#1 Record

Amazing album. Influenced by Beatles, Byrds and Television and influencing REM and Teenage Fanclub and many more. The beginning of Power Pop!

big 3

This was a little disappointing - from the start I thought it'd be really high energy. Things feel like they slowed down near the end, but not in a good way.

Good but not great.

You know your cousin who keeps asking you to come see his band play? This is that band.

Buen disco, tracks de buen rock setentero que se van volando.

La piedra angular del power pop y la música de guitarras que ha envejecido bien como una lección magistral de orfebrería melódica, elegancia acústica y vulnerabilidad juvenil. En el plano de diseño formal, la producción de Ardent Studios logra una arquitectura sonora que brinda claridad absoluta a cada elemento, articulando el brillo de guitarras de doce cuerdas, baterías concisas y arreglos orquestales con un balance dinámico transparente y luminoso. La interacción entre Alex Chilton y Chris Bell despliega una fuerza y calidez que transmiten autenticidad sin concesiones, imponiendo una autoridad superior desde una sensibilidad compositiva adelantada a su tiempo. Clásicos imperecederos como la apertura enérgica de "Feel", el pulso callejero de "In the Street", la solemnidad esperanzadora de "The Ballad of El Goodo" y la intimidad acústica de "Thirteen" dan forma a un documento conmovedor, crudo y real que funciona como un sutil llamado a la conciencia sobre la transición hacia la adultez, la lealtad y el peso de la memoria afectiva. Una obra cuya cadencia envolvente y constante sensación de paz y fluidez la vuelven muy versátil para múltiples usos, destacando como un catalizador ideal para potenciar el trabajo creativo, la conducción o sumergirse en una reflexión solitaria.

Þetta var bara fínasta plata. Alls ekki það sem ég bjóst við en það er samt ekkert sem stendur sérstaklega upp úr. Ég ætla að reyna að muna að setja hana á fóninn af og til en ég held það verði aldrei neitt af því.

Bland overall but not offensively bad

ganz nett? absolut nichts besonderes

Great sounding country tinged power pop. Great stuff.

Yet another American group trying their best but sadly missing the mark. Hopefully they've now given up and retired.

I'm a big power pop fan and #1 Record is the archetype for this era of the genre. Not every song is a banger however.

was alright

Classic rock sound. Has a slower version of that 70's show theme song, not sure if original or not but that was fun surprise.

too 70s

If there's one thing I didn't expect it was to learn that the That 70s Show theme song was a cover of a Big Star track. The original is pretty anemic by comparison isn't it? I found the whole album pretty lightweight with nothing I could imagine seeking out to listen to a second time. It never outright annoyed me, so I can just about muster a light 3.

Not bad little easy listening record

It's okay. Perfectly servicable. Fine to listen to. Average. Just okay.

What a cool, retro rock record. Had never heard of this band or record before but this one was solid. Good riffs, vocals, and harmony. Engineering and production done very well, sequencing also on point. This is a good one.

This was fun! I really enjoyed the sound and have never really heard of them. Cool to see they wrote the ‘that 79s show’ theme song!

Vibes of The Who. Enjoyed

Rock, 1972 -> 2

Bit of a vibe, I must say! Was a fun one to listen to whilst making tea.

Turned into an unexpectedly Pleasant musical accompaniment to a unplanned gardening and very picking session in my girlfriend's backyard.

Hanging out... Down the street... The same of old thing. Generic rock album. I would have confused it for any other bands B-side.

Ok

greta record! First of the lost that had variety peak and lows for tempo.

Easily a top 250 album of all time. Laid ground work for indie rock, and never sounds too similar from track to track. Thirteen is one of my all time favorite songs. The only way this could be improved is if they dropped the final track.

alex chiltoooooon 💘💘💘💘💘💘💘

Enjoyable but definitely not a #1 Record. Likes: In The Street; Thirteen

This was okay but not the best example of this kind of music so middle of the road for me.

Meh... Nothing that interesting. Kinda run off the mill American rock.

Kjennskap: 0% Helt kurant. Fin blanding mellom pop, rock og visesang.

Boring pop rock.

