WANG CHUNG - TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (Music From The Motion Picture)

 Wang Chung - To Live And Die In L.A. (Music From The Motion Picture)

 

Wang Chung started in 1979 as Huang Chung by Jack Hues (lead vocals, keyboards, guitar), Nick Feldman (vocals, keyboards, bass guitar) and Darren Costin (vocals, drums, percussion, keyboards).

 
In 1981 the group expanded to a quartet, with the addition of sax player David Burnand, known as Hogg Robinson for the first Arista single, and later, simply as Hogg. 

Their self-titled debut album was released by Arista Records in 1982.

 
Meanwhile, after the release, David Burnand left due to "musical differences". 

In late 1982, Huang Chung signed with American label Geffen Records. They changed the spelling of their name to Wang Chung (at David Geffen’s suggestion, to make pronunciation easier). 

 

Now known as Wang Chung, the band released their second album Points on the Curve, which reached #30 on the Billboard 200 album charts on July 14, 1984 and features the #1 dance single "Dance Hall Days" 

 

Then there were two - as Wang Chung downsized to just Jack Hues and Nick Feldman. 

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, the band 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 US Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at #41.

     "It will come as no surprise to anyone who has listened to Points on the Curve that Jack Hues and Nick Feldman are two of the most innovative musicians around.

It might also come as no surprise to listeners of their music that while their sound is contemporary, their musical orientation is classical...Strauss, Wagner, Schoenberg, Stravinsky.

Their work stands out for me from the rest of contemporary music, which is why I asked them to create an original score for the film To Live and Die in L.A.

What they finally recorded has not only enhanced the film -- it has given it a deeper, more powerful dimension.

While mixing the sound track I was struck by the inseparable flow of one musical piece into another.

Listening to the album, just now I discovered, to my surprise, that each track also stands out on its own -- and delivers its own statement.

For me this is not only an exciting film score, but a fine album of modern music."

          -- WILLIAM FRIEDKIN, Director
             To Live and Die in L.A.

      

(Liner) NOTES

By turns moody and menacing, ethereal and erotic, Wang Chung's 1985 sound track to the William Friedkin film "To Live And Die In L.A." is a brilliant example of modern film scoring art, capturing the movie's haunting undertones while at the same time standing on its own as a complete musical creation.  Featuring the hit title track, along with such densely-textured original compositions as "Wak Up, Stop Dreaming," "Wait" and "City Of The Angels," To Live And Die In L.A. is a fully realized work from an innovative writing and recording team.
     Comprised of vocalist/keyboardist/guitarist Jack Hues and vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Nick Feldman, London-based Wang Chung first emerged on the international music scene with their 1984 debut album Points On The Curve, featuring the smash hit "Dance Hall Days." One of that album's more appreciative fans was director William Friedkin of "The French Connection" and "The Exorcist" fame.  Intrigued by the drama and tension inherent in Wang Chung's music, he asked them to score his sophisticated tale of murder, passion and betrayal, "To Live And Die In L.A."
     "It will come as no surprise to listeners of their music that while their sound is contemporary, their musical orientation is classical," Friedkin remarked.  "Their work stands out from the rest of the musical field and what they created not only enhjanced the film -- it has given it a deeper, more powerful dimension...each track stands out on its own and delivers its own statement."
     "We didn't want to record a conventional soundtrack or a conventional album," added Jack Hues.  "The film was a perfect vehicle to let our imaginations roam freely."

     The free flow of music for To Live And Die In L.A. spotlights both instrumental and vocal tracks running the emotional gamut and evoking not only life in the City of Angels, but the expressive possibilities brought to life by the marriage of music and images.  

  

To Live And Die In L.A. ~ Wang Chung (Extended Music Video)

Wang Chung – To Live And Die In L.A.
Label:  Geffen Records – 9 24081-2
Format:  CD, Album, Reissue
Country:  US
Released:  1985
Genre:  Electronic, Stage & Screen
Style:  Soundtrack, Synth-pop

Tracklist

1.  To Live And Die In L.A.    4:52
2.  Lullaby    4:40
3.  Wake Up, Stop Dreaming    4:36
4.  Wait    4:22
5.  City Of The Angels    9:16
6.  The Red Stare    3:10
7.  Black-Blue-White    2:20
8.  Every Big City    5:10

BIG TIME OPERATOR - HIGH ALTITUDE SWING

 Big Time Operator - High Altitude Swing

Big Time Operator is a big 10-piece, 1940's style swing band from San Diego, consisting of three saxes (alto, a tenor and a bari), guitar, bass, drums, two trumpets, a trombone, and a talented vocalist in Warren Lovell.   

The incredible brass section and the percussion establish very dance-able rhythms, accompanied by Warren's velvety voice, remaining “true to the past, and yet completely contemporary,” according to their press-book.

