“Werewolves of London” (Warren Zevon)

It’s Halloween week, so what better classic song of the day today than Warren Zevon’s monster hit, “Werewolves of London?” Released in January of 1978, this one punched well above its weight, becoming a long-time favorite even if it peaked at just #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #16 on the Cash Box Top 100.

Warren Zevon wrote “Werewolves of London” in 1975 after his pal Phil Everly, of the Everly Brothers, had watched a late-night television broadcast of the 1935 Universal Pictures monster movie, Werewolf of London. Phil jokingly suggested to Warren that he borrow the movie’s title to invent a new dance craze. Warren took the bait and he, guitarist Waddy Wachtel, and fellow songwriter LeRoy Marinelli wrote the song in about 15 minutes, egging each other on with each new verse more cleverly humorous than the previous. It’s clear they didn’t take it too terribly seriously.

Another L.A. pal of theirs, a cat named Jackson Browne, did take the song seriously; after seeing the lyrics Warren and the boys had written, he started performing it during his own concerts in a kind of reggae version. That inspired Warren to record the song himself, which he did for the sessions leading to his third solo LP, Excitable Boy.

The assemblage of musicians playing on “Werewolves of London” is legendary. The backup band for this track included Mr. Zevon on piano (and vocals, of course), Waddy Wachtel on guitar, Fleetwood Mac’s John McVie on bass, and the Mac’s founder Mick Fleetwood on drums. (Russ Kunkel played drums on an earlier attempt, but it didn’t quite click, believe it or not.)

The best thing about “Werewolves of London” might be that distinctive piano riff or it might be Zevon’s cleverer-than-thou lyrics. Okay, it’s probably the lyrics. I mean, can you get any better than this:

I saw werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
Walking through the streets of SoHo in the rain
He was looking for the place called Lee Ho Fooks
For to get a big dish of beef chow mein

He’s the hairy handed gent who ran amok in Kent
Lately he’s been overheard in Mayfair
You better stay away from him, he’ll rip your lungs out Jim
Huh, I’d like to meet his tailor

Well, I saw Lon Chaney walking with the Queen
Doin’ the werewolves of London
I saw Lon Chaney Jr. walking with the Queen, uh
Doin’ the werewolves of London
I saw a werewolf drinkin’ a piña colada at Trader Vic’s
His hair was perfect

All capped, of course, by that patented werewolf howl, “Ah-hoo!” Yeah, it’s pretty great, and just perfect for Halloween.

Warren Zevon might have written better songs (“Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner,” “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” “Hasten Down the Wind“) but none more memorable. So cue the stylus on the lead-in groove and get ready to sing along with Warren and his friends….

Ah-hoo, werewolves of London
Ah-hoo
Ah-hoo, werewolves of London
Ah-hoo

Are you ready for Halloween?