Rock & Roll Girl- The Beat
Daisy Glaze- Big Star
Mirage- Tommy James & The Shondells
A Fistful Of Dollars- The Crystalites
Every Day As We Grow Closer- Alex Chilton
Spoonman- Soundgarden
Mississippi Honeymoon- David Yazbek
Rock & Roll Girl- The Beat
(Someone mentioned last week how they thought the Paul Collins' Beat record was
one of the great rock and roll debuts. You'll get no argument from me.)
Daisy Glaze- Big Star
(Last weekend, a friend and I discussed Big Star at length. The band
somehow eluded him all these years and he took a deep dive into the music after reading
Holly George Warren's book on Alex Chilton.
"So are you a fan," he
asked. I said, "I love the first two records and Chris Bell's solo
record. The third record not so much." But then, I offered this, "As
much as I do love the first two records, I really think there is a
disparity between how great the records are and the godlike status of
the band." I was surprised when he said, "Oh I totally get the godlike status," after not knowing any of the music until recently. That being said, am I the only one who thinks that just maybe the praise and enthusiasm over Big Star is a tad over the top? And again, I stress, I love Big Star. But no one talks about the Raspberries like this, or any band actually, the way they praise Big Star. For the record, I don't think Kurt Cobain or Jeff Buckley were geniuses either. Oh, and my friend didn't love "Daisy Glaze," which I do.)
Mirage- Tommy James & The Shondells
(This will always remind me of Vivian Barone. If you knew Vivian Barone, maybe it would remind you of her, too.)
A Fistful Of Dollars- The Crystalites
(Gotta sneak in at least one reggae track this week.)
Every Day As We Grow Closer- Alex Chilton
(My friend also loved Chilton's "1970" record. This track is a stand out for me.)
Spoonman- Soundgarden
(I loved "Badmotorfinger" so much, the follow-up "Superunknown" felt like a disappointment. Now, I think it's the better record.)
Mississippi Honeymoon- David Yazbek
(Here's my old pal David Yazbek and a track from his solo debut, "The Laughing Man." This song is produced by Andy Partridge and features Andy on guitars and backing vocals, by the way.
5 comments:
Absolutely agree about Big Star. I'm glad they existed, I like the records I've heard, but I've never connected with their elevation to rock God-like status.
Another vote for the good but not GREAT status of Big Star. How did they gain such mythic status? Honestly, I listen to the Box Tops more frequently and with more enjoyment. And as power pop goes, Raspberries top Big Star hands down.
By the way, I made a playlist of the original versions of the songs on the new Raspberries tribute. It’s gonna be hard for the tribute to improve on the originals.
My ears like Big Star more, with or without godlike status.
I came across Big Star via mentions about them by R.E.M. in interviews, by meeting Marty Willson-Piper who was a fan, and via This Mortal Coil’s cover versions. I started with the 3rd album, Rykodisc’s “Sister Lovers” version, then got a twofer of the first two. These CDs get regular and equal play.
Alex Chilton and Chris Bell solo have some good songs, but nothing as good as Big Star.
I have never cottoned to The Raspberries or The Shoes, two bands that often get raved about. They lack any kind of edge.
- Paul in DK
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