Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School
Warren Zevon · 1980
35 min · 12 tracks · folk rock
A witty blend of rock and folk, underscored by dark humor and biting social commentary.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School — The title track encapsulates Zevon's signature wit while addressing themes of failure and disillusionment within the context of the music industry.
-
→
Play It All Night Long — This upbeat track cleverly juxtaposes the carefree nature of partying with underlying themes of existential dread, making it memorable and impactful.
-
→
Jeannie Needs a Shooter — Combining storytelling with a catchy melody, this song showcases Zevon's knack for character-driven narratives, reflecting on desperation and desire.
-
→
Gorilla You’re a Desperado — With its playful yet pointed lyrics, this track highlights Zevon's ability to blend humor with serious commentary on human behavior.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Warren Zevon's sharp lyrics and varied instrumentation create a distinctive yet cohesive listening experience.
What we noticed
- Several songs employ a storytelling format, with lyrics that blend humor and social commentary, particularly evident in 'Play It All Night Long'.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- sardonic storytelling appreciation
- short, engaging listening sessions
- dynamic emotional narratives
- dark humor enthusiasts
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1980, Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School is Warren Zevon's fourth studio album, following his self-titled breakthrough in 1976. At this point in his career, Zevon was solidifying his reputation as a sharp lyricist and storyteller, building on the success of his previous works like Excitable Boy.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Jackson Browne· Loudon Wainwright III· Elvis Costello
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School 3:00
- 2 A Certain Girl 3:08
- 3 Jungle Work 3:58
- 4 Empty-Handed Heart 3:16
- 5 Interlude No. 1 0:26
- 6 Play It All Night Long 2:53
- 7 Jeannie Needs a Shooter 3:55
- 8 Interlude No. 2 1:08
- 9 Bill Lee 1:37
- 10 Gorilla You’re a Desperado 2:47
- 11 Bed of Coals 5:04
- 12 Wild Age 4:19
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.