Big Star's Third Live - Various Artists - 2012-05-28 - London, UK

Big Star Third Live
Various Artists
May 28, 2012
Barbican Hall, Barbican Centre
London, UK
Audience recording, very good quality (Pike1957 recording)
Mp3 @ 320 kbps

Wrapping up this celebration of Big Star and their music, as mentioned in the previous post, despite the death of Alex Chilton in 2010, and the earlier deaths of original members Chris Bell and Andy Hummel, Big Star has lived on in various forms, with surviving member drummer Jody Stephens, and through all the friends and supporters gathered over the years. Starting with the Alex Chilton Tribute shows in 2010, and then with the creation of various all-star assemblages of Big Star's Third Live shows, Big Star's music is still being heard live, still vibrantly vital, and more popular than ever. Organized and coordinated primarily by Chris Stamey (The dB's), who worked and played with Chilton for a number of years, Big Star's Third Live came together as a series of shows featuring the full horn, wind, and string arrangements of the original Third album sessions, and performed by many friends and colleagues of Chilton and Big Star. At that time, these full arrangements  had never been performed live before (as Third was an entirely studio creation, never performed live). So, Stamey and friends, featuring a core ensemble of musicians such as Stephens, Mitch Easter (Let's Active), Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, Big Star), and a host of revolving special guests and friends, put on these shows featuring the music of Big Star (many other Big Star songs in addition to Third). Several of these shows were performed in 2012, 2014, and 2016. And just recently, a deluxe 2CD/1DVD album, Thank You Friends: Big Star's Third Live...and More, from one of the most recent shows (2016-04-27, Glendale, CA) has been released (and is excellent, highly recommended), featuring Stamey et al, as well as Jeff Tweedy and Pat Sansone (from Wilco) and a host of other guests on a great recording of a great show. Here, however, I have a show from 2012, in London, which features Stamey, Stephens, Easter, Auer, and Stringfellow and gang (with full orchestra), plus guest stars such as Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), John Bramwell (I Am Kloot), Sharon Van Etten, Skylar Gudasz, Brett Harris, Django Haskins (the Old Ceremony), Robyn Hitchcock, Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo), Sondre Lerche, Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), as well as a special appearance by Ray Davies (The Kinks). It is a special show, a fine tribute to the band, and a fitting finish to this Big Star featurette in The Chronicles. Once again, thanks to dbs-repercussion blog for making this (and many other Big Star-related shows) available.

Tracklist: (lead vocalists for each song noted in parentheses):
Part I
01 - [intro]
02 - Nature Boy (John Bramwell)
03 - [announcement]
04 - Kizza Me (Mitch Easter)
05 - O Dana (Ira Kaplan)
06 - For You (Jody Stephens)
07 - Nightime (Alexis Taylor)
08 - Jesus Christ (Mike Mills)
09 - Big Black Car (Jon Auer)
10 - Take Care (Ira Kaplan)
11 - Stroke It Noel (Norman Blake)
12 - Femme Fatale (Sondre Lerche)
13 - Downs (Robyn Hitchcock) [Mike Mills bouncing a basketball as percussion!]
14 - Dream Lover (Sharon Van Etten)
15 - [announcement]
16 - Blue Moon (Jody Stephens)
17 - Holocaust (Django Haskins)
18 - You Can't Have Me (Sharon Van Etten)
19 - Kanga Roo (Brett Harris)
21 - Thank You Friends

Part II
22 - [intro]
23 - I'm In Love With A Girl (Sondre Lerche)
24 - Thirteen (Skylar Gudasz, Brett Harris & more)
25 - Give Me Another Chance (Norman Blake)
26 - I Am The Cosmos [Chris Bell cover] (Jon Auer)
27 - There Was A Light (Ken Stringfellow)
28 - You And Your Sister (Brett Harris)
29 - Daisy Glaze (Ken Stringfellow)
30 - The EMI Song (Smile With Me) (Ira Kaplan)
31 - The Ballad Of El Goodo (Sondre Lerche)
32 - September Gurls (Mike Mills)
33 - [Ray Davies intro]
34 - Til The End Of The Day [Kinks cover] (Ray Davies)
35 - [Ray Davies chat]
36 - The Letter (Ray Davies)
37 - [audience]
Encore:
38 - Back Of A Car (Jon Auer)

Big Star's Third Live_2012-05-28_London.part1.rar
Big Star's Third Live_2012-05-28_London.part2.rar
Links updated 09/21/21

Big Star - 2008-08-28 - Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, UK

Big  Star
August 28, 2008
Shepherd’s Bush Empire,
London, England
Audience recording, very good quality (Pike 1957 recording)
Mp3 @ 320 kbps

