Airdate – May 29, 2022

In the mid-70s an American singer/songwriter, with the assistance of two fellow composers, followed up on a suggestion from Phil Everly of Everly Brothers fame, and created a recording that became a cult classic and his signature recording …

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In 1975, after watching a horror film from 1935 on late night television, Phil Everly suggested our featured singer/songwriter adapt the title of this classic movie for a song and dance craze.

In about 15 minutes, the artist along with singer/songwriters, LeRoy Marinell and Waddy Wachtel, completed the composition with none of the trio taking the tune seriously.

Jackson Browne, who was demoing some of our featured artist’s songs for the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, got wind of the new composition – a novelty song which was probably better described as “comic noir.”

Browne subsequently began performing the song occasionally during his live performances – three years before our featured artist finally recorded it.

The song appeared on the artist’s third album, “Excitable Boy,” and features Fleetwood Mac members, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, on the drums and bass guitar, respectively.

Unexpectantly, the song took off and our featured artist found himself on David Letterman’s show on numerous occasions.

The song peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978, remaining on the charts for 12 straight weeks.

Imagine, if Phil Everly hadn’t stayed up one night to watch a horror picture, Warren Zevon would not be singing about “Werewolves of London,” this week’s Tom Locke moment in time.

YouTube video of this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qae25976UgA