They won San Diego Music Awards for Best Big Band every year  from 1997 to 2001. They also won the 1998 Jim Croce’s Excellence in Entertainment award.

Any fan of 40's era big band music will undoubtedly love this CD. They excel at playing classic big band and original arrangements keeping that true big band sound to them, unlike many of the neo-swing bands of the 90's swing craze. A big band that energetically plays great swing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The album High Altitude Swing, is comprised entirely of covers which includes versions of Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway tunes, (with the exception of the "Big Time Operator" track, by Warren Lovell, the singer).

 

Track highlights include, "Big Time Operator," a noir depiction of a gangster-cum-crooner, voiced by Lovell, with grandiose drama; "Leap Frog," a peppy instrumental number; a longer version of "Minnie The Moocher" than most of us are used to, with lyrics absent from many modern versions; "Bugle Call Rag," a short, frenetic standard, popularized in renditions by Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller; the Sinatra classic, "Fly Me to the Moon;" and of course, the extra long (10 minute) version of Louis Prima's "Sing Sing Sing," with extended drum and clarinet solos. The last (hidden) track is a reprise, old-time vacuum tube radio sounding performance, of "Big Time Operator,", and makes a perfect ending to this fine album.

Big Time Operator – High Altitude Swing
Label:  Not On Label (Big Time Operator Self-released) – BTO 001
Format:  CD, Album
Country:  US
Released:  1997
Genre:  Jazz
Style:  Swing

Tracklist

1.  Big Time Operator  
2.  Are You Hep To The Jive?
3.  Leap Frog
4.  Hep Cat's Love Song
5.  Minnie The Moocher
6.  Bugle Call Rag
7.  I Can't Get Started
8.  Smack Dab In The Middle
9.  Lunceford Special
10.  Calloway Boogie
11.  Boogie Stop Shuffle
12.  It Don't Mean A Thing
13.  Fly Me To The Moon
14.  Sing, SIng, Sing
15.  Big Time Operator (Alternate Version)

CALAVERA - DAY OF THE DEAD

 Calavera - Day Of The Dead

A). calavera [plural: calaveras] (Spanish – pronounced [kalaˈβeɾa] for "skull") is a representation of a human skull. The term is most often applied to edible or decorative skulls made (usually by hand) from either sugar (called Alfeñiques) or clay that are used in the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos) and the Roman Catholic holiday All Souls' Day.

OR

B). Calavera:  A semi-legendary Mexican-American psychobilly/punk band from Los Angeles, who's founder and lead singer, Cesar (El Cejas), is the man who decides when and where the band plays, and to be honest, these guys haven’t played in a long, long time. But if you do happen to get a chance sighting of the Calavera crew, "Hold On" and get set for a rip roaring psychobilly freakout.  These guys are great in the studio and great live.

 

Calavera consist of:

• El Mosco                       - Guitarra, b vox
• Shane "Cadena" Mayer - Drums/Bateria
• J.P. Roffredo                  - Upright bass/Contrabajo, b vox
  
• El Cejas                         - Vox, Guitarra
   Photo Credit:  @2tonson 
  "El Cejas,  frontman of Tijuana Psychobilly band Calavera. 
  In these days, Jeff Roffredo, played on upright bass for Calavera. He also played in other Los Angeles psychobilly bands Cosmic Voodoo, and The Rezurex, prior to him joining the new line-up for Tiger Army, featuring drummer James Meza back in 2004.
  

SoCal Mexican Psychobilly band Calavera rocks out on this exclusive Punk Outlaw TV Segment!

Check out psychobilly pioneers Calavera perform at Black Cat's Hollywood Showdown at the 2007 Knitting Factory in Los Angeles on Punk Outlaw

 

Check out Calavera at http://www.myspace.com/calavera

This was their first release from 1998!

Calavera – Day Of The Dead
Label:  La Piedra Del Rock Records – none
Format:  CD, Album
Country:  US
Released:  1998
Genre:  Rock
Style:  Psychobilly, Punk

Tracklist

1.  Sombra
2.  Repent
3.  Hold On
4.  Rompe Los Escaparates
     Cover – R.I.P.
5.  Molin
6.  Burning
7.  Dead Love
8.  Avientense Todos
9.  Tijuana Rain
10.  Wolf That Howls
11.  Jaguar Calling
12.  Ojos De Mujeres Sin El Alma
      Vocals – Marian Anderson
13.  Malaguena
14.  Brains On Fire

Credits

    Drums – Shane "Cadena" Mayer
    Electric Upright Bass – J.P. Roffredo*
    Guitar – El Mosco
    Vocals, Guitar – El Cejas

Notes

Audio stratification conducted by El Papa del ruido.Frequency pimp Michael Rozon at the Speed Semen Clove Factory, North Hollywood, California

 

 

 

 

 

 

The guitar player, El Mosco was the artist for the cover art and back cover art.