Big Star (Official Thread)

[FeynmanWannabe]

Man, another classic band to go without an official thread (until now, that is). AMG dubs them as "the quintessential American power pop* band" and "one of the most mythic and influential cult acts in all of rock & roll". Bold words, but many would agree with those statements. Appreciate.


http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf900/f980/f98078rf9kc.jpghttp://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf900/f980/f98075nfq14.jpghttp://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drh200/h217/h21728icfkw.jpg




*actual power-pop, not what goes under the name power-pop on the majority of this website.

[IWasaCamera]

#1 Record and Radio City are fantastic. Third/Sister Lovers is a letdown and showered with undue praise in my opinion.

[murrich]

Bump.
I only have #1 Record, it's awesome though.

[IWasaCamera]

Sweet.

[jndrsn]

I have all three. I find myself listening to the majority of Radio City over the other albums, but Third is just so weird, it's good (Thank You Friends, Nighttime, Femme Fatale). I've never seen the above cover before.

What's with all these dead threads? It sucks.

[Genuma]

I've been rocking out to #1 Record for the past week, so so good. Next I'll do Radio City, then Third/Sister Lovers. What's the consensus on Chilton/Bell solo work?

[FeynmanWannabe]

I've been rocking out to #1 Record for the past week, so so good. Next I'll do Radio City, then Third/Sister Lovers. What's the consensus on Chilton/Bell solo work?
I Am The Comos is pretty good actually. Worth tracking down.

[Genuma]

I Am The Comos is pretty good actually. Worth tracking down.
I'll try to grab that. Did you get Keep an Eye on the Sky yet?

[KatieKutthroat.]

These guys are so good. We need some more Big Star appreciation.

[mmmmmpoetry]

Another great band Sir Elliott got me into.

[StreetSpirit76]

Love 'em. Might spin some #1 Record later.

[KatieKutthroat.]

Love 'em. Might spin some #1 Record later.

Yes. I already have, haha. #1 Record's definitely my favorite.

[StreetSpirit76]

Yes. I already have, haha. #1 Record's definitely my favorite.
Mine too, ha. Such a great band. They deserve more than one page.

[KatieKutthroat.]

Mine too, ha. Such a great band. They deserve more than one page.

Tell me about it. When I searched for it, I couldn't believe that there were so little posts. I think people need to make the effort to check them out if they haven't yet.

[AP_Punk]

been meaning to check all this out. kept forgetting.

thanks for reminding me, thread!

[StreetSpirit76]

Tell me about it. When I searched for it, I couldn't believe that there were so little posts. I think people need to make the effort to check them out if they haven't yet.
Agreed. And lo and behold, haha:
been meaning to check all this out. kept forgetting.

thanks for reminding me, thread!
I think you'll dig 'em. Check out #1 Record. Actually, I think it's being sold as a bundle with Radio City if you can find it.

[AP_Punk]

I think you'll dig 'em. Check out #1 Record. Actually, I think it's being sold as a bundle with Radio City if you can find it.

i like the few things i've heard by 'em. always meant to look into 'em more. will definitely try to now! thanks!

[jndrsn]

I think you'll dig 'em. Check out #1 Record. Actually, I think it's being sold as a bundle with Radio City if you can find it.

That's how I got mine. The back cover and the CD is a sickening shade of purple, and the booklet offers a few retrospective essays and whatnot.

Although, dare I say that after checking out all 3 albums, Big Star just doesn't have that much staying power for me?
I do enjoy Radio City every now and then though, and Third has a few good songs.

[cshadows2887]

This thread needs bumping. Septeeeeember guuuuurls...

[FeynmanWannabe]

I love how all my old threads have been getting bumped these last few months.

[Kid B]

I want Keep an Eye on the Sky for christmas.

[cshadows2887]

I'm bumping this again because I've listened to "September Gurls" about 30 times this week.

[cshadows2887]

Falling in love with "The Ballad of El Goodo." How I haven't bought Radio City or #1 Record yet, I'll never know.

[shit stroll]

alex chilton died today.

[MyWorldEntire]

He was truly a legend. R.I.P.

[Rawrr]

Man, what a bummer, I know that Big Star were slated to play SXSW too, awful.

[shit stroll]

how did he die, heart attack? sucks big time.

[Rawrr]

They think it was a heart attack yeah, 59 isn't exactly young, but it's not that old either. Too bad.

[FeynmanWannabe]

They think it was a heart attack yeah, 59 isn't exactly young, but it's not that old either. Too bad.
Fifties = probably heart attack yeah. Awful man. For some reason I didn't even realize they were supposed to be playing SXSW.

[Erik the Orange]

Bumped because #1 Record has been on my iPod as of late

[Chris92]

Criminally under-appreciated band. Spinning my avatar at the moment. Let's get this thread past like fifty posts at least.

[AgainstTheCurrent]

One of the only times I saw my Dad cry is when he heard that Alex Chilton died.

Classic band.

[Chris92]

God, how good is "September Gurls"? And yeah, my dad was kind of down too. As was I, to be honest.

Edit: And "I'm in Love with a Girl."

[AgainstTheCurrent]

God, how good is "September Gurls"? And yeah, my dad was kind of down too. As was I, to be honest.

Edit: And "I'm in Love with a Girl."

I was down, of course, but there is an evident generational gap, so I never truly had that personal connection with the band...

