shaheena Dax: organ

Produced by John Fryer. Recorded at Numb and Moist, London, UK.

Visit: www.rachelstamp.com

 

the matthew show mohammed's radio

"I'm a latecomer to Warren appreciation, having accidentally discovered him in 1999 while working at an online record store in Dallas. 'Mohammed's Radio' always stuck out to me. It's got a wistful melody and his delivery is less smart-assed than usual, which intrigues me. It seems to capture the essence of the time it was made in, a time of uncertainty much like our own, and I tried to get that time-capsule feel in my version as well. Oh, and I only used Paul for backup vocals after I couldn't come up with a way to convince Stevie Nicks to reprise her role. She's a busy lady."

Matthew: guitars, percussion, lead and backing vocals / Paul Shapera: bass and piano, backing vocals

Produced by The Matthew Show. Recorded at El Pensador Studios and Paul Shapera's home studio, New York City.

Visit: www.thematthewshow.com

 

tom flannery boom boom mancini

"When I first heard 'Boom Boom Mancini' the drums sounded like a series of relentless right hands to the head. It's one of the rare rock songs that actually sounds better at a Spinal Tap volume. And so, in true Warren spirit, I attempted to turn it upside-down and inside-out by recording it solo acoustic... in a near-whisper. Because after all, when you peel the layers off... what you're left with is a very sad song about growing old and dying. And with that... the struggle to see how gracefully we can do both."

Tom Flannery: vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica

Produced by Tom Flannery. Recorded at the Home Office, Peckville PA.

Visit: www.tomflannery.us

 

simone stevens and jordan zevon warm rain

"This is a song my dad wrote in the late '60s that I discovered in a box of reel-to-reel tapes that were sitting in a storage bin. I've had the sheet music for years, but never heard the song until a few months ago and it's one of my favorites. He re-recorded it several years later as 'Steady Rain,' but that was also never released. This version is a combination of the two. It has the tempo and feel as well as the bridge from 'Steady Rain,' but the lyrics and instrumentation of 'Warm Rain.'" -JZ

Simone Stevens: vocals / Jordan Zevon: guitar, keyboards / John Paul Tobin: strings

Produced by Jordan Zevon, Mark Doyon, and Eamon Loftus. Recorded at Mixed Headache Studios, Los Angeles, CA.

Visit: www.stevens.net / www.jordanzevon.com

alpha cat reconsider me

"I was impressed by the rare vulnerability of Zevon's writing on this tune; it seems to have as much hope in it as sorrow, which makes it all the more heartbreaking. In fact, my father died around the same time as Warren Zevon (and as it happens, Johnny Cash), and this song describes pretty perfectly his relationship to me, and gave me a sorely needed place to channel my grief. Chris, George, and Derek, the other musicians, were also pretty moved by this scenario, and I think you hear that in the track. This goes out to the dads who were afraid they'd let us down. We love you, and we forgave you a long time ago."

Elizabeth McCullough: vox, acoustic guitar, drum programming, harmonica / George Kapsalis: guitar, percussion / Chris Butler: bass / Derek Dragotis: background vox

Produced by Elizabeth McCullough. Recorded at Split Peaz, Jersey City, NJ.

Visit: www.thealphacat.com / www.aquamarinerecords.com

 

neil luckett of tvfordogs mutineer

"With my version of 'Mutineer' I wanted to demonstrate how a strong song can be arranged in any number of forms and still stand up. The original is so different from my version, synth-based and very laid back.... I decided to strip the song back to its basic elements, harmony, melody and lyrics, and change the meter and tempo. Despite the tinkering, the song still works, which is testimony to the strength of Warren Zevon's writing."

Neil Luckett: guitar, vocals

Produced by Neil Luckett.

Visit: www.neil-luckett.com / www.tvfordogs.com

 

roughly enforcing nostalgia run straight down

"Like most Roughly Enforcing Nostalgia tunes, 'Run Straight Down' was created through a combination of plunderphonics, programming, self-sampling, looping, live performance and cut-and-paste techniques. Emotionally, this song's bleak outlook on our environmental future really speaks to a couple of bunnyhuggers like ourselves. Intellectually, the listing of carcinogens in the backdrop seems oddly prophetic. 'Run Straight Down' is off of Zevon's Transverse City, his would-be cyberpunk masterwork that went way over budget before he could complete it the way he originally intended. Nowadays, like Smile, Läther or Prince's Black Album, Transverse City is regarded by us as one of rock's great lost albums, although the 'official' bowdlerized release does give some indication of Zevon's widescreen epic vision. In that sense, it's appropriate that Zevon died in September 2003, a month which saw the ends of both some of music's nicest fellas (Johnny Cash, Robert Palmer) and film's most controversial auteurs (Leni Riefenstahl, Elia Kazan). Warren falls somewhere between those archetypes. He could bust out with slick stadium rock, sing the blues like the Chicago boy he was, yodel a country tune with the best of 'em, and heck that was all on just the Hindu Love Gods album. The one constant was the stamp of cinema he put on all his recordings, a kind of 'rock noir' he created when the Brill Building stylings became too confining. His worldview was as murky as black-label whiskey, and its effect was intermittently hysterical and horrifying, but he shilled it with pure pop melody of the highest caliber. In the end, his invention of that subgenre could be his greatest gift to us, other than of course giving us all a perfect example of how to spend our last days with class."