Absolute gem of a record that has incredible songs, impeccable production. This was always on the list of "influential" records, but its taken me a long time to realize that everyone from the Bangles, Husker Du, REM, etc. more or less extended the take on Beatlesque pop, even though it's not like anyone else could come up with something like 'Ballad of El Goodo' and make it sound like themselves. At least three perfect songs on this album, likely more.

A big surprise -- glad to know this group and album. Wish more '70s rock headed this direction.

Enjoyed this much more than anticipated, excellent guitar work and harmonizations throughout

I’ve listened to this album so many times and every time I put it on, I want to hear it again and again. I love it. I will say, the first time I heard it the tinny production rubbed me the wrong way but I over it quick because the songs are too good.

Lemme walk u home from scjool

I never realized the theme songs for That 70s Show had an original prior to the show. Aside from that I found the album to be very listenable and enjoyed it. I don’t see it making its way to regular listening but now I know who they are.

Naming your debut album #1 Record could be taken as the literal truth - the first record - or as ambition. Sadly it didn't sell well at the time. I don't think I'd listened to this album before, despite various critics' enthusiasm. I found the open couple of tracks quite engaging, but as the album proceeded (through it's pleasantly short 36 minutes), I found my interest waning somewhat. It's nice enough, but not great.

Pretty good. They seemed a bit ahead of their time

Ok - beige rock I’d say - nothing offensive about it, but just meh meh meh

Album #237 Big Star: #1 Record My enjoyment of Big Star, and music in general, can be described nicely by the Dunning-Kruger effect. When I didn’t listen to much music, I preferred short, simple songs. When I first started taking music seriously, I gravitated towards long, complex songs like progressive rock. These days, I would say I know more about music than ever, and I find that what impresses me most now is when a band can stick to the fundamentals and make a short, simple, yet perfect song. Big Star are the example of a no-nonsense pop band; on their debut, rarely does a song last over three minutes, and never are there intricate chords or time changes; yet every song lasts with you. Big Star are a band which, to a layman, seem fairly unspectacular, yet to every successful band in the 80s and 90s, these guys were the holy grail. R.E.M., The Replacements, Husker Du, Teenage Fanclub- their list of disciples is endless, and almost every band that worshipped the altar of Alex Chilton went on to be a band that I enjoy. Big Star is pop at its purest; the mathematical formula for what makes a good pop song would probably just spit out Thirteen. Though these days Big Star aren’t as big a name as many bands of their era, they remain one of the most influential bands amongst any artist worth a damn, and their music will remain timeless thanks to its simplicity. Though #1 Record isn’t my favourite of their albums, I don’t think they ever put out a bad song, so this album is still fantastic. My only wish is that The Replacements prophecy came true, and children by the millions were still singing for Alex Chilton. Best Songs: The Ballad of El Goodo, Thirteen, In The Street Worst Song: Don’t Lie To Me Score out of 10: 9

Hørbar gubberock

This is a solid album full of rockin tunes and its a shame I've never heard of it before! Felt to me like Glam Rock but is supposedly Power Pop. I get it - its like a fuzzed to the max Beatles with some Quo esque riffs. Really cool album that made me want to play my guitar.

Its at times great, and always very easy to listen to. The latter half is however a little less strong, a bit more repetitive, and I don't think its forging a new path of sound. However, I was moved, I felt the beauty and that is enough sometimes

I had never heard of this band, but listened to it twice, I liked it that much. Notes of Steve Miller band, CSNY, recognized "In the Street" immediately -- the theme song for That 70s show, hello Wisconsin! Sadly they struggled with the recognition they deserved and broke up early, and tragic deaths of 3 of the 4 band members. Glad I got to hear it and learn the backstory, makes it worth listening to a lot of garbage on this site that Robert Dimery thought was worth everyone's time to listen to. Sometimes I'd like to stick my foot out and trip him🤣

Love big star!

Never heard of them. I was hopeful it would be better. Not my style.

Hey its that song from That 70s Show!

Tolles Pop-Rock Album. Eingängige Melodien, angenehme Stimmen. 4/5

Another record that I'm pretty familiar with. This album really didn't sell a lot of copies when it was released, which was probably a result of the record label, Stax going out of business and not really promoting the record. It however had a second life as critics and musicians discovered it. Overall, I tend to agree with the advocates. This is a really fantastic album and it provides a set of really fantastic song, oscillating between R&B flavored harder rocks songs to some really beautiful pop songs. The vocal performances overall are fantastic and I really love the vocal harmonies. It's not surprising that this is such an influential record. The sole exception is the inexplicable "India Song" which sounds like a poor imitation of a late sixties Kinks song, but drained of any humor or strong sense of melody. That is the only thing that keeps this from being a five star album. Everything else deserves the critical reputation it has gained.

