Big Star "Ballad of El Goodo" Missouri 1993

[N4Eful]

I WAS THERE!!! omg.

[SethHesio]

They DESERVED a better venue than that. But there's no sense in feeling bad. Big Star will live on and will always be awesome and amazing. I love them and I'll tell everyone about them. Beautiful Song.

[Skullrik]

I've been built up and trusted. Broke down, and busted. Years ago, you know I was all set to go, baby. Ain't no one going to turn me around.

[helterskelter786]

This song breaks my heart. It's been 20 years since I first heard it, and it brought tears to my eyes... I did not know you were gone : ( RIP Alex.

[romeosyne]

Like shevville, I must have got some dust in my eyes... It's like this--there aren't any more Alex's out there for guys like me, so it hits you hard when you realise he's gone and there's one less "broken heart to look to," as the Teenage Fanclub song goes.

Alex's music makes me want to live, to make it count from now on. I can't believe he's gone.

[arturesek1976]

love



[TheAlistairDick]

Wonderful stuff. My favourite Big Star song

[marcotukoff]

rip alex, i prefer #1 rather from the other albuns, thanxs from brazil, valeu!!!

[MattHatter]

Gosh darn, this is such an inspirational song. I'm crying. Yesterday I finally bought the two-fer of "#1 Record" and "Radio City" and this song is one of my new all time favorites. God Bless your memory and the legacy you left Alex.

[bassthing26]

you made a difference. x

[TallyJohn]

No one can't sing and play the guitar like you. You will be missed much, Alex. R.I.P

[theamazingooz]

R.I.P

How can you be dead?

[calangodoido]

R.I.P Alex! Your music has inspired a legion of people!

[JustineLaLoba]

thanks for making life in the 70's more bearable....luv ya Alex

[suzette2883]

Farewell Alex! BIG LOVE for BIG STAR!

[bovover]

Rock on Alex. RIP.

[carterbequest]

RIP Alex

Thanks for the tunes and for sprinking my life with joy.

[buddhacafe]

I was lucky enough to be at this concert. We'll miss you, Alex. Thanks for the music!

[ninjaultra]

R.I.P. ALex

[shevville]

RIP

shit i've never cried over someone famous dying until now

[445sd]

@shevville ME TOO!!! LX WAS REALLY AND STILL IS MY GOD!

[Thanlis]

Well... crap. We'll miss you, Alex.

[Lrx9]

RIP Alex Chilton.

[hobocakes]

no one has a voice like alex chilton...another legend, dead and gone. i hate st. patrick's day.

[latrampadelbulevar]

Alex, thanks for everything! R.I.P.

[lj61south]

RIP Alex....

[pappatacio66]

Bye bye Alex!

[MrStupidHead]

This song is emblematic of the whole big star thing. There once was this band and these guys, and these songs. And then there wasnt anymore. then some of the songs just popped up, and this one, lone, magical day - out of the blue - in Missouri University - a little piece of this karma came down to light on this stage. But just for this moment, and just for these songs.

The the ephemeral nature of it all - blew away in the breeze. Hold on. Hold on, Hold on. but I can't.

[rebyosef]

Just spent an hour with Jody Stephens - he came to speak to my son's class - and he was one of the most humble, down to earth people I have ever met. He talked about the fact that they didn't tour much - for him, going to (then) Memphis State and getting a degree was more important than hitting the "big time" - he said he always knew he would have to have something to fall back on... An amazing cat!

[LEEFORDJAGG]

Yes,Jody is a great guy..super friendly..gave a unofficial tour of Ardent back in '04 & signed my 'Third' CD. lfj

[andreaneilcmc]

I think Teenage Fanclub may have heard this a few times - then based their whole existence on it.

[PappyHab]

ah yeah...you just found that out now??

[jorgealbertobaron]

CANCION DE 1972 DE SU ALBUM No.1 RECORD

[evanrkg]

he kind of looks like an older rivers cuomo from the blue album days here

[sanjusanjusanju]

i love this song but i'm going to be honest: i think this is a weak performance.

[evanrkg]

they're at what looks to be a carnival or fair... what do you expect?

rock bands shouldn't have to play during the day.

[Plasticsoul]

@sanjusanjusanju Big Star was more of a studio entity than a live act. they really didn't tour that much. even with that I don't think this is a bad performance. it has a rough charm

[MogadonWoman]

Does anyone know if there's any footage of the original band? I suspect nothing official, but perhaps there';s an amateur recording somewhere

[sungonedown]

the band only played about two dozen shows in total and about ten with the original lineup, so i doubt it

[MogadonWoman]

Thought as much - in fact I read that they only played three gigs with the original quartet. Someone did post a link to some silent footage of them recording / rehearsing in the studio - including Chris Bell - but it seems to have been taken down now.

[mstipendiary28]

Just bought #1 Record after hearing about it for years, this song is incredible. Thanks.

[liambf]

THANKS PAUL

[cptnosferatu]

Awesome!!! Thank you, loveishell, for posting this. I was there, wearing my Posies t-shirt, back when I was in high school. I must admit that I didn't know who the hell Big Star was until I saw something in the local paper about how they would be playing in Columbia for the first time in however many years.

