Quirky tribute due for Zevon

Now those artists have contributed to an official Zevon tribute album, with live versions of Dylan performing the 1995 song "Mutineer" and Springsteen doing the sardonic 2002 song "My Ride's Here" anchoring the collection, due in the fall from Artemis Records.

Those entries aren't really surprises, given the long relationship between Zevon and the two artists. Nor is the presence on the album of Jackson Browne, one of Zevon's closest friends.

But there are a couple of unexpected contributors, such as art-punk avatars the Pixies. The most unexpected participant, though, is certainly Adam Sandler, doing Zevon's first and biggest hit, "Werewolves of London." But don't worry, the comedian doesn't turn it into "Werewolves of Chanukah."

That possibility was a concern of the late musician's son, Jordan Zevon, co-executive producer of the project with Jorge Calderon, Zevon's longtime bassist and co-writer.

"I was kind of back and forth about having Sandler," Zevon says. "I thought some comedy would be good. Dad was such a funny guy and a fan of comedy. And then I was worried it might end up being too serious.

"I loved the idea initially because it was so left-field. But when I met Sandler at the session, he told me his dad had passed away recently, and he played a song he'd written about that which was funny but respectful. And that's how he sang our track -- respectful, but at the end he deviates from the original a bit. It's not a banana peel. It was a gamble that really paid off."

The idea for having Sandler came from guitarist Waddy Wachtel, another longtime Zevon associate, who had worked with the comedian on his recording projects. Calderon too had reservations, but was soon convinced.

"At first I told Waddy, 'I hope we're not making a parody of the song,' " Calderon says. "He said, 'No, I don't think we will.' And it fit like a glove. Adam sang it once and we were, 'Oh, my God, this is great!' He came in very prepared. He's believable and quirky at the same time."

(Sandler was not available for an interview.)

The idea for the album was floated before Zevon died.

"I even spoke to Warren about it and he was totally, 'Not while I'm still here,' " Calderon says. "But we already had the idea between Jackson and myself and Artemis."