Alex Chilton, Memphis Rock Icon, Dies at 59
MARCH 18, 2010 TAGS:
Alex Chilton’s voice will be on classic rock radio stations for the foreseeable future. The Box Tops’ 1967 song, “The Letter” is a nearly perfect pop song. It’s at once wrenching and precious: Chilton’s raspy declaration “Imma comin’ home,” is countered by a charming recitation of transportation options. That tension might be why we’ll remember Chilton, who died unexpectedly yesterday, for years to come. His songs were contained explosions, tightly sealed tremors of desire, pain, lust, and bliss, packed into bright 3-minute compositions of guitar, bass and drums.
If That 70s Show continues its never-ending syndication run, another of Chilton’s songs will persist in the popular imagination. “In the Street,” the third song on Big Star’s 1972 album #1 Record, is the suburban sitcom’s theme song, re-recorded, but still evocative of teenage boredom and buoyed by a banging guitar riff.
But that’s the extent of Chilton’s widespread fame. You wouldn’t know he was there unless you were looking. As it’s often recited, #1 Record was anything but on the Billboard Charts. And even though the album and the two other Big Star records were critical darlings, they never found a massive audience.
Their influence, however, is legendary. When Chilton teamed up with drummer Jody Stephens, bassist Andy Hummel and guitarist Chris Bell, the secret sauce of Memphis music making seeped into their power pop compositions. Bands like R.E.M. and The Replacements credit Big Star as inspiration – The Replacements went so far as to write a song in Chilton’s honor.
Big Star reformed in 90s and have toured intermittently since with Stephens and Chilton and two members of another Memphis band, The Posies. They were scheduled to perform at this year’s South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas. Big Star is also to be the focus of a panel discussion, of all things, about their everlasting influence. Big Star and Chilton were poised to have “a moment.” A box-set of their three albums and other recordings, Keep an Eye on the Sky, was released to great acclaim last fall.
Chilton’s death is tragic, and seems to have cut off Big Star’s resurgence in the hearts of independent music listeners. But the truth is Chilton’s influence on pop music never really waned. When the band played at Brooklyn’s Masonic Temple last November, the audience, members of which were sporting thick glasses and flecks of gray, listened in reverence, thankful to see Chilton, wan and thin-lipped, ramble through beloved songs like “The Ballad of El Goodo,” and “Thirteen.”
The irony is that his death, and the tributes that are sure to follow, will ensure he gets the wider recognition he so completely deserved.
Footage from the recording of #1 Record.
Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee offers Chilton tribute on the House floor
A Tribute from NPR's Fresh Air
A Great Obit from Memphis' Commercial Appeal
Tribute from Rolling Stone
If That 70s Show continues its never-ending syndication run, another of Chilton’s songs will persist in the popular imagination. “In the Street,” the third song on Big Star’s 1972 album #1 Record, is the suburban sitcom’s theme song, re-recorded, but still evocative of teenage boredom and buoyed by a banging guitar riff.But that’s the extent of Chilton’s widespread fame. You wouldn’t know he was there unless you were looking. As it’s often recited, #1 Record was anything but on the Billboard Charts. And even though the album and the two other Big Star records were critical darlings, they never found a massive audience.
Their influence, however, is legendary. When Chilton teamed up with drummer Jody Stephens, bassist Andy Hummel and guitarist Chris Bell, the secret sauce of Memphis music making seeped into their power pop compositions. Bands like R.E.M. and The Replacements credit Big Star as inspiration – The Replacements went so far as to write a song in Chilton’s honor.
Big Star reformed in 90s and have toured intermittently since with Stephens and Chilton and two members of another Memphis band, The Posies. They were scheduled to perform at this year’s South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas. Big Star is also to be the focus of a panel discussion, of all things, about their everlasting influence. Big Star and Chilton were poised to have “a moment.” A box-set of their three albums and other recordings, Keep an Eye on the Sky, was released to great acclaim last fall.
Chilton’s death is tragic, and seems to have cut off Big Star’s resurgence in the hearts of independent music listeners. But the truth is Chilton’s influence on pop music never really waned. When the band played at Brooklyn’s Masonic Temple last November, the audience, members of which were sporting thick glasses and flecks of gray, listened in reverence, thankful to see Chilton, wan and thin-lipped, ramble through beloved songs like “The Ballad of El Goodo,” and “Thirteen.”
The irony is that his death, and the tributes that are sure to follow, will ensure he gets the wider recognition he so completely deserved.
Footage from the recording of #1 Record.
Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee offers Chilton tribute on the House floor
A Tribute from NPR's Fresh Air
A Great Obit from Memphis' Commercial Appeal
Tribute from Rolling Stone
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