# The First Sessions

The First Sessions is a 2003 compilation album of early recordings by American rock musician Warren Zevon, including his short-lived folk pop duo lyme & cybelle.

## Recording and release

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 to Work", production on "A Bullet for Ramona"
* Jim Bell – backing vocals on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to Work"
* Ben Benay – guitar on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to 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 to 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 to 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 to Work"
* Toxie French – drums on "Song 7" and "Write If You Get to 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 to 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 to 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 to 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 to 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 to Work" (possibly Toxie French)