The riotous power of Warren Zevon, captured live at the Roxy in Los Angeles in 1980. This album was out of print for a long time. Buy it before the authorities find out it's been remastered and re-released.

Track Listing

1. Stand In The Fire
2. Jeannie Needs A Shooter
3. Excitable Boy
4. Mohammed's Radio
5. Werewolves Of London
6. Lawyers, Guns And Money
7. The Sin
8. Poor Poor Pitiful Me
9. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
10. Bo Diddley's A Gunslinger/Bo Diddley
11. Johnny Strikes Up The Band
12. Play It All Night Long
13. Frank And Jesse James
14. Hasten Down The Wind

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3627 in Music
• Released on: 2007-03-27
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Live, Original recording remastered

Album Description
The 1981 live album masterpiece STAND IN THE FIRE--until now woefully out of print--prompted allmusic.com to write, "No one argues that Warren Zevon is a gifted singer and songwriter, but STAND IN THE FIRE proves that, when he wants to, he can also rock with the best of `em." Recorded at L.A.'s Roxy theatre in 1981, the disc features the two unforgettable original songs Zevon debuted on that year's tour, "The Sin" and "Stand In The Fire." Also includes searing versions of "Lawyers, Guns And Money," "Werewolves Of London," "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me," "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," "Mohammed's Radio," and "Jeannie Needs A Shooter," a co-write with Bruce Springsteen, among other stellar performances. Boasts liner notes by David Fricke and four previously unreleased cuts including "Johnny Strikes Up The Band," "Frank And Jesse James," and "Hasten Down The Wind."

Amazon.com
Why Warren Zevon's Stand in the Fire has languished in the CD-reissue era is a mystery. It's an unbridled live rock album, recorded in 1981 when live albums were de rigueur. Zevon, for all the well-orchestrated rock (and great backing vocals on "Mohammed's Radio"), was a small-venue guy and an unlikely rocker. He tears it up on "Stand in the Fire" and adds guitar grit and vocal menace to "Werewolves of London," making the "little old lady got mutilated late last night" line sparkle and name checks James Taylor and Zevon's early champion Jackson Browne. Then there are the added tracks, all four previously unreleased. "Frank and Jesse James" rolls as a piano and vocals vehicle, brilliant in its simple dressing. And the closer, "Hasten Down the Wind," is touching, especially with the ever-aware Zevon introduction: "Speaking as one who has abused privilege a long time," he says, "I tell you, it's great to be alive." --Andrew Bartlett

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Customer Reviews

They sound like they're having so much fun...
Buy this CD-it's infectious. I especially like "Bo Diddley's a Gun Slinger" and the ad-libbed version of "Mohammed's Radio". The band is very good as well.

Great WZ before he became older, wiser (maybe) and a better singer. Also get Learning to Flinch for a totally different side of this complex, very talented and very underrated performer/writer. This one is more fun but LTF is a better showcase of his musical ability.

Full out all on brilliance - live!
This is how a live album should be done. It's fantastic, electrifying, and hard to only listen to it once when you put it on. This shows just what a musician Zevon was. The passion that comes over is astonishing and does his great songs justice. This CD is more like an experience - I strongly, strongly recommend it.

Criminally Perfect
I've waited a long time for this CD. When the album arrived back in '81, it was quite a shock. Zevon had emerged from the "California rock" scene, and no one expected such a hard-rocking live album from him. It showcases his brilliant songwriting and showmanship, along with his incredible band. Each track is a gem in its own way. Contrast the hauntingly beautiful melody of "Mohammed's Radio" with the original rocker "The Sin."

Three things are criminal:
-that Stand in the Fire isn't on every short list of best all-time live rock albums,
-that Warren only got to tour with a live band for a few short years (by 1983, after The Envoy, his live performances were mostly one-man shows). Whether with a band or by himself, , Warren was incredible live.
-that he left us too soon.

If you are even a causal fan, buy this! It is accessible, entertaining, and sounds as fresh today as it did 27 years ago (did I just type that? God, I'm old.)