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Under the Big Black Sun

Reissued, Extra Tracks, Remastered

X Format: Audio CD
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 146 ratings
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MP3 Music, July 6, 1982
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Audio CD, Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, January 1, 1982
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Track Listings

1 The Hungry Wolf
2 Motel Room In My Bed
3 Riding With Mary
4 Come Back To Me
5 Under The Big Black Sun
6 Because I Do
7 Blue Spark
8 Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
9 Real Child Of Hell
10 How I (Learned My Lesson)
11 The Have Nots
12 Riding WIth Mary (Single Version)
13 X Rewrites 'El Paso' (Rehearsal)/Because I Do (TV Mix/Instrumental)
14 Universal Corner (Live)
15 Breathless (Single Mix)
16 How I (Learned My Lesson) (Live)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Under The Big Black Sun presents the complete original Elektra album plus 5 bonus tracks, 'Riding With Mary' (Single Version), 'X Rewrites El Paso' (Rehearsal), 'Because I Do' (TV Mix/Instrumental, 'Universal Corner' (Live), 'Breathless' (Single Mix) and

Amazon.com

By the time the title track's triumphant riff chime-growls out midway through Under the Big Black Sun, the listener has already been through the most wrenching sequence of X songs yet assembled. After the thumping bike-club anthem "The Hungry Wolf" opens this 1982 major-label debut, its tough-ass romanticism is quickly plowed under by memories of a motel bed "with rubber sheets" and two heartrending songs about Exene Cervenka's sister Mirielle, who'd been killed in a car crash. In fact, even without "Blue Spark," this would easily qualify as the group's most indigo record yet; the second half offers a lovingly surf-music-tinged remake of an old Tin Pan Alley tune, "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" and "The Have Nots," whose alcohol-soaked social comment clings so fiercely to mournfulness that hardly a wisp of punk anger can take hold. Rootsier than X's previous albums, Sun updates noirish dread with guitar wisdom. This remaster includes five bonus tracks, including the original mix of their Jerry Lee Lewis cover "Breathless." --Rickey Wright

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 5.75 x 0.45 inches; 7.49 ounces
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Elektra / Wea
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ December 9, 2006
  • Label ‏ : ‎ Elektra / Wea
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00005NTQ7
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 146 ratings

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
146 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

