Formed in Memphis around 1971 by guitarist and singer Alex Chilton, drummer Jody Stephens, guitarist and singer Chris Bell and bassist Andy Hummel. The band never really made in big in their time, but did record 3 albums before they split up in 1975. At that point there had been several line-up changes, but Chilton had been the central figure the whole way through
Their first two albums "# 1" ( 1972 ) and "Radio City" ( 1974 ) got fine reviews but somehow never reached a bigger audience. After the group had disbanded, they slowly achieved cult-status as pioneers of power-pop, and with the "Punk/New Wave" boom in 1976-77 a demand for their third unreleased album grew. This album only featured Chilton and Stephens of the original line-up, and the musical style had changed quite radically. The album "Sister Lovers" shows Chilton as a character on the verge of falling apart from drugs and alcohol abuse, but still much the music is highly original and touching. The album is now regarded as a classic in the avantgarde rock genre
After the split-up Chilton worked and recorded as a solo-artist and released several spotty albums. The album "Bach´s´Bottom" features some fine recordings mostly done in 1975 with some of the Big Star people, and much of it is Big Star in all but name.
Chris Bell recorded an albums worth of material in the late 1970´s before he tragically died in an accident in 1978. These recordings were released on the album "I Am the Cosmos" on Rykodisc. Chilton is featured on two tracks, and some of it sounds a lot like Big Star
Big Star has reformed several times for short tours, and some live-recordings have been released. In 2004 Chilton and Stephens were joined by Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow to record a new studio-album; the first in 30 years. This album "Big Star in Space" was released September 2005.
Band Members:
Alex Chilton: Born 1950. Composer, vocals, guitar. Chilton is the key member of Big Star. He has performed and recorded as a solo-artist when he´s not been involved Big Star project. He´s known to be quite eccentric at times
Jody Stephens: Born 1952. Drums and vocals. Stephens is the other member whi has been there the whole way through. He´s written/co-written a few of the songs
Chris Bell: Born 1951. Composer, vocals, guitar . Bell was like Chilton a gifted songwriter and wrote a lot to the fist album. He left soon after the release of that album, but rejoined shortly for the recordings for the second album. The outstanding track on his solo album "You and Your Sister" features great vocals from Chilton
Andy Hummel: Born 1951. Bass. Played on the first two albums. Hummel also appears on some tracks of "Bach´s´Bottom".
John Lightman: Bass. Joined in 1974 to replace Hummel and is featured on the Big Star Live ( recorded 1974 ). Lightman also appears on some tracks of "Bach´s´Bottom".
Jim Dickinson: Bass. Joined for the recordings of "Sister Lovers", which he also produced. Dickinson also appears on one track of "I Am the Cosmos
Richard Roseborough: Drums. A friend of Chilton´s with who he played before the founding of Big Star. He joined the band for the "Sister Lovers" sessions. Roseborough also supported Chilton for most of his later 1970´s and early 1980´s recordings. He played the drums on the "I Am the Cosmos" album. He was present on the "Radio City" sessions and played a little there too
Jon Tiven: Producer and guitarist. Produced "Bach´s Bottom" and played most of the guitars there too
Jon Auer: Guitarist. Member of the Posies, but joined Chilton and Stehens for occasional live-appearances in the 1990´s. Auer is also featured on the new 2005 album
Ken Stringfellow: Guitarist. Member of the Posies, but joined Chilton and Stehens for occasional live-appearances in the 1990´s. Auer is also featured on the new 2005 album
Discography:
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1. # 1 Record - Ardent 1972
Tracks:
1. Feel / 2. The Ballad Of El Goodo / 3. In the Street / 4. Thirteen / 5. Don't Lie To Me / 6. The India Song / 7. When My Baby's Beside Me / 8. My Life Is Right / 9. Give Me Another Chance / 10. Try Again / 11. Watch the Sunrise /12. St 100/6
Rating : 8
2. Radio City - Ardent 1974
Tracks:
1. O My Soul / 2. Life Is White / 3. Way Out West / 4. What's Going Ahn / 5. You Get What You Deserve / 6. Mod Lang / 8. Back of a Car / 9. Daisy Glaze / 10. She's a Mover / 11. September Gurls / 12. Morpha Too / 13. I'm in Love With a Girl
Rating : 8
3. Third Sister Lovers - PVC 1975