Listening session: august 4th, while getting ready in the morning Listened to before: no Thoughts: reminds me a bit of other classic rock groups from the 70s, but then with songwriting that’s a little less memorable Favourite tracks: Thirteen & Try Again

Has That 70s Show theme on it! :D

Taking early Beatlesque melodies and harmonies, polishing them up for the seventies and adding some tasteful southern charm, Big Star had all the tools to become huge. I've first became aware of the band because of Elliott Smith covering "Thirteen" from this record and I can see how Smith was influenced by this band as they share a similar knack for melody. Kicking off the album with the explosive "Feel", there are many moments that show that the guys could rock yet they could also slow the pace with tender ballads like "The India Song" and "Give Me Another Chance", which sound like long lost George Harrison songs. Influencing everyone from R.E.M to Teenage Fanclub and countless other artists, thankfully Big Star get their well-deserved flowers nowadays. This may not be the first powerpop record, but I'd argue it is the genre's first masterpiece.

70 th music, but not the best one

A couple years ago, when I finally had a name for my favorite genre, I started listening to every Power Pop record I could get my hands on. Naturally, #1 Record by Big Star was frequently cited as one of the first and greatest power pop records of all time. Strangely, I don't remember thinking much of it the first time I heard it. But because of its standing in the canon of power pop, I've listened to it a handful of times over the years, and I find myself liking it more and more each time. Some great songwriting, excellent harmonies, and wonderful mood shifts. I wouldn't be surprised if I revisit this review and upgrade it to 5 stars one day. But for now, I think 4 stars is right.

This is brilliant. It's a right step up from the earlier record from Big Star, even though I thought that was good. Alongside the power-pop and early jangle (early but also very Rubber Soul-y) it's got hints of rock and even glam to it, alongside really beautiful melody and loads of light and shade. The first half especially really blew me away, there's a relentless quality to the first five songs. This is a great discovery from an act that had largely passed me by until the Project.

One thing I gotta give to this album: it doesn't sound like it's from 1972. Aside from that I found most of the album pretty boring and repetitive and I'm not surprised to learn that it didn't sell well. The most notable part was 'Thirteen' with the stereo guitars playing differently in each ear Standouts Thirteen 3/5

*1972. *Starts off sounding like a hair band before that was a thing. Vocals are too Quiet Riot for me, but the music is fine. *Then it switches into a singer-songwriter vibe (dad rock) and I don't know what happened to the Guns N Roses singer? I'm here for this version of the band though. *Then we switched back and forth between these styles. Odd. RATING - 6.5/10

It's a good album, but the songs lack an essential hook or riff, something that sticks out.

Good album - better than expected

Completely foegettable for me.

I didn't know where I picked up any associations with these guys, but I kinda expected more. Liked some of the Southern rock flavors but not so much with the layered, yelling vocals.

"Feel" is such a tease. It's shot out of a cannon, but then the rest of the album might as well be The Blue Jean Committee. I hated this album, but only because I spent the whole time waiting for the alchemy they found on "Feel". Extra star for that one song.

it was enjoyable! three (3) (3️⃣) (🕒) stars (✨⭐️🌟)

A fun rock album that runs the spectrum from slow, steady, and thoughtful to power pop and rock ballads. This was a nice surprise! I’ve been psychologically conditioned to react negatively to the albums I’m not familiar with from this algorithm, but this was a good one to open myself up to. “Thirteen” is a standout. This is a really high 3, but it comes juuuuust shy of doing enough interesting things to have staying power for me.

i was ignorant and didn't know what to expect. i thoroughly enjoyed this album though. #1 Record is a bit ambitious though, don't you think? Clearly it wasn't the first record and while i enjoyed it a whole lot, idk about being #1 ever. big star? more like big presumptuous. but anyway, i'm renaming it to 5★ Record instead

Three (3) stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️)

“Thirteen” changed my life when I heard it for the first time on ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ and then my dad heard me listening to it and played me this amazing album. That song takes me back in time anytime I hear it and makes this album a 5 on its own.

