Featuring Big Star as part of Sunday's 1974 Groupies Collection served as a timely reminder that I have yet to get hold of a copy of I Am The Cosmos the only solo album by band member Chris Bell which was released posthumously by Rykodisc in 1992
He died following a car crash in 1978 at the age of just 27 and the album has since become a thing of legend. Allmusic have labelled him as one of the unsung heroes of American pop music and goes on to
say that despite a life marked by tragedy and a career crippled by commercial indifference, the singer/songwriter's slim body of recorded work proved massively influential on the generations of indie rockers who emerged in his wake.Wiki goes on to list the likes of Beck, R.E.M,.Teenage Fanclub, Pixies. Afghan Whigs, Primal Scream, Pete Yorn, Wilco, the Posies and the Replacements as being influenced by him. Quite a list as I'm sure you agree the vast majority of whom grace the shelves here at CCHQ.
I was under the impression that the album was as scarce as hen's teeth and costing a fortune but that may just be for a vinyl copy. However, the prices on Discogs for the CD version seem pretty reasonable and therefore it has been duly ordered.
Is that what one of the Cs in CC stands for? Charity Cosmos (or perhaps Cosmos Chic)?
ReplyDeleteOr Chris Cosmos?
DeleteYep, an absolute must have. - Brian
ReplyDeleteNow acquired Brian and it's magnificent.
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