Agent Orange- Living In Darkness

Label: Radiation

Reissued 6/2/2023, Originally released 1982

Austrian Import

​​Adventurous southern California punk trio Agent Orange was the first band to mix surf rock with punk. The group was formed in1979 in Placentia, a small town close to Fullerton and Anaheim, by front man Mike Palm on guitar and lead vocals, Steve Soto on bass, and Scott Miller on drums. That early line-up recorded the classic version of "Bloodstains" in 1979 as a demo produced by Daniel R. van Patten (of the group Berlin ). A year later it was included on the seminal Rodney On The Roq compilation album released by Posh Boy Records. Meanwhile, James Levesque had replaced Steve Soto ( Adolescents ) and the new line-up released their own self-produced and self-released 7" EP in 1980. A year later, the group signed with Robbie Fields ' Posh Boy Records for their debut LP, Living In Darkness , co-produced by Fields and former Simpletones guitarist, Jay Lansford . The album was recorded at Brian Elliot 's store front studio in North Hollywood (a few years before Elliot struck gold writing Madonna 's "Papa Don't Preach"). A milestone in California punk rock history. Includes five bonus tracks. Purple vinyl; includes double-sided lyric insert; edition of 800 (hand-numbered).

Track listing:

1. Too Young To Die
2. Everything Turns Grey
3. Miserlou
4. The Last Goodbye
5. No Such Thing
6. A Cry For Help In A World Gone Mad
7. Bloodstains
8. Living In Darkness