Listen, fuckers, this is a holy goddamn artifact. Big Star is probably one of the most important American bands, particularly when comparing the ripples of their influence to their popularity when they were a going concern. Alex Chilton had this degree of pre-existing success because of the Box Tops (side bar, you’ve heard “The Letter” a zillion times. It is INSANE that that’s the same vocalist as the one on “Thirteen” but 5 years YOUNGER). Chris Bell, meanwhile, is a fantastic songwriter and genuinely interesting dude but I have to call his vocals the weak link on the album. The Chilton-led songs are all phenomenal but Bell shrieks a bit too much. But the bones of the songs are dope af! Like, “In the Street” is an amazing song when Cheap Trick is doing it for a tv opening. I don’t wanna dunk on this dude too much but Radio City is just a dramatically better album and it’s mostly because Chilton is fully in control by that point. I’m just saying the school on Gilmore Girls is named “Chilton” not “Bell.” So this album comes out and gets rave reviews and the label is like “haha, these fellas will be huge” and then just didn’t press enough copies of the record. So it sold spectacularly poorly because it was just not a thing you could buy. It’s fucking depressing. It took the likes of The Replacements and REM to really evangelize the Big Star message. El Goodo/5 godddddd I love Big Star

The charming eccentric in the Class of ‘72.

A very inoffensive record.

You can hear a lot influences in future artists in this. But the real ones hear that 70s show theme in it.

63

Nice album although on the boring side.

Pretty entertaining pop rock album. Doesn't do anything overly special, but is still solid to listen to. A critic review mentioned that first listening to this album decades after release misses how unique this album was upon initial release, and I'd have time agree with that sentiment. Top tracks: The Ballad of El Goodo, Thirteen, Watch the Sunrise

Lovely listen, this one. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 5. Just a touch higher, really. I mean, look, if you want to call it incredibly safe & mildly cheesy power pop, you absolutely can. Mileage will vary on this album’s approach to taking the McCartney/Lennon philosophy of songwriting & applying it to the soundscape of a more relaxed & pulled back Physical Graffiti-era Led Zeppelin, but for my tastes, it comes across really nicely. Each of these tracks vary in energy, whether it’s heavy on the rock side, the sitcom-used side, or a bit of a fluffier & lighter side (especially on the back half), but the one consistent link is that they’re all just fun to listen to. Even when this album isn’t drenched in its self-reflecting sorrow (a positive, mind you), it just carries a good gravitas to it that makes the mundane feel important. “Thirteen” is a super simple track about desperately wanting to fall in love, but there’s a youthful elegance to the delivery that helps the track reach an apex bigger than itself. Chris Bell’s vocals do that to a lot of these tracks, and I think it’s fair to say he comes across like a big star here (pun obviously intended). I don’t really have any complaints about any of these tracks. The only lingering thing that I could vaguely criticize is that the back half does sort of blend together if you’re not paying attention & that it’s a bit ballad heavy, but I really enjoyed those tracks regardless. If I have any nitpick, I would’ve moved “ST 100/6” to come before “Give Me Another Chance” to let it thematically flow together better & subsequently end the album on “Watch the Sunrise”, which would’ve been a lovely closer to the whole package. Either way, I found myself pulled into the full 37 minutes here, and while I acknowledge that this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, there’s nothing wrong with my ears to some perfectly polished power pop. Some people need a bit of that dirty grit to sell authenticity, and that’s fine. I’m just a sucker for this style, and it really clicked for me. Hence, something just a little higher than a 5. I’m glad it’s on the list, and I may need to check out “Radio City” for myself.

Not bad.

This listen went better than previous ones for this album. I enjoyed it, although it doesn't really rise to the level of the early 70's greats, but it's still above average.

honestly thoroughly enjoyed

Only song I knew was “Thirteen”, which I like, but the rest were kind of meh.

Well damn, this is pretty great! This thing is loaded with perfectly crafted, catchy rock tunes. A few of the slower songs near the end didn't connect as much on listen #1, but overall this is a fantastic piece of work. How did this not find its way into my ears before now?!

Not bad! Just some really good Rock And Roll.

