I Am the Cosmos

I Am the Cosmos
Studio album by Chris Bell
Released	February 21, 1992
Recorded	1974-75
Genre	Rock
Length	53:30
Label	Rykodisc / Rhino Handmade
Producer	Chris Bell
Professional reviews
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I Am the Cosmos is the only solo album by the American pop-rock musician Chris Bell, eventually released in 1992, having been recorded over a period of two to three years during the mid-1970s. Bell had previously been a member of Big Star.

"Speed of Sound" was used over the opening credits of the Peter Sollett film Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. This song also featured on the various artists compilation album compiled by the The Flaming Lips, Late Night Tales: The Flaming Lips.

"I Am the Cosmos" has been played live by Big Star, The Posies, Gigolo Aunts, and The Drams, and has also been covered by This Mortal Coil, together with a version of "You and Your Sister". Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn recorded "I Am the Cosmos" for their 2009 album Break Up.

The booklet notes for the album were written by Bell's brother David, who also took the photographs used on the cover and in the CD booklet.

In 2009 the album was re-released in a two-CD version by Rhino Handmade with alternate versions and additional tracks.

Track listing

• All songs written by Chris Bell

1. "I Am the Cosmos" - 3:46
2. "Better Save Yourself" - 4:25
3. "Speed of Sound" - 5:11
4. "Get Away" - 3:26
5. "You and Your Sister" - 3:11
6. "Make a Scene" - 4:09
7. "Look Up" - 3:14
8. "I Got Kinda Lost" - 2:42
9. "There Was a Light" - 3:19
10. "Fight at the Table" - 3:41
11. "I Don't Know" - 3:22
12. "Though I Know She Lies" - 3:35
13. "I Am the Cosmos" (slow version) - 3:40
14. "You and Your Sister" (country version) - 2:56
15. "You and Your Sister" (acoustic version) - 2:53

Personnel

• Chris Bell - guitar, vocals
• Ken Woodley - bass guitar, organ
• Richard Rosebrough - drums
• Jody Stephens - drums
• Alex Chilton - backing vocals on track 5
• Bill Cunningham - arrangement on track 5
• Jim Dickinson - piano on track 10

• Recorded at Château d'Hérouville, France except:

Track 5 recorded at Ardent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee

Tracks 1, 8 & 11 recorded at Shoe Studios, Memphis

• Digital mastering - Dr. Toby Mountain at Northeastern Digital Recording, Inc., Southborough, Massachusetts
• NoNoise Processing on selected tracks by Scott Leviton at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California
• Package design - Steven Jurgensmeyer
• Photography and booklet notes - David Bell