The First Sessions

The First Sessions represents most of the early recordings from Zevon, when he was a member of the Los Angeles folk rock scene of the 1960s, including his time in the duo Lyme & Cybelle with Violet Santangelo. The compilation is mostly made up of a series of singles the group recorded, along with scattered sessions that Zevon did as a solo artist. The final two tracks, "Song 7" and "Write If You Get Work", were recorded by Lyme & Cybelle after Zevon had left the duo, and Wayne Erwin had taken over as "Stephen Lyme". Zevon had no involvement in any capacity whatsoever on these tracks. ==Reception==

The editorial staff of AllMusic Guide gave the release three out of five stars, with reviewer Richie Unterberger emphasizing how uneven the compilation is, going from "nice folk-rock-pop tunes" to "dull" ones. A review in No Depression calls the compilation "missed opportunities" that has several desirable qualities, from the liner notes and design of the packaging, to Zevon's "rapier wit" and a "powerful solo" in "A Bullet for Ramona". ==Track listing==

• "Follow Me" (Violet Santangelo and Warren Zevon), by Lyme & Cybelle – 2:29 • "Like the Seasons" (Santangelo and Zevon), by Lyme & Cybelle – 1:54 • "I've Just Seen a Face" (John Lennon and Paul McCartney), by Lyme & Cybelle – 1:28 • "Peeping and Hiding" (Jimmy Reed), by Lyme & Cybelle – 2:30 • "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" (Bob Dylan), by Lyme & Cybelle – 2:46 • "I'll Go On" (Santangelo and Zevon), by Lyme & Cybelle – 2:33 • "Follow Me" (Santangelo and Zevon), by Lyme & Cybelle – 2:18 • "(You Used to) Ride So High (Glenn Crocker and Zevon), by The Motorcycle Abeline – 2:36 • "Outside Chance" (Zevon), by Warren Zevon – 2:13 • "I See the Lights" (Zevon), by Warren Zevon – 2:15 • "And If I Had You" (Santangelo and Zevon), by Warren Zevon – 2:34 • "A Bullet for Ramona" (Paul Evans and Zevon), by Warren Zevon – 4:03 • "Song 7" (Joe Glenn), by Lyme & Cybelle – 2:04 • "Write If You Get Work" (Joe Glenn), by Lyme & Cybelle – 1:45 ==Personnel==

• Warren Zevon – vocals, bass guitar, guitar, except on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get Work", production on "A Bullet for Ramona" • Jim Bell – backing vocals on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get Work" • Ben Benay – guitar on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get Work" • Lou Blackburn – trombone on "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" • Hal Blaine – drums on "Follow Me", "Like the Seasons", "Peeping and Hiding", "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", and "I'll Go On" • Curt Boettcher – backing vocals and production on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get Work" • Dennis Budimir – guitar on "Follow Me", "Like the Seasons", "Peeping and Hiding", "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", and "I'll Go On" • Jules Chaiken – trumpet on "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" • Mike Deasy, Sr. – guitar on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get Work" • Joseph DiFiore – cello on "Like the Seasons" • Dawn Eden – liner notes • Jesse Ehrlich – cello on "Like the Seasons" • Wayne Erwin – vocals and guitar on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get Work" • Toxie French – drums on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get Work" (possibly Jimmy Troxell) • Daniel Hersch – digital remastering • Bones Howe – percussion on "Follow Me"; "Like the Seasons"; "Peeping and Hiding"; "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"; and "I'll Go On", drums and percussion on "(You Used To) Ride So High", production on "Follow Me", "Like the Seasons"; "Peeping and Hiding"; "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"; "I'll Go On"; and "(You Used To) Ride So High", compilation • Larry Knechtel – organ and piano on "Follow Me", "Like the Seasons", "Peeping and Hiding", "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", and "I'll Go On" • Dick Leith – trombone on "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" • Lynn Malarsky – violin on "Like the Seasons" • Lee Mallory – backing vocals on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get Work" • Cary E. Mansfield – compilation • Ollie Mitchell – trumpet on "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" • Michele O'Malley – backing vocals on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get Work" • Joe Osborn – bass guitar on "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" • Bill Pitzonka – art direction, design, artwork • Lyle Ritz – bass guitar on "Follow Me", "Like the Seasons", "Peeping and Hiding", and "I'll Go On" • Sandy Salisbury – backing vocals on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get Work" • Violet Santangelo – vocals on Lyme & Cybelle tracks, photography (credited as Laura Kenyon) • Joe Saxon – cello on "Like the Seasons" • Jerry Scheff – bass guitar on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get Work" • Tommy Tedesco – guitar on "Follow Me", "Like the Seasons", "Peeping and Hiding", "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", and "I'll Go On" • Bob Thompson – conduction on "Follow Me", "Like the Seasons", "Peeping and Hiding", "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", and "I'll Go On" • Jimmy Troxell – drums on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get Work" (possibly Toxie French) ==See also==