Album Club: 25.10.2011: Big Star - #1 Record

[Reid Malenfant]

Hi Chris, I'll hook into Spotify & give it a spin when this CD ends

So more comments yet, don't be too hasty

[Reid Malenfant]

Just listened to this While it isn't my normal cup of tea I really enjoyed it, there was a certain smile on my face from track one

Kind of reminds me of 70's music in a way & at times I thought I could somehow link this to some kind of psychedelic stuff like Gong, track depending Shades of all sorts of other groups were there to, I didn't feel like turning it off in the least

I don't think it's something I'll purchase but I reckon it was the right music at the right time for me this evening. I may not rate it so highly another time but it gets a solid 4/5 from me today as it put a smile on my face...

I'm not a sad bu**er but it was a definate pick me up

[The Grand Wazoo]

That's great to know it hit the spot for you Mark, even if it was for one night only!

[Tim]

Any more for any more?

I listened to this at work and it wasn't really my thing, but I was having a bad day - so in fairness I intend giving it another listen when I get a mo. I have a lot of gigs this week, so have not had much time yet.

[Welder]

Yep, you were right Chris, I hadn't voted. Now rectified

[baron]

I've not heard of Big Star before, just had a listen on Spotify. I quite like them very easy to listen to.I voted 3 out of 5.

[MartinT]

Some real moments of Status Quo there, took me right back to the 1970s when I rather liked them. Other songs also have a seventies feelgood sort of swagger. Full of good tunes that I've never heard before, indeed I had never heard of the band before. Some nice harmonies, too. 3 stars.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Now there's a thing!
I'd never have spotted parallels between Big Star and Status Quo. I'm going to have to listen to the album all over again to see if I can spot what you're hearing Martin.
Hmmm interesting!

[MartinT]

Try Don't Lie to Me.

[Alex_UK]

As mentioned when this was first introduced, I had no knowledge at all of this group. I can certainly see similarities in many other bands, and some good song writing. Track 1 has a great bass-line intro, and reminds me of Wings a little – definte McCartney-esque with the harmonies. Track 2 (The Ballad of El Goodo) could easily have been written by the Bee Gees, and I could actually see it being sung by - and a hit for - a modern day boy band. Track 3 - In The Street has a very Beatles vibe to it, albeit with the vocals are much edgier than the Fab 4’s output.

Track 4 – Thirteen – is more acoustic than the earlier tracks and a lot more “easy listening.” Don’t Lie to Me is definitely Status Quo blues – completely see where Martin is coming from with that! The India Song (6) I’d liken to a progressive Beach Boys – if there is such a thing! (Still with Beatles undertones though - which continues into the jangly guitar on When My Baby’s Beside Me.)

You probably get the idea by now – as Chris suggested, if they wanted to become the Lennon & McCartney of Memphis I think they certainly succeeded with that goal - I think overall it is very hard to listen to this and be “wowed” by it with a retrospective perspective – if I had been around and heard it in 1972 maybe I would have loved it – as it is, I don’t mind it, and can happily tap a foot along to most of it, but I doubt I will be buying a copy unless I stumble across it (I think I would have to have it on vinyl.) I think there are some potentially good candidates in there for cover-versions (have any been done, Chris?) as I think I enjoyed the songs more than the playing on some of the tracks. I would probably give it 6 out of 10, but as this thread is still in “old money” it deserves more than a 3 – so 4 stars from me.