To Live and Die in L.A. (soundtrack)

To Live and Die in L.A. soundtrack
Soundtrack album by Wang Chung
Released	30 September 1985
Recorded	1985
Genre	Pop rock, new wave
Length	38:37
Label	Geffen 24081-2
Producer	John Kalodner, David Massey
Wang Chung chronology
Points on the Curve (1984) To Live and Die in L.A. Soundtrack (1985) Mosaic (1986) Singles from To Live and Die in L.A. "To Live and Die in L.A." Released: 25 September 1985

The To Live and Die in L.A. soundtrack is Wang Chung's third album and second on Geffen Records. Instead of following up on the success that Points on the Curve landed them, the band switched gears to produce an original motion picture soundtrack. The switch allowed for them to experiment with different styles of music from the conventional pop music on their previous album. Released in 1985, only the album's title song made it on the US Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at #41.

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Track listing

All songs written and composed by Wang Chung; all songs produced by Wang Chung, except where noted.

Chart performance

Background

• According to William Friedkin, director of the film To Live and Die in L.A., the main reason he chose Wang Chung to compose the soundtrack was because the band "stands out from the rest of contemporary music... What they finally recorded has not only enhanced the film, it has given it a deeper, more powerful dimension." This, of course, was his response after listening to the band’s previous album, Points on the Curve. In fact, he loved the album so much, that he took two of the songs straight off of the album, "Wait", and Dance Hall Days and used them as part of the soundtrack. "Wait" plays at the end credits of the movie, and is the only song to appear on two different non-compilation albums.
• Every song on the soundtrack, excluding the title song, "Dance Hall Days" and "Wait", were written and recorded within a two-week period. Only after Wang Chung saw a rough draft of the film did they produce the title song.
• On the original vinyl release, side one was all vocal tracks, side two all instrumental.

Credits

• All songs published by Chong Music Ltd., adm. by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI.
• Executive producers: John Kalodner, David Massey
• Arranged by William Friedkin
• Music supervision: John Kalodner
• Production supervisor: Bob Weiner
• "Lullaby" engineered by Brad Davis
• Mastered by Greg Fulginiti at Artisan Sound Recorders, Los Angeles
• Art director/design: Steve Gerdes
• Graphic design: Pablo Ferro
• Thanks to William Friedkin, Bud Smith and all at Todd A.O., Maggie Abbott and all at Triad, Bob Weiner, Ed Rosenblatt and Elaine Black.
• Management: David Massey at Domino Directions, Ltd., London