Nothing really stood out to me that much. Try again was nice (3/5)

Enjoyable

I'm really enjoying this. Can't believe I've never heard these guys before. Feel like they should be a mainstay on the Bridge

That's a bold album title. Expecting great things in that case... This was somewhat good actually. I recognized a few of the singles as I was listening and found the songwriting to be quite sharp. Although, the album kind of lost some steam on the back half as things got more ballad-y and started to sound more of the same to one another. Still a worthwhile listen.

im surprised i liked this very good vibe

Pretty generic 70s rock. A good listen and some nice songs but nothing overly special.

There’s so much good rock from the 70s and this is just fine

A good album, I liked Feel and Don't Lie To Me the most.

Okay, this is what I expected from Big Star. I listened to Third/Sister Lovers first and wasn't a fan. This is a much better album. Tight harmonies and good melodies. The Ballad of El Good and Thirteen are the favorites.

07/16 Did not expect to find the theme song for That 70's Show on this album!

Such an adorable album. Sounds a little dated but it's so charming. I can totally see how it would go on to inspire so many of my favourite acts. Not a bad one in the slightest. I liked this quite a bit

Ahh lost my review and can't be bothered re-writing. Influential power pop band with lush harmonies and good tunes. If you like Teenage Fanclub you'll like these guys.

2nd album from them here. I hated the other one so this one is an improvement. But not by much. It's still just lifeless rock, background music 2/5

Maybe it was my end but it felt like they were having volume issues here. Some really quiet parts and incredibly loud ones. pick a lane or mix the album better. The music itself is alright, enjoyable even. I feel like this wouldve been huge when it came out but kinda faded to obscurity as time marched on. Worth a listen at the very least.

What a weird album. Has all the ingredients but they don’t come together in a compelling way. Like baking a delicious cake but forgetting the frosting. It’s good but I don’t want it again

ok. jinglly jangly 60s pop.

Try again: it's obviously the #500 record. Favorite Track: "Try Again".

Blind album, coworker recommend the band. Good stuff! Cool classic rock vibe but something new I can't quite out my finger on.

Some nice ideas and incredible playing but there's something missing here. Somewhat forgettable for me.

218. ok

watch the sunrise is good

-kind of a cool album, very distinct musicianship i’d say. gave me more of a taste of early 70s pop music which i guess i haven’t heard much of -some moments specifically with the vocals and lyrics i found to be really cringe and dated but i guess that’s understandable. 3 stars -Favorites: Feel, In The Street

Surprised me, was nicer than I thought. An alright listen.

#1 Record certainly isn't a #1 record but i still think it is a decent one. I have not heard of this band prior to doing this as i have only heard their name mentioned a few times but i've never actually heard a song of theirs. Most of the musicianship is pretty good as the guitars and melodies sound generally pretty nice and i especially think that The Ballad of El Goodo and Don't Lie To Me are standouts. However, i think that the vocals could no doubt use work as i found that they could get fairly annoying, there are a few jarring instrumentals and some of the songs were just kinda forgettable. It is a shame since i did want to like this album more, I just don't think it's that amazing. Best Song: The Ballad of El Goodo Worst Song: Feel

