 "influential, timeless, power-pop..." | 2008-02-15 |
| - Reviewed By User: A22A66Q1NL2MKF |
2 historically important records for the price of one! Some great stuff
here and some truly mediocre junk too. You can see the potential in these
guys and its too bad Chris Bell died young and their record label was a
bumbling bunch of idiots. Some "American Idol" clown should adopt some of these songs - they would sound as good today as they did 35 years ago.
This CD comes with a lengthy insert that is worth it just for the history
lesson. For further reading check out the internet article titled "The
Sad Life & Death of Chris Bell" - very poignant and well-written.
O my soul, my life is right, when my baby's beside me........ |
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 "#1 Record by itself would have made this essential" | 2007-09-30 |
| - Reviewed By gfink2 |
What I mean is, I have listened to the entire disc twice in the week or so that I've had the disc. But I've played #1 Record over and over too many times to count, it's OUTSTANDING, way better than I expected even after hearing about Big Star for years. It's excellent power pop.
I came around to Big Star through Chris Bell's only CD, I Am The Cosmos. That record made me a fan of Chris Bell. The only other thing he recorded was #1 Record. Those 2 discs are not enough of a legacy, there's no telling what kind of impact on music Bell could have had if things had gone better.
#1 Record by itself makes this compilation essential. But Radio City is also strong, with several excellent tracks. (And for the record, Bell did help write 2 songs on that one - O My Soul and Back Of A Car.) If you think you might like this after hearing the samples...don't worry. You will. This is about as great a CD of its kind as you could hope for. |
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| "I'm sooo embarrassed!" | 2007-08-14 |
| - Reviewed By skaleta |
| How come I never heard of these guys? Well, my father did me a huge service in getting this double album for me for Father's Day (I'm that old to have kids of my own) a few months back. He said, "give it a listen, let it swirl around a few days, give it another listen, and I guarantee you you'll not be able to stop". Well, he was right. He also just sent me Sisters & Lovers the other day as a follow up saying that I was "ready" for Big Star's final masterpiece. As a testament to how cool this album is, my wife, who's rediculously picky about what she listens to, is right alongside me in proclaiming its perfection. |
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| "Big Star is a big influence" | 2007-07-09 |
| - Reviewed By jjm_1965 |
| R.E.M. and Cheap Trick are but 2 artists that have been influenced by Big Star. This cd includes their 2 best albums. Highly recommended for fans of Badfinger, the Raspberries, and of power pop in general. |
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| "Behind the Myth and the Legend, Two Fine Rock Albums" | 2007-06-01 |
| - Reviewed By blakeus1 |
Before irony was sooooo cool, the band headed by Alex Chilton and Chris Bell revelled in it. They took their name from a grocery store chain, not from some false impression that they were or would become Big Stars. (Though Chilton had sung lead on the #1 single "The Letter" five years earlier.) And while the name of their debut could be taken to mean just that - as in record number one - they came nowhere near having a hit record, let alone a #1 Record. Chilton and Bell shared songwriting credits on this album, but generally the songs were written by one or the other. The first four songs on #1 Record make the difference in their styles abundantly clear. Bell's pop supernova "Feel" is answered by Chilton's soul-searching but hopeful "The Ballad of El Goodo". Bell strikes back with the power pop of "In the Street", only to be countered with Chilton's ode to pubescence, "Thirteen". Although Alex Chilton is the better remembered one, as he remained in the band for all three albums, it is obvious on this record that the band belonged equally to both of them. Before the end of the disc's first half, however, comes "The India Song". This has always been one my favorite tracks on #1 Record, but I only recently learned that it was written by bassist Andy Hummell. (This, coupled with drummer Jody Stephens "For You" on Third/Sister Lovers, demonstrated the rhythm section members were just as capable of writing a Big Star-quality song.) There is plenty of excellent but modest electric guitar on #1 Record, especially the in-your-face riffing of "Don't Lie To Me" and the wah-wah solo on "When My Baby's Beside Me". The second half of the record, however, consists of mainly acoustic numbers, which are at least every bit as fine as the album's rockers. A highlight among these tracks is "Watch The Sunrise". With the trading acoustic guitars before the lyrics begin, this 3:41 song is a bit of a mini-suite. The titles are indicative of the pensive nature of these songs. For example, a track called "Give Me Another Chance" is followed by one called "Try Again".
Bell had left Big Star after #1 Record, but did put in a few appearances on the follow-up, Radio City. (Once again, that title conjures up images of stardom that was not to be.) Chilton did most of the writing himself, with Hummell co-writing several songs and contributing another of his own compositions, the excellent "Way Out West". This album contains Big Star's best-known song, "September Gurls". I will admit that I find Radio City to be less that totally brilliant, but surely I will concede that this is the greatest power pop song ever, right?. Well, no, actually. Yes, it features all of the essential elements of a great pop song: tender but rocking guitar, a strong bass line, nonsense lyrics, and cherub-like vocals. However, there is another song by a different band that mix these element in an even more perfect blend. I have said it before, I say it now, and I will say it again in the future: the greatest power pop song ever is "Shake Some Action" by The Flamin' Groovies. But of course, this doesn't make "September Gurls" any less of a song. It is the best song on the album and the reason why Big Star has the reputation as a pop band that it does. "You Get What You Deserve" and "Back of a Car" certainly don't hurt, and "What's Going Ahn" and "I'm In Love With a Girl" recall the pensive moments from #1 Record.
