Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
X's first album issued on a major label, 1982's Under the Big Black Sun, is arguably their finest record. All 11 songs are exceptional, from both a performance and compositional point of view. Ray Manzarek's production is more akin to hard rock bands than their earlier punk works, but the songs still pack quite a punch. Before the recording of the album, singer Exene Cervenka's sister was killed by a drunk driver, and the band decided to work out their grief in the music, as evidenced by two of the album's best tracks: the melodic "Riding With Mary" and the vintage '50s sound of "Come Back to Me." The highlights don't stop there, however; also included are the Led Zeppelin-esque "The Hungry Wolf" (an early video favorite of MTV), the accelerating "Motel Room in My Bed," the rocker "Blue Spark," the spacious title track, and the album closer "The Have Nots." Again, Cervenka and John Doe supply some great vocal harmonies (perhaps the only punk band to ever do so), while Billy Zoom shows off great rockabilly chops throughout. Under the Big Black Sun is one of the quintessential rock records from the '80s.
© Greg Prato /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From £10.83/month
Ray Manzarek, Producer - Otis Blackwell, Writer - x, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist - Cervenka, Writer - Doe, Writer
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1983 Elektra Records
JOHN DOE, Writer - x, Producer, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist - Christine Cervenka, Writer
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1983 Elektra Records for the United States and WEA International for the world outside of the United States.
JOHN DOE, Writer - Ray Manzarek, Producer - Otis Blackwell, Writer - x, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist - Cervenka, Writer - Doe, Writer
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1983 Elektra Records
Ray Manzarek, Producer - Otis Blackwell, Writer - x, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1983 Elektra Records
Ray Manzarek, Producer - Otis Blackwell, Writer - x, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1983 Elektra Records
Ray Manzarek, Producer - Otis Blackwell, Writer - x, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist - Cervenka, Writer - Doe, Writer
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1983 Elektra Records
JOHN DOE, Producer, Writer - x, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist - Cervenka, Writer - Doe, Writer - Christine Cervenka, Writer
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1984 Elektra Entertainment for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Ray Manzarek, Producer - Otis Blackwell, Writer - x, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1983 Elektra Records
Ray Manzarek, Producer - Otis Blackwell, Writer - x, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1983 Elektra Records for the United States and WEA International for the world outside of the United States.
JOHN DOE, Writer - Ray Manzarek, Producer - x, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist - Cervenka, Writer
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1983 Elektra Records
JOHN DOE, Writer - Ray Manzarek, Producer - x, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist - Cervenka, Writer
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1982 Elektra Records for the United States and WEA International for the world outside of the United States.
JOHN DOE, Producer, Writer - Otis Blackwell, Writer - x, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist - Cervenka, Writer - Doe, Writer
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1982 Elektra Records for the United States and WEA International for the world outside of the United States.
Ray Manzarek, Producer - Otis Blackwell, Writer - x, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist - Cervenka, Writer - Doe, Writer
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1983 Elektra Records
JOHN DOE, Producer, Writer - x, Producer, MainArtist - Cervenka, Writer - Exene Cervenka, Writer - E Cervenka, Writer - J Doe, Writer
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Ray Manzarek, Producer - Otis Blackwell, Writer - x, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1982 Elektra Entertainment for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
JOHN DOE, Writer - Ray Manzarek, Producer - x, Band Member, Vocals, MainArtist - Cervenka, Writer
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 1997 Elektra Entertainment for the United States and WEA International for the world outside of the United States.
Album review
X's first album issued on a major label, 1982's Under the Big Black Sun, is arguably their finest record. All 11 songs are exceptional, from both a performance and compositional point of view. Ray Manzarek's production is more akin to hard rock bands than their earlier punk works, but the songs still pack quite a punch. Before the recording of the album, singer Exene Cervenka's sister was killed by a drunk driver, and the band decided to work out their grief in the music, as evidenced by two of the album's best tracks: the melodic "Riding With Mary" and the vintage '50s sound of "Come Back to Me." The highlights don't stop there, however; also included are the Led Zeppelin-esque "The Hungry Wolf" (an early video favorite of MTV), the accelerating "Motel Room in My Bed," the rocker "Blue Spark," the spacious title track, and the album closer "The Have Nots." Again, Cervenka and John Doe supply some great vocal harmonies (perhaps the only punk band to ever do so), while Billy Zoom shows off great rockabilly chops throughout. Under the Big Black Sun is one of the quintessential rock records from the '80s.
© Greg Prato /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 00:48:42
- Main artists: X
- Label: Rhino - Elektra
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
© 2001 Elektra Entertainment Company. Manufactured & Marketed Rhino Entertainment Company ℗ 2001 Elektra Entertainment Group & Rhino Entertainment Company
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.