I just heard this song on XM in my car. Very good, very Beatle-esque, Hollies-esque, even Badfinger-esque, but unique. I was hoping it was a current band, but I guess not. No wonder it sounded so good.
Hall of fame? I dunno. I do know this is one of the best songs you're likely to hear on here. Quality guys - Quality music. God bless Alex Chilton and Chris Bell and the band - they all played they're part,
Example of a perfect song? They sound like a watered down Badfinger. Like literally. And I like bad finger a lot so I'm not saying it's bad... I just don't really get the cult following and everyone saying their so amazing.
@freezazoid I agree that the harmonies sound freakishly similar to Bnadfinger (Ham) but Big Star had a far edgier sound , IMO. Hell, even Badfinger was considered a poor man's Bealtes when they released their first album. The Beatles created so many distinctive chord progressions and harmonies that it's damn near impossible to write good pop music without sounding derivative.
@ritter89 : good point. a lot of the chord changes in beatles songs are so different and all over the place. Even if you wanted to be derivative it wouldn't quite sound right. Besides a couple "early-beatles" one hit wonders like the cyrkle (sort of) and "Lies" by the Knickerbockers, there's never really been a band that's sounded like the beatles. And "alone again naturally" does a good early beegees impression which in turn is doing a mccartney impression. Sorry for the off topic rant.
no , the ramones is stupid music everyone can understand , you need to be sensitive and intelligent to understand Big Star , that's why it will never be famous.
By the way , if you love Big Satr, check out a band called The dB"s ...their first 2 albums are pop masterpieces also. Search on Youtube for songs called :
In the top 5 greatest pop bands ever. One thing I thought was a bit weak concerning Big Star was some of their lyrics. They always used the words : To , You, Do as the ending rhyme word of verses. With that said, I think this song is in the top 10 best pop songs of all time, along with Eleanor Rigby, More Then a Feeling , Bohemian Rhaphsody , Strawberry Fields , Carry on My Wayward Son , etc.
great, great song. must have been that big star didn't get exposure, or this stuff would have caught on like wildfire. the chicago sun times once said that big star is second only to the beatles in influence on other bands. maybe so, maybe not. you gotta figure velvet undergound into the mix, and talking heads, too. but big star was nothing short of great--period.
Bigvinyl11 I<,I II I,ve always loved Big Star since 1974 and I never understood why none of my friends got it about their music, no matter how much I tried. Anyway,at least I found some music lovers in the late 70;s who agreed. In memory of one of the best and most unappreciated singer,songwriter, and person in the music biz, Alex we,ll always have your great songs. nice video for a great tune.
A really great song off one of my favorite albums from the 70's...it totally stood out from everything else in 1974. Such a perfect rock and roll pop record!
Impossible to ID a favorite record. But the best are those that you reach for now and then. It might be a couple years, it might be for a weekly commute. But you always go back to the best. Big Star 1-3 are my favorites in these terms. RIP Alex and Chris, these recordings are solid and my favorite.
@problem49 Some did anyway, but not near enough. I told a friend who has a cover band that maybe she should cover a Chilton song in honor of his passing and she asked me, "Who's Alex Chilton?" It was cool he was content with just a little fame, though. For so many in the industry they can't seem to get enough.
Probably never gonna happen. The Hall of Fame shamelessly panders to sales figures and lowest common denominator mass popularity. Britney "Big Pussy" Spears will probably be admitted before Big Star.
I just heard this song on XM in my car. Very good, very Beatle-esque, Hollies-esque, even Badfinger-esque, but unique. I was hoping it was a current band, but I guess not. No wonder it sounded so good.
zunk11 1 month ago
nice one
adaburleigh 3 months ago
i think most of u are not like us older folks that grew up with big star,come out of the walls u 17 year olds
MrBrianlowdown 10 months ago
Hall of fame? I dunno. I do know this is one of the best songs you're likely to hear on here. Quality guys - Quality music. God bless Alex Chilton and Chris Bell and the band - they all played they're part,
mrmdsidebottom 11 months ago
That Cadd9 before "Can't tell a thing" and "Should I or not" is so perfect...
ZRN959 1 year ago 3
I'll Go On and On With You,Like To Fall and Lie With You,Id Love You Too
Zeke4TV 1 year ago
Awsome!
