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Radio City (album)

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Radio City is the second album by the American rock group Big Star. Released in 1974, (see 1974 in music) Radio City was recorded during 1973 at Memphis' Ardent Studios.

Though not a commercial success, it is now recognized as a milestone album in the history of power pop music. Although it was critically acclaimed upon its release, the record sold poorly, partly due to a lack of promotion and the distribution problems of the band's struggling record label, Ardent Records. The album included "September Gurls" and "Back of a Car", which remain among the most famous Big Star songs; both the Searchers and the Bangles have covered "September Gurls."

The original Ardent Records LP featured record-jacket photographs by noted photographer William Eggleston, including The Red Ceiling on the cover.

Radio City is notable for its unique, chewy guitar sound and live-sounding yet meticulous textures, and for its somewhat tortuous recording history. After founding member Chris Bell left the group in late 1972 following the release of the band's debut, #1 Record, Big Star broke up, to reform for a 1973 Memphis convention for rock-music writers given by Ardent Records. Alex Chilton, along with bassist Danny Jones and drummer Richard Rosebrough, recorded three tracks that would appear on the finished album: "What's Goin Ahn," "Mod Lang" and "She's a Mover." Though his presence is far less obvious than on the debut, Bell seems to have contributed music and lyrics to several songs, including "O My Soul", "Back of a Car," and the outtake "I Got Kinda Lost" and may have played on the album. The album shows the influence of British Invasion bands such as The Beatles and The Kinks.

Some of the outtakes from the album include "I Got Kinda Lost", "Gone with the Light", "Motel Blues" and "There Was a Life" (an early version of "There Was a Light" from Chris Bell's I Am the Cosmos CD). The singles released from the album were "O My Soul" and "September Gurls".

Radio City's reputation has grown since its release, with many critics and listeners of the opinion that it is not only the definitive power-pop album but one of the finest rock-music albums. As writer Richard Meltzer told an interviewer, "Big Star...is the means through which most bands today who are influenced by the Beatles get their dose of the British Invasion."

Template:RS500 Rolling Stone magazine also ranked the song "September Gurls" as number 178 on its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Track listing

  1. "O My Soul" - 5:40 (Chilton)
  2. "Life Is White" - 3:19 (Chilton/Hummel)
  3. "Way Out West" - 2:50 (Hummel)
  4. "What's Goin Ahn" - 2:40 (Chilton/Hummel)
  5. "You Get What You Deserve" - 3:08 (Chilton)
  6. "Mod Lang" - 2:45 (Chilton/Rosebrough)
  7. "Back of a Car" - 2:46 (Chilton/Hummel)
  8. "Daisy Glaze" - 3:49 (Chilton/Hummel/Stephens)
  9. "She's a Mover" - 3:12 (Chilton)
  10. "September Gurls" - 2:49 (Chilton)
  11. "Morpha Too" - 1:27 (Chilton)
  12. "I'm in Love With a Girl" - 1:48 (Chilton)

Personnel

Official Members:

Guests:

  • Chris Bell - Guitar, Vocals
  • Danny Jones - Bass
  • Richard Rosebrough - Drums
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