Country Morn (Flexi-disc single from Back Of A Car fanzine) (1995)
Big Star was an American power pop band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 19… Read Full Bio ↴Big Star was an American power pop band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1971 by Alex Chilton (1950 – 2010), Chris Bell (1951 – 1978), Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel (1951 - 2010). The group broke up in 1974. By the 1980s, they were recognised as one of rock music's classic groups. After the death of Chris Bell in 1978 and the deaths of both Alex Chilton and Andy Hummel in 2010, Jody Stephens is the last surviving original member of the group.
Big Star is often cited as a prime example of power pop. Drawing upon pop music traditions — especially The Beatles, The Byrds, The Kinks, The Zombies, Badfinger, The Who, Moby Grape, The Beach Boys and Free — Big Star's music was lyrical, powerful, and at times melancholic pop for the post-1960s generation. Their approach not only recalled the British Invasion groups but the spare, relaxed style of Stax Records, the Memphis soul label, as well as the edgy rockabilly of early Sun Records. In an era of singer-songwriters and heavy-metal groups, they played melodic, concisely written songs. Their reputation, negligible in 1974 beyond a small coterie of admirers, has steadily grown, and they are today considered one of pop's classic groups.
Big Star was formed in 1971 in Memphis, Tennessee, United States by guitarist/vocalist Chris Bell, bassist Andy Hummel, drummer Jody Stephens, and guitarist/vocalist Alex Chilton. All four at times contributed to the songwriting and lead vocals, with Chilton and Bell singing and writing the majority of the early songs as a team modeled after Lennon and McCartney's collaborative style. Chilton, a former teen pop idol, and Bell had a musically fruitful but difficult relationship. The band's first two albums had a string of great reviews but sold almost nothing, not helped by Stax's struggle to know how to sell a bunch of white guys playing retro rock. The failure to break through was a huge blow to Chilton and Bell, and their relationship deteriorated, and by the time their third album Third/Sister Lovers came around, Bell had left to pursue a solo career that was cut short by his untimely death.
Chilton and Stephens have toured since 1993 under the Big Star name with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies in the band. This lineup released the album In Space in 2005.
After the EP Live Tribute to Alex Chilton was released in June 2011, Stephens wrote on the Ardent blog that the tribute performance in May 2010 was the last performance for Big Star as a band.
On March 17th, 2010, Alex Chilton passed away in a New Orleans hospital at the age of 59. Big Star was scheduled to play at SXSW that week. Andy Hummel died of cancer in Weatherford, Texas, on 19 July 2010 .
Big Star has gained more recent exposure with bands like Superdrag, Weezer, R.E.M., The Replacements, Primal Scream, the Posies, Bill Lloyd and the dB's citing them as an influence. Three of Big Star’s albums, Radio City, #1 Record, and Third/Sister Lovers were included in Rolling Stone magazine’s "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2003.
Big Star's biggest champions have been Teenage Fanclub who have been involved in re-issuing some of their work and even named one of their albums after one Big Star's most affecting songs, "thirteen". It was a song covered live on occasion by Elliott Smith who was clearly influenced by Chilton's vocal style (the similarities in the higher vocal register are notable there and on Give Me Another Chance and I'm in Love with a Girl). The Bangles also scored a hit in the 80s with their cover of "September Gurls". Cheap Trick have recorded several covers of "In The Street" for use as the theme song for the sitcom That '70s Show.
Paul Westerberg wrote and recorded ( with his band, The Replacements) the song "Alex Chilton", which contains the line, "I never travel far, without a little Big Star." Westerberg lists Chilton as one of his greatest influences, and has covered "September Gurls" live, both solo and with his band.
