#1 Record

It's like... They're almost good. The elements are there. There's egg, sugar, and flour, but it's not a cake. Close, but no cake.

Wow, what a surprise this was. Didn't expect anything going in and was blown away by a great album. Every song is a jam and belongs on there, great runtime and an feel-good sound that is very reminiscent of CSNY, Eagles, Byrds and other greats

The most underrated overrated band of all time. The Velvet Underground of power pop. Call them whatever you want, this was lightening in a bottle that only found its way to the likes of R.E.M's Peter Buck and Mike Mills upon release. Who knew the singer of The Box Tops could pull off something as magical as this? Eventually, more of the world caught up to Peter Buck - or rather, R.E.M. hit it big and Buck and Mills praised Alex Chilton and Big Star in damn near every interview he sat down for. Those of us who knelt at the R.E.M. altar were all in. Big Star didn't stick around long enough to build any sort of following, but the three albums they left us are close to pop perfection. Every track here works, and truth be told, the album warrants a 5 for the timeless beauty of "Thirteen" alone. A halfway decent record label would have pushed at least two songs from this album into the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. But at least we got R.E.M. from this, and we'll always have this music.

Between songwriting, performance and production, #1 Record should be considered among the greatest debut albums of all time. Sadly, Big Star didn’t see much success in their time, but their influence can’t be understated. This is truly a record you need to hear before you die and while you’re at it, give Radio City a listen - It should really be on this list.

Not a bad rock album. Good songwriting but is missing something to make it more memorable.

Nice finding, even my dad didn't know this band... Or he forgot about it... It's hard to remember stuff when you've been partying since the 70s

I love Big Star and I love this album. The songs where Alex Chilton sings lead are my favorites, but they’re all good. The standouts for me are “The Ballad of El Goodo,” “Thirteen,” and “Give Me Another Chance.”

Big Star fully deserve their reputation as a key progenitor of power pop. The first four tracks of this debut alone justify the inclusion of the whole album in such a list, from Alex Chilton's ballads "Thirteen" and "El Goodo", heartfelt and evocative, to Chris Bell's edgier "Feel" and livelier "In The Streets" -- of *That 70's Show* fame.  So the songwriting is good, but one of the assets of this album, not praised enough in my sense, is its pristine, dynamic production, with a lot of sonic details that go over your head on first listens, but then shine on the next ones. John Fry (and Chris Bell) can be praised for that. The only (minor) issue I have with this record is that there are too many ballads on the second side. They're good, some of them are even excellent, but the succession of songs in a similar mode hurts the album's momentum. I would have taken one of those slower cuts out, and added one more straightforward rock number such as "When My Baby's Beside Me" to this second side. I guess I could even have taken out a point to this debut because of this, yet I didn't, because of the thematic cohesiveness of those songs. You really feel like this record is the soundtrack of a movie about teenagers living in "Smalltown, America" during the early seventies. That line about "Paint It Black" and how the father of the singer's girlfriend is always on his back cracks me up every time. Simple, at times almost *simplistic*, lyrics. Yet lyrics that are so effective in conveying the mood of a time and place. A dozen of albums released in 1973 were probably better than this one. Yet this debut was "#number 1" when it comes to how "evocative" a record can be.  4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums (rounded up to 5), which translates to a 9.5/10 grade for more general purposes. Number of albums left to review: less than 400 (I've temporarily lost count here) Number of albums I'll include in my own list: half so far, approximately (including this one) Number of albums I *might*  include: a quarter, approximately Number of albums I'll never include: another quarter (many others are more important to me).

10/10 men will hear this and say ‘hell yeah!’

This is like the textbook definition for a 7/10.

Amazing

Memphis magic, baby

perfection

Of the 3 original Big Star albums, this is actually my least favorite but it's still amazing. Great songs, great production, great energy, great variety. It's a classic. 5 stars.

Pop perfection

So good.

