Gift One – Teresa
January 21, 2008
My gift to The Collective is ‘Big Star’. This cd is a two album complilation consisting of their 1st album “#1 Record” and their 2nd and last album “Radio City”. Big Star was a band in the early 70’s that were victims of poor distribution due to internal label wars. They were also mostly a studio band due to the conflict between frontmen Chris Bell and Alex Chilton. Although Big Star tried to play a few gigs here and there, they were highly unsuccessful. The late Bell (passed away in an accident in 1979) left the band after ‘#1 Record’ was recorded. He came back to work on the 2nd album, but his conflict with Chilton led him to abort his portion of the project and he refused to take any credit on ‘Radio City’, although his influence can be heard throughout the tunes.
With Chilton’s bluesy and rhythmic guitar combined with Bell’s british influenced vocals, the band tops my category of bands that you should be listening to probably never heard of. You can hear the 70’s infused in the tracks with its “ooh aah” background vocals and driving guitars. Tracks that are a must-hear are “The Ballad of El Goodo” (side note: Evan Dando has covered this tune), “You Get What You Deserve” and “September Gurls”. And here’s a pop quiz for you, tell me where you’ve heard track #3 “In The Street”.
I like this sound. It’s funny how this music, which is obviously from the 70’s, could sound very current if performed by a band today.
The recordings are somewhat simple but not simplistic. Leaving space for the vocal and key guitar parts. The stereo image is mixed nicely, with good separation yet still yielding a nice large mix. Sometimes ethereal…atmospheric, if you will.
For some reason the music caused me to be very nostalgic and contemplative.
Great gift. I am on my 3rd listen-through. I love the space that they give everything. It doesn’t feel empty, but yet there is room to breathe.
Comments on Track 3 ‘Streets’ – nice find. Second of all, great cowbell. (Elizabeth recognized it immediately as the theme song . . .)
This is a great, easy to listen to album.
Also, I am very attracted to the guitar tone in this music. They say a lot without saying a lot. Awesome. (Probably more reflection to come.)
i don’t think I have ever heard “70s” music that I enjoyed . . .
Well done, Teresa. You found something unexpected and new to us all, without it being pretentious.
I specifically enjoyed The Ballad of El Goodo. I always feel a bit ashamed when I discover a band before my time that is obviously such a front-runner to the music that I enjoy today. I should know the musical history of the ones who paved the way for todays bands. I find it interesting how similar they are to The Rolling Stones and REM, and yet they are seemingly “unknown”. It is a testament to the importance of good publicity, management and group dynamics, as well as not dying in your prime.
After further wikipedia research I found that many of their songs have recently been covered by great musicians such as: yo la tengo, Jeff Buckley and Placebo. Making Big Star even more impressive, as well as leaving me feeling even more ashamed that I have not heard of them before. My cheeks are rosy red.
Well, in summary, I like this band and “their ain’t no one thats goin’ to turn me ’round.”
On last thing I forgot to mention,
I agree with Mark in saying that this music leaves me feeling very nostalgic and contemplative. This was a good observation, Mark. High five to you.
i’m pretty excited that ‘Big Star’ has been such a hit! i was nervous about that fact that they are a 70’s band and bands from that era have left a bad taste in people’s mouth musically.
I think your concerns are warranted. A lot of the music birthed from this era was somewhat unfocused as far as style.
Many artists were transitioning out of the “flower power” mentality and experimenting in some “harder” rock (Boston, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Styx, etc).
In contrast you had other artists venturing into more western territory (pardon my pun). Bands like the Eagles, America, Seals and Crofts and New Riders of the Purple Sage, to name a few.
I don’t even have to mention Disco (even though I think I just did). The point is that these bands were creating what was to become modern rock, country and dance music. Hey, we had to start somewhere.
i think ‘Big Star’ has that “harder rock” feel while infusing the british pop influence of the 60s.
I nominate “September Gurls” to be the new anthem for reruns of the O.C. How did this song never wind up on the show? Am I right? Who is gonna back me up on this? Anyway.
ummm . . . we dont watch OC oh and dont call it that. . .