Boomp3.com
Artist: Warren Zevon
Track: Werewolves of London (featured on the LP, Excitable Boy)
Label: Asylum Records
Catalog#:
Format: Vinyl, 12” Promotional Picture Disc
Released: 1978
Country: UK
Credits: John McVie – Bass, Mick Fleetwood – Drums, Waddy Wachtel – Guitarand, Piano – Warren Zevon
'Werewolves of London' was penned by Zevon, with the songwriter LeRoy Marinell and the session guitarist Waddy Wachtel. Taking a title suggested to Zevon by Phil Everly, the three sat down one hot Californian afternoon. Marinell had a guitar arrangement, which had been floating around unused for some months. It was translated into a piano vamp by Zevon, a classically trained pianist, and Wachtel ad-libbed some lyrics: "I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand / Walkin' through the streets of Soho in the rain / He was lookin' for the place called Lee Ho Fook's / Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein”. But there was a problem with the rhythm section, Russ Kunkel and Bob Glaub, whose playing was deemed “too cute”. Someone suggested the drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie. After Fifty-nine takes in the studio, the track was a wrap. Just before the album was finished, Zevon revisited the song, adding the final, cryptic line: "I saw a werewolf drinking a piña colada at Trader Vic's / And his hair was perfect." Lee Ho Fook is a Chinese Restaurant that is still in business on Gerrard St, Soho. Go check it out for some crispy duck.
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