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JamesM
= Cult of Ray =
308 Posts |
 Posted - 06/14/2003 : 11:48:53
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Anyone else here dig the Chilton? I think he's cool as hell; his songwriting skills in Big Star are a bit overrated (although the songs were still very, very good), but his solo work is criminally underrated. "Like Flies On Sherbert" is such a great fucking album - has anyone else listened to this (relative) obscurity? It's got "Hey! Little Girl" which is probably one of the best pop songs of the past 25 years, as well as ramshackle numbers like "My Rival", "Rock Hard", and a cover of the Carter Family's "No More the Moon Shines on Lorena".
-Jimmy M. |
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Omer
= Cult of Ray =
275 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2003 : 13:44:09
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| The only Chilton album I have is 'Live in London' which I used to listen to ALOT. I think Bangkok is probably the best tune on it ('This li'lle thing that will amaze ya/a little town, in South East Asia'). But other tracks like 'Rock Hard', 'My Rival' 'The Letter' and wonderful silliness like 'The Allegator Man' are all keepers. |
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blackpurse
= Cult of Ray =
USA
299 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2003 : 05:09:02
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quote:
Originally posted by JamesM
Anyone else here dig the Chilton? I think he's cool as hell; his songwriting skills in Big Star are a bit overrated (although the songs were still very, very good), but his solo work is criminally underrated. "Like Flies On Sherbert" is such a great fucking album - has anyone else listened to this (relative) obscurity? It's got "Hey! Little Girl" which is probably one of the best pop songs of the past 25 years, as well as ramshackle numbers like "My Rival", "Rock Hard", and a cover of the Carter Family's "No More the Moon Shines on Lorena".
-Jimmy M.
Oh did you bring back wonderful memories by mentioning Like Flies on Sherbert. I only have it on a cassette tape that is deteriorating, and bits of it on a "Best of Alex Chilton" cd thingy that leaves me wanting for the rest of "Flies". First time I heard "Flies", I was something like 21 years old and wondering "What the FUCK is this?" and after three listens it really grew on me, and to this day I kick myself for not picking up that piece of vinyl, broke student cheapskate that I was.... |
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blackpurse
= Cult of Ray =
USA
299 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2003 : 05:12:22
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| ... and for a truly surreal experience, don't miss the man on those rare occassions when he actually does tour. I have memories of being in Shank Hall in Milwaukee, with maybe about 100 other people in the room, tops, while he broke into, (in perfect italian, mind you) a sincere rendition of "Volare!". ... and another time at the old Folk City in NYC, doing most of "Flies" beginning to end... jaw droppingly sincere and wonderful. |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
653 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2003 : 06:48:25
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quote:
Originally posted by JamesM
Anyone else here dig the Chilton?
-Jimmy M.
Alex is one of my all-time faves, and an amazing musician. I disagree that his Big Star work was overrated, although he has always claimed that to be the case, often stating something along the lines of, "the songs were not that good, it was just the production that made everyone love that band."
In my opinion, Big Star is worth all the accolades they ever received from all the hyperventilating critics. However, that only goes for the first two albums. Third/Sister Lovers may be credited to Big Star, but it's really a Chilton solo album, and I think a fine one at that, but not Big Star at all.
If anyone's interested, I penned the liner notes to an excellent 2-disc bootleg of Mr. Chilton live with his solo band in 1990 that came out a few years ago on the Mesmer label. It's been out of print for quite a while, but if anyone wants one, I hoarded a few, and could be persuaded to part with them for the right price. I've also got a great collection of Ardent studio outtakes and a live set with the reformed Posies lineup from the Redaing fest in 1993...
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-
USA
5155 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2003 : 08:47:22
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i know i've mentioned this on the forum before, but a friend of mine played drums for chilton in NYC in the late 70s when he was frequenting CBGBs and the like
-brian |
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Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2003 : 12:24:01
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I'm a HUGE Posies fan and by association a Big Star fan. I'll have to check out the solo stuff.
The best show I've ever seen was The Posies acoustic show at The Knitting Factory in NYC 8/23/00. I was lucky enough to find the boot online. They played "I'm In Love With A Girl", "What's Going Ahn" and "I Am The Cosmos" (which is a solo Chris Bell song.) Jon and Ken are putting out a split E.P. soon.
www.mp3.com/clootie |
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blackpurse
= Cult of Ray =
USA
299 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2003 : 07:48:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Broken Face
i know i've mentioned this on the forum before, but a friend of mine played drums for chilton in NYC in the late 70s when he was frequenting CBGBs and the like
-brian
now thats a 'brush with greatness' |
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