# Big Star's *#1 Record*: A Comprehensive Review Released in 1972, Big Star's debut album *#1 Record* is one of rock's most bittersweet stories—a masterpiece that initially sold fewer than 10,000 copies yet went on to become a foundational document of power pop and alternative rock. ## The Creative Partnership: Bell and Chilton The album's brilliance stems from the tension between its two primary songwriters, Alex Chilton and Chris Bell. Bell, the band's founder and technical visionary, crafted electrifying, melodic classic pop, while Chilton—already a teen star with The Box Tops—contributed luminous, melancholy ballads . Though they credited songs to "Bell/Chilton" in the Lennon-McCartney tradition, they largely wrote separately, each bringing pre-existing material to the sessions . Bell brought "Feel," "My Life Is Right," and "Try Again"—previously recorded with his earlier band Rock City . Chilton contributed "The Ballad of El Goodo," "Thirteen," and "Watch the Sunrise" . Bassist Andy Hummel penned the sole non-Bell/Chilton track, "The India Song" . This creative friction—what one critic called "less a working partnership than a battle of wills"—ultimately made the album brilliant . ## Lyrical Themes: Innocence and Its Discontents *#1 Record* captures the twilight of adolescence with remarkable emotional precision. The lyrics oscillate between youthful exuberance and creeping disillusionment, creating a portrait of innocence on the verge of collapse. ### The Pastoral Joys of Youth Songs like "In the Street" celebrate small-town teenage rituals ("Hanging out, down the street / The same old thing we did last week") with a carefree charm that later became the theme song for *That '70s Show* . ### "Thirteen": The Defining Ballad "Thirteen" stands as the album's emotional centerpiece—a haunting acoustic ballad that may be "one of the best ballads of the rock-and-roll era" . Chilton's delicate vocal captures the exquisite torture of first romance: "Won't you let me walk you home from school?" . The lyric "Tell him what we said about 'Paint It Black'" is a brilliant detail—the narrator trying to win over an intimidating father by referencing the Rolling Stones . The final "If it's no then I can go / I won't make you" reveals maturity beyond his years . ### Darkness Beneath the Surface Despite its sunny melodies, the album has "subtly dark" undertones . "The Ballad of El Goodo" balances defiant protest ("There ain't no one going to turn me 'round") with hints of vulnerability, its refrain "Hold on" serving as both reassurance and desperate plea . "Give Me Another Chance" is "arguably one of the saddest personal pleas ever written," its heartbreaking melody betraying a deep fatalism . This thematic arc—from youthful optimism to introspection—is reflected in the album's sequencing, with the upbeat first half gradually giving way to doubt and melancholy . ## Musical Style and Production ### The Sound *#1 Record* blends British Invasion influences (The Beatles, The Byrds, The Kinks) with Southern rock charm and Memphis soul . The result was remarkably out of step with 1972's rock landscape, which was dominated by Led Zeppelin and progressive rock . This "simple, light pop with sweet harmonies and jangly guitars" wouldn't become fashionable until years later . ### Vocal Harmonies The vocal interplay between Chilton and Bell is exceptional. Bell, described as "a brilliant, instinctual maker of counterpoint," created harmonies that weren't simply following chord structures but weaving independent melodic lines . This contrapuntal approach gave the harmonies their distinctive, shimmering quality. ### Production Excellence Recorded at Memphis's Ardent Studios, the album's polished production was a product of Bell's technical obsession and engineer John Fry's expertise. "When Chris Bell was still in the band, he took more interest than anybody in the production and technology end of things," Fry recalled. "He had a good production mind... the reason why the second album is rougher, with fewer harmonies, is due to the absence of Chris's influence in the studio" . Chilton was characteristically blunt about Fry's contribution: "John Fry was a genius in his way of mixdowns... He's the one responsible for making those records sound so fucking great" . ## Track Highlights **"Feel"** opens the album with a swaggering horn blast, its offbeat rhythmic lurch masking darker lyrics ("Feel like I'm dying / I'm never gonna live again") . **"The Ballad of El Goodo"** showcases the album's gorgeous harmonies, its "transcendent union of words and melody" providing reassurance amid troubled undercurrents . **"Thirteen"** remains the album's defining moment—a "perfectly formed slice of wistful magic" that captures the joys and sadness of early adolescence . **"Don't Lie to Me"** delivers the first real explosion of aggression, its abrasive guitars nearly derailing the song . **"When My Baby's Beside Me"** offers irresistible power-pop joy, while **"Give Me Another Chance"** delivers devastating emotional weight, its wordless harmonies recalling Brian Wilson's loneliest moments . ## Commercial Failure and Lasting Influence *#1 Record* received glowing reviews—Billboard declared "Every cut could be a single" —but Stax Records' distribution was fatally inadequate, making the album nearly impossible to find . The failure devastated Bell, who destroyed the multi-track masters in a fit of despair . He left the band shortly after, and was killed in a car accident in 1978 . Despite its initial failure, *#1 Record* became a touchstone for generations of musicians. Its influence can be heard in R.E.M., The Replacements (who wrote "Alex Chilton"), Wilco, Teenage Fanclub, and countless others . It currently ranks #474 on *Rolling Stone*'s 500 Greatest Albums list, with "Thirteen" at #406 on the 500 Greatest Songs list . ## Pros and Cons ### Pros 1. **Exceptional Songwriting**: The album contains multiple classics ("Thirteen," "The Ballad of El Goodo," "When My Baby's Beside Me") with remarkable emotional depth . 2. **Lush Vocal Harmonies**: The contrapuntal blend of Chilton and Bell's voices is extraordinary and rarely matched . 3. **Pristine Production**: The album's polished sound, courtesy of Chris Bell and John Fry, remains a benchmark for power pop production . 4. **Thematic Coherence**: The arc from youthful optimism to melancholy introspection gives the album emotional weight . 5. **Influence**: It became a blueprint for alternative rock and power pop, inspiring countless artists . ### Cons 1. **Uneven Second Half**: The album "begins to lag on side two," with the acoustic-heavy closing tracks feeling "like a repetitive, mellow drag" compared to the energy of the opening . 2. **Weak Track**: "The India Song" is widely considered the album's weakest moment—"imminently skippable" and a "parody of Beatles mysticism" . 3. **Pacing Issues**: The abrupt transitions between moods can feel jarring, particularly the shift from energetic rock to acoustic introspection . 4. **Dated Elements**: Some of the production choices and arrangements sound distinctly of their era . --- *#1 Record* is a flawed masterpiece—an album whose imperfections only make it more human and enduring. Its songs capture a moment of liminal innocence with such purity that they transcend their era. The record stands as "a bittersweet monument to what could have been—remarkable, haunting, and neglected" .