My cousin was the road manager for the Posies back in the 90's, and they slept in their van in my family's driveway the night they came through town to play the Blue Note! :)

[walterroy]

I wish I'd been a fan of theirs when they played here. It was only an hour away. Shit. Stephens is such an expressive but solid drummer.

[Gaz0175]

Thank you very much!

[fentdog84]

great song

[djkikis]

so this song was covered by evan dando, not by him?

[quantise]

This is brilliant. Thanks for posting!

[zoarces]

I genuinely believe Big Star was the best pop band that ever walked the face of this earth.

In my opinion the Chilton/Bell songs even beat those of Lennon/McCartney.

Chris Bell you were brilliant! May you rest in peace.

[chuckdee121]

You have obviously never heard of Bachman Turner Overdrive! Oh snap!!! Yeah, Big Star rule!

[hooskerdu1]

The guys backing him up are none other than early 90s power pop band The Posies. When you listen to them, Big Star is littered throughout their music.

[fellacutie]

i was at this show

[fadinboy]

I never knew who "Alex Chilton" from the Replacements was but I always ached to find out. Now that I know I feel complete. =]

[jtnunes]

that would only take 3 seconds on google.

[fadinboy]

so would your mum in the doggy position being mounted by a horse.

[Zepster77]

Geez that's kinda harsh.

[nackles6]

wow I was at that show for springfest. Awesome.

[hobbsk]

One of my top 5 songwriters of all time. Criminally underrated.

[benmeltzer]

Does his non-Big Star writing warrant that categorization?

[toxicsluge]

great song! has anyone heard the counting crows version?

[paulsmartialarts]

Hopefully the master tapes have been destroyed

[toxicsluge]

you suck for that

[paulsmartialarts]

Aw sorry. Go and listen to your Counting Crows CDs. LOL

[holtaprid]

You have a Counting Crows song in your favorites.

[paulsmartialarts]

Well observed. Go and watch it and you'll understand why.

Please don't write to me again.

[holtaprid]

Oh, I'm going to write to you again.

Just you watch :)

[holtaprid]

I'm writing to you again

[toxicsluge]

lol

[timmo618]

alex is special, incredible, inspired, moody...maybe even the godfather of, gasp...emo? nah, but somethin' like it. i just wanna know, why should ryan adams eat his heart out? that little bastard can hold his own with anyone!!!

[mugwamp4]

nick drake was...gasp!!!godfather of emo but alex was in that mould for sure brilliant song

[MichaelFrances]

nick drake the godfather of emo? nick drake's music conceals all it's emotion in a subtle form unlike emo which as the name suggests is naked, some would say affected, emotion....c'mon don't justify the ravages of emo with nick drake's genious...nothing excuses the foo fighters

[mugwamp4]

ah oh shit I musta meant Daniel Johnson or wild man fischer

[hovhaness]

Lol yes all music is emotional.

The term is just a catch-phrase to bilk more money from the parents of image driven teens.

Nick Drake was in a world all of his own, much like this band was.

That is how you know greatness. Comparing anything to greatness sounds like a bad joke.

[0LDMAN62]

has nebody got a big star kangaroo

[tilly15773]

just a special band. will never understand how or why they never became bigger than they are. just the greatest songs - sincere, messy, classy, bit f*&^%4 up, romantic, flipant, its all there. Ryan adams eat yer heart out!! ;o)

[mascarasnake26]

just amazing. incredible songwriter

[dickmcballs]

just to hooooooooold on...

beautiful

[fontcarles]

very nice

[paisleypower30]

Never heard that before, very nice!

[edumota]

top 10 in youtube...

[xxxBlakDragonxxx]

Such a strong melody and a reassuring song, thank you ^_^

[rookiecard]

Didn't know there was video of this. Nice to see the first crowd appreciating Big Star in.....god knows when. Reminds me of how jealous I was that I was working with a girl who was there....grrrr Karen G.

[Biguns]

great song, fills me with hope every time

[fredspaz]

Excellent post! A legendary and under-appreciated group. A true musician's band. Thanks again for this brilliant post.

[themarflothloloply]

Thank You!

[SydStuart]

I saw Alex Chilton on the University of Texas campus in 1991. It was totally awesome. He rolled his own cigarettes and about choked on them. He did an incredible version of Volare.

[UncleTom1805]

Does anyone have the video to "Lady Sweet"? I'm missing this on YouTube!

[icitnow]

I just went to their website and they have it in Quicktime and Windows. Of course it looks like a recent production (not them live or acting in it)

Maybe you already saw it but thought i'd try to help.

[UncleTom1805]

I found it just now...thanks icitnow!!

[moorlock2003]

Makes sense. I can't imagine Alex Chilton participating in a modern-day video.

[ariem23]

A great emotion!!!Many thanks for this video!!

[WhatwouldJoeStrummer]

If only Chris Bell were there.

He was a gift

[saganyouth]

thanks for this clip! :)

[misterrosewater]

Cool! This is the performance with Ken and Jon of the Posies that was released as "Big Star: Columbia".