Under the Big Black Sun

This article is about the album. For the memoir by John Doe, see Under the Big Black Sun (book).

"The Have Nots" redirects here. For the ska punk band, see Have Nots.

Under the Big Black Sun
Studio album by X
Released	July 1982
Recorded	1982
Studio	Cherokee (Hollywood)
Genre	Punk rock
Length	34:29
Label	Elektra
Producer	Ray Manzarek
X chronology
Wild Gift (1981) Under the Big Black Sun (1982) More Fun in the New World (1983)
Singles from Album
"Blue Spark" Released: 1982 "Motel Room in My Bed" Released: 1982

Under the Big Black Sun is the third studio album, and major label debut, by American rock band X. 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.

Under the Big Black Sun marked a departure from their trademark sound. While still fast and loud, with raw punk guitars, the album displayed evolving country leanings. The album was influenced by the death of Cervenka's elder sister Mirielle in a 1980 car accident. Three songs on the album ("Riding with Mary", "Come Back to Me" and the title track) all directly relate to the tragedy. A fourth, a high-speed version of Al Dubin and Joe Burke's 1930 "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes", was, years later, indirectly attributed to Cervenka's mournful state of mind. The stark black-and-white cover art and title were also a reflection of the somber mood of the band during this time. Cervenka has said it is her favorite X album. ^[1]

The cover art illustration was drawn by Alfred Harris. ^[2]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Entertainment Weekly	B+ [4]
Rolling Stone	[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[6]
Sounds	[7]
The Village Voice	A− [8]

In The Boston Phoenix , Sally Cragin reviewed the album in terms of the relationship between the band’s married leaders, singer Exene Cervenka and bassist/singer John Doe, "who set themselves apart by making their marriage into a public paradigm for love in the LA ruins." Cragin felt that "Under the Big Black Sun's producer, Ray Manzarek, wisely keeps out of view, letting X's meaty dance reverberations speak for themselves. But the honeymoon is over for John and Exene's songwriting. Whereas Wild Gift balanced their voices, Big Black Sun certifies their nimble moves without advancing them. The discovery of married tension songs has turned into a self-conscious trademark... Now, the main cliffhanger is: will John and Exene survive as a major-label marriage?" ^[9]

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

Sales chart performance for Under the Big Black Sun

Chart	Peak	Date	Duration
Billboard Pop Albums [10]	76	August 20, 1982	15 weeks

References

2. Veltkamp, Joey (December 7, 2009). "History of Art in Seattle, Chapter One". Best Of. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
3. Prato, Greg. "Under the Big Black Sun – X". AllMusic . Retrieved September 11, 2005.
4. "X: Under the Big Black Sun". Entertainment Weekly . September 28, 2001. p. 75.
5. Puterbaugh, Parke (August 16, 1982). "X: Under the Big Black Sun". Rolling Stone . No. 376. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2006.
6. Sisario, Ben (2004). "X". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  889–90. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
7. Pouncey, Edwin (July 3, 1982). "Emotional slaughter". Sounds . p. 33.
8. Christgau, Robert (August 10, 1982). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . Retrieved April 4, 2006.
9. Cragin, Sally (July 27, 1982). "X: Going Their Own Way". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
10. "X". Billboard . Retrieved April 30, 2020.