Performed by Roughly Enforcing Nostalgia with Rob Kleiner, who performed the Electrocrickets.

Produced by the Brothers Brooks. Recorded at Apocalypse Cow Studios, Boulder Hill, IL.

Visit: www.roughly.net

 

brook pridemore life'll kill ya

"I didn't grow up listening to Warren Zevon. Somewhere in college, I was sitting in the WIDR Kalamazoo music office, sifting through a box of CDs and free schwag to be reviewed/deconstructed. In the midst of a mountain of math rock and third wave ska compilations, I came across an album cover of some guy who looked like a combination of John Lennon and me, underneath the words, 'Life'll Kill Ya.' I took the album home and said, 'That's a pretty good song. I'd like to sing it a little more punk-rock, with no piano or ominous overtones.' So I did. This recording also marks the last time I worked with Ian Gorman at Big Green Lamp, so it holds even more weight for me."

Brook Pridemore: guitar, vocals

Recorded by Ian Gorman at Big Green Lamp Studio, Kalamazoo, MI, May 2003.

Visit: www.brookpridemore.com

 

robbie rist mr. bad example

"Like many, I had heard 'Werewolves' on the radio and liked it. Saw Excitable Boy at my local Gemco store and noticed he had a blonde bowl cut and round glasses just like me! Well, if that wasn't gonna seal the deal, what would? I had no idea of the dark, melancholy and joyous things I would encounter upon listening to 'Roland,' 'Accidentally Like a Martyr' and 'Tenderness on the Block.' I was hooked. Bought every subsequent release (with The Envoy, Mr. Bad Example and the eponymous one with 'Desperados Under the Eaves' being standout faves). I have long been ceaselessly amazed at his ability to be funny, touching and grim... sometimes all in the same song. He was a national treasure and I am grateful for all of the awesome stuff he brought into my life."

Gary Eaton: electric guitar, backing vocals, bass / Adam Maples: drums, backing vocals, tambourine / Robbie Rist: acoustic guitar, lead and harmony vocals, organ. Gary and Adam are part of alt-country band Kingsize Maybe. Gary is a former member of The Ringling Sisters and an original member of the Continental Drifters. Adam spent the late 80s in Legal Weapon and played for The Sea Hags in the 90s.

Produced by Robbie Rist at Freedom Machine Recordings, Santa Monica, CA.

Visit: www.robbierist.com

 

robb johnson suzie lightning

"I really admire Warren's wit, intelligence and ability to delineate human experience with fundamental honesty and great tunes, too. 'Suzie Lightning' maybe isn't one of the songs people immediately think of as one of Warren's greatest hits, but it quietly has a lot of what makes Warren a great writer -- it's a beautiful song of longing and of love that's going nowhere. Lyrically, it economically and perfectly describes the song's protagonists and their relationship, and unostentatiously slips in a little piece of real poetry: 'she lights the sky up / then she's gone.' Plus it has an absolutely gorgeous melody. First time I heard it, I loved it. It's also from Mr. Bad Example, one of my favourite Zevon albums. A really good song is a song that still sounds really good even with just a guitar or piano as accompaniment. I hope my version does Warren's fine work justice."

Robb Johnson: voice, acoustic guitar, dobro

Produced by Neil Thom. Recorded at Running Frog Studios, Windsor, England.

Visit: www.robbjohnson.co.uk

 

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executive producer mark doyon

"Warren Zevon was arguably Lou Reed's west-coast counterpart -- the 'poet of Gower Avenue.' He was a literate songwriter who ventured into pop music. He understood something basic about human nature. He knew empathy had to be mixed with something cutting, honest, and, preferably, funny. The artists on this record all responded to that in some way. Mortality is the blackest humor."

Edited, sequenced, and pre-mastered at Wampus Sound Studio, Clifton, VA.

Visit: www.markdoyon.com

 

mastered by eamon loftus

Mastered at C&C Studios, Sterling, VA.

Contact: Eamon Loftus

Questions? Email Wampus. Or contact Wampus Multimedia, 4 Weems Lane, #300, Winchester, VA 22601 USA.