Alex Chilton

But during that first season, it was that American band I just played you.

Songwriter, singers Chris Bell and Alex Chilton's band.

Chris Bell took that lead vocal, and Alex Chilton took the lead on a similarly catchy tune called Thirteen.

And then on their next album, it was Alex Chilton who'd first come to our attention as the lead singer of the Box Tops, who gave us the hit song The Letter.

This time, again in the early '70s, a song he came with partly inspired by The Beach Boys and partly inspired by three of the women in Alex Chilton's life, including his ex-wife, because she and the others had September birthdays, compelling him to sing about September Girls.

The band known as Big Star.

September girls, they say much.

September girls, I don't know why.

Irrespective of dismal chart success, this album is chock full of wonderfully crafted and enthusiastically performed pop rock that sets the template for the similar 90s into the aught styles to come.

Big Star, boasting two of the finest songwriters around, Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, also brings the harmonies like few others.

Highlights include The Ballad of El Goodo, 13, and Give Me Another Chance.

Number One Record, a rather ambitious title for a debut album, is nonetheless a stellar opening sonic salvo by Memphis pop rockers Big Star.

That legend goes, blew everyone out of the room.

These, and other stories of their strange tale of unfathomable rise and fall, has turned the original first-edition vinyl of No. 1 Record from sorely overlooked into a goldmine, as it now sells for ridiculous prices, becoming one of the holy grail finds for record-buying enthusiasts, and is now widely regarded as a seminal work in pop rock and power pop.

Formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1971 by two terrific singer-songwriters Alex Chilton, vocals guitar, and Chris Bell, vocals guitar, backed by the steady rhythm section of Jodie Stevens on drums and bassist Andy Hummel, Big Star went from a talented garage act around town to all but inventing modern power pop.

Six years earlier, in 1966, when their hometown became a tour stop for the Beatles, Chilton and Bell were among those in the audience transformed by the Fab Four's performance.

Yes.

And their 1987 classic, Alex Chilton, which came in, I was a little surprised, at number 13 on CMJ's list.

What could be more college rock than a song by one of the ultimate cult bands about one of rock's most beloved and enigmatic cult figures, also containing the instantly memorable hook of I'm In Love with that song? And of course, in perfect replacement fashion, follows it up with I'm In Love, What's That Song?

Ah, yes.

Good old Dave.

I'm going to go with number three.

So as Alex Chilton comes to a buzzing end, I'm going to segue into the Smith's Big Mouth Strikes Again, which is number 45 on the CMJ.

Now, I love the Smith's.

After that, we're going to hear some brand new records from some people like the Hanging Stars and the Young Sinclairs.

An interesting oldie where Alex Chilton joined Teenage Fan Club in a rehearsal to sing a song that sounded a lot like Big Star to him and everyone else, which I think was probably a big thrill for Teenage Fan Club.

And some other goodies.

Let's get it going here from 67.

And he was the replacement member of the Replacements on their reunion tour.

And that song definitely had an Alex Chilton-ish feel to it.

And we start things off with the thermals with Good Morning Fellow Scavengers.

All right, we're gonna get a little heavier here in the next set.

Hold on.

I'm contacting Alex Chilton.

He says it's fine.

Oh, okay, good.

That's great.

And I read somewhere that Alex Chilton, your singer, was only like 17 or 18 or something like that on the letter?

No, he was 16.

Oh, my gosh.

The day is all restless tonight Yeah, I'm nervous and I'm edgy and I wanna rock How do you read the directions on the windowsill? Yeah, my body starts to quiver and my knees start to shake The natives are restless The natives are restless tonight I can't sleep from my shoes, it'll save my soul But I'ma lose it, yeah, to this rock and roll I got my body, my body, baby, so let me show you

Recorded in Memphis, Tennessee with Alex Chilton at the controls.

That's The Cramps with a song that eventually ended up on Psychedelic Jungle, The Natives Are Restless.

And now we're going over to Chicago with the impressions.