Good ole fashioned Americana 9/10

This is near perfect. One of the greatest albums of all time by one of the greatest bands of all time, which most people will never know.

Este disco representa como ninguno la razón de por qué quería escuchar esos 1001 discos. Para descubrir joyas como esta. Un absoluto diez de diez. ¿Dónde has estado toda mi puta vida?

This album is a Rock'n'roll classic. Every song just bleeds heart and groove and energy. There isn't a lot more to say, because it should be heard and studied by anyone that likes rock music and is nearly perfect. I think there are a couple flubs in the flow of the album, but it doesn't take away from an overall 5 star score.

This is very much within the realm of what I would think of if you told me to think of early 70s rock. So even though I didn’t recognize anything on this album it felt familiar, although I feel like I have heard Thirteen maybe somewhere before? Big Star has great harmonies, some good rock, some moving ballads, and they feel like something I really should be more familiar with. I really enjoyed this album! Nice song variety, interesting performances, great lyrics. An excellent representative of its era for this list!

Reading the description of this album, I was prepared to be wowed. I wasn't immediately but by the time we got to When My Baby's Beside Me, I was into it. When it ended, I started it over and enjoyed the whole thing the second time. Rounding up from 4.5.

I very much enjoyed this album. The groove of the 70s felt extremely satisfying today.

Fantastic album, highly recommend. Beetly mixed with zepp.

It takes a certain confidence to name your unknown band Big Star. It takes some next level audacity to then call your debut album "#1 Record." These are guys who know they're good. Sadly, the band's star would crash rather inauspiciously in the end, but what they left behind was nothing short of a musical treasure. You can hear echoes of Big Star in all kinds of bands that came after them - in power pop, alternative, jangle pop, Indie. For an album that came out over 50 years ago, this album sounds as fresh and vital as the day it was made. #1 Record is an album full of hooky, bittersweet melodies and masterful guitar work that can turn from jangly and ethereal to muscular and hard rocking on a dime. Lyrically, the songs range from the easygoing slacker anthem "In the Street" to the sweetly intimate "Thirteen." For every moment of raw and earnest vulnerability, there are nearly as many full-tilt, cruising with the windows down rockers, and somehow the band makes this all work. Essentially this is an album that speaks to the essence of being young - innocent but headstrong, freewheeling but frustrated, awash with feelings you don't quite understand. I can't really think of another album that captures that feeling better and it's a true joy to listen to. If you enjoyed this, I strongly recommend taking the time to listen to the albums Radio City and (Complete) Third. Also, the documentary Nothing Can Hurt Me is a must see. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Thirteen, The Ballad of El Goodo, Try Again, Watch the Sunrise, Give Me Another Chance, In the Street, My Life Is Right, Feel, Don't Lie to Me, When My Baby's Beside Me, ST 100/6, The India Song

Cool

Where would indie rock be without their #1 Record?

Dug this rock album - solid!

A masterpiece. A band and album too few people know about.

Oh this was great. This is always an album I had been recommended but never checked out. Right up my power pop alley.

Best album I have on this site yet!

Very enjoyable album, good time listening.

Enjoyed the 70s sound. Great vocals and strong guitar

I enjoyed this so much, I especially loved the vocals.

Amazing - I hated the Third/Sister Lovers album (1* rating!) but absolutely loved this! What happened in the meantime?

After a couple of spins this albums starts blossoming. It is a collection of wonderful melodies, without a single weak point.

#1 Record, Radio City and Third should all 3 be in the 1001.

This record is so beautiful. It's almost perfect for me.

Honestly this was a really solid album. It's really clear how much this group pulled inspiration from British rock groups like the Beatles, but also how their unique sounds went out to inspire classic rock groups like Boston and the future alternative rock genre itself.

First time giving a 5 to a group I never heard before. I loved this album! Reminded me of all my favorite music from that time.

