Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon. The album was released on February 15, 1980, by Elektra Records. Three singles were released from the album, one of which charted: "A Certain Girl" (a cover of a song previously recorded by Ernie K-Doe and the Yardbirds) reached No. 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was Zevon's second and final hit on that chart.
Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 15, 1980 | |||
Recorded | 1979 | |||
Studio | The Sound Factory, Hollywood, California | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 35:31 | |||
Label | Elektra | |||
Producer | Greg Ladanyi Warren Zevon | |||
Warren Zevon chronology | ||||
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Singles from Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School | ||||
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The album was dedicated to Ken Millar (1915–1983), popularly known as mystery writer Ross Macdonald, who had assisted Zevon in fighting through substance abuse addiction and successfully completing related treatment.[1]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Robert Christgau | B−[4] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [6] |
Record Mirror | [3] |
Rolling Stone | (positive)[5] |
Uncut | 8/10[7] |
Record World said of the single "Gorilla, You're a Desperado" that "Zevon paints a picturesque fantasy of LA upper middle class absurdity."[8]
All songs written by Warren Zevon, unless otherwise indicated.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School" | 3:00 | |
2. | "A Certain Girl" | Naomi Neville | 3:08 |
3. | "Jungle Work" | Jorge Calderón, Zevon | 3:58 |
4. | "Empty-Handed Heart" | 3:16 | |
5. | "Interlude No. 1" | 0:26 | |
6. | "Play It All Night Long" | 2:53 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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7. | "Jeannie Needs a Shooter" | Bruce Springsteen, Zevon | 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" | T-Bone Burnett, Zevon | 5:04 |
12. | "Wild Age" | 4:19 |
Chart (1980) | Position |
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Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[9] | 35 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[10] | 46 |
US Billboard 200[11] | 20 |