My favs are The India Song, September Girls, and Thirteen. (Elliott Smith's cover of Thirteen = eargasm)

[Chris92]

I was down, of course, but there is an evident generational gap, so I never truly had that personal connection with the band...

My favs are The India Song, September Girls, and Thirteen. (Elliott Smith's cover of Thirteen = eargasm)
Those two, "Back of a Car," "Out in the Street," and "In Love With A Girl" are my favorites.

[prince charming]

man, how did i miss this thread? one of my favorite bands.

[Chris92]

man, how did i miss this thread? one of my favorite bands.
Well, it's only like thirty-five posts young. But yeah, somehow I figured you'd might like them, don't ask me why.

[prince charming]

Well, it's only like thirty-five posts young. But yeah, somehow I figured you'd might like them, don't ask me why.

i'm honored that you thought of me. i recognize your name, were we pals once upon a dream

[Chris92]

i'm honored that you thought of me. i recognize your name, were we pals once upon a dream
I had a Springsteen avatar once. You approved of it.

[prince charming]

I had a Springsteen avatar once. You approved of it.

oh you! no way! yeah, dude, still approve.

anyway big star, actually only discovered them when alex chilton died which i now kind of feel sad about, wish i'd known them when he was alive.

[Chris92]

oh you! no way! yeah, dude, still approve.

anyway big star, actually only discovered them when alex chilton died which i now kind of feel sad about, wish i'd known them when he was alive.
I had heard of them before, mostly because of my dad, the Elliott Smith cover of "Thirteen", and mostly that one Replacements song, but yeah I never actually listened to them until Chilton died either. I knew they were really influential before that though.

[cshadows2887]

No love for "Ballad of El Goodo"?

[prince charming]

I had heard of them before, mostly because of my dad, the Elliott Smith cover of "Thirteen", and mostly that one Replacements song, but yeah I never actually listened to them until Chilton died either. I knew they were really influential before that though.

I wasn't even that lucky. I saw your post from before, your dad sounds awesome.

EDIT: Whoops you're not the one whose dad cried, still, anyway yeah hahaha

[Chris92]

I wasn't even that lucky. I saw your post from before, your dad sounds awesome.

EDIT: Whoops you're not the one whose dad cried, still, anyway yeah hahaha
He is awesome still though. He likes Public Enemy, the Sex Pistols and Springsteen so he's good by me.
I mean...not bad for a 57 year old dude, right?

[prince charming]

He is awesome still though. He likes Public Enemy, the Sex Pistols and Springsteen so he's good by me.

Damn.

My dad likes, uh, the Confessions of a Shopaholic soundtrack.

..

Soooo what's everyone's favorite Big Star record?

[Chris92]

Radio City. Still haven't listened to Third/Sister Lovers though. Should I? I've heard such variation of opinion.

[prince charming]

Radio City. Still haven't listened to Third/Sister Lovers though. Should I? I've heard such variation of opinion.

All Big Star is good Big Star, I personally love Third/Sister Lovers

[Previous]

In my opinion I think Radio City was Big Star's Magnum Opus.

[cshadows2887]

I still can't decide if Third is genius or a disaster. Which is probably the point.

[Previous]

I still can't decide if Third is genius or a disaster. Which is probably the point.

Go and listen to the whole album twice and after your done think about it deeply.

[cshadows2887]

Go and listen to the whole album twice and after your done think about it deeply.

Haha. Nice avatar.

[Previous]

Haha. Nice avatar.

Thanks

[cshadows2887]

Can we all agree "Thirteen" must be banned from movies and TV shows for at least 5 years. Seriously. Every time people want to portray wistful innocence, they cheat by using it.

[Chris92]

No love for "Ballad of El Goodo"?
It's great, but not one of my favs.

Can we all agree "Thirteen" must be banned from movies and TV shows for at least 5 years. Seriously. Every time people want to portray wistful innocence, they cheat by using it.
I'd be down. I saw it somewhere recently, don't know where. But it's just so good by itself, anything else cheapens it...

[quicksilv001]

3rd > Radio City > #1 Record IMO

[mmmmmpoetry]

Bump. Been listening to Radio City a lot lately. The melodies, I don't even know.. Just awesome.

[Erik the Orange]

Bump for Alex Chilton writing the catchiest songs ever. Love this band!

[Chris92]

How the fuck did I not know about this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Star,_Small_World) before?? Gin Blossoms, Wilco & Whiskeytown covering Big Star? Awesome! Too bad Wilco does "Thirteen," though, everyone and their mother covers that fucking song.

[cshadows2887]

:jawdrop:

That exists?

[Chris92]

Right, RIGHT? RIIIIIGHT???

[Chris92]

Hearing Robin sing "Back of a Car" is fantastic

[cshadows2887]

Oh man. The Gin Blossoms song is wonderful.

[Chris92]

Even though the song's been covered 5,672,409,001,345 times, Wilco's cover of "Thirteen" still is cool, mostly since unlike every other version it's not just a dude and a guitar. Plus it's a little flashback to the days of Max Johnston!

[cshadows2887]

Was JUST going to say I normally yawn at "Thirteen" covers, but Wilco's slays.

[Chris92]

Was JUST going to say I normally yawn at "Thirteen" covers, but Wilco's slays.

Haha once again :beerbros: