Ten Favorite Wind Songs: Hasten Down the Wind (#2)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (68892)
United States
January 25, 2018 8:37am CST
It's a deceptively beautiful morning here...the sun is out, but dang, it's cold out there. I'll stay here next to the window, drink my vanilla macaroon tea, and give you another song on my list of favorites that have the word "wind" in the title. To nobody's surprise at all (except that maybe it's not #1), here's today's song.
#2: Hasten Down the Wind - Warren Zevon
Yeah, this was going to be left off the list.
I should have started this a day earlier. Yesterday would have been Warren Zevon's 71st birthday.
It's been 40 years now since Excitable Boy was released and I fell madly in love with this man's songwriting. There hasn't been anything over the past four decades to wane my appreciation for the gift he had. He could be brutally funny, blunt, sad, loving, and hopeless...sometimes in the same song! If the only thing you know about this guy is "Werewolves of London," do yourself (and his memory) a favor and rectify that. Now.
But don't take my word for it. The great Linda Ronstadt recorded four of his songs, including this gem. She used it as the title of her 1976 album. Her version featured a great, gentle harmony from Don Henley. Zevon's version had another superband superstar on his version: Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham provided the harmonies. And the lyrics? "She's so many women he can't find the one who was his friend." DANG.
One of Zevon's great songs in a life that was filled with great songs.
Hasten Down the Wind
Written by Warren Zevon
Recorded by Warren Zevon
From Warren Zevon, 1976
Also famously covered by Linda Ronstadt
From Hasten Down the Wind, 1976
Out there on the limb:
Provided to YouTube by Warner Music Group Hasten Down the Wind (2008 Remastered Version) · Warren Zevon Warren Zevon (Collector's Edition) (with PDF Booklet)...
4 people like this
5 responses
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Jan 18
Hmmmm.....I think I may have this album by that singer...what's her name again?
2 people like this
@FourWalls (68892)
• United States
25 Jan 18
Rhonda Linstead, or something like that.
3 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Jan 18
@FourWalls She looks familiar. I may have heard that tune in concert.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (68892)
• United States
25 Jan 18
@JohnRoberts -- I've heard she might have a nice voice. Never really cared enough to check her out, though. If you have nothing else to do and give her a listen, let me know what you think.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Jan 18
But I like "Werewolves of London." I know it's not your favorite, but it did make me want to hear more.
Happy Birthday, Warren.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Jan 18
Thanks for sharing. Another new one on me. Never heard this before. I do love many Linda Ronstadt songs I think one of my top favorites is this one.
2 people like this