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Following Warren Zevon's death in 2003, his son Jordan Zevon discovered 126 unreleased outtakes and demos in a piano-sized touring case. This discovery would be distilled down to the best of these recordings and eventually released on May 1, 2007 as a 2CD set titled Preludes. When the album was released it featured sixteen unreleased recordings from Zevon's personal archives, as well as six never-before released songs and a five-part 2000 interview with KGSR's Jody Denberg.

Preludes was made available on vinyl for the first time by New West Records for Record Store Day in 2021. The special Record Store Day sky blue vinyl sold out instantly. Due to public demand, Preludes will be re-released as a 2LP 150g black vinyl on June 24, 2022 to all major retailers. An exclusive golden galaxy colored vinyl set will be available for New West Records online store customers only, limited to 1,000 pieces. Streaming versions are also available via Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

Amazon: Preludes 2LP / New West Records: 2LP Black Vinyl / New West Records: 2LP Golden Galaxy Vinyl

"Ariel and I knew enough about Dad to know that he would have been thrilled with the attention, but we also knew that there was a line between tribute and exploitation. We'd have to work together to make sure anything that bore his name was worthy of the years that he'd spent on his career and legacy.

I drove out ot the Valley and started the process of cleaning out one of my Dad's storage spaces. It contained dozens of reel-to-reel tapes, as well as a huge stack of acetates and test pressings. I read some of the titles -- The Rosarita Beach Cafe, Steady Rain, Empty Hearted Town... Over the next month I went through them and was consistently blown away by therse incredible demo recordings."
- Jordan Zevon

The first track from Preludes, a never before heard song entitled Empty Hearted Town, is made available to WarrenZevon.com visitors thanks to New West Records. Hit play below.

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Late Night with David Letterman
Warren Zevon Appearances

September 27, 1982
- Warren performs Excitable Boy and The Overdraft to promote the album The Envoy. Warren is the first guest and interviewed at length by Dave.

July 17, 1987
- Warren performs Boom Boom Mancini to promote the album Sentimental Hygiene. Warren joins Dave to end the show with an interview.

February 4, 1988
- Late Night 6th Anniversary Special, taped on January 24, 1988 from Radio City Music Hall. Warren is part of an all-star band supporting Ben E. King and Cyndi Lauper performing Sweet Soul Music

November 18, 1988
- Warren performs a medley of the Elvis Presley classic Trouble and Lawyers, Guns And Money. Warren also sits in with the band. Warren joins Dave to end the show with an interview.

November 16, 1989
- Warren performs Splendid Isolation to promote Transverse City and sits in with the band. Warren joins Dave to end the show with an interview.

November 28, 1990
- Warren performs Raspberry Beret to promote the album Hindu Love Gods and sits in with the band.

October 29, 1991
- Warren performs Finishing Touches to promote the album Mr. Bad Example.

June 26, 1992
- Warren performs Searching For A Heart with "the Zevonaires" to promote Mr. Bad Example and sits in with the band.

April 28, 1993
- Warren performs Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner to promote Learning To Flinch and sits in with the band.

Late Show with David Letterman
Warren Zevon Appearances

Show #65: November 26, 1993
- Warren performs Mr. Bad Example to promote the album Learning To Flinch and sits in with the band.

Show #405: June 26, 1995
- Warren performs Seminole Bingo to promote the album Mutineer.

Show #858: August 25, 1997
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer.

Show #859: August 26, 1997
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer.

Show #860: August 27, 1997
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer.

Show #861: August 28, 1997
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer.

Show #862: August 29, 1997
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer.

Show #863: September 1, 1997
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer.

Show #864: September 2, 1997
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer.

Show #865: September 3, 1997
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer.

Show #866: September 4, 1997
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer.

Show #867: September 5, 1997
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer.

Show #1088: September 30, 1998
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer due to Yom Kippur.

Show #1288: September 20, 1999
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer due to Yom Kippur.

Show #1306: October 14, 1999
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer who is at the Carole King Madison Square Garden Concert for People Magazine's 25th Anniversary.

Show #1307: October 15, 1999
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer who is at the Carole King Madison Square Garden Concert for People Magazine's 25th Anniversary.

Show #1432: June 29, 2000
- Warren performs Porcelain Monkey to promote the album Life'll Kill Ya.

Show #1477: September 14, 2000
- Warren sits in with the band on keyboards.

Show #1478: September 15, 2000
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer who is serving as musical director for the Democratic Benefit at Radio City Music Hall.

Show #1487: October 5, 2000
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer who was sick.

Show #1488: October 6, 2000
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer who was sick.

Show #1489: October 9, 2000
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer who was sick.

Show #1490: October 10, 2000
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer who was sick.

Show #1491: October 11, 2000
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer who was sick.

Show #1492: October 12, 2000
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer who was sick.

Show #1493: October 13, 2000
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer who was sick.

Show #1581: April 2, 2001
- Warren performs Hit Somebody with son Jordan on backing vocals.

Show #1679: September 27, 2001
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer due to Yom Kippur.

Show #1680: September 28, 2001
- Warren substitutes for Paul Shaffer due to Yom Kippur.

Show #1895: October 30, 2002
- Warren is the only guest, performing Mutineer, Genius, and Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner.

Special thanks to David Letterman expert Don Giller.

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