Warren Zevon
Transverse City

Artist: Warren Zevon
Title: Transverse City
Release Year: 1989
Pressing Year: 1989
Label: Virgin Records America
Catalog Number: 91068-1
Runout Etching: ST-VR 897583-A [infinity symbol]
Runout Stamping: TML-M
Format: 33 RPM • 12” Album • Stereo
UPC: 075679106810

In 1987, ’Sentimental Hygiene’ rescued Warren Zevon from record industry limbo and returned him to major-label status. But rather than return to the rough-and-ready sound of that album, he used his new corporate patronage to finance this album, a significantly grander and darker project.

The album features an impressive array of guest stars -- including Jerry Garcia, David Gilmour, Neil Young, Jack Casady, Chick Corea, Jorma Kaukonen, and Benmont Tench -- but while its surface is as glossy as the albums Zevon created when he was the darling of the L.A. Mellow Mafia, the tone is as grim as anything the man ever created. This recording is a song cycle about a culture in collapse, in which technology has become an unfriendly master, the sky and stars have grown unfamiliar, conflict lurks around every corner, and our last remaining freedom is the right to spend our money.

Zevon aims for black humor here and there, most notably in the sly Networking and the tongue-in-cheek consumer anthem Down At The Mall, but more typical is the dread of Run Straight Down, the urban paranoia of Gridlock, and the title song's celebration of a land where "life is cheap and death is free."

The album's sole note of compassion is the final cut, Nobody's In Love This Year, and even that song is a rueful meditation on a time and place where solace is a scarce commodity. It’s a fitting closer for an album that digs so deeply into the dark and bloody heart of the last days of the Reagan era. This recording didn't fare well at the marketplace -- no great surprise given the album's unforgiving themes -- but it deserves rediscovery as one of Warren Zevon’s most ambitious and uncompromising achievements.

Personnel: Warren Zevon (vocals, keyboards, guitar, backing vocals, harmonica); Jerry Garcia, David Gilmour, Waddy Wachtel (guitar); John Patatucci, Bob Glaub (bass); Richie Hayward (drums); Chick Corea (piano); Benmont Tench (organ); J.D. Souther, Jordan Zevon (backing vocals); Howie Epstein (banjo, mandolin, bass); Jorge Calderon, Jack Casady (bass, backing vocals); Neil Young, Jorma Kaukonen (guitar, backing vocals); David Lindley (lap steel guitar, saz, oud, baglama, backing vocals); Mike Campbell (guitar, mandolin); Mark Isham (fluegelhorn); Rob Jaczko (percussion).

NOTE: I try to match the condition of my vinyl records to eBay's Grading System.

VINYL GRADE: VG+
Notes: Minimal surface noise. A brief cleaning is all this one needs. No warping.

LABEL GRADE: VG+
Notes: No ring wear, spindle wear, tape, or writing. B&W skull head wearing glasses & smoking a cigarette on black. Text is silver and red on black.

SLEEVE GRADE: VG
Notes: Original glossy white paper. No marks, no writing, no tape, no stains. Some crinkles. One side has Side One lyrics, personnel, and a b&w photo of each of the producers on a gray representation of a chemical formula. The other side has Side Two lyrics, personnel, and liner notes. Three-and-one-quarter-inch split at center of bottom edge; 2.5-inch split at center of right edge; 2-inch split at center of left edge.

JACKET GRADE: VG+
Notes: No visible ring wear; original shrink wrap open but still tightly clinging. No tape, no writing, no splits, a few tiny dings, some crinkles. Corners, spine (readable), and edges are slightly worn. Original promo stickers are attached to the original shrink wrap. Tiny cut-out notch at top right corner. (See my original scan.)

Shipping is $4.00. NOTE: I will NOT be responsible for items lost or damaged in the mail.

Combined shipping: I will be happy to combine multiple items. If you buy more than one item from me, the shipping cost will be the highest original shipping fee plus $1 per additional item.

Payments managed by eBay.

This is not a record-club pressing. It is the original issue.

Note: I haven't cleaned this 35-year-old vinyl record because everybody seems to prefer their own methods. I'll leave the cleaning up to the buyer. Also, I'm not a professional vinyl seller or buyer. Purchased at The Record Exchange, downtown Blacksburg VA.

Enjoy the auction — and good luck!