X “Los Angeles” 1980. X’s debut album and considered one of the greatest punk recordings. Today’s pull a nod to The Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek’s birthday (b. Feb. 12th 1939, d. 2013): Manzarek produced Los Angeles and X covers The Doors song “Soul Kitchen” on the album.

So many great tracks on this record: “Johny Hit and Run Paulene” (which was also featured in Decline of Western Civilization), “Nausea”(also in Decline), “Los Angeles” and of course “Soul Kitchen” – X’s version far better than the original in my opinion: faster, harder, the wonderful interplay of John Doe and Exene’s “sweet yet biting vocal harmonies.” We’ve had the opportunity to see X play all of these songs live: in Madison, WI at the Majestic in 2009 (with Billy Zoom) and this past August at a free show at a park in downtown Milwaukee (without Zoom).