Stand in the Fire is a live album by American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, released December 26, 1980. It was recorded in August 1980 during a five-night residency at The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, California and featured two new original songs ("Stand in the Fire" and "The Sin") and one new cover ("Bo Diddley's a Gunslinger"). The album was dedicated to Martin Scorsese.

Stand in the Fire
Live album by
ReleasedDecember 26, 1980 (1980-12-26)
RecordedAugust 1980
VenueThe Roxy Theatre, Los Angeles
GenreRock
Length42:37
LabelAsylum
ProducerWarren Zevon
Greg Ladanyi
Warren Zevon chronology
Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School
(1980)
Stand in the Fire
(1980)
The Envoy
(1982)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Robert ChristgauA−[2]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Music Box[4]

It was released in a limited edition, LP replica sleeve on CD April 25, 2006 in Japan. A remastered and expanded edition (four additional tracks) was released on March 26, 2007 in the U.K., March 27, 2007 in the U.S. A deluxe vinyl edition, expanded to a 2-LP set, that includes 10 bonus tracks: 4 songs previously unavailable on vinyl and 6 songs previously unreleased on any format (that is, 20 tracks in total) was released via Rhino Records on 2 April 2021.

Band members Zeke Zirngiebel, Bob Harris and Marty Stinger were in Boulder, a band signed to Elektra Records.[5] The singer was Stan Bush. Their self-titled album was released in 1979 and it included Zevon's "Join Me in L.A." Bob Harris later went on to work with Frank Zappa.

Zevon called the concerts "The Dog Ate the Part We Didn't Like Tour".[5]

Track listing

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All songs written by Warren Zevon unless otherwise indicated.

Side one
  1. "Stand in the Fire" – 3:26
  2. "Jeannie Needs a Shooter" (Bruce Springsteen, Zevon) – 4:00
  3. "Excitable Boy" (LeRoy Marinell, Zevon) – 3:52
  4. "Mohammed's Radio" – 4:45
  5. "Werewolves of London" (LeRoy Marinell, Waddy Wachtel, Zevon) – 4:48
Side two
  1. "Lawyers, Guns and Money" – 3:49
  2. "The Sin" – 3:06
  3. "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" – 4:08
  4. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" – 4:28
  5. "Bo Diddley's a Gunslinger" / "Bo Diddley" (Bo Diddley) – 4:15

Bonus Tracks on 2007 Remastered Edition

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  1. "Johnny Strikes Up the Band" – 3:58
  2. "Play It All Night Long" – 4:50
  3. "Frank and Jesse James" – 4:27
  4. "Hasten Down the Wind" – 4:33

Deluxe 2-LP version, released 2 April 2021

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  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. "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner"
  13. "Play It All Night Long"
  14. "Night Time in the Switching Yard"
  15. "Gorilla You’re a Desperado"
  16. "Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School"
  17. "The Sin" (alternate slightly longer version)
  18. "Frank and Jesse James"
  19. "Hasten Down The Wind"
  20. "A Certain Girl"

Personnel

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  • Warren Zevon – bass, guitar, piano, keyboards, vocals, 12-string guitar
  • David Landau – lead guitar
  • Zeke Zirngiebel – guitar, electric guitar, rhythm guitar, steel guitar, vocals, 12-string guitar
  • Bob Harris – synthesizer, piano, backing vocals
  • Roberto Piñón – bass, backing vocals
  • Marty Stinger – drums
Technical
  • George Gruel – road manager
  • Jimmy Wachtel, Michael Curtis – art direction, photography
  • Recorded by Billy Youdelman and Greg Ladanyi
  • Mixed by Greg Ladanyi, assisted by James Ledner

Charts

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Chart (1980/81) Position
United States (Billboard 200)[citation needed] 80
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 94

References

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  1. ^ "Stand in the Fire – Warren Zevon – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  2. ^ "Robert Christgau: Consumer Guide Aug. 4, 1981". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  3. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  4. ^ Metzger, John. "Warren Zevon – Stand in the Fire (Album Review)". Musicbox-online.com. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "35 Years Ago: Warren Zevon Is Cut Loose on 'Stand in the Fire'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 348. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.