However. these are only two of the many great songs that they recorded in their short three album career (#1 Record, Radio City and Third/Sister Lover) in the early 70's with a 4th In Space coming along in 2005
Like the Velvet Underground in the 60's they didn't really enjoy much success at the time but have since assumed legendary status and have influenced countless bands who have come after them.
A couple of examples. You only have to listen to The Ballad of El Goodo for the likes of the Jayhawks and a number of other American bands to spring to mind.
Teenage Fanclub freely acknowledge their influence with their album Thirteen named after the Big Star single. Alex Chilton also collaborated with them in his later years.Again you can see the influence when you play What's Going Ahn.
No life is complete without a bit of Big Star in it.
Big Star - The Ballad of El Goodo
Big Star - What's Going Ahn
Until last year I never got the fuss about Big Star.
ReplyDeleteAnd then I finally bought a copy of #1 Record.
Now I get it.
If you've not seen it, the documentary Nothing Can Hurt Me is well worth seeking out.
'No life is complete without a bit of Big Star in it.' Well said CC.
ReplyDeleteMissed out completely of them back in the 1970s which has to be one of my biggest musical regrets. Since the 1980s I've been trying to make up for it. Superb band.
ReplyDeleteJamie
I agree with CC and The Swede, and also with Paul Westerberg who wrote: "I never travel far, without a little Big Star" (from the Replacements' song Alex Chilton).
ReplyDeleteI’m a little embarrassed to say I didn’t get into Big Star until Stax reissued the albums in ‘92 and Alex Chiton played with the Posies at about the same time. You picked out a couple of their best songs today, CC.
ReplyDeleteThree great albums. I still haven't heard the 4th.
ReplyDeleteMe neither
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