The Dagda
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Major Label Opening for Seasoned LA Punksters
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2017
Verified Purchase
This is for the expanded and remastered 2014 CD version. First the sound quality of the remastered studio tracks is excellent and avoids the now common over-use of compression. Not knowing what the quality of the bonus tracks was originally I can't tell how good or bad the mastering job is on those but at least the levels are consistent with the original album tracks. This is the 3rd album and the major label debut from X, the critic's darlings of the early LA punk scene. Some (including Exene herself) consider this to be their best album; not me, but I still like it a great deal. Some of the tracks indicate the future direction of the band (with an Americana feel even though I'm not sure that term had been coined yet as a musical genre back in 1982) Other tracks were the punk we expected from X. The band locks into the groove on the rockers and all songs show excellent song craft and musicianship. There is plenty of John and Exene's unique vocal harmonies present (according to my History of Rock Music professor they are a 5th apart which explains the dissonance that some people find too weird, me I am weird, so I love it, plus as a fan of Bela Bartok I might be biased towards dissonance). The bonus tracks are wisely selected to compliment the material; and Exene's abridged version of El Paso is both insightful to her personality and downright adorable. If you like this album you will probably also enjoy their 4th album: More Fun in the New World (my favorite of X's dependent upon which day you ask me).
3 people found this helpful
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Leinad
5.0 out of 5 stars How I (Learned MY Lesson)
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2016
Verified Purchase
Definitely the smartest punk band the US produced and, for my money, the best. A lot of punk music was very of-the-moment; meaning it was inextricably and viscerally attached to the time and place in which it was produced. In this regard it is worth a visit every now and then but it doesn't really warrant prolonged in-depth listening. X, on the other hand, is the x-ception (sorry). The song writing, the musicianship (Billy Zoom is one of the most underrated rock guitarists of all time) and the harmonies reward multiple, multiple listens at loud volume, preferably in a car, or while exerting a lot of energy doing something constructive--or destructive. No punk rock library or American roots-rock library is complete without the first four X albums: this one, Los Angeles, Wild Gift and More Fun in the New World. Period.
8 people found this helpful
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MC
5.0 out of 5 stars The best among a great set of reissues
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2001
Verified Purchase
Of all the first-rate bands from the early-80's US punk explosion, X pretty much had it all: a jaw-droppingly great guitarist in Billy Zoom, a smooth crooner and bassist in John Doe, a brutal, precise drummer in DJ Bonebrake, and a compellingly unique vocal presence in singer Exene Cervenka. Their lyrics were heady poetry on top of their dead-on, primal rock'n'roll.
X made some of the greatest music from this era, and Rhino has graced us with their first (and best) three albums in expanded reissues.
I'd call all three reissues a three-way-tie for first, but if I had to choose "Sun" would be my pick. By this time, X had mastered a large palette of sounds, and ex-Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek's production does X the most justice here.
Tipping the scales in "Sun"'s favor are the bonus tracks: their wonderful cover of "Breathless" and a stunning instrumental of "Because I Do" are worth it alone. But you have to get them all. Can you really stand to overlook a remastered "Johnny Hit and Run Paulene" from "Los Angeles," or "White Girl" off "Wild Gift"?
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!!
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2013
Verified Purchase
I purchased "Live in Los Angeles", "Wild Gift", "Under the Big Black Sun" and "Los Angeles"; This review covers all 4. I first heard X on the airwaves WAAAYYYY back. Unfortunately, I didnt have the $$ to purchase the LPs/hit the Whisky to go check'em out. So now that I do have a few spare shekels, I decided to pick up these reissues, and I havent stopped listening to them for a couple weeks now on my road trips and they are STILL fun! As in other Amazon reviews, there is no question of all 4 as musicians/artists. John and Exene's vocals do make the sound unique - ya either love it or ya hate it! I love it!
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ERIC SANDERS
5.0 out of 5 stars Seminal blue collar work
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2017
Verified Purchase
When I was a punk DJ back in the early '80s in working stiff Buffalo, I played the hell out of X. Ms. Cervenca was also a street artist down in the City. That's NYC for all you out there. Authentic, great muscicianship, an uderstanding of those of us of used our hands to make a living. Not Communist at all, just blue collar. Seminal work. Please listen.
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Stacy Pulliam
5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite X album!
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2008
Verified Purchase
Has been for years. I have the vinyl album but recently bought the CD and its awesome...of course. It included bonus trax and ....its X!! Poetic. Intelligent. And they could/can actually PLAY! If Im not mistaken I think these lovely people invented what some call "country-punk". If u havent heard X- theres no better introduction.

Other X albums/CDs to check aut are:

* Los Angeles
* WILD GIFT
* Beyond & Back: the X Anthology

YOULL LOVE THIS BAND.
3 people found this helpful
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Andrew Madsen
5.0 out of 5 stars The Have Nots
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2014
Verified Purchase
One of the LA Punk scene's premiere albums only grows in stature with age. The additional live tracks give the re-issue a new feel, and compliment the original cuts with a peek into X's playful side. Buy this CD and let X know their music is still relevant after 30 years!
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Chad Radford
4.0 out of 5 stars Solid 1982 Album From Los Angeles Punks X
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2012
Released in 1982, "Under The Big Black Sun" was my first exposure to the band X. I first discovered them by seeing their video for "The Hungry Wolf" on MTV that year. It was the best period for MTV because they were not so dictated by the corporate types out there. MTV used to play videos by a lot of punk bands back then. This was before Michael Jackson came along and ruined everything. Maybe it is because of the video and the fact that this was my introduction to the band X but "The Hungry Wolf" is my favorite song on the album and makes for a storming opening track. Full of attitude and that galloping, tough rhythm, "The Hungry Wolf" has always been one of my favorite X songs. There are other great songs on the album too and they are:

Under The Big Black Sun
Because I Do
Blue Spark

There is not a weak track on the album so check out this record from the earlier years of X.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Aeomer
4.0 out of 5 stars It's a personal thing.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 20, 2014
Verified Purchase
As I lost my old copy, I picked up this remastered CD version a little worried it will have been overdone. Luckly, the remastering was done with a light touch and sensitive ear; no added reverb or distorting high recording level as with so many remastered classics. The extra tracks are fine, but do not add to the album - I tend to stop the disc when they start.

Overall, not as good as a clean vinyl copy, but certainly the best CD version if you don't have it already.
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