Tracks:
1. Kizza Me / 2. Thank You Friends / 3. Big Black Car / 4. Jesus Christ / 5. Femme Fatale / 6. O, Dana / 7. Holocaust / 8. Kangaroo / 9. Stroke It Noel / 10. For You / 11. You Can't Have Me / 12. Nightime / 13. Blue Moon / 14. Take Care / 15. Nature Boy / 16. Till The End Of The Day / 17. Dream Lover / 18. Downs / 19. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
Rating : 8
4. Bach´s Bottom (Chilton)- Line 1975
Tracks:
1. Take Me Home and Make Me Like It / 2. Every Time I Close My Eyes / 3. All of the Time / 4. Oh Baby I´m Free / 5. I'm So Tired, Pt. 1 & 2 / 6. Free Again / 7. Jesus Christ / 8. Singer Not the Song / 9. Summertime Blues / 10. Take Me Home Again - part 1 and 2 / 11. Every Time I Close My Eyes [Version 2] [*] / 12. Bangkok [*] / 13. Can't Seem to Make You Mine [*] / 14. Walking Dead [*] / 15. Take Me Home and Make Me Like It [Version 3][*]. [*] = Bonus-track
Rating : 6
5. I Am The Cosmos ( Bell 73-78 ) - Ryko 1992
Tracks:
1. I Am The Cosmos / 2. Better Save Yourself / 3. Speed Of Sound / 4. Get Away / 5. You And Your Sister / 6. Make A Scene / 7. Look Up / 8. I Got Kinda Lost / 9. There Was A Light / 10. Fight At The Table / 11. I Don't Know / 12. Though I Know She Lies / 13. I Am The Cosmos (Slow Version) / 14. You And Your Sister (Country Version) / 15. You And Your Sister (Acoustic Version)
Rating : 6
6. Nobody Can Dance ( 74) - 1999
Tracks:
1. Don't Lie to Me / 2. Back of a Car / 3. O My Soul / 4. Mod Lang / 5. She's a Mover / 6. September Gurls / 7. In the Street / 8. You Get What You Deserve / 9. Baby Strange / 10. Mod Lang / 11. You Get What You Deserve / 12. Letter / 13. September Gurls / 14. Way Out West / 15. O My Soul
Rating : 4
7. Big Star Live 74 - Ryko 1992
Tracks:
1. September Gurls / 2. Way Out West / 3. Mod Lang / 4. Don't Lie To Me / 5. O My Soul / 6. Interview / 7. The Ballad Of El Goodo / 8. Thirteen / 9. I'm In Love With a Girl / 10. Motel Blues / 11. In The Street / 12. You Get What You Deserve / 13. Daisy Glaze / 14. Back Of A Car / 15. She's A Mover
Rating : 5
8. Lost Decade (Chilton 70-78) - Fan 1980
Tracks:
1. Bangkok / 2. Can't Seem To Make You Mine / 3. Walking Dead / 4. Take Me Home & Make Me Like It / 5. Free Again / 6. Come On Honey / 7. I Can Dig It / 8. Just To See You
Rating : 4
9. Big Star in Space - Ryko 2005
Tracks:
1. Dony / 2. Lady Sweet / 3. Best Chance We've Ever Had / 4. Turn My Back On The Sun / 5. Love Revolution / 6. February's Quiet / 7. Mine Exclusively / 8. A Whole New Thing / 9. Aria Largo / 10. Hung Up With Summer / 11. Do You Wanna Make It / 12. Makeover
Rating : 7
Essential Albums!
Original albums as listed and rated on “Rate Your Music” - April 15 - 2006
12 Radio City - 1974
18 Sister Lovers - 1978
31 #1 Record - 1972
96 I Am the Cosmos - 1992
319 Bach´s Bottom - 1975
406 Big Star Live 1974 - 1992
625 Live at Missouri University - 1993
952 In Space - 2005
Check and Rate Here!
December 25 - "rateyourmusic.com"
My Suggestion For a 80 minutes (app.) Best Of Compilation:
1. Ballad Of El Goodo ( Chilton/Bell ) # 1 Record
2. September Gurls ( Chilton ) Radio City
3. Thirteen ( Chilton/Bell ) # 1 Record
4. You and Your Sister ( Bell ) I Am The Cosmos
5. Jesus Christ( Chilton ) Third Sister Lovers
6. Nighttime ( Chilton ) Third Sister Lovers
7. Blue Moon ( Chilton ) Third Sister Lovers
8. Stroke it Noel ( Chilton ) Third Sister Lovers
9. Close My Eyes ( Tiven ) Bach´s Bottom
10. All Of The Time ( Chilton/Alsop ) Bach´s Bottom
11. Motel Blues ( Wainright) Big Star Live
12. Way Out West ( Chilton ) Radio City
13. What´s Goin´Ahn( Chilton/Hummel ) Radio City
14. I´m In Love With a Girl ( Chilton ) Radio City
15. For You ( Stephens ) Third Sister Lovers
16. The Singer Not The Song ( Jagger/Richards) Bach´s Bottom
17. Jesus Christ(alt.)( Chilton ) Bach´s Bottom
18. Free Again (early)( Chilton ) Lost Decade
19. India Song ( Hummel) # 1 Record
20. Life is White ( Chilton/Hummel ) Radio City
21. My Life is Right ( Bell/Eubanks ) # 1 Record
22. Thank You Friends( Chilton ) Third Sister Lovers
23. Free Again ( Chilton ) Bach´s Bottom
24. I Can´t Seem to Make You Mine ( Saxon) Bach´s Bottom - bonus
25. There Was a Light ( Bell ) I Am The Cosmos
26. Lady Sweet ( Auer ) In Space
27. Dony ( Chilton ) In Space
28. February´s Quiet ( Stephens ) In Space
29. Mine Exclusively ( Matthews ) In Space
30. Best Chance We´ve Ever Had ( Stephens ) In Space
LINKS:
Big Star - unofficial homepage
Big Star Reference
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