Photo Credit: Memphis Commercial Appeal
You might not know Alex Chilton’s name, but you’ve heard his music.
He began as the lead singer and songwriter for The Box Tops. The Box Tops had a #1 hit in 1967 with “The Letter.’ They followed it up with “Cry Like a Baby.” The hits stopped coming and the band broke up.
Chilton hooked up with guitarist Mike Bell and virtually invented modern power pop with their new band, Big Star. The record was a critical smash, but sold poorly.
The band soldiered on, releasing the polarizing Third/Sister Lovers. The record company deemed it unreleasable and it didn’t see the light of day until 1978.
Big Star became the new Velvet Underground. Not many people bought their records, but those who did started a band.
Chilton was immortalized in the Replacements classic “Alex Chilton”
Cheap Trick adapted the Big Star song “In the Street” for the them from That ’70s Show.
Chilton recently reformed Big Star and they were weeks away from performing a showcase at South by Southwest.
He died in a New Orleans hospital. He was 59 years old
I have scratched the surface of Alex Chilton’s life. I have done my job, and now it’s up to you. I implore everyone who visits this site today to pick up a copy of Big Star’s #1 Record/Radio City. I want you to take it home, put it in your stereo and listen to it with headphones. I want this man’s melodies to get burned in your brain. It’ll happen in the first 30 seconds of “Feel.” By the end of that song, you’ll be repeating one sentence over and over: “I’m love with that song.”
Rest in peace my friend.
Chilton was a master songwriter. It is too bad the mainstream music industry does not do more to honor these great musicians while they are still with us. Well written post. Thanks!