I know absolutely nothing of these lads, but this slapped. It was right in my wheelhouse. I was umming and ahing about whether to give a 4 or 5, as I’ve yet to give a 5 to something unknown, most of my 5s are things I’ve heard before. But this was tasty stuff, and I’ll be listening to a lot more. Simpsons: No

Excellent

Chilled, upbeat, will listen again, a gateway album into 70s rock

Great album

Can't go wrong with 1970's classic rock

Jongens, wat een hippieplaat. Iedereen is 'my friend', slaggitaar en fluit, samenzang. Af en toe een pietsie steviger nummertje tussendoor. Een paar jaar later trokken ze allemaal een pak met stropdas aan en gingen ze geld verdienen, maar hier zaten ze nog rondom het kampvuur. Of een echtscheidings-LP maken. Al met al best een lekker lome plaat voor een zonnige donderdagochtend.

Just catchy and fun enough to nab 4 big stars; it really is ahead of it's time

thirteen is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. it perfectly captures the most pure, innocent, and true kind of love. in the street is perfect. its like these are great totems to remind one of how vital life can be. side 2 falls off but even in banality this record shines with simple but effective tunes, rhythms, production and alex chiltons beautiful voice. watch the sunrise is gorgeous, resplendant. i admit i am a card carrying member of the cult but despite the all the hagiographies and my personal bias it still just ever so slightly clinches a 4

Good album! And as far as power pop goes it is very tame and I really like that about it.

Very good surprise

A solid album and still leagues better than the vast majority of radio-friendly rock that followed it. More of a 3.5 but rounded up partially due to the strength of Thirteen.

8/10. Pretty good, reminded me a bit of Todd Rundgren. Not sure these guys needed two whole albums on this list, but I've liked them both so I'm not too upset.

El naixement del power pop, un génere tan maleït com la pròpia banda que el va inaugurar. El disc és excel.lent, però. Tota una lliçó de melodies, guitarres, composicions que s'adhereixen a qui les escolta, i el carisma sense comparació d'Alex Chilton

(4+) Отличный рок-альбом, который очень приятно слушать. Мне кажется, что акустическая гитара придаёт этому альбому больше шарма, чем другим альбомам. Единственная проблема у меня была с вокалом на некоторых песнях. Хочу ли я вернуться к этому альбому? Да.

Super band

This is an early power pop record characterized by emphasis on vocal melody and harmony. There are elements of glam rock in places and folk rock. The influence of the Beatles and the Byrds are obvious but this music sounds a lot like what would come later in the form of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and even college rock with their emphasis on vocals and jangly guitars. It's a shame this album wasn't promoted the way it should have been.

I've never heard of Big Star and #1 Record was all new music except that I've heard a cover of "In the Street". This album had a mix of styles. There were tracks using electric intruments that that reminded me of the retro sound that Space Hog has used and tracks that sounded like a pre-cursor to glam-rock. There were acoustic tracks that reminded me of Fleet Foxes, or the vocal delivery and overall tone of Elliot Smith. The middle zone between the more electrified and more acoustic tracks reminded me of the Bay City Rollers, and I could hear the influence of the Beatles. There was a lot of variety in the tracks from the start. My favorite track was "Feel" which drew me in with the the overlap of horns, guitar and keys. "The India Song" and "My Life Is Right" were also good tracks. I could come back to this album again to find out what I missed the first time.

Had listened the first part or so before, neat chance to listen it fully, and thankfully so, really cool album, great songs and a nice and calma finisher

Thirteen

It feels like so much was shaped by this album that on its own it sounds a little like a wild collection of 70s music sounds, for better or worse. 3.5, rounded up. BT - Feel - The Ballad of El Gordo - The India Song - St 100/6

Great album.

This almost rocked my socks off. It came really close at times, but it never just hit cruising altitude and stayed there. It threw some cool Zeppelinisms at at me then descended into Beatlesy wuss-rock, or even a more folky US flavour kinda thing... but you know what? I'll give it a 4/5 anyway. plus it has a song called "the India song" and as it happens, I'm in the middle of a 5-week work trip... in India! Shame it isn't a total banger or I'd make it the theme song to my SLIDESHOW NIGHT when I get home lol.

