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