Big Star has been described as the quintessential American power pop group and the quintessential cult band. I am not sure that any artist can be considered quintessential in either of these categories, particularly power pop, whose quintessence is better defined by songs than by bands. Granted, Big Star's potency in this genre is obvious on these albums. However, that they were more than just a power pop band is evidenced by the fact that their influence was equally strong on both brooding alternative rock and radio-friendly indie pop. For this reason, I believe that it is Third/Sister Lovers that makes the single best case for Big Star as a great and influential band. Alas, Chris Bell can't get any credit for that. But I do consider #1 Record to be the better of their first two albums, and for that he deserves a lot of credit. Having #1 Record and Radio City on a single disc makes having both of them more worthwhile, and avoiding getting bogged down in the legend of these recordings allows two very fine individual albums to rise to the surface.
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| "a word about hype..." | 2007-05-11 |
| - Reviewed By blablabla432789 |
sorry if im stating the obvious, but please, remember that hype is not necessarily synonymous with "god-like" qualities, so to speak...it begins as a means to steer people towards a product...and honestly, with all the initial distribution problems involved, and their influential sound, big star deserved all the hype that they could get... unlike the typical kind of modern-day hype that originates from record company executives.
yes, i think there are a few songs on these albums that are pretty mediocre...standard classic rock music from the early 70s... plenty of it on the second half of "#1 record", actually... not bad stuff by any means, but certainly not justifying any kind of hype in my book. BUT, any songs as beautiful, amazing, passionate, melodic, as "ballad of el goodo","thirteen","back of a car", "september girls", etc.etc.etc... deserves to be heard by everyone... so there you go. good music is good music no matter what, and im thankful that the hype was there so i could find my way to these two amazing albums. |
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| "Important and overlooked classic rock release more enticing as a twofer." | 2007-04-20 |
| - Reviewed By User: A8IFUOL8S9BZC |
When put together, the first two of Big Star's few noteworthy albums in a brief career seems essential to any classic rock purist, although casual listeners may find some material more stale then the legendary album's reputation may suggest. Make no mistake, right away the band proves what they are capable of with a great one-two punch..Sadly though, few songs on #1 Record rise to the emotional highs and thoughtfully composed flow of The Ballad Of El Goodo. Most play out more as well constructed, but evidently so, rock and pop which in ways pays worthy tribute to some of the better constructed British rock at the time but rarely transcends their construct like that second track does so well. Showing an utter confidence in the largely acoustic playing though, it seems clear why even half an idea from the Bell and Chilton pairing offered such memorable potential and puzzles as to why commercial success did not follow.
As satisfying as # 1 may be, Radio City takes the cake for me, only cementing Alex Chilton's status as a one man riff machine of brilliance. His leads are more focused here, and some of his power-pop musings are amongst histories shining examples. A worthy purchase for anyone wanting a fun, at times inspired musical history of electric guitar from an underrated mainstay. |
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| "Pleasing Power Pop" | 2007-03-31 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3VHHFMJWRCTOS |
#1 Record/Radio City is a really fun two-fer album featuring Big Star's first two albums. Big Star first formed in 1971. Band members include the songwriting duo of Chris Bell and Alex Chilton, as well as Andy Hummel and drummer Jody Stevens. They released their debut - #1 Record in 1972.
This is a wonderful pristine power pop punch of an album! Filled with happy sunny bliss harmonies. Radio City is a bit slowed down and quieter, but both together go really well. Although these albums didn't sell well and the band fell into obscurity.
If there are any fans of Teenage Fan Club, Velvet Crush or even R.E.M.- (just about any band who sings sweet sad songs, may have been inspired)You may LOVE Big Star - This is one of the first who entered into the power-pop genre. Although Chris Bell and Alex Chilton did model themselves after John Lennon & Paul McCartney.
Such a fun two-fer to listen to, and a total of 24 songs at 73 minutes- I just love it! - 5 stars |
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| "All Rock Fans Should Have This" | 2007-02-07 |
| - Reviewed By User: A389YN4NPG5UXF |
| This album [comprised of Big Star's first 2 albums] is something that should be in evryone's collection. It was instrumental [pun intended] in the power pop evolution. |
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| "Best Albums Since The Beatles" | 2007-01-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: AIF8SVL1VW69Q |
| Big Star's first two albums are probably the most under-rated albums released in the last 30 years. |
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