Kill City is an Iggy Pop album that never should have seen the light of day -- not because it's bad, but because you shouldn't be dragging mental patients out of the asylum to sing lead vocals. That and the fact that it was printed by Bomp Records on an obnoxious kool-aid green vinyl.

It almost didn't make it to print. This was Iggy's first post-Stooges album, recorded in 1974, but it couldn't find a label until 1977. Former Stooge James Williamson was working with some unreleased Stooges songs and collaborated with Iggy on additional Stooges-sounding material. It was written and recorded hastily as Iggy prepared to check himself into UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Unit. He literally had to get weekend leave to record the vocal tracks. Two of the musicians on the album were comedian Soupy Sales' sons Todd and Hunt.

The result is not mind-blowing, but it is very good. Williamson has said, "...as far as I'm concerned, the best album we ever did." Initially, Iggy was unhappy with the album's release. He didn't believe it was finished and only a mediocre effort. Nearly two decades later he felt differently, "I do think it stands up real well because of the songwriting and I'm real proud of it."

Kill City Track Listing:

Kill City
Sell Your Love
Beyond the Law
I Got Nothin'
Johanna
Night Theme
Night Theme Reprise
Consolation Prizes
No Sense of Crime
Lucky Monkeys
Master Charge
Musical Credits:
Iggy Pop: lead vocals
James Williamson: guitar
Scott Thurston: keyboards, bass (1,3,5,6), backing vocals, special effects, harmonica
Brian Glascock: drums, congas, African beaters, backing vocals, guitar
Steve Trano: bass (2,4,9),
Tony Sales: backing vocals, bass (10,11)
Hunt Sales: backing vocals, drums (10,11)
John Hardin: saxophone
Gayna: backing vocals
Produced and mixed by James Williamson

Sources:

Kill City liner notes, Bomp Records 1992 CD
All Music Guide: http://www.allmusic.com/

My best guess at the lyrics to the title track:
Well I live here in kill city where the d--?-- meets the sea
I live here in kill city where the d--?-- meets the sea
It's a playground to the rich, but it's a loaded gun to me

Well I'm sick of keeping quiet and I am the wild boy
I'm sick of keeping quiet and I am the wild boy
But if I have to die here first I'm gonna make some noise

(chorus)
give it up -- ? turn? before you
give it up -- ? turn? before you
give it up -- ? turn? before you
give it up -- ? turn? before you

Yeah the sea is fascination man and everything's for free
The sea is fascination man and everything's for free
Until you wind up in some bathroom overdosed and on your knees

(chorus)
give it up -- turn before you
give it up -- turn before you
give it up -- turn before you
give it up -- turn before you
give it up -- turn before you
give it up -- turn before you

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