To Live & Die In L.A.: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Director William Friedkin knows a thing or two about innovative, genre-bending film scores. He commissioned edgy modern-jazz player Don Ellis for his classic The French Connection and reworked Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" into the haunting soundtrack for the blockbuster The Exorcist. But even veteran film buffs were surprised when Friedkin turned the scoring chores for his taut 1985 forgery-ring thriller To Live and Die in LA over to British pop stars Wang Chung. Though they're still best known for their perennial rock-of-the-'80s hits "Dancehall Days," "Everybody Have Fun Tonight," and "Let's Go," Friedkin's early admiration for the band's often underrated musicality paid off with a tense, rhythmic soundscape that crystallized the era and locale of the film. And, though synth-pop has gained ill repute as a cheesy 1980s cliché, this album ably proves that it could rise above its stereotype in dramatic fashion. The Jack Hues-sung title track was also a minor pop hit. --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

Different Style of Music...but shows off Wang Chung's talent in a different light

I felt that Wang Chung made a good decision switching to create a soundtrack than trying to remake "Points on the Curve". Quite frankly, I was amazed by the work that Wang Chung did creating the soundtrack to "To Live and Die in L.A. (Special Edition)". The music keeps you guessing, just like the movie. Nice instrumental songs for the second half of the soundtrack. All in all, I would recommend this album because it shows off the genius of Jack Hues & Nick Feldman. Buy the album, and be prepared to lose yourself in an excellent soundtrack.

-RoMo37
--SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 September 15, 2008

Should be an EP

Download the title song, and maybe the other two, Lullaby and Wake Up, but the rest is not worth the purchase price. Wang Chung was at their peak when they did this, and the Title song is one of the best they did, but the rest is just filler, The first 4 cuts are vocals, Wait was on their previous album and also in this movie. The other three of the first four are fine. The remainder is instumental, and I will have to take a second listen to the rest, because, as I said, this was their best period musically. August 31, 2008

The music drives the movie

To Live and Die in LA is one of those little sleeper movies that never fail to impress on repeated viewings. In no small way, the music of Wang Chung drives the mood, the excitement, the corruption, the ethos of LA. Particularly impressive is the City of the Angels track- which propels the action in high octane moments, with its simple driving beat and appealing riff. Pity Wang Chung never did anything else of interest, but this soundtrack is their little gem. May 27, 2008

Even on vinyl...

This recording has incredible clarity and dynamic range. It's a great sounding recording. I recently ripped it off the old album and it sounds as incredible on my computer speakers as it did on the JBL studio monitors I own.

Now, the songs... well the music is exceptional. I still get up and dance every time Live In Die In LA comes on. It hits the sweet spot, all these years later. February 10, 2008

Dupped?

This cd has not as yet arrived for me to review it. Where is it? February 21, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...