Ain't Love Grand | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1985 | |||
Studio | Amigo Studios, North Hollywood, California | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 42:11 | |||
Label | Elektra | |||
Producer | Michael Wagener | |||
X chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Robert Christgau | B [2] |
Rolling Stone | favorable [3] |
Ain't Love Grand is the fifth studio album by American rock band X, released in July 1985 by Elektra Records. The album was their first not produced by Ray Manzarek. It was reissued with four bonus tracks by Rhino Records in 2002. The album included the minor radio hit "Burning House of Love", which the band performed on American Bandstand in September 1985, their largest television exposure to date. [4] [5] The album also includes a cover of the Small Faces song "All or Nothing". Lead guitarist Billy Zoom left the band after this album but he later returned to the group in 1998 during a tour and the original line-up released their next full-length studio album in 2020 with Alphabetland .
At the time of release, Zoom said, "I think it's the best songs we've ever done, and the best-produced record, and the best-engineered, and the best-sounding record we've made. It's the first one I'm really happy with. The others were always kind of hit-and-miss." Doe said, "Sonically, it's designed to fit into radio airplay. We're waving a typical... somewhat typical sounding carrot under radio listeners' noses. Then they've got the opportunity to see that there’s more going on." [6]
Bart Bull at Spin said the band's record company, "found a new producer for them, Michael Wagener, who's given them a bigger sound, a crunchier sound, a real 'rock' sound. He's given them a laughably homogenized sound that succeeds — X now sounds like everything else on AOR radio. [6] Christgau said, "they appease their major mentors and keep Billy in the band by taking X to the same producer as Christian heavy metal boys Stryper. Michael Wagener can't make John and Exene sound commercial enough to convert anyone." [2]
All tracks are written by John Doe and Exene Cervenka, except where noted
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Burning House of Love" | 3:54 |
2. | "Love Shack" | 3:06 |
3. | "My Soul Cries Your Name" | 3:37 |
4. | "My Goodness" | 4:40 |
5. | "Around My Heart" | 4:43 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "What's Wrong with Me" | 3:43 | |
2. | "All or Nothing" | 3:08 | |
3. | "Watch the Sun Go Down" | 3:50 | |
4. | "I'll Stand Up for You" | 4:00 | |
5. | "Little Honey" | 3:43 | |
6. | "Supercharged" | 3:47 | |
Total length: | 42:11 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
11. | "Wild Thing" (Long Version) | Chip Taylor | 6:19 |
12. | "I Will Dare" (Demo) | Paul Westerberg | 3:18 |
13. | "My Goodness" (Demo) | 5:08 | |
14. | "All or Nothing" |
| 4:52 |
Total length: | 58:40 |
Chart | Position | Date | Duration |
---|---|---|---|
The Billboard 200 [7] | 89 | September 13, 1985 | 14 weeks |
Song | Chart | Peak | Date |
---|---|---|---|
"Burning House of Love" [8] | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 27 | September 13, 1985 |
X is an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles. The original members are vocalist Exene Cervenka, vocalist-bassist John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom and drummer D. J. Bonebrake. The band released seven studio albums from 1980 to 1993. After a period of inactivity during the mid-to-late 1990s, X reunited in the early 2000s and continues to tour as of 2023.
Exene Cervenka is an American singer, artist, and poet. She is best known for her work as a singer in the California punk rock band X.
John Nommensen Duchac, known professionally as John Doe, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, poet, guitarist and bass player. Doe co-founded LA punk band X, of which he is still an active member. His musical performances and compositions span rock, punk, country and folk music genres. As an actor, he has dozens of television appearances and several movies to his credit, including the role of Jeff Parker in the television series Roswell.
Wild Gift is the second studio album by American rock band X, released on May 4, 1981, by Slash Records. It was very well received critically, and was voted the year's second best album in The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop poll. Wild Gift was later ranked at number 334 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Los Angeles is the debut studio album by American rock band X, released in April 1980, by Slash Records. It was produced by ex-Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek and includes a cover of the 1967 Doors song "Soul Kitchen".
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.
More Fun in the New World is the fourth studio album by American rock band X, released in 1983 by Elektra Records. It was reissued with four bonus tracks by Rhino Records in 2002. It was the last X album produced by Ray Manzarek. The band supported the album with a North American tour.
See How We Are is the sixth studio album by American rock band X, released in 1987 by Elektra Records. It was their first album without founding guitarist Billy Zoom, who was replaced by ex-Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin for the album's recording sessions and some live shows. Alvin left X on good terms and was replaced by Tony Gilkyson.
Live at the Whisky a Go-Go on the Fabulous Sunset Strip is the seventh album and first live album by American rock band X, released April 29, 1988 by Elektra Records. The album was recorded on December 13, 15 and 16 in 1987 at the Whisky a Go Go nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States.
Donald J. Bonebrake is an American musician who first emerged as the drummer of the punk rock band the Eyes. He is best known as an original member of and drummer for punk band X, of which he is still an active member.
Hey Zeus! is the seventh studio album by American rock band X. The tracks "Country at War" and "New Life" peaked at No. 15 and No. 26, respectively, on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
The Best: Make the Music Go Bang! is a compilation album by American rock band X, released July 27, 2004, by Elektra Records/Rhino Entertainment. The album included liner notes by Tony Alva, K. K. Barrett, Tito Larriva, Ray Manzarek, Paul Reubens and Henry Rollins, among others.
Beyond and Back: The X Anthology is a two-disc compilation album by American rock band X, released October 28, 1997 by Elektra Records. The anthology's tracks are split between already-released songs and demos, single versions, outtakes and live recordings.
Tony Gilkyson is a Los Angeles-based musician. He is the son of Jane Gilkyson and songwriter/folk musician Terry Gilkyson, as well as the brother of singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson.
X: The Unheard Music is a 1986 rockumentary film directed by W.T. Morgan about the Los Angeles punk band X. The film stars John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake.
X – Live in Los Angeles is a live album by American rock band X released May 10, 2005, by Shout! Factory on compact disc and DVD. The concert was recorded on Thanksgiving 2004 as a tribute to the 25th anniversary of their debut album, Los Angeles. DVD bonus features included acoustic duets by Exene Cervenka and John Doe on "See How We Are" and "True Love" and a photo gallery from Billy Zoom.
Poor Little Critter on the Road is the debut album from X side project The Knitters, Poor Little Critter on the Road contains original compositions and covers of songs by X as well as established country music performers.
The Modern Sounds of the Knitters is the second album by The Knitters, released in 2005. It has received mixed critical reviews.
Alphabetland is the eighth studio album by American punk rock band X. Released digitally in April 2020, it is their first studio release in 27 years and the first with their original line-up in the past 35 years. X released the album with no prior announcement to coincide with the 40th anniversary of their debut album Los Angeles and credited songwriting to all four members for the first time in their career. The release has received positive reviews from critics.
"Destroying Angels" is a 2018 stand-alone single released by alternative rock band Garbage with John Doe and Exene Cervenka of the American punk rock band X. The song was written and recorded for 2018's Black Friday Record Store Day event in North America, with a digital release worldwide the following year.