Sentimental Hygiene
Studio album by
Warren Zevon
ReleasedAugust 29, 1987 (1987-08-29)
Recorded1987
Studio
  • Record One (Los Angeles)
  • A&M (Hollywood)
  • Cheshire Sound (Atlanta)
GenreRock, hard rock, alternative rock, folk rock
Length36:49
LanguageEnglish
LabelVirgin
ProducerWarren Zevon, Niko Bolas, Andrew Slater
Warren Zevon chronology
A Quiet Normal Life: The Best of Warren Zevon
(1986) 		Sentimental Hygiene
(1987) 		Transverse City
(1989)
Singles from Sentimental Hygiene
  1. "Sentimental Hygiene"
    Released: 1987
  2. "Boom Boom Mancini"
    Released: 1987
  3. "Reconsider Me"
    Released: 1987
  4. "Detox Mansion"
    Released: 1987
  5. "Bad Karma"
    Released: 1987
  6. "Leave My Monkey Alone"
    Released: 1987
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauA−[2]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Rolling Stone(favorable)[4]
Uncut8/10[5]

Sentimental Hygiene is the sixth studio album by rock singer-songwriter Warren Zevon and his first "sober" one. The album was released on August 29, 1987, by Virgin Records. The release of Sentimental Hygiene marked the first studio album for Zevon in five years. It produced the single "Reconsider Me", as well as the dance single "Leave My Monkey Alone". The band on the album includes guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry (all of R.E.M.), who also recorded an album of covers with Zevon (under the name “Hindu Love Gods”) at this time.

The single version of "Leave My Monkey Alone" was extended to 10:34 minutes and included a remix by the Latin Rascals (Albert Cabrera and Tony Moran) and the non-album track, "Nocturne".[6]

"Even a Dog Can Shake Hands" was used as the opening theme music for the short-lived Fox comedy series Action. The song was co-written by Buck, Berry and Mills. Michael Stipe, lead singer of R.E.M., appears on the song "Bad Karma". The album also features contributions by Bob Dylan, playing harmonica on “The Factory”, and Neil Young playing lead guitar on “Sentimental Hygiene”.

The song "Boom Boom Mancini" was inspired by boxer Ray Mancini and his contest against Bobby Chacon.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Warren Zevon, except where indicated.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Sentimental Hygiene" 5:06
2."Boom Boom Mancini" 4:54
3."The Factory" 2:45
4."Trouble Waiting to Happen"J. D. Souther, Zevon3:32
5."Reconsider Me" 3:09
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Detox Mansion"Jorge Calderón, Zevon3:15
7."Bad Karma" 3:15
8."Even a Dog Can Shake Hands"Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Zevon3:26
9."The Heartache" 3:19
10."Leave My Monkey Alone" 4:12

Personnel

Production

Charts

Sales chart performance for Sentimental Hygiene
Chart (1987) Peak
Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 42

References

  1. ^ Mark Deming. "Sentimental Hygiene – Warren Zevon | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  2. ^ "CG: warren zevon". Robert Christgau. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  3. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  4. ^ "Warren Zevon: Sentimental Hygiene : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. July 16, 1987. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  5. ^ "How to buy Warren Zevon". Uncut. October 2023. p. 71.
  6. ^ "Warren Zevon – Leave My Monkey Alone (1987, Vinyl)". Discogs.
  7. ^ 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.
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