A Newbury Comics exclusive color vinyl pressing.
Big Star, considered to be among the founders of power pop, has been cited as an influence by many of the major alternative bands of the '80s and '90s, and continues to be a powerful presence in today's musical landscape. Artists such as R.E.M., Teenage Fanclub, The Replacements (who famously penned the song "Alex Chilton") and Wilco all enthusiastically tout the artistic impact of the group. Mike Mills recalls Big Star as "a band who had gotten it right, who made records that sounded like rock and roll bands should sound. A band who wrote all the songs, from flat-out rockers to achingly beautiful ballads that were still somehow rock songs."
The Memphis band formed in 1971, with a lineup of singer/songwriters Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, drummer Jody Stephens and bassist Andy Hummel. Heavily inspired by the British Invasion, Chilton and Bell drew on the Lennon/McCartney style of collaborative songwriting to create their debut — Chilton taking a visceral approach, often laying down guitar and vocal tracks in one take, while Bell added polish with overdubs and harmonies. Ardent Records founder John Fry engineered the album in his studio and released #1 Record on his Stax-distributed label in 1972 to sweeping critical success.
In the fall of 1973, following the departure of Chris Bell, the band regrouped and began work on album number two with Alex Chilton at the helm and Fry once again behind the console. Losing the creative input of a major talent such as Bell could have wreaked havoc on the band's progress, however, Chilton was able to use this opportunity to shine, and prove himself to be an incredible songwriter on his own. Journalists and fans agreed: bearing another tongue-in-cheek title, Radio City garnered rave reviews and produced several cult favorites, including "September Gurls," which has been covered by everyone from The Bangles to Superdrag.