I don't have the reverence for this album that many others have. It's a very good pop album with some excellent songs. I don't particularly like , I guess it is Chris Bell's voice, which is one thing that keeps me from loving the album rather than just respecting it. Anyway a solid album that was basically ignored for 25 years. 4 stars

It's interesting to have this juxtaposed with my album of yesterday, the Stooges' Raw Power. Same era, but although this arguably comes off as pushing a more conventional rock sound, I think it's the more innovative album.

At first I used to think it's fine. They're fine. Ever since I first heard* of this band I thought "I should love them." So many of the bands they influenced is music I either really like or love; e.g. the so-called "power-pop" groups like Jellyfish, Cheap Trick, etc. I just never heard the killer single to draw me in. *which - I'm of the age, so I guess I probably *should* have heard of them yet nobody I knew had their albums in the 80s as far as I knew... but it was The Replacements' song "Alex Chilton" of course that brought them into focus for me which is a fantastic cut and an obviously direct homage to AC/Big Star and in fact is one that I like better than any actual Big Star song... This album? It's ... yeah it's pretty good. And yet I couldn't ever get these songs to sink in until today... I played it 3x until the melodies, great harmonies, accessible hooks... they finally started to hit. "Thirteen" is probably the closest (and obviously a big Replacements/Westerburg influence) to a quick hit - capturing a simple chord progression with nice harmonies and is just really sweet. I think I'd just always rooted for more - I wanted to be a fan of Big Star and i think it took me a while because they don't have The Big Song™ (or Songs) but it's such a listenable album from start to finish with more melodic twists than I'd initially given it credit for (it also sounds so clean for 1972). The fact that you can put this on many times in a row - as I just did - and it's not only not tiring but starts to reveal more is what puts it in keeper category. I'll keep listening. 7/10 4 stars.

The first time I listened I think I just let it play in the background but I actually listened again which is something I never do, and that’s when I real ex I really liked it. There’s a strong rock vibe in it that’s exactly what I like. Just a good good album.

Infinitely listenable - power pop at its finest!

This is a very respectable early-to-mid-70s rock album. It sounds exactly like I imagine it was supposed to: somewhere between the Beatles and the Stones. Unfortunately, they got lost somewhere in the middle and the result is a mostly middling album. It never pushes any boundaries. It's totally serviceable but, ultimately, just... alright. Upgraded a star because the production is truly fantastic for an album from '72. Just really great. Chris Bell knew what he was doing in a studio.

The rock songs are perhaps mediocre Attempts considering what it felt this album should have aspired to. This recording is regarded so highly that it’s hard to approach with an open mind. I came thinking the rock would pull me in, but I was more surprised by the slower, acoustic tracks. This is where the magic lives. These guys just spread themselves too wide, re-envisioned as a folk album this thing really shines.

rock and roll with lots of pop hooks.

7.5, not bad not earth shattering

4.25

While listening this record I went all Leonardo DiCaprio when In The Street came on. I never knew it came from here. I’ve seen the cover countless times but never really listened to it. And it’s a shame, it’s a power pop great record filled with lots of beautiful harmonisation and hooks that make you hum along. I learned that the band did not live on much longer and that is too bad. I think these guys really had something special here. 8,5 out of 10

#1 record gets a lot of hate for being one those albums people over-list as being “sooo good” which sucks because it is to me “pretty good”

Familiar sounds, chill album and even includes some noisier rock songs!

Appreciate that this album is incredibly influential to a lot of the music that i like. I like this album, but for whatever reason it doesnt click with me. It's very good, but not one I come back too.

Classic rock, forgettable but pleasant, feels like perfect road album

Lindo, soft y oldie

I quite liked this one, but I didn't really LOVE it the way I love a lot of artists that are similar.

