Big Star

[Adam]

You know, I can't think of a single other artist that would call a record 'Loose shoes and tight pussy'.  Even the Cramps would probably back away from that one.

[mark t]

the cover has a shot of him gazing stage left, looking both cool and creepy.

[Snake]

Someone asked long ago about recommendations for Alex Chilton solo recordings. His best stuff was two EPs or mini-albums, "No Sex" and "Feudalist Tarts." They were included on a CD release of the album "High Priest," which was fairly good in its own right. I don't know if this is still in print, but it is the best place to start. It has a good dose of Alex as an interpreter of old soul songs, as well as some of his better originals.

There is a compilation, "19 Years" which is OK. It inlcudes some Big Star songs as well. But I think "High Priest/Feudalist Tarts/No Sex" is the place to start if you can find it.

I wouldn't recommend anyone starting out with anything other than these. Then, if you like what you hear, venture further.

The original Box Tops still play together occasionally. I saw them five or six years ago, and they put on a good show. They did all of the biggest Box Tops hits, and a few blues and soul numbers, augmented by a horn section. Alex was in good voice, and the lead gutar player was excellent. (Gary Talley?)

Just as a sidelight, the elegant gentleman in the "avatar" picture to the left is my great-grandfather, Chapman Chilton. According to family lore, one of his uncles "went to Tennessee" in the 1840s, so Alex and I may be very distant cousins. Not that Alex knows or cares!

[mark t]

I’ve been chasing this Alex Chilton thing and have somehow come up a collection of stuff I think is worth having, so, here it is .

Big Star #1 record and Radio City- re-released on one cd by Ardent (1990) & 3 (sister lovers) re-released on rykodisc (92). Agreed, 2 is the best and 3 is hard going but all are essential.

Like flies on sherbet (80)– strikes me as an uppish take on Big Star 3 – ramshackle and joyous. The version I’ve got (castle/sanctuary 2003) has a bonus disk ‘live in London’ from 1980- ramshackle is the word here too, but compelling – rock, rockabilly and ballads - includes a great version of the first Alex Chilton song I heard – Bangkok “here’s a thing that’s gonna please ya/a little town down in Indonesia” and a wild take on ‘the letter’. The backing band is two members of ‘the soft boys’ and one from ‘the Vibrators’- apparently they knew the music but hadn’t played with him before- minimal rehearsals- somehow they know when not to try and catch up. The promoter suggests that it in spite of everything the tour went better than he expected and then says ‘Alex seems to fall out with everyone he ever works with. Initially I thought it was me, but no, it’s simply everyone.’

Feudalist Tarts (85)/No Sex (86) - two eps from the mid 80’s re-released on one cd on Razor and Tie (94) – Snake is right – these are great!

High Priest (87) / Black List (89)- re-released on Razor and Tie (94) as a single cd  Black list is originally an ep  plus a bonus track – ‘magnetic fields’

A man called destruction (95) in which Alex seems to be getting serious about an interpretation of the American song-book – standard 3 piece plus horns – some originals as well – strangely cheesy in spots (as is loose shoes)

Loose Shoes and Tight Pussy (re-released as ‘set’ in the US ) – last call (99)-  I’ve mentioned this before – standard 3 piece – all covers- his best (conventional) guitar work? From Chet Baker style jazz to country and soul.

I’d also chase the Posies best of  ‘dream all day’ (Geffen 2000) since they were so great and now form half of  Big Star- this has got their cover of Chris Bell’s ‘I am the cosmos’ but doesn’t include their post Geffen album ‘success’.

So what now, dip further into the back catalogue or quit while I’m ahead? – or big star 4 – I know I will one day, but I keep putting it off!

[Adam]

So what now, dip further into the back catalogue or quit while I’m ahead? – or big star 4 – I know I will one day, but I keep putting it off!

If you're not already obsessed then you should probably quit. 
Though you'd better have a Box Tops compilation around the house somewhere before you do. 
And 'Songs the lord taught us'

[Adam]

Mark, on reflection, you might also dig '1970' - a collection of songs he did in that year between bands, rounded up and released a few years ago (checks - 11 years ago  ). 

Oddly enough it sounds more like 'Black list' as it does anything Big Star might have come up with over the next few years.  There is some filler on it, I can't lie to you, but there is an unspeakably sleazy version of 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' that you really need to hear.

Amazon says this -

Alex Chilton's post-Boxtops/pre-Big Star solo album finallysaw release in 1996--26 years after the titular date. The album was shopped around once the tapes were finished. Atlantic showed interest, but Chilton wasn't happy with the deal. He found a more sympathetic avenue in the Beach Boys' Brother Records. However, by the time the papers were signed, Big Star was beginning to come together. Chilton's solo tapes were left on the shelf.
The bulk of the material consists of Chilton originals, but there's also a rough-and-tumble take on "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and a medley of The Archies' "Sugar Sugar" and James Brown's "I Got The Feelin'". Though less refined than Big Star, 1970 is very much in line with Chilton's later solo albums, particularly those from LIKE FLIES ONSHERBERT onward. Hearing these recordings now, it is remarkable just how complete Chilton's musical agenda and vision were. It's easy to forget that he was only 19 when these songs were recorded.

[mark t]

thanks - I'll try and track it down - I'm also interested in Bach's Bottom - the one after like flies- it's got the studio version of Bankok. By the way a copy of north star deserter arrived this morning (ordered from rough trade some time last year with Joe gideon)- from canada via england- so thats not surprising I guess, looking forward to it. And I've got the tortoise - a well worn copy.

I'm beginning to think, with Chilton, a list of what not to get might be more useful.

I've been meaning to ask, is a daily spoon of honey still your secret to longevity?

[Adam]

I've been meaning to ask, is a daily spoon of honey still your secret to longevity?

That and the smack Mark, that and the smack.

[npabass]

I've bought the #1 Record/Radio City double and never really gave either much of a chance. I will do so for Radio City at least now.

[LAMF]

If David McComb were around, I know for a fact that he would have recommended Big Star's 3rd/Sister Lovers very highly. I just remembered that he wrote "Sister Lovers is God!" on one of my birthday cards in the mid 80's.

As far as records to avoid. In Space (the most recent album) by Big Star is one for sure, it's ironic that the songs which most sound like classic Big Star are the one's which are not written by Alex. For the most part it's a Big Star album in name only, and it's closer to one of Alex's solo albums, but doesn't seem to hang together as an album as much as a whole bunch of songs that ended up being burnt onto a CD because someone was cleaning up the hard drive on their computer.

However the Columbia live album from the 90's is pretty good.

[HVanherf]

Also check out the "I am the cosmos" album by Chris Bell !

[milton]

Mark I second that, Chris Bells's I Am The Cosmos is s great cd!!!

[weasel]

Love the Kim Deal/Tanya Donnely duet of You and Your Sister on This Mortal Coil's Blood LP

[Kieren]

And of course "Take care" is on the Evil produced Blackeyed Susans 'covers' album.   And Jody Stephens drums and sings (and writes?) on Gloden Smog's "Weird Tales" - which if you ever see you should pick up as its also very good.

[Adam]

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