It's like they are a LOT of 70's bands daddy. Only their children went on to be good. The first track made me think of Aerosmith. I had to look up to see what chicken and egg order that was. Aerosmith is older but released their first album after Big Star. Then the theme for that 70's show came on and every cover is better than the original. Then parts made me think someone listened to a lot of hippies when they were younger and that autoplay is messing with me. Turns out it was not. I really don't understand why this is your bands favorite band. This one just is there, it feels dated and in my head felt that way when it came out. I wonder if listening to this list chronologically would have this album make sense.

The best way to listen through Big Star’s short discography is to do it in order, which makes this the perfect starting point. Years ago I was introduced to the band via Third, which I found kind of annoying on first listen, although I like it now. #1 Record is more obviously palatable, full of variety and some of their greatest songs. Opener “Feel” lets you know immediately that you’re in for a treat, starting with huge guitars and stadium vocals before giving way to that tender chorus with Beatles harmonies and, for lack of a better word, emo lyrics (“feel like I’m dyin’, never gonna live again”). And then, of course, a saxophone solo. You’re not gonna hear anything else like this in 1972. So much rock and folk music pulls from this: look to the big power chords of Cheap Trick and Weezer, the alt-rock bliss of R.E.M. and The Replacements, the confessional songwriting of Elliott Smith…all of these artists owe certain aspects of their sound to Big Star and Alex Chilton. “The Ballad of El Goodo” and “Thirteen” are the obvious all-timers, but you won’t be disappointed by the rest. Brilliant stuff.

This was pretty good, I think it's one I'll need a few listens. I liked the back half better

Can’t help but love this gem.

It’s clear that this album influenced an entire genre and I like it but it may take some re-listens before it gets to a 4

The odd moment piqued my interest, but I found it generally a bit dull.

Good

Enjoyed this, surprised I have never heard of them!

Very enjoyable if your into this sort of thing. A bit generic in places,but I'm not mad at it.

2.5/5 I never knew these guys played the original song for that 70s show theme song. Solid album with some good songs. Nothing that blew me away but it was a nice listen.

Forgotten after less than a week, I wish I could say more but I don't remember. 2.5/5

Oh it’s that 70s band

Standard 70’s fodder really. 3

Never understood the hype. KIND OF novel (for its time), sure, but still just run of the mill teenage love pop. Not even really well executed, Big Star are low-energy. That 70's Show theme is on here, interestingly.

No me disgustó pero no me atrapó. Hay otras cosas que ya escucho y son parecidas, o rasgos distintivos de otras bandas que me gustan más.

altijd leuk om zo'n band te krijgen die blijkbaar bizar invloedrijk is geweest maar waar ik nog nooit van had gehoord. maakt het oordelen lastig. wel erg van genoten

I expected to be disappointed, but happy to be proven wrong. Great hooks, tight interplay and just a rolicking good time. I prefer the higher tempo numbers than the slower songs. Good 70s pop rock.

