Mr. Bad Example

Mr. Bad Example
Mr. Bad Example
Studio album by Warren Zevon
Released	October 1991
Recorded	1991
Studio	The Sound Factory, Los Angeles; Dodge City, Glendale, California
Genre	Rock
Length	40:15
Label	Giant
Producer	Waddy Wachtel
Warren Zevon chronology
Singles from Mr. Bad Example
	"Finishing Touches"; Released: 1991; "Searching for a Heart"; Released: 1991;

Mr. Bad Example is an album by the American musician Warren Zevon, released through Giant Records in October 1991.^[1]^[2] Zevon supported the album with a North American tour, with Odds serving as both opener and backing band.^[3]^[4]

Production

Mr. Bad Example was produced by Waddy Wachtel.^[5] Los Angeles session musicians contributed to the album.^[6] Zevon sometimes struggled for songwriting ideas, but always finished a song once he had started.^[7]

Dwight Yoakam provided backing vocals on "Heartache Spoken Here"; Dan Dugmore played pedal steel.^[8]^[9] David Lindley played a variety of instruments on "Quite Ugly One Morning".^[10] "Searching for a Heart" appeared on the soundtrack to the film Love at Large.^[11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[12]
Calgary Herald	C^[13]
Chicago Tribune	^[14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[15]
Rolling Stone	^[16]
Uncut	8/10^[17]
Vancouver Sun	^[6]

The Boston Globe called Mr. Bad Example "a wonderful, resonant album, eclectic and accessible."^[18] The Chicago Tribune deemed it "a return to the terse guitar-drums-keyboard format of [Zevon's] '70s albums."^[14] The Sun Sentinel considered it to be "pure, earthy rock accessibly colored by Zevon's typically wry imagery."^[19]

The Calgary Herald wrote that "Zevon's become a somewhat torpid renegade wailing away about his rebellion while safely ensconced in L.A. security."^[13] The Austin American-Statesman determined that "Zevon's first-person characters on this record are shocking, reprehensible and relentlessly slapstick."^[20]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Warren Zevon, except where indicated.

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Finishing Touches"		4:05
2.	"Suzie Lightning"		4:04
3.	"Model Citizen"	LeRoy Marinell, Waddy Wachtel, Zevon	4:39
4.	"Angel Dressed in Black"	Julia Mueller, Waddy Wachtel, Zevon	4:24
5.	"Mr. Bad Example"	Jorge Calderón, Zevon	3:22

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Renegade"		4:51
7.	"Heartache Spoken Here"		3:48
8.	"Quite Ugly One Morning"		3:53
9.	"Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead"	LeRoy Marinell, Waddy Wachtel, Zevon	2:53
10.	"Searching for a Heart"		4:16

Personnel

Warren Zevon – guitar, keyboards, vocals
Jorge Calderón – bass guitar on "Mr. Bad Example", "Quite Ugly One Morning" and "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead", harmony vocals
Dan Dugmore – guitar on "Model Citizen", pedal steel on "Heartache Spoken Here"
Bob Glaub – bass guitar
Jim Keltner – drums on "Mr. Bad Example" and "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead"
Tito Larriva – harmony vocals on "Angel Dressed in Black"
Kipp Lennon – harmony vocals on "Searching for a Heart"
Mark Lennon – harmony vocals on "Searching for a Heart"
Michael Lennon – harmony vocals on "Searching for a Heart"
David Lindley – fiddle on "Renegade", saz, lap steel guitar, cümbüş on "Quite Ugly One Morning"
Jeff Porcaro – drums on all tracks except "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead"
Waddy Wachtel – guitar, harmony vocals
Dwight Yoakam – harmony vocals on "Heartache Spoken Here"
Jordan Zevon – harmony vocals

Production

Producer: Waddy Wachtel
Engineer: Marc DeSisto
Assistant engineers: Andrew Ballard, Scott Blockland, Jeffrey Shannon, Brian Soucy
Mixing: Niko Bolas, John Beverly Jones
Dave Collins – Mastering
Technical assistance: Peggy McAfee, Tom Smyth
Art Direction and design: Jeri Heiden
Photography: Diego Uchitel, Jimmy Wachtel

Charts

Weekly chart performance for *Mr. Bad Example*
Chart (2025)	Peak position
Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)^[21]	39

