Los Angeles/Wild Gift

• Artist: X
• Rating:
• Release Date: September 20, 1988
• Total Time: 60:15
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rock

Review

Since X's first two classic releases -- 1980's Los Angeles and 1981's Wild Gift -- were relatively short albums, and since they were also released independently, both were combined as a CD reissue in 1988. Los Angeles/Wild Gift presents 22 tracks of indispensable X. Recorded just as the L.A. punk scene was gaining worldwide attention, you can hear the excitement in the band's inspired playing and fine songwriting. Numerous highlights are included, such as "Johnny Hit and Run Pauline," "Nausea," "Los Angeles," "We're Desperate," "White Girl," and "Beyond and Back." While the quartet's sound would expand even further on such future releases as Under the Big Black Sun and Ain't Love Grand! (touching upon hard rock, to be exact), Los Angeles/Wild Gift contains X's most straightforward compositions. It is an essential purchase for fans of punk, and for admirers of fine rock & roll in general. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Your Phone's off the Hook, But You're Not	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(2:22)
Johny Hit and Run Pauline	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(2:45)
Soul Kitchen (Lyrics)	Robbie Krieger, Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore	X	(2:23)
Nausea	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(3:35)
Sugarlight	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(2:23)
Los Angeles	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(2:25)
Sex and Dying in High Society	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(2:12)
The Unheard Music	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(4:45)
The World's a Mess, It's in My Kiss	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(4:25)
The Once Over Twice	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(2:31)
We're Desperate	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(2:02)
Adult Books	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(3:21)
Universal Corner	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(4:39)
I'm Coming Over	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(1:14)
It's Who You Know	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(2:14)
In This House That I Call Home	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(3:33)
Some Other Time	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(2:17)
White Girl	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(3:29)
Beyond and Back	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(2:49)
Back 2 the Base	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(1:32)
When Our Love Passed Out on the Couch	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(2:00)
Year 1	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	X	(1:19)

Credits

Clay Rose (Engineer), Exene (Vocals), Exene Cervenka (Group Member), Elizabeth Hale (Design), Ray Manzarek (Producer), John Doe (Design), Rick Perotta (Engineer), Frank Gargani (Photography), Matt Wallace (Mastering), Tom Baker (Mastering), Norm Graichen (Engineer), John Doe (Vocals), D.J. Bonebrake (Drums), Ray Manzarek (Organ), Billy Zoom (Guitar), Exene (Original Cover Artwork), Exene (Design), John Doe (Bass), Craig Dietz (Photography)