Produced by Jackson Browne, Chicago native Warren Zevon's "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me" made it's first appearance on his 1976 self-titled album. During the seventies Warren toured and recorded with the Everly Brothers. Later that decade he roomed with the unknown Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.

Linda Ronstadt's 1977 cover was produced by Peter (Peter and Gordon) Asher and is contained on her album "Simple Dreams". The single made it into the top thirty for this multi Grammy award winning artist.