Big Star

I found recently that I could get nearly that exact tone with a compression pedal cranked up all the way.

(with a Fender Jaguar, if it matters)

I bought a JangleBox compressor on the strength of some gear nut forum threads that specifically discussed the recording of "September Gurls."

I used a Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone.

Second from treble pickup on a strat

i've said it before, but chilton is an amazing guitar player -- some of the stuff he pulls off on live recordings is astonishing.

Think I've probably said this before as well, but in that respect he is like Jonathan Richman, a guy known as a songwriter, performer and "personality" but who obviously works to keep his guitar chops up.

Does anyone know, specifically, what Chilton's problem was? He seemed to become spectacularly spacey and incompetent almost at the same time he was producing some of his strongest work... Hallucinogens? Booze? Doesn't have the telltale signs of coke or heroin, although Bell obviously went down to horse so hard drugs were obviously on the scene...

incompetent???

though if there was a problem, it may have stemmed from his inadvertent discovery that children by the millions were not, in fact, singing for alex chilton.

That sound's not a guitar – it's a Fender MandoGuitar. You can perhaps guess what two instruments it combined.

I thought it was just a capo-ed Strat put through the same kind of massive tube compressor that the Beatles favored on stuff like the "Nowhere Man" solo.

http://jazzmando.com/new/images/MandoStrat.png

That appears to be the very rare "bass" guitar.

B-b-but what kind of amp was it played through?

Ha - after writing that post I put a Tele through a dialed-out compressor and felt like I was insanely high. Didn't realise Big Star played Mandocasters - even the bridge pickup on my Tele was pretty close.
Dunno if you're having a dig, Naive Teen Idol, but that is indeed an electric mandolin - they are only about 2 feet long overall, as opposed to the 34" scale of a bass.

overrated Grandpappy Indie (VU notwithstanding); not worthless, but nor are Wishbone Ash, for goodness sake
― mark s, Wednesday, October 17, 2001 5:00 PM (11 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Cool Internet discourse
A+ poptimist excreta

Ry Cooder on the Mandoguitar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2FrFBceLuY

Digging Nothing Can Hurt Me, which is alternative takes and re-mixes, as seen in the movie of the same name apparently.

I thought it was just a capo-ed Strat put through the same kind of massive tube compressor that the Beatles favored on stuff like the "Nowhere Man" solo.

Maybe it is, maybe it's not-- but like I said, you can get a sound that is pretty damn close without a Mandocaster (which I'd never even heard of).

Went through the vinyl section of the one remaining centre of town record/cd shop today and found they had both #1 Record and Radio City in there. Not sure if I should be as surprised as I was. Good to see, but does leave me wondering how well known they are these days.
Are they something every semi aware indie kid has known about since Teenage Fanclub were popular?

There are some odd semi obscure cd titles that appear in that record shop on a regular basis . That is to say odd titles appear regularly not individual titles reappear I don't think. Not sure if there's one semi informed cd buyer in the place or if there is a directive of what to buy from elsewhere. Somehow still not got around to really ask after several years.

You can get new audiophile pressings of the first two fairly cheaply ($25-30 for the pair).

And the SACD twofer if you are into niche digital formats. Plays on ordinary players too. It sounds BRIGHT but I think those controls were turned up at Ardent Studios rather than at the mastering plant.

I'm a wasted face, I'm a sad-eyed lie, I'm a holocaust.

Documentary is on Netflix now.

Watching now. Really well done. "When I said Ardent, people thought I had said Argent!"

TGIFs?

great documentary. wish it discussed the making of third a little bit more but can't really complain

Looks like Stranded In Canton is on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1eDzz5fKio&list=PL0FEC235144290819

And just in case you've never heard Elliott Smith sing "Thirteen"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZZWtLch1g0

was posted over in the netflix thread but this panther burns clip is a must watch, so good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U-k32L0KCc

Really enjoyed the movie, and not just as a band bio -- along the way it hits on interesting things about Memphis, the music biz, the weird world of rock crit, how pop culture myths are made and sustained, and the central mystery of how art happens. I almost think it's better that they didn't get to interview Alex. It lets the film revolve around the absence of him and Chris.

otm, every word.

thanks JR for Stranded in Canton, that was fucking great

I like how TGI Friday's was THE place to be. How times have changed.

lol "Axel Chitlin"

I like how TGI Friday's was THE place to be. How times have changed.

Totally agree. It took such a huge mental leap for me to see TGI Fridays as anything other than what it is now.

was it the first TGI Fridays?

second after nyc according to google

Yeah, that part cracked me up. It was so subtle like finding out the Stone's hung out at the first Applebees while recording Exile.

What was the new statute that changed Memphis nightlife? Liquor by the drink? Will never understand Southern alcohol legislation

doc had some nice/funny stuff in it, a bit overlong and hindered by lack of any footage of the band which is a real bummer but not surprising. skirting of Bell's gayness a bit odd.

It helped that there are such great supporting characters in the Big Star story like Jim Dickinson and Wm. Eggleston. Dickinson's widow was great in the doc.

yeah my favorite parts were probably the bits with Eggleston and Dickinson

skirting of Bell's gayness a bit odd.

anything more essentially vetoed by his family

yeah I get that. and man did his sister look uncomfortable on camera.

Guys, one of the Box Tops posted on our borad once, for realz:So it's called _When Pigs Fly_...

Hadn't really dawned on me that some of those other Box Tops also had careers in music.

i didn't think much of the big star doc, but that tav falco clip is just pure unadulterated boss. "well, the best of the worst."

chris bell's sister may have been uncomfortable on camera, but the evident rawness of her brother's death for her came through very clearly and powerfully.

in re. chris's gayness i think the film managed to get across what it needed to.

i bought one of the lesser box tops albums recently, it had the little cut out mark in the //middle// of the jacket! what foolishness is that?

also am impressed with the effeminate quality of alex chilton's voice. tav falco has something of that, too. do you think it was part of their attempt to set themselves apart from conservative suburban west TN or something? or was it just in the water?

best thing on the big star doc DVD is that mini-feature where john fry talked about how the first two big star records were made. that was pure gold. wish there was a whole 2 hours about that.