I had never heard of this band but I quite enjoyed it,

+1 for the 70s show intro

There are some lovely Beatlesque moments on this album, sweet harmonies and lush chords. A kind of missing link between the Fab Four and Fleetwood Mac.

A great record. I enjoyed the well written songs and easy going nature of it all. The one famous song caught me by surprise, as I thought I'd never heard a Big Star song before.

Man, this album is so close to a five star that it hurts, as the first four tracks and final four tracks are all fantastic pieces of folk-y power pop that scratches that itch the way a calmer Led Zeppelin song does. My issue is that three of the four middle tracks lean a little too heavy into the rock part, and feel bland due to it, as it sounds like a poor imitation of admittedly acts that would come after this, but I still don't enjoy the style. However, none of that should detract from the fact that I think this is an excellent record. This is a glorious debut where you can see inspirations like George Harrison, T. Rex, and as mentioned before, Led Zeppelin, yet this is definitively all Big Star's, with tracks like Thirteen and the Ballad of El Goodo being master class power pop pieces that I will never forget. It is a shame this group didn't take off, because I think they really could've blown the music world open. I suppose they did inspire R.E.M., but I'll just say this is better than anything that group put out by a mile. Just an awesome album, wish I could give it that five, but I gotta be fair to my system. Perhaps one day it'll get there.

Imagine my surprise when i hear 70’s show theme music lol. Banger album

I didn't go into this album with any expectations, which thankfully meant that I was pleasantly surprised by yet another 70s rock album and wasn't holding it in total contempt. This sounds like every single pop rock band of the 70s from steely dan to tom petty to the eagles but still delivers enough fun songs to be worth the listen despite falling off somewhat in the second half. I really liked feel, in the street, and thirteen. I'm assuming that this is the unknown progenitor of the entire pop/power rock movement in the 70s and 80s which would make a lot of sense just based on the music. Another surprise was hearing the origin of the That 70s Show theme song, and they were smart to cover a song from the most 70s-sounding album ever.

First time listener. Excellent!

Enjoyable album with some great songs.

All the Big Star albums were a big part of the soundtrack to my college years, but this one in particular is their best. The dynamic between Bell and Chilton had a certain irreplaceable magic. They capture beautifully what it feels like to be young.

Really like the crisp, muscular guitar-driven sound. Even though they wear their influences on their sleeve (Beatles, Stones, etc) they definitely bring their own unique thing to the table. Sad to hear that label incompetence may have contributed to their demise after just a few years. I was caught by surprise to hear the original version of "That 70's Show" theme with "In the Street." Also noteworthy, a funny and bizarre choice to name themselves after a grocery store chain.

Nice easy listening. Great melodies and harmonies.

Solid classic rock album. Good for what it is. Laid back clean riffs. Not my usual but enjoyable regardless.

Nice 70s rock. Kind of a hidden gem for enthusiasts because the sound is nice for some songs

Onbekende artiest met karakteristieke jaren 70 sound, heel erg prettig om naar te luisteren, maar geen blijvende topper.

So cool hear famous songs that I didn't know the origin. Good power pop

Really Like this, takes me back to high school! Love it 4 stars!

Dangerously close to being a full 5 stars.

Can't believe I've never heard of these guys. Nice amalgamation of the 70s style. And...that 70s show theme song?!

Super fed lyd, super gode sange. Jeg er ked af at måtte melde ud af den her plade faktisk ikke var #1 men solgte rigtig dårligt.

Jeg ved godt vi kun er 4% igennem, men det er vist ikke for tidligt at sige at 70’er-, 80’er- og 90’errock er overrepræsenteret på denne liste. Det er lidt ærgerligt for mon ikke der er meget jazz/hiphop/metal/r&b der så bliver forbigået Når det så er sagt kunne jeg vildt godt lide denne her og er glad for at jeg hørte den inden jeg dør så det er vel i orden den var med