When Big Star re-formed in 1993 (18 years after breaking up previously) for a series of shows, few thought the reunion would last, but here they were, 15 years later, with the same group still performing as Big Star, although somewhat as a part-time activity (Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow continued to record and tour with The Posies, and Alex Chilton continued various solo and other projects). They even recorded an album of all new songs in 2005, In Space (the only new Big Star songs since Third/Sister Lovers. So, here is a Big Star show from 2008, which, although consisting mostly of the same songs as earlier shows, this one also features some of the new songs from In Space, as well as a couple different covers. Unfortunately, Chilton's Big Star days were coming to an end, as Alex died of a heart attack in 2010, just on the verge of a major Big Star show at the SXSW festival. But not even Alex's death could end Big Star, as the SXSW show was staged as a tribute to Alex and the band, featuring his closest musician friends and colleagues, and many other tributes have continued in the days since, with the formation of Big Star's Third Live, a continuing tribute show featuring rotating all-star casts performing the full Third album with orchestral accompaniment (featuring original arrangements and charts), as well as numerous other Big Star songs, but more on that next time. For now, enjoy Alex Chilton and Big Star, continuing on in the 2000's. Once again, thanks to dbs-repercussion blog for making this available.

Tracklist:
01 - intro
02 - In the Street
03 - Don't Lie To Me
04 - When My Baby's Beside Me
05 - I Am the Cosmos
06 - Ballad of El Goodo
07 - Back of a Car
08 - Way Out West
09 - Till the End of the Day (Kinks cover)
10 - Pomp & Circumstance #4 (from Elgar's 'Enigma Variations')
11 - Daisy Glaze
12 - Thirteen
13 - Baby Strange
14 - For You
15 - Feel
16 - September Girls
17 - Thank You Friends
18 - Slut (Todd Rundgren cover)
19 - Hung Up With Summer*
20 - February's Quiet*
21 - Lady Sweet*
22 - Patti Girl
23 - band intros
24 - Mine Exclusively*
25 - Wouldn't It Be Nice (Beach Boys cover)

* From Big Star's 2005 album, In Space

Big  Star:
Jody Stephens – drums, vocals
LX Chilton – vocals, rhythm guitar
Jon Auer – lead guitar, vocals
Ken Stringfellow – bass, vocals

Links Updated (09/21/21)
Big Star_2008-08-28_London.part1.rar
Big Star_2008-08-28_London.part2.rar

Big Star - 1995-11-08 - Tramp's, New York, NY

Big  Star
1995-11-08
Tramp’s, New York, NY
Audience recording, good quality (transfer from master tape)
Mp3 @ 320 kbps

Continuing with the legendary, but originally unsuccessful,  power pop band Big Star (I've been on kind of a Big Star kick lately), as mentioned previously, there are few live recordings of the original incarnation of the band in the early '70's. But long after their early lack of success and demise, and following reissues of their previous albums, and a new live collection, renewed interest and popularity for the band lead Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens, along with new members recruited from The Posies, John Auer and Ken Stringfellow (original bassist Andy Hummel was apparently not interested), to accept a reunion gig at The University of Missouri in 1993 (which was subsequently released as a live album). Following that success, this version of Big Star continued to tour and play together on and off for the next several years. This show is from that period, from 1995, and Big Star's first show in New York since 1973, at Tramp's. They give an impressive, spirited performance, with Big Star classics peppered with several unique covers. The recording itself is pretty good, but not great, and gives a good representation of the band at that time. Thanks to Rob of the dbs-repercussion blog for making this available, and Rob has lots of other Big Star and Alex Chilton shows available here for those wanting to pursue Big Star further So, enjoy this reincarnation of Big Star in the '90s.

Tracklist:
01 In the Street
02 Patti Girl*
03 Don't Lie to Me
04 When My Baby's Beside Me
05 Way Out West
06 Till the End of the Day (Kinks cover)
07 banter
08 The Ballad of El Goodo
09 Back of a Car
10 Big Black Car (cuts in)
11 My Baby Just Cares For Me**
12 Feel
13 September Gurls
14 Daisy Glaze
15 For You
16 Baby Strange
17 Thank You Friends
18 band intros, more banter
19 Slut (Todd Rundgren cover)
20 encore applause, tuning
21 Kansas City (Lieber and Stoller)
22 Pennsylvania 6-5000 (Glenn Miller cover)

*Dick Campbell tune; Gary & The Hornets cover (Alex Chilton and Teenage Fanclub released a studio recording of this song on a 45-inch single in 1995)
**Walter Donaldson & Gus Kahn tune

Alex Chilton – lead vocals, guitar
Jody Stephens – drums, vocals
Ken Stringfellow – bass, vocals
Jon Auer - guitar, vocals

Link Updated (09/21/21)
Big Star_1995-11-08_Tramps_NYC_mp3.rar

Big Star - 1974-03-31 - Performance Center, Cambridge, MA (early show)