References

^ Gundersen, Edna (October 9, 1991). "Standout fall LPs still due". USA Today. p. 5D.
^ Ehrlich, Dimitri (October 1991). "Mr. Bad Example by Warren Zevon". Interview. Vol. 210, no. 10. p. 28.
^ "This Week". Fanfare. Newsday. December 15, 1991. p. 2.
^ Pareles, Jon (December 19, 1991). "Warren Zevon and the Odds, The Marquee". The New York Times. p. C13.
^ "Mr. Bad Example by Warren Zevon". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 43. October 26, 1991. p. 82.
^ ^a ^b Potter, Greg (January 2, 1992). "Some wickedly memorable recordings to wrap up the old year". Vancouver Sun. p. C6.
^ Cromelin, Richard (February 4, 1992). "An Excitable Boy Becomes 'Mr. Bad Example'". Los Angeles Times. p. F3.
^ Garofoli, Joe (October 27, 1991). "Warren Zevon's extreme examples are his best". The Milwaukee Journal. p. E2.
^ Gettelman, Parry (November 8, 1991). "Warren Zevon". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 8.
^ Puterbaugh, Parke (February 1992). "Mr. Bad Example by Warren Zevon". Stereo Review. Vol. 57, no. 2. p. 132.
^ Allan, Marc D. (November 11, 1991). "'Mr. Bad Example' offers good sample". The Indianapolis Star. p. B5.
^ Mark Deming (October 15, 1991). "Mr. Bad Example – Warren Zevon | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
^ ^a ^b Wagamese, Richard (October 20, 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C7.
^ ^a ^b Kot, Greg (October 24, 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
^ "Warren Zevon: Mr. Bad Example : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Web.archive.org. November 28, 1991. Archived from the original on May 22, 2008. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
^ "How to buy Warren Zevon". Uncut. October 2023. p. 71.
^ Sullivan, Jim (October 24, 1991). "Warren Zevon Mr. Bad Example". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 10.
^ Lannert, John (May 22, 1992). "Warren Zevon Kicks Off U.S. Tour with Carefree Show". Features Showtime. Sun Sentinel. p. 30.
^ Graff, Gary (October 31, 1991). "'Bad Example' isn't". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. p. 20.
^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2025. 44. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved November 5, 2025.

[1] Gundersen, Edna (October 9, 1991). "Standout fall LPs still due". USA Today. p. 5D.

[2] Ehrlich, Dimitri (October 1991). "Mr. Bad Example by Warren Zevon". Interview. Vol. 210, no. 10. p. 28.

[3] "This Week". Fanfare. Newsday. December 15, 1991. p. 2.

[4] Pareles, Jon (December 19, 1991). "Warren Zevon and the Odds, The Marquee". The New York Times. p. C13.

[5] "Mr. Bad Example by Warren Zevon". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 43. October 26, 1991. p. 82.

[VS-6] Potter, Greg (January 2, 1992). "Some wickedly memorable recordings to wrap up the old year". Vancouver Sun. p. C6.

[7] Cromelin, Richard (February 4, 1992). "An Excitable Boy Becomes 'Mr. Bad Example'". Los Angeles Times. p. F3.

[8] Garofoli, Joe (October 27, 1991). "Warren Zevon's extreme examples are his best". The Milwaukee Journal. p. E2.

[9] Gettelman, Parry (November 8, 1991). "Warren Zevon". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 8.

[10] Puterbaugh, Parke (February 1992). "Mr. Bad Example by Warren Zevon". Stereo Review. Vol. 57, no. 2. p. 132.

[11] Allan, Marc D. (November 11, 1991). "'Mr. Bad Example' offers good sample". The Indianapolis Star. p. B5.

[12] Mark Deming (October 15, 1991). "Mr. Bad Example – Warren Zevon | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 23, 2015.

[CH-13] Wagamese, Richard (October 20, 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C7.

[CT-14] Kot, Greg (October 24, 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.

[15] Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.

[16] "Warren Zevon: Mr. Bad Example : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Web.archive.org. November 28, 1991. Archived from the original on May 22, 2008. Retrieved October 23, 2015.

[17] "How to buy Warren Zevon". Uncut. October 2023. p. 71.

[18] Sullivan, Jim (October 24, 1991). "Warren Zevon Mr. Bad Example". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 10.

[19] Lannert, John (May 22, 1992). "Warren Zevon Kicks Off U.S. Tour with Carefree Show". Features Showtime. Sun Sentinel. p. 30.

[20] Graff, Gary (October 31, 1991). "'Bad Example' isn't". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. p. 20.

[21] "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2025. 44. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved November 5, 2025.

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v t e Warren Zevon
Studio albums	Wanted Dead or Alive Warren Zevon Excitable Boy Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School The Envoy Sentimental Hygiene Transverse City Hindu Love Gods Mr. Bad Example Mutineer Life'll Kill Ya My Ride's Here The Wind
Live albums	Stand in the Fire Learning to Flinch
Compilations	A Quiet Normal Life: The Best of Warren Zevon I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology) Genius: The Best of Warren Zevon The First Sessions Reconsider Me: The Love Songs Preludes: Rare and Unreleased Recordings
Tribute albums	Enjoy Every Sandwich: The Songs of Warren Zevon
Songs	"Follow Me" "Carmelita" "Desperados Under the Eaves" "Hasten Down the Wind" "Lawyers, Guns and Money" "Mohammed's Radio" "Mr. Bad Example" "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" "Werewolves of London" "A Certain Girl" "Reconsider Me"
Related articles	Discography I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon Jordan Zevon (son) Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead Hindu Love Gods Hindu Love Gods Action Appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2002
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