Under the Big Black Sun explained

Under the Big Black Sun
Type:	Studio album
Artist:	X
Cover:	XUnderTheBlackSun.jpg
Released:	July 1982
Recorded:	1982
Studio:	Cherokee (Hollywood)
Genre:	Punk rock
Length:	34:29
Label:	Elektra
Producer:	Ray Manzarek
Prev Title:	Wild Gift
Prev Year:	1981
Next Title:	More Fun in the New World
Next Year:	1983

Under the Big Black Sun is the third studio album by American rock band X, and their major-label debut. It was released on Elektra Records in July 1982 and reissued on Rhino Records in 2001 with bonus tracks. It was re-released in its original format by Fat Possum Records in 2018.

The cover art illustration was drawn by Alfred Harris.^[1]

Track listing

All tracks written by John Doe and Exene Cervenka except where noted.

Side A

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

Side B

1. "Because I Do" – 2:21
2. "Blue Spark" – 2:06
3. "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" (Al Dubin, Joe Burke) – 2:20
4. "Real Child of Hell" – 2:59
5. "How I (Learned My Lesson)" – 2:12
6. "The Have Nots" – 4:44

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

Personnel

X

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

Additional personnel

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

Charts

Chart!scope="col"

Peak	Date	Duration
Billboard Pop Albums^[2]	76	August 20, 1982	15 weeks

Notes and References

1. Web site: Veltkamp. Joey. History of Art in Seattle, Chapter One. Best Of. 17 June 2016. 7 December 2009.
2. X . April 30, 2020 . Billboard.