Exclusive First Listen: Big Star : NPRExclusive First Listen: Big Star
Hear The First Disc Of The Band's New Box Set, In Its Entirety
September 7, 2009 from WXPN - It's reasonable to argue that Big Star was the quintessential power-pop band. From 1971 to '74, Alex Chilton (of The Box Tops), Chris Bell, Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel released three classic records (#1 Record, Radio City and Third/Sister Lovers), each of which drew upon a mix of The Beatles and The Byrds, subtle influences of Stax/Volt R&B and lyrics that were equal parts angst and triumph.
With 98 songs, the Memphis group's new box set (Keep an Eye on the Sky) is a definitive collection of Big Star's early-'70s recordings. It sets the record straight about a massively influential group that never sold a lot of records, received much radio airplay or sold many concert tickets. From now until its release on Sept. 15, you can return to this space to stream the box set's remarkable first disc (26 songs) in its entirety.
Big Star's jangly psychedelia has induced delirium in countless musicians, including Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, members of R.E.M., Jeff Buckley, The Bangles (who had a hit with Big Star's "September Gurls") and Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies, who re-formed Big Star with Chilton and Stephens in 1993. The Replacements' Paul Westerberg proclaimed his love of the band in the song "Alex Chilton," in which he sang, "I never travel too far without a little Big Star." Big Star's music has reached into pop culture in other ways, popping up in movie soundtracks and even providing the theme song for the sitcom That '70s Show.
An astonishing collection, Keep an Eye on the Sky includes newly re-mastered album tracks from the first three Big Star albums, as well as previously unreleased demos, alternate versions of songs and a 1973 concert recorded in Memphis at Lafayette's Music Room. Highlights of the concert include covers of Todd Rundgren's Motown tribute "Slut," "Baby Strange" by T. Rex and "Hot Burrito #2" by The Flying Burrito Brothers.
Are these some of the best pop songs ever written? Have they stood the test of time? I believe they have; let us know what you think in the comments section below.
Exclusive First Listen: Big Star
Psychedelic Stuff
Artist: Big StarAlbum: Keep an Eye on the Sky
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- "Psychedelic Stuff"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?All I See Is You
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- "All I See Is You"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?Every Day as We Grow Closer (Original Mix)
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- "Every Day as We Grow Closer (Original Mix)"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?Try Again (Early Version)
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- "Try Again (Early Version)"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?Feel
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- "Feel"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?The Ballad Of El Goodo (Alternate Mix)
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- "The Ballad Of El Goodo (Alternate Mix)"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?In The Street
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- "In The Street"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?Thirteen (Alternate Mix)
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- "Thirteen (Alternate Mix)"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?Don't Lie To Me
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- "Don't Lie To Me"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?The India Song
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- "The India Song"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?When My Baby's Beside Me (Alternate Mix)
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- "When My Baby's Beside Me (Alternate Mix)"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?My Life Is Right (Alternate Mix)
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- "My Life Is Right (Alternate Mix)"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?Give Me Another Chance (Alternate Mix)
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- "Give Me Another Chance (Alternate Mix)"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?Try Again
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- "Try Again"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
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- "Gone With the Light"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?Watch The Sunrise
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- "Watch The Sunrise"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?ST 100/6 (Alternate Mix)
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- "ST 100/6 (Alternate Mix)"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
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- "The Preacher"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?In The Street (Alternative Single Mix)
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- "In The Street (Alternative Single Mix)"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
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- "Feel (Alternate Mix)"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?The Ballad Of El Goodo (Alternate Lyrics)
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- "The Ballad Of El Goodo (Alternate Lyrics)"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?The India Song (Alternate Version)
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- "The India Song (Alternate Version)"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
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Artist: Big StarAlbum: Keep an Eye on the SkySong: Country Mom
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- "Country Mom"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?I Got Kinda Lost (Demo)
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- "I Got Kinda Lost (Demo)"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?Back Of A Car (Demo)
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- "Back Of A Car (Demo)"
- CD: Keep an Eye on the Sky
- Artist: Big Star
- Label: Rhino
- Released: 2009
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?Motel Blues (Demo)
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