Big Star is often cited as a prime example of power pop. Drawing upon pop music traditions — especially The Beatles, The Byrds, The Kinks, The Zombies, Badfinger, The Who, Moby Grape, The Beach Boys and Free — Big Star's music was lyrical, powerful, and at times melancholic pop for the post-1960s generation. Their approach not only recalled the British Invasion groups but the spare, relaxed style of Stax Records, the Memphis soul label, as well as the edgy rockabilly of early Sun Records. In an era of singer-songwriters and heavy-metal groups, they played melodic, concisely written songs. Their reputation, negligible in 1974 beyond a small coterie of admirers, has steadily grown, and they are today considered one of pop's classic groups.
Big Star was formed in 1971 in Memphis, Tennessee, United States by guitarist/vocalist Chris Bell, bassist Andy Hummel, drummer Jody Stephens, and guitarist/vocalist Alex Chilton. All four at times contributed to the songwriting and lead vocals, with Chilton and Bell singing and writing the majority of the early songs as a team modeled after Lennon and McCartney's collaborative style. Chilton, a former teen pop idol, and Bell had a musically fruitful but difficult relationship. The band's first two albums had a string of great reviews but sold almost nothing, not helped by Stax's struggle to know how to sell a bunch of white guys playing retro rock. The failure to break through was a huge blow to Chilton and Bell, and their relationship deteriorated, and by the time their third album Third/Sister Lovers came around, Bell had left to pursue a solo career that was cut short by his untimely death.
Chilton and Stephens have toured since 1993 under the Big Star name with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies in the band. This lineup released the album In Space in 2005.
After the EP Live Tribute to Alex Chilton was released in June 2011, Stephens wrote on the Ardent blog that the tribute performance in May 2010 was the last performance for Big Star as a band.
On March 17th, 2010, Alex Chilton passed away in a New Orleans hospital at the age of 59. Big Star was scheduled to play at SXSW that week. Andy Hummel died of cancer in Weatherford, Texas, on 19 July 2010 .
Big Star has gained more recent exposure with bands like Superdrag, Weezer, R.E.M., The Replacements, Primal Scream, the Posies, Bill Lloyd and the dB's citing them as an influence. Three of Big Star’s albums, Radio City, #1 Record, and Third/Sister Lovers were included in Rolling Stone magazine’s "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2003.
Big Star's biggest champions have been Teenage Fanclub who have been involved in re-issuing some of their work and even named one of their albums after one Big Star's most affecting songs, "thirteen". It was a song covered live on occasion by Elliott Smith who was clearly influenced by Chilton's vocal style (the similarities in the higher vocal register are notable there and on Give Me Another Chance and I'm in Love with a Girl). The Bangles also scored a hit in the 80s with their cover of "September Gurls". Cheap Trick have recorded several covers of "In The Street" for use as the theme song for the sitcom That '70s Show.
Paul Westerberg wrote and recorded ( with his band, The Replacements) the song "Alex Chilton", which contains the line, "I never travel far, without a little Big Star." Westerberg lists Chilton as one of his greatest influences, and has covered "September Gurls" live, both solo and with his band.