GuiltyDog7532 1 year ago
This is a great classic! No one sounds like Big Star on Radio City. What a fereakin' album!
ceterceter 1 year ago 3
Another Power Pop masterpiece. Oh, by the way, The Beatles
passed on Jody Stephens when he was young. They said
he was a little too active.....
alcarr99 1 year ago
Example of a perfect song? They sound like a watered down Badfinger. Like literally. And I like bad finger a lot so I'm not saying it's bad... I just don't really get the cult following and everyone saying their so amazing.
freezazoid 1 year ago
@freezazoid, I don't feel this way at all. I think Big Star wrote MUCH better material.
powerpopmonkey 1 year ago
@freezazoid I agree that the harmonies sound freakishly similar to Bnadfinger (Ham) but Big Star had a far edgier sound , IMO. Hell, even Badfinger was considered a poor man's Bealtes when they released their first album. The Beatles created so many distinctive chord progressions and harmonies that it's damn near impossible to write good pop music without sounding derivative.
ritter89 1 year ago
@ritter89 : good point. a lot of the chord changes in beatles songs are so different and all over the place. Even if you wanted to be derivative it wouldn't quite sound right. Besides a couple "early-beatles" one hit wonders like the cyrkle (sort of) and "Lies" by the Knickerbockers, there's never really been a band that's sounded like the beatles. And "alone again naturally" does a good early beegees impression which in turn is doing a mccartney impression. Sorry for the off topic rant.
freezazoid 1 year ago
@freezazoid : Big Star was more diverse than Badfinger, also... masters of the melancholy song. Badfinger couldn't touch 'em...
DeepSouthWrestling1 1 year ago
This song is perfect. vocals, drums, bass, guitars & production.
harwicke 1 year ago
This song almost explodes
Topicarmno 1 year ago
no , the ramones is stupid music everyone can understand , you need to be sensitive and intelligent to understand Big Star , that's why it will never be famous.
superttramp 1 year ago
By the way , if you love Big Satr, check out a band called The dB"s ...their first 2 albums are pop masterpieces also. Search on Youtube for songs called :
amplifier
Neverland
She wont worry
all by the dB"s
enolaniaga 1 year ago
In the top 5 greatest pop bands ever. One thing I thought was a bit weak concerning Big Star was some of their lyrics. They always used the words : To , You, Do as the ending rhyme word of verses. With that said, I think this song is in the top 10 best pop songs of all time, along with Eleanor Rigby, More Then a Feeling , Bohemian Rhaphsody , Strawberry Fields , Carry on My Wayward Son , etc.
enolaniaga 1 year ago
Criminal that this band didn't get more exposure and success. They wrote some finely crafted pop tunes.
ritter89 1 year ago
great, great song. must have been that big star didn't get exposure, or this stuff would have caught on like wildfire. the chicago sun times once said that big star is second only to the beatles in influence on other bands. maybe so, maybe not. you gotta figure velvet undergound into the mix, and talking heads, too. but big star was nothing short of great--period.
derek4ur 1 year ago
This has got to be the perfect band for people that remember high school as the high point of their life!
bibosemper 1 year ago
Music so Loud. Mate, you made a lot of people happy. x
bassthing26 1 year ago
Bigvinyl11 I<,I II I,ve always loved Big Star since 1974 and I never understood why none of my friends got it about their music, no matter how much I tried. Anyway,at least I found some music lovers in the late 70;s who agreed. In memory of one of the best and most unappreciated singer,songwriter, and person in the music biz, Alex we,ll always have your great songs. nice video for a great tune.
bigvinyl11 1 year ago 3
Most powerfull pop song ever. An undisputed masterpiece.
problem49 1 year ago 3
A really great song off one of my favorite albums from the 70's...it totally stood out from everything else in 1974. Such a perfect rock and roll pop record!
potaluca 2 years ago
Genius, thanks for posting this. RIP ALex.
