Big Star

O man the beginning this thread. lol Old ILX. Ethan, such a worthless critic.

aside from a 45, Chris Bell had no solo vinyl.

Oh it's a collection of demos and stuff.

It is, but it wasn't issued until 1992 and only on CD not vinyl

That one 45 though, I Am The Cosmos b/w You And Your Sister is spectacular. Perhaps even a bigger vinyl score than the first two Big Star albums.

For some reason I assume it was a actual release, on pair with Dennis Wilson's solo record.

i am the cosmos (the collection) has had at least one vinyl reissue

Wasn't aware of that. I see there's also a new "deluxe edition" 2-CD Chris Bell set out with alternate versions on the second disc, including a later version of "Get Away" with Chilton on guitar.

yeah they put out i am the cosmos on vinyl around the time of that deluxe edition iirc. not the sort of thing i'd expect to find for cheap though!

"I Am the Cosmos" is not the touchstone that so many would indicate. I appreciate the sentiment, but it's not as engaging as anything Big Star or This Mortal Coil haven't released.

the posies' cover introduced me to this song, and it's still my favourite tbh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAsubglfwGQ

Vinyl reissues of all the Big Star stuff are very very available.
Originals, not so much.

i know someone (maybe on this thread) was repping hard for how great the recent third vinyl reissue on 4 men w/ beards is. haven't herad it though!

yeah, it's wonderful. both sound & sequencing couldn't be better.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kBm_XvpaRvU/Tzb-cgsZldI/AAAAAAAAAco/XEd4CQXtbIQ/s1600/x.JPG
kind of wish i could read this!

H-bombs?

i don't think i've heard them, but i believe that's Peter Holsapple's band?

that's awesome. where'd you find it, tylerw?

"Like Flies on Sherbet" is a hilarious/awesome record fwiw

many xposts

"my rival... I'm gonna stab him on arrival" = classic

http://whatanicewaytoturn17.blogspot.com/ - this site has a bunch of fun chilton-y stuff.

in some ways it's the next logical step from Third - the performances and arrangements become even more unhinged/sloppy/off-kilter but the nihilism and sentimentality are replaced with lust, sneering cynicism, and reckless abandon

xp

Is that a Pete Frame tree? My copy of the omnibus edition of RFT vol 1 & 2 doesn't have that one.

xp, aha, "Pete Frame-style"

yes, it's not his handwritng

"Cut my gut, stab me in a alley. Call me a slut in front of your family..." also = classic.

"As soon as I go out/ Forget what I’m about"

Stroke It Noel is the greatest, most joyous song ever recorded by anyone ever, anywhere, ever, in the world.

Big Star’s Third Landmark Album to be Performed At SXSW 2012

GSD&M Presents An All-Star Collective Including Jody Stephens of Big Star, Mike Mills and Peter Buck of R.E.M., Chris Stamey of the dBs and More

Evening To Include Screening of Big Star Documentary Nothing Can Hurt Me

Thursday, March 15 at Austin’s Paramount Theater

"…a Rosetta stone for a whole generation" Peter Buck

In a night that will combine the best of SXSW 2012 Film and Music, an all-star group of musicians will gather at Austin’s historic Paramount Theatre on Thursday, March 15th to celebrate the Big Star legacy through a complete performance of the band’s seminal Third album. This highly anticipated event comes two years after the untimely death of legendary Big Star singer/songwriter Alex Chilton and a hastily organized tribute show that became an emotional and musical highlight of SXSW 2010.

Prior to the musical performance the SXSW Film Festival will host the debut screening of the feature-length documentary Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me (Work-in-Progress), also at the Paramount Theatre. The film is a portrait of talented musicians who never got traction within the confines of the music industry but went on to craft three albums now recognized as pop masterpieces and influenced countless musicians including R.E.M., the Replacements, Wilco, Teenage Fanclub, Ryan Adams and many more.

As with previous live performances of the album in New York City and North Carolina which drew enthusiastic crowds and critical acclaim, the SXSW show will consist ofa core of top-tier musicians who will perform the album in its entirety including Jody Stephens of Big Star on drums; Mike Mills of R.E.M. on bass; Mitch Easter of Let’s Active and Chris Stamey on guitars; Charles Cleaver on piano; and for this performance, guest guitarists Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of the Posies, as well as a wide range of guest vocalists who are still signing on for the evening. Austin's own Tosca String Quartet, along with guest brass and wind musicians including Memphis's Jim Spake, will perform the original orchestrations from the album. Austin’s GSD&M is the show’s executive producer in conjunction with SXSW and High Road Touring.

