Living in Darkness is the 1981 release by the hardcore punk

Hardcore punk

Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...

 band Agent Orange

Agent Orange (band)

Agent Orange is an American punk rock band formed in Orange County, California in 1979. The band is one of the first to mix punk rock with surf music. They first gained attention with their song "Bloodstains" which they released on their own 7" E.P. An early demo of the song was presented to...

. It was released on Posh Boy Records

Posh Boy Records

Posh Boy Records was a Hollywood, California based record label owned by Robbie Fields, a high school substitute teacher and former copyboy at the L A Times who took an interest in the emerging punk rock scene in Orange County, California during the late 1970s...

 in 1981. It showcases their punk sound with its metal and surf influences.

The original album consisted of eight tracks. In 1992, the album was expanded. Three unreleased tracks from the sessions, "Pipeline", "Breakdown", and "Mr. Moto", were added as well as the 1979 recordings that gave them their Posh Boy contract: "Bloodstains", "America", "Bored of You", and "El Dorado". A 1981 interview is also included. Liner notes were written by guitarist Mike Palm. In 1988, Agent Orange recorded a never released version of the album, entitled Living in Total Darkness.

Three songs are covers of classic surf instrumentals: "Pipeline" by The Chantays

The Chantays

The Chantays are an American surf rock band from the early 1960s, known for the hit instrumental, "Pipeline" . Their music combined electronic keyboards and surf guitar, creating a unique ghostly sound.-History:...

, "Miserlou

Misirlou

Misirlou , is a popular Greek song with popularity in five styles of music: Greek rebetiko, Middle-Eastern belly dancing, Jewish klezmer, American surf rock, and international orchestral easy listening .- History :...

" by Dick Dale

Dick Dale

Dick Dale is an American surf rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier.-Early life:Dale was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and lived in nearby...

, and "Mr. Moto" by The Bel-Airs

The Bel-Airs

The Bel-Airs were an early and influential surf rock band from Southern California, active in the early 1960s.They were best known for their 1961 hit "Mr. Moto", an instrumental surf rock song that featured a flamenco inspired intro and contained a melodic piano interlude...

.

Side one

1. "Too Young to Die" – 2:04
2. "Everything Turns Grey" (Palm, James Levesque) – 2:00
3. "Miserlou" (Milton Leeds, Nicholas Roubanis, Bob Russell, Chaim Tauber, Fred Wise) – 2:07
4. "The Last Goodbye" – 2:49

Side two

1. "No Such Thing" – 2:47
2. "A Cry for Help in a World Gone Mad" – 2:09
3. "Bloodstains" – 1:44
4. "Living in Darkness" (Palm, Levesque) – 4:13

CD reissue version

1. "Bloodstains (Original Version)" – 1:53
2. "Too Young to Die" – 2:04
3. "Everything Turns Grey" (Palm, Levesque) – 2:00
4. "Miserlou" (Leeds, Roubanis, Russell, Tauber, Wise) – 2:07
5. "The Last Goodbye" – 2:49
6. "No Such Thing" – 2:47
7. "Cry for Help in a World Gone Mad" – 2:09
8. "Bloodstains (Darkness Version)" – 1:44
9. "Living in Darkness" (Palm, Levesque) – 4:13
10. "Pipeline" (Brian Carmen, Bob Spickard) – 3:54
11. "Breakdown" (Palm, Steve Soto) – 2:54
12. "Mr. Moto" (Richard Delvy, Paul Johnson) – 1:59
13. "America" – 1:20
14. "Bored of You" – 1:48
15. "El Dorado" – 1:44
16. "Interview 1981" – 9:21

• Tracks 1, 13, and 14 originally from the Bloodstains EP (1980).
• Tracks 10-12 originally from the Bitchin' Summer EP (1982).
• Tracks 15-16 originally from the El Dorado EP (1990).

Personnel

• Mike Palm: Guitar/Vocals
• James Levesque
  James Levesque
  James Levesque is best known as the bass player from surf punk band Agent Orange. Levesque was the bass player for the touring punk band from 1979-1988, along with original members Mike Palm and Scott Miller...
  
  : Bass
• Scott Miller: Drums
• Steve Soto
  Steve Soto
  Steve Soto is an American musician. He was once part of California punk band Agent Orange, and joined The Adolescents in 1980.When The Adolescents broke up, Soto, together with Frank Agnew, joined the Los Angeles based band Legal Weapon....
  
  : bass (on 1979 tracks)