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.
When My Baby's Beside Me
Big Star Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't need to talk to my shrink
Don't need to hide behind no locked doors
I don't need to think
'Cause when my baby's beside me, I don't worry
When my baby's beside me, all I know
When my baby's beside me, I don't worry
Read all my books and talked about
Listen to my radio
Been in school and dropped right out
Tryin' to find what I didn't know
But when my baby's beside me, I don't worry
When my baby's beside me, all I know
When my baby's beside me, I don't worry
When my baby's beside me, all I know
Don't need to talk to my doctor
Don't need to talk to my shrink
Don't need to hide behind no locked doors
I don't need to think
'Cause when my baby's beside me, I don't worry
When my baby's beside me, all I know
When my baby's beside me, I don't worry
When my baby's beside me, all I know
When my baby's beside me, I don't worry
When my baby's beside me, all I know
When my baby's beside me, I don't worry
When my baby's beside me, all I know
The lyrics of Big Star's "When My Baby's Beside Me" express the inner peace and contentment that the singer feels when they are with their significant other. The tone of the song is reflective and meditative, with the singer discussing their lack of need for professional help or intellectual pursuits because of the joy that their partner brings them. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes this feeling of comfort and security, with the singer using the phrase "don't worry" to encapsulate the sense of relief they experience when they are with their loved one.
The verses of the song touch on the singer's past experiences and attempts to find fulfillment through other means. They mention reading books, listening to the radio, and even going to school, all in an effort to gain knowledge and understanding. However, despite these efforts, it is only through their partner's presence that they feel truly content.
One interpretation of the song is that it explores the theme of dependence on others for emotional well-being. The singer acknowledges their own vulnerability and need for another person, which can be seen as a reflection of human nature. They use the repeated imagery of being "beside" their partner to demonstrate how the presence of someone they love can physically and emotionally affect them.
Overall, "When My Baby's Beside Me" is a simple yet powerful statement on the importance of human connection and the ways in which relationships can bring us a sense of peace and belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't need to talk to my doctor
I don't require any medical attention
Don't need to talk to my shrink
I don't need to see a therapist
Don't need to hide behind no locked doors
I don't need to avoid social interaction
I don't need to think
I don't have to worry about anything
'Cause when my baby's beside me, I don't worry
My anxiety fades away when I'm with my partner
When my baby's beside me, all I know
My only focus is being with my partner
Read all my books and talked about
I have tried to gain knowledge in many ways
Listen to my radio
I have even sought understanding through music
Been in school and dropped right out
I have attempted formal education but not completed it
Tryin' to find what I didn't know
I have struggled with discovering what I lack
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alex Chilton, Christopher Bell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sabrebry
Perfect song
@blairhelsing630
DJ'ing on FM radio in the '70s in Central California this song and "O My Soul" were my Big Star go-to tracks to slap on the turntables. KCPR, KXFM, KZOZ yeah.
@jacklowe3429
Ladies and gentlemen. . .rock and roll.
@drewsturgeon9511
I love all these songs including this one. They just don't sound like singles though. All great album tracks!
@drstevie
Brilliant.
@modernchampionmusic81
Outstanding
@stevesomerdin9928
Yes, cannot simply dismiss as "pop power ballads" there is an element x there and an edge. They take melodic ideas surprising directions which sound great. I like the little excursion from around 1:30
@daisywrabbit
This music, especially the guitars remind me a lot of the British band Wishbone Ash.
Argus is the album that came out in ‘72.
Wishbone Ash song:
blowin free
https://youtu.be/VnsZ1N_cI3Y
@davidbois2605
so much yes
@davidbois2605
superior