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Thoughts on Big Star

I've read a little about Big Star after getting two of their songs on a southern music CD sampler. I really like "For You" and "Stroke it Noel". After sampling some of their other stuff I found that I also like "September Gurls".

I really like those three songs but I'm having a hard time finding other stuff of theirs that I like.

Just wondering if anyone else is into them, which albums you might like best, which songs you like best, best approach to getting into them, which recordings/format you prefer? 

They seem to have been one of those 'influential' bands with critical acclaim and with a strong but small following. Sometimes I find that I just don't see the magic in some 'cult' bands of that sort but liking the three songs mentioned above I feel like they might be worth getting to know. My only streaming is low end iTunes....for now.
n80
loomisjohnson
1,957 posts
 
it's a pretty big leap from big star to captain beefheart (who i never got into; never was a zappa fan either despite earnest effort). what i suspect may be offputting to some about big star is how they pushed the boundaries of traditional melodic pop--there's an abrasiveness to some of their tunes + at least on the first two records they sing in such a high register as to sound unnatural.
as a related aside, check out "thank you, friends: big star's third live," a very nicely done tribute by various dbs/rem/posies, etc.
n80 OP
2,133 posts
 
The first songs I heard by Big Star (and my two favorites) are For You and Stroke It Noel. They sounded very unique to me. Strange even. I've found a few others that I like but just not getting the rest of their work....but still listening.
initforthemusic
282 posts
 
Alex Chilton was a genius.
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,904 posts
 
I just won an auction for Big Star "3rd" OP. Can't wait to get it to compare to my re-mastered version which I always thought was kind of bright.
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,904 posts
 
I’ve been listening to Big Star this afternoon. I have "3rd" on 4 Men With Beards and now the copy I recently won is "3rd : Sister Lovers" on PVC.

Looking closer, it seems I have the 1985 Jem release, no bar code. The first release of "Sister Lovers" was apparently in 1978 on (Visa Records).

The only difference I can hear between these two pressings is the 4MWB is a little more open and lacks some of the warmth of the other pressing. IE: the 4MWB is slightly thin by comparison.

Right now, I like the PVC pressing better. One thing I do know is that I haven’t listened to this record near enough. Greatness!
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