Under the Big Black Sun

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Under the Big Black Sun
Studio album by X
Released	July 1982
Recorded	1982, Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles
Genre	Punk
Length	33:45
Label	Elektra
Producer	Ray Manzarek
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (A-) link Rolling Stone link
X chronology
Wild Gift (1981) Under the Big Black Sun (1982) More Fun in the New World ( 1983)

Under the Big Black Sun is the third album by the band X, as their major-label (Elektra Records) debut. It was reissued with bonus tracks by Rhino Records in 2001.

The album was listed by band member Exene Cervenka as her favorite X album. Much of the material, including the album's title track, written after the tragic, untimely death of Cervenka's sister Mireille (Mary) in an automobile accident in April 1980. The stark black & white cover art was also a reflection of the mood of the band, particularly Ms. Cervenka, during this difficult and painful time.

The overall sound of the record still contains the hard-edged, fast-paced punk rock that became the band's trademark, but a more country and blues sound had also emerged from the mournful period. The album even contains a rare X slow song, "Come Back to Me," done in a 50s "doo-wop" style that is, once again, a tribute to Mary Cervenka. A fast-paced version of Lead Belly's song "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" with a country-swing style that the band had never before or since emulated, was also a tribute to Mary.

Contents 1 Track listing 1.1 Side one 1.2 Side two 1.3 Bonus tracks (2001 reissue) 2 Personnel 2.1 Additional personnel 3 Charts

[edit] Track listing

All tracks written by John Doe and Exene Cervenka except as indicated.

[edit] Side one

1. "The Hungry Wolf" – 3:45
2. "Motel Room in My Bed" – 2:32
3. "Riding with Mary" – 3:40
4. "Come Back to Me" – 3:43
5. "Under the Big Black Sun" – 3:23
6. "Because I Do" – 2:21

[edit] Side two

1. "Blue Spark" – 2:06
2. "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" (Huddy Ledbetter) – 2:20
3. "Real Child of Hell" – 2:59
4. "How I (Learned My Lesson)" – 2:12
5. "The Have Nots" – 4:44

[edit] Bonus tracks (2001 reissue)

1. "Riding with Mary" (Single version) – 3:12
2. X Rewrites "El Paso" (Rehearsal)/"Because I Do" (TV Mix/Instrumental)" (Marty Robbins, Cervenka, Doe) – 2:56
3. "Universal Corner" (Live) – 4:08
4. "Breathless" (Single mix) (Otis Blackwell) – 2:20
5. "How I (Learned My Lesson)" (Live) – 2:20

[edit] Personnel

• John Doe – bass, vocals
• Exene Cervenka – vocals
• Billy Zoom – guitar, saxophone, clarinet
• D.J. Bonebrake – drums, marimba vibes, percussion

[edit] Additional personnel

• Ray Manzarek – keyboards on "Riding with Mary" (Single version)

[edit] Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1982	Billboard Pop Albums	76

v • d • e X Exene Cervenka · John Doe · Billy Zoom · D. J. Bonebrake Dave Alvin · Tony Gilkyson Studio albums Los Angeles · Wild Gift · Under the Big Black Sun · More Fun in the New World · Ain't Love Grand! · See How We Are · hey Zeus! Live albums Live at the Whisky a Go-Go · unclogged  · X - Live in Los Angeles Compilations Beyond and Back: The X Anthology · The Best: Make the Music Go Bang! Videos X: The Unheard Music · X - Live in Los Angeles Related Articles The Knitters · Ray Manzarek · The Decline of Western Civilization · Urgh! A Music War · Mayor of the Sunset Strip