Big Star
March 31, 1974
Performance Center, Cambridge, MA
Early show (opening for Badfinger)
Audience recording (mono), good quality
recorded and transferred by Steve Hopkins

OK, here's a show from probably the most legendary obscure band of all-time, Big Star.  Little-known in their day, and quite short-lived in their original incarnation, they have nonetheless risen in stature to be recognized as one of the greatest of all power pop bands and influenced countless other alternative rock and pop bands that followed. Formed in Memphis, TN in 1971 by Alex Chilton & Chris Bell (guitars & vocals), Andy Hummel (bass), and Jody Stephens (drums), and starting when Chilton, hot off his vocalist success with The Box Tops, joined up with Bell and his previous band, Icewater, to form Big Star. Although their first album, #1 Record (1972), received rave reviews (and is now considered one of the great rock records), poor promotion and distribution, and other record company issues (released on Ardent Studios own label, Ardent Records, in conjunction with Stax Records, which was undergoing serious issues at the time), resulted in dismal sales and popularity. Featuring a mix of musical styles, from folksy acoustic numbers to driving rockers, a sharp-edged guitar sound and wonderful melodies, harmonies, and arrangements, they had a unique sound and style. However, failure of that first album lead to group infighting during attempts at a second album, and Bell quit by the end of 1972.  The rest of the band continued as a trio work on the 2nd album, which became Radio City, released in early 1974. But Hummel also quit the band before the album was even released. Radio City also received excellent reviews, and was expected to catapult the band to fame, but suffered the same poor marketing and distribution issues of its predecessor and promptly sank. Even those that wanted and searched for the album found it unattainable. The band toured briefly in 1974 (with John Lightman replacing Hummel), most notably opening for Badfinger in a series of US shows (which is represented in the opening set presented here). Then they started work on a third album near the end of 1974, with Chilton bringing in an assortment of other musicians to help out, and having a much different sound and style, and finishing in early 1975. However, they could not find a record label interested in the album, as it was not considered commercial enough, so the album was indefinitely shelved, and that was essentially the end of the original Big Star. However, in 1978, the first 2 Big Star albums were released together as a double album in the UK, receiving enthusiastic reviews and interest from fans. With this new support, the lost third album, ultimately titled Third/Sister Lovers, was finally released, both in the US and UK. However, by this time, Chilton had moved on to other things, various solo albums, punk bands, etc., and had virtually renounced his Big Star days. Also, around this time, original member Chris Bell tragically died in a car accident. But the Big Star legend was just beginning to grow, and several 80's and 90's bands emerged citing the excellence and influence of Big Star on their music, including REM, The Replacements, The dB's, The Posies, Counting Crows, Gin Blossoms, and countless others. In 1992, Rykodisc reissued their previous albums as well as a new live set from 1974. With the revived interest, Chilton and Stephens decided to re-form the band in 1993, adding Posies members Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow, to do a series of live shows as Big Star. They continued on and off as Big Star over the next several years, even releasing an album of new material (In Space-2005).  Various other live shows, compilations of demos and studio sessions, box sets, and virtually anything the original band ever recorded have been subsequently released over the years, and new generations of Big Star fans continue to find and enjoy the band. Chilton, however, died of a heart attack in 2010. But the band has still lived on in various tributes, all-star assemblages (sometimes billed as Big Star's Third shows), and cover versions.
As stated, this show is their opening set for Badfinger in Cambridge, MA in 1974. It is a good mono audience recording (not great, but overall pretty good) - There are very few decent live Big Star recordings in general, and particularly ones that have not already been commercially released. And this one also illustrates the hard times this band endured in those days. Not only were their records not selling, but as the MC points out at the beginning of the show, Big Star had all their equipment (and their van) stolen shortly before this show, and had to scrounge together some instruments to play for the gig. It's also interesting that Badfinger and Big Star are together on the same bill here. Two of the greatest all-time power pop bands, but also two of the most tragic and hard-luck stories in all of rock and roll (see previous posts for Badfinger's story). But they both made great music. (BTW, I also have posted the full set - for both early and late shows - from Badfinger for this date, available here). So, it's great to now have the full show from both these great bands. Check it out.     

Tracklist:
01. In The Street
02. Baby Strange
03. Mod Lang
04. Candy Says (Velvet Underground cover)
05. ‘Til the End of the Day (Kinks cover)
06. O My Soul
07. Motel Blues
08. Thirteen
09. Way Out West
10. September Gurls
11. Come On Now (Kinks cover)

Alex Chilton - guitar & vocals
John Lightman - bass & vocals
Jody Stephens - drums & vocals

Big Star - 1974-03-31 - Cambrdge,MA(early).rar
Link updated 09/21/21