Country Morn
Big Star Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Big Star:
06. Jesus Christ Angels from the realms of glory Stars shone bright above Roy…
07. Blue Moon Let me be your one light And if you'd like a…
09. For You Sometimes I can't help but worship you I love you and…
10. O Dana I rather shoot a woman than a man I worry whether…
All I See Is You I don't want a lot for Christmas There's just one thing…
Baby Strange I see you walking, I see you talking With all of…
Back Of A Car Sitting in the back of a car Music so loud, can't…
Ballad Of El Goodo Years ago, my heart was set to live, oh But I've…
Big Black Car Driving in my big black car Nothing can go wrong I'm going…
Come On Now Come on now Come on, let the music get you movin' Let…
Daisy Glaze I'm driving alone Sad about you Not going home What's to do?…
Don Don't lie to me Don't lie to me Don't lie to me Don't…
Downs Take downs Things sinkin' with a melody Someone's gonna ask …
Dream Lover You're a dream lover And I'm never gonna let you go And…
Feel Wondering, what are you doing? You're driving me to ruin The…
Femme Fatale Here she comes, you better watch your step She's going to…
For You Sometimes I can't help but worship you I love you and…
Give Me Another Chance You feel sad 'cause I got mad And I'm sorry, I'm…
Gone With the Light Now the time has come to leave Darkness fills the sky…
Holocaust Your eyes are almost dead Can't get out of bed And you…
Hot Burrito #2 Yes, you loved me and you stole my clothes I love…
I I'm in love with a girl Finest girl in the world I…
I Am The Cosmos (Bell) Every night I tell myself I am the cosmos, I am…
I Got Kinda Lost I got kinda lost I got kinda lost I got kinda lost…
I'm In Love With A Girl I'm in love with a girl Finest girl in the world I…
In The Street Hanging out, down the street The same old thing we did…
I’m In Love With A Girl I'm in love with a girl Finest girl in the world I…
Jesus Christ Angels from the realms of glory Stars shone bright above Roy…
Kanga Roo I first saw you You had on blue jeans Your eyes couldn't…
Kizza Me Dreams and wishes, like shooting stars Coming up rushes I wa…
Lady Sweet Lady Sweet, I declare That you're the troubled girl for me A…
Life Is White Don't like to see your face Don't like to hear you…
Lovely Day Woke up in the middle of the day Sun streaming in No…
Mod Lang I can't be satisfied What you want me to do? And so…
Morpha Too Morpha too small, you're going to hurt yourself I might call…
Motel Blues In this town, television shuts off at two What can a…
My Life Is Right Once I walked a lonely road I had no one to…
Nature Boy There was a boy A very strange enchanted boy They say he…
Night Time At nighttime, I go out and see the people Air…
Nightime At nightime I go out and see the people Air goes…
nighttime At nighttime, I go out and see the people Air…
O Dana I rather shoot a woman than a man I worry whether…
O My Soul Oh, my soul mama I lose control Go ahead and shake if…
O, Dana I rather shoot a woman than a man I worry whether…
Oh My Soul Oh, my soul mama I lose control Go ahead and shake if…
September Girls September girls do so much I was your butch and you…
September Gurls September girls do so much I was your Butch and…
She She don't believe anything She can dance, oh, now all night …
Slut See that girl, watch her dance If I knew her…
ST 100-6 Love me again Be my friend I need you now I'll show you…
St 110/6 Well, I can see you're advertising 'Cause you keep…
ST100/6 Love me again Be my friend I need you now I'll show you…
Stroke It Noel Child will you come on down Come on in with me Morning…
Take Care Take care not to hurt yourself Beware of the need for…
Thank You Friends (Chilton) Thank you, friends Wouldn't be here if it wasn't f…
The Ballad Of El Goodo Years ago, my heart was set to live, oh But I've…
The India Song I'd like to go to India Live in a big white…
The Letter Give me a ticket for an airplane Ain't got time to…
There Was A Light There was a light So dear to me I wanted to live There…
Thirteen Won't you let me walk you home from school? Won't you…
Till the End of the Day Baby I feel good From the moment I arise Feel good from…
Try Again Lord, I've been tryin' to be what I should Lord, I've…
Watch The Sunrise I can feel it, now it's time Open your eyes Fears begone,…
Way Out West She's a schemer and she makes me mad But I love…
What I liked her face and oh, those eyes She left today,…
When My Baby Don't need to talk to my doctor Don't need to talk…
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On Come over baby, whole lot of shakin' goin' on Come over…
You and Your Sister They say my love for you ain't real But you don't…
You Can't Have Me Espionage, the words to come back to me Sidewinder, you clep…
You Get What You Deserve Try to understand what I'm going through And don't blame me…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Scott Briggs
I swear I love this version as much as Watch The Sunrise. The alt. lyrics are fantastic. Devastating.
Robert Marchese
What a sad and sparkly tune - just stunning.
Redbug 3
I love Big Star! Thanks.
Nanciverse
Beautiful!
steve sokulsky
agree with you ajames
antonyjames70
ten views?!? fuck off, world.