[2017-06-16] Big Star "The Best Of" (Stax)

Linda · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2017 6:56 pm

Description
Though power-pop forefathers Big Star were active for just a few short years in the early-mid 1970s, the Memphis band has gone on to become one of the most influential artists in modern music, with a cult status that few can compete with. This new compilation celebrates Big Star with 16 tracks spanning all 3 of their LPs (1972's #1 Record, 1974's Radio City and Third, released after the group disbanded, in 1978), and features rare single versions of some of their most popular songs. Includes liner notes from GRAMMY-winning writer and director Robert Gordon, plus an introduction by sole surviving Big Star member, drummer Jody Stephens.

Tracklist
1. In the Street (single mix)
2. Don't Lie to Me (single version)
3. September Gurls (single version)
4. Thirteen
5. Jesus Christ (single edit)
6. I'm In Love With a Girl
7. O My Soul (single edit)
8. Feel
9. When My Baby's Beside Me
10. Take Care
11. Life Is White
12. Watch the Sunrise (single version)
13. The Ballad of El Goodo
14. Nightime
15. Back of a Car
16. Thank You Friends

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYE232C/?tag=imwan-20

Rokin Robin of Locksley · 20 Oct 2007

Excellent !!

Let's see, 7 tracks from #1, 5 from Radio, 4 from 3rd...

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Rokin Robin of Locksley wrote:

Excellent !!

Let's see, 7 tracks from #1, 5 from Radio, 4 from 3rd...

and with single mixes! :thumbsup:

Rick A.

stanner · **Joined:** 26 Aug 2014 **Posts:** 119

Am I correct that two discs could contain their entire studio releases from those three brilliant albums? Why would anyone buy this but for extraordinary parsimony or ignorance?

DanO · 30 Jul 2006

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

DanO wrote:

With only 28 posts I believe our friend Stanner is ignorant to the culture and completest inflictions many of us ICE'ers have embedded in our DNA. :wink:

Rick A.

banzaibid · 05 Aug 2007

Rick A wrote:

With only 28 posts I believe our friend Stanner is ignorant to the culture and completest inflictions many of us ICE'ers have embedded in our DNA. :wink:

Rick A.

No matter how much it costs!!

Renny · 26 Jun 2006

due to my extraordinary parsimony and ignorance, could one of you guys give me a point of reference (they are like_________________) on big star, please?

i know i should know, it's just one of those ones that must have slipped through the cracks

thanks

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 26163

Renny, we appreciate your extreme parsimony.

I always garnish my meals with parsimony; it adds a nice touch.

As for the music, early Power Pop and wonderfully executed.

But it's much more than Power Pop, because it's anything but slick.

The lyrics go in a darker, more introspective direction and there's jangly guitars and odd rhythms.

This is a very good collection...with a dash of parsley.

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Renny wrote:

due to my extraordinary parsimony and ignorance, could one of you guys give me a point of reference (they are like having the swaggering rhythms of the Rolling Stones and the jangling guitars of the Byrds) on big star, please? Great, great power-pop. REM, The Replacements, Teenage Fanclub, the Db's and The Posies cite them as being a major influence.

i know i should know, it's just one of those ones that must have slipped through the cracks

thanks

Oh, also Cheap Trick loves them as well. As you may recall they covered "a new version titled "That '70s Song (In the Street)"

Rick A.

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2017 9:14 pm

"What's with all the talk about Parsippany in this thread? Big Star were from Memphis!"

DanO · 30 Jul 2006

Greg Carrier · 25 Nov 2006

Renny wrote:

due to my extraordinary parsimony and ignorance, could one of you guys give me a point of reference (they are like_________________) on big star, please?

i know i should know, it's just one of those ones that must have slipped through the cracks

thanks

Artists influenced by Big Star: The Posies, Teenage Fanclub, The Replacements, The Bangles, the Gin Blossoms, Tommy Keene, Matthew Sweet, Cheap Trick, R.E.M.

Artists who influenced Big Star: The Beatles, The Kinks, The Zombies, The Byrds, the Who, many other British Invasion bands, The Box Tops (Alex Chilton's first band)

Greg Carrier · 25 Nov 2006

It's a great collection of songs, but t's hard to imagine that anybody who enjoys this wouldn't want to get their three albums, which are all pretty essential.

Dave Miller · **Joined:** 19 Aug 2006 **Posts:** 2994

My first exposure to Big Star was when I bought the third album as a teenager after Peter Buck called it a masterpiece, and it put me off the band so much I didn't listen to the first two until years later. I love it now, but it's more of a weird, depressing outtake than an essential album like the first two, which are especially so in the single-disc package.

GodsComic · 03 Aug 2006

Dave Miller wrote:

My first exposure to Big Star was when I bought the third album as a teenager after Peter Buck called it a masterpiece, and it put me off the band so much I didn't listen to the first two until years later. I love it now, but it's more of a weird, depressing outtake than an essential album like the first two, which are especially so in the single-disc package.

That's pretty much my experience too. Although I've grown to appreciate Third, I'm glad I finally went back and discovered those perfect gems that are the first two.

Greg Carrier · 25 Nov 2006

I suspect a lot of Big Star fans either prefer the first two albums or "Third." The first two are more polished and hook-laden. They sound like classic rock radio from a parallel universe. (They should have been classic rock in THIS universe.)Third is much looser and unstructured, but no less genius for it. It points in the direction of everything Alex Chilton did afterwards, as well as what became "alternative rock."

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Greg Carrier wrote:

I suspect a lot of Big Star fans either prefer the first two albums or "Third." The first two are more polished and hook-laden. They sound like classic rock radio from a parallel universe. (They should have been classic rock in THIS universe.)Third is much looser and unstructured, but no less genius for it. It points in the direction of everything Alex Chilton did afterwards, as well as what became "alternative rock."

The loss of Chris Bell really affected this band. :cry:

Greg Carrier · 25 Nov 2006

Rick A wrote:

Greg Carrier wrote:

I suspect a lot of Big Star fans either prefer the first two albums or "Third." The first two are more polished and hook-laden. They sound like classic rock radio from a parallel universe. (They should have been classic rock in THIS universe.)Third is much looser and unstructured, but no less genius for it. It points in the direction of everything Alex Chilton did afterwards, as well as what became "alternative rock."

The loss of Chris Bell really affected this band. :cry:

As did their failure to achieve commercial success.

Linda · **Posted:** Wed Mar 01, 2017 8:27 pm

So, Renny, have you decided to try out Big Star?

Renny · 26 Jun 2006

Linda wrote:

So, Renny, have you decided to try out Big Star?

still pondering........i will most likely go the spotify route first and see what happens from there.

Linda · **Posted:** Thu Mar 30, 2017 3:28 am

This has been pushed back to May 19th, and the pre-order price has dropped by nearly $4, down to $12.19:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYE232C/?tag=imwan-20

[2017-06-16] Big Star "The Best Of" (Stax)

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