To Live and Die in L.A. (soundtrack)

Infobox Album |
Name = To Live and Die in L.A. soundtrack
Type = soundtrack
Artist = Wang Chung


Released = September 30, 1985
Recorded = 1985
Genre = New wave
Length = 38:37
Label = Geffen
24081-2
Producer = John Kalodner and David Massey
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:f9fwxqrhldfe link]
Last album = "Points on the Curve"
(1984)
This album = "To Live and Die in L.A. Soundtrack"
(1985)
Next album = "Mosaic"
(1986) Singles
Name = To Live and Die in L.A.
Type = soundtrack
single 1 = To Live and Die in L.A.
single 1 date = September 1985

The "To Live and Die in L.A. soundtrack" is Wang Chung's third album and second on Geffen Records. Instead of following up on the success that "Points on the Curve" landed them, Wang Chung switched gears to produce an original motion picture soundtrack. The switch allowed for them to experiment with different styles of music from the conventional pop music on their previous album. Released in 1985, only the album's title song made it on the Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at #41 in the U.S.

Track listing

CD

(All songs written by Wang Chung; all songs produced by Wang Chung, unless noted otherwise.)
#"To Live and Die in L.A." – 4:53 "(Tony Swain and Steve Jolley)
#"Lullaby" – 4:43
#"Wake Up, Stop Dreaming" – 4:35 "(Wang Chung with David Motion)"
#"Wait" – 4:26 "(Chris Hughes and Ross Cullum)"
#"City of the Angels" – 9:17
#"The Red Stare" – 3:11
#"Black-Blue-White" – 2:23
#"Every Big City" – 5:09

Cassette/LP

(All songs written by Wang Chung; all songs produced by Wang Chung, unless noted otherwise.)
*Side One
#"To Live and Die in L.A." – 4:53 "(Tony Swain and Steve Jolley)
#"Lullaby" – 4:43
#"Wake Up, Stop Dreaming" – 4:35 "(Wang Chung with David Motion)"
#"Wait" – 4:26 "(Chris Hughes and Ross Cullum)"

*Side Two
#"City of the Angels" – 9:17
#"The Red Stare" – 3:11
#"Black-Blue-White" – 2:23
#"Every Big City" – 5:09

Chart performance

Background

* According to William Friedkin, director of the film "To Live and Die in L.A.", the main reason he chose Wang Chung to compose the soundtrack was because the band "stands out from the rest of contemporary music... What they finally recorded has not only enhanced the film, it has given it a deeper, more powerful dimension." [http://www.wangchung.com/archive/wc/albums/toliveanddie.shtml] This, of course, was his response after listening to the band’s previous album, "Points on the Curve". In fact, he loved the album so much, that he took of one the songs straight off of the album, "Wait", and used it as part of the soundtrack. "Wait" plays at the end credits of the movie, and is the only song to appear on two different non-compilation albums.
* Every song on the soundtrack, excluding the title song and "Wait", was written and recorded within a two-week period. Only after Wang Chung saw a rough draft of the film did they produce the title song. [http://www.wangchung.com/archive/wc/albums/toliveanddie.shtml]
* On the original vinyl release, side one was all vocal tracks, side two was all instrumental.

Credits

*All songs published by Chong Music Ltd., adm. by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI
*Executive Producers: John Kalodner and David Massey
*Arranged by William Friedkin
*Music Supervision: John Kalodner
*Production Supervisor: Bob Weiner
*"Lullaby" engineered by Brad Davis
*Mastered by Greg Fulginiti at Artisan Sound Recorders, Los Angeles
*Art Director/Design: Steve Gerdes
*Graphic Design: Pablo Ferro
*Thanks to William Friedkin, Bud Smith and all at Todd A.O., Maggie Abbott and all at Triad, Bob Weiner, Ed Rosenblatt and Elaine Black.
*Management: David Massey at Domino Directions, Ltd., London