Badsastard 2 years ago
perfect pop
inputmodule 2 years ago
RIP Alex
vunk0 2 years ago
Impossible to ID a favorite record. But the best are those that you reach for now and then. It might be a couple years, it might be for a weekly commute. But you always go back to the best. Big Star 1-3 are my favorites in these terms. RIP Alex and Chris, these recordings are solid and my favorite.
camperlawrence 2 years ago
waiting for a brighter day......
justlikehoney100 2 years ago
Thanks Alex. I'm glad that the world recognized your priceless musical legacy before you died.
problem49 2 years ago 2
@problem49 Some did anyway, but not near enough. I told a friend who has a cover band that maybe she should cover a Chilton song in honor of his passing and she asked me, "Who's Alex Chilton?" It was cool he was content with just a little fame, though. For so many in the industry they can't seem to get enough.
edscerbo 2 years ago
Comment removed
problem49 1 year ago
God bless you Alex. You sure blessed all of us.
tommyrock69 2 years ago
"Thinkin' 'bout what to say
And I can't find the lines"
<3
checkeredsockmonkey 2 years ago
Such a voice! I am blessed to have met him..
Mercury91 2 years ago
Namaste, Alex..thanks for the music
wrathofthesquirrel 2 years ago
Funny how it takes a death before you find out about somebody. Check me out before I die sometime. RIP Mr.Chilton
lukesteele1 2 years ago
Peace dude.
senyahecnerual 2 years ago
RIP Mr. Chilton
slowhand2008 2 years ago
RIP Alex Chilton , dead at 59!
tomohawk42 2 years ago
Goodbye, Mr. Chilton...
williamtobinjr 2 years ago
R.I.P. Alex Chilton!
djstarsign 2 years ago
RIP Alex
peppercub 2 years ago
"Children by the millions sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round . . ."
skolduggerynv 2 years ago 2
R.I.P. Alex Chilton, 59 Heart Attack, March 17, 2010
ChainsawChuck 2 years ago
r.i.p. alex chilton
your music will live on
madcbara 2 years ago
umm best pop song ever- with Teenage Fanclub's Starsign
inputmodule 2 years ago 3
i don't know - i'm an optimist - i think they will squeeze in, for whatever that's worth
fiddlerfart 2 years ago
The Hall of Fame has no credibility. The people who truly know and love the music don't need the acknowlegement of industry hacks.
problem49 2 years ago 41
@problem49 Right On! Big Star is heads and shoulders above lots of 'made by the industry' bands.
tonymuggs 1 year ago 2
3 words: Hall Of Fame
mthai66 2 years ago 4
Probably never gonna happen. The Hall of Fame shamelessly panders to sales figures and lowest common denominator mass popularity. Britney "Big Pussy" Spears will probably be admitted before Big Star.
problem49 2 years ago 5
Well they did the Ramones. Now they need Television and Big Star.
mthai66 2 years ago 21
@mthai66 They also inducted the Sex Pistols.....Big Star released Radio City, Third & #1 Record...How is that not more qualified?
wyteboybb 1 year ago
@mthai66 Roxy Music/Brian Eno not in there yet is just as big as a joke...
wyteboybb 1 year ago
Comment removed
kirkbzzz123 2 years ago
Was this done at muscle shoals?
mthai66 2 years ago
ardent in memphis
peppercub 2 years ago
@mthai66
Ardent Studios in Memphis, I think.
tisfortomi 2 years ago
The most glorious, exquisite lost pop song ever. A pure pleasure to listen to, once now and always.
problem49 2 years ago 4
This has been flagged as spam show
my favorite song!
JuanPiblock 2 years ago
man where has this been all my life!
777999777999 3 years ago 6
I know! what a revelation! Thank god I've been humming their stuff for 10 years. They are the greatest and most underrated in history
masherida 2 years ago 6
beautiful!!
i can see that robert pollard really dig this band
thanks for the post! this great music its imposible to find elsewhere
faunoram 3 years ago 2
Pollard is the man.
TallFastLoud 3 years ago
Should've been HUGE stars.
problem49 3 years ago 4
THX MAN Sweet sound and another one here just glad to have discovered Big Star.
sidewinder767 3 years ago 4
the best song
nexus007 3 years ago 3
Very glad someone finally posted some classic Big Star songs properly, thank you! :-)
uitgeburgerd 3 years ago 6
Glad I finally discovered Big Star.
hokieguy95 3 years ago
yup, how it's done
fiddlerfart 3 years ago
Off my favorite Big Star album. Nice.
ConspiracyTheatre 4 years ago