The event is open to SXSW Film, Music, Gold and Platinum Badge holders, as well as SXSW Film Passes and Music Wristbands. For those without Badges, Passes or Wristbands, a limited number of advance single tickets are available for $25 via the Paramount website (austintheatre.org/film). Advance Ticket sales will end at midnight the day before the screening. Advance Ticket purchases do not guarantee reserved seating or entry to the theatre. Badge holders receive priority entry, followed by Film Passes and Music Wristbands. Once Badges, Passes and Wristbands have entered, Advance Tickets will gain entry, and then as capacity allows, day-of-show single tickets, which m ay be purchased for $25 at the Paramount Theatre box office approximately 15 minutes prior to the screening. For those who wish to attend the performance only, $25 tickets will be sold starting at 8:45pm if seats are available. Advance Ticket holders for are still advised to arrive to the theatre at least 30 minutes prior to the screening time. In the event that a screening reaches capacity before an advance ticket purchaser can be admitted to the theatre, the purchase price will be refunded at the Paramount Box Office (refund valid only within 20 minutes of screening start time).

There were brilliant moments in the studio,” said Big Star drummer Jody Stephens. “Performing this album after all those years, with these talented people, brings the songs to life in a way that is pure joy.” One of Rolling Stone magazine’s Top 500 albums of all time, Big Star’s Third/Sister Lovers, has long been revered by artists and critics as one of the most influential albums ever produced. "There's something about this record that connects with my generation, and apparently many generations" said Chris Stamey, musical director for the show and member of 1980s power pop group the dBs. “With this performance we hope to breathe life into a bittersweet album that ha s come to mean so much to so many musicians and fans.”

A signed commemorative poster will be available at the show with proceeds benefitting the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic. Donations to this worthy organization are encouraged. Further information is available at NewOrleansMusiciansClinic.org.

Please note absolutely no filming will be permitted inside the Paramount Theatre. Still photography with flash must be limited to the first three songs, and subsequently only permitted without flash.

when Auer/Stringfellow weren't mentioned in the headline i was gonna cry foul but ok they're in there

still kind of funny to see two guys who've been in the band for 20 years now billed as 'guest guitarists'

Hey! Has anyone got a recording or a link to the WLYX broadcast from 1975, sometimes bootlegged as Beale Street Breakdown, and sometimes credited to Sister Lovers? Looking for it for work purposes. Thank you kindly.

I bet Tyler does ... here:

http://doomandgloomfromthetomb.tumblr.com/post/187210978/dusted-in-memphis-in-honor-of-yet-another

Or maybe here:

http://doomandgloomfromthetomb.tumblr.com/post/4839487456/beale-street-green-breakdown-even-though-the

Yeah, I checked Tyler's blog - but both those links are expired.

i have the files on my hard drive and could prob send them to you pretty easily - you on yr work email today?

I am: thanks ever so much Stevie. Much appreciated. Robert Gordon suggested I hear them for an insight into AC live round Sister Lovers time.
As public thanks, here's this amazing live performance of Holocaust, with a band made up Chris Stamey and Will Rigby, from 1978:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UxXNDU9XSY

& speaking of chilton w/ the dbs, these shows are highly recommended: http://dbs-repercussion.blogspot.com/2012/03/alex-chilton-rip-live-1977-feat-chris.html

Thanks Tyler. Gold.

i'll try to reup the beale street green/breakdown discs sometime soon too.

Just quickly browsing through those shows and they are AMAZING. Not always in a good way, but a great sense of where Chilton was at that point.

version of "Take Me Home And Make Me Like It" is really pretty amazing on there.

yeah -- nyc show is pretty together, philly show goes off the rails. in an entertaining way!

Hi -- Message me if you're interested -- have a spare ticket for the Big Star Third concert at the Barbican tonight. Think they're £25 ish. You'd have to sit next to me though :/

GOOD GRIEF TERRIBLE SHOW

No one said yes, but GOOD MOVE

ha, really? what was so bad about it?

Ach, just way too "tasteful". I love Third - hearing the songs live made me bawl - but it was so bloodless. Made me realise what an underrated vocalist Alex was. Jody looked AMAZING though.

Sole redeeming moment was Robyn Hitchcock turning up to do "Downs" and dedicating the song to Tom Hibbert.

It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great.

Those songs just don't lend themselves to that treatment – on the record they are tearing the songs are being pulled apart from the inside. On stage, with revolving musicians, they necessarily have to be anchored. That meant that too much of it plodded, as a result of imposed order. The slow ones were miles better than the rockers.

John Bramwell opened with Nature Boy, then obviously just went and got pissed. He all but missed his cue for Thank You Friends, running back to the stage late, and through the second half he was sitting behind me, chuntering on at conversational volume through the show. Twat.

Although, arguably that's totally in the spirit of Third!

ha, yeah, that sounds about right.
they should open the shows with "whole lotta shakin'".

gotta say, this looks pretty fun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUr6Gz29PK4

Can anyone provide a basic guide to the chords of 'I am the Cosmos?' I can tell it's capo-ed. Is the first chord just a straight up D-formation? Can't really tell with all the layering and phasing.

http://www.bigstarreference.com/tabs/cosmos/cosmostab.html