"The Wind", the twelfth and final studio album by Warren Zevon, was released 11 years ago today (26 August 2003). Zevon began recording the album shortly after he was diagnosed with inoperable plural mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the lung), and it was released just two weeks before his death on September 7, 2003. The album was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. "Disorder In The House", performed by Zevon and Bruce Springsteen, won Best Rock Vocal Performance (Group or Duo). Songs from the album were nominated for an additional three Grammys.n". This may account for the mellow mood of the album, particularly the second half of the LP. Young has said of it "Good album. One side of it particularly-the side with 'Ambulance Blues', 'Motion Pictures' and 'On The Beach' - it's out there. It's a great take." Warren Zevon knew he was dying when he began recording his final album in the fall of 2002. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma just a few weeks before the recording sessions started for "The Wind", and he had a set of new mournful songs about mortality plus the usual assortment of familiar themes ready to go.
Warren Zevon: Keep Me in Your Heart
A cinema verite portrait of the recording of Zevon's swansong album: 'The Wind'