Shocked I have t heard this, well outside of the That 70s Show theme.

This was not bad but nothing special. Seemed to straddle the line between pop and rock at the time.

I have more selection complaints, but not about this one. This is a stone cold classic and one of the great debuts in history. But Radio City belongs as well, and the fact that the Kings of Leon and Dexys Midnight Runners have more records on the list than Big Star is an absolute joke. Anyway, this record was foundational for many of my favorite artists and it is also an absolutely stunning collection of songs that holds up in incredibly well for me. One thing that jumps out after not having heard it for a while is how much the Stones influenced Big Star. Several of these tunes sound like Exile outtakes. And of course, we still don't know what Alex said about “Paint It Black”

Enjoyed this alot. I have a sweet spot for nostaligic good times American rock of 70's - a sweeter/ happier time. Great driving record. A nice mix of styles and tempos with some great harmonies and riffs. Going into my saved list.

#1 Record It's never really struck me before how much Feel sounds like Led Zeppelin, particularly vocally. I can take it or leave it somewhat, but for me the unassuming and unobtrusive magic of this album really starts with The Ballad of El Goodo, a deliciously harmonised bit of jangly, folk twinged power pop with shades of melancholy running across it. That feel continues with In The Street, another unpretentious slice of power pop. I love Thirteen, it nostalgically conjures the small town Americana of my imagination with its references to parents not understanding the music the kids like. Don’t Lie To Me is a little throwaway for me, but I do enjoy its Glam inspired stomp. The India Song is a great bit of late 60s psychedelia inspired whimsy with a hint of Sloop John B. When My Baby’s Beside Me is excellent though, exactly the type of song that would make them such a cult band and a huge influence on the indie-rock bands of the 80s and 90s. My Life Is Right is similar, another great power pop guitar song, pared back in the verses, but bursting into life in the chorus. Give Me Another Chance is a lovely song, a sad and delicate melody and more excellent harmonies, leading into the equally melancholic and great Try Again, with that excellent slide. Watch The Sunrise is super as well, matching folkish guitar with a bit of Led Zeppelin, draped with an almost Californian sunshine feel. St 110/6 ends things on a lovely, brief harmonised note. It's almost satirically the archetypal cult album, ticking nearly every box (tops), and so much so it's easy to look past how great it actually is. While it's perhaps not the most innovative album from 50 years remove, it essentially invented power pop, and in its superb harmonies, songwriting craft of Bell and Chilton and undercurrent of wistfulness it really is a splendid and tremendous album. 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠 Playlist submission: When My Baby’s Beside Me

An album preceded by high expectations; but as an unassuming slow-burn record it really is great. Chilton is at a peak - 'The Ballad of El Goodo' delivers a top melody in the chorus; and 'Thirteen' one of his defining classics. The way it moves from slow introspective first verse, to a barely noticeable shift in tempo is a fantastic touch. There's a clear debt to The Beatles. That's until 'The India Song' which sounds more like The Rutles; an unintended parody of the Fab Four's fascination with eastern mysticism. That misstep aside, the band is great, not a note wasted on guitar riffs or solos; the bass melodically supportive; the drums tight; and the harmonies Beatlesque. Power pop, folk, rock - it likely is borne out of the creative tension of the band and could sound confused (as it does on 'Third'), but this is a concise piece of guitar rock n pop n folk perfection.

besides the surprise That 70's Show theme, and Elliot Smith cover (original) I can't remember one bit of this album. those two things were fun surprises but did not enhance the overall album listening experience.

Kyllähän tätä kuunteli, mutta aika yksitoikkoiseksi kävi.

Ei tää huono ollut ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jokainen biisi levyllä oli miellyttävää kuultavaa! Hieno kokonaisuus.

Fairly middle-of-the-road jangle rock. Apparently they invented it. Good for them

To me this sounds like a pretty run of the mill 70s rock album. I’m going to have to take Wikipedia’s word for it that this was a “seminal” work of power pop. In that case, many bands sounded alot like them afterwards.

A decent listen though I didn’t enjoy as much as the other Big Star album. I’ll probably replay at some point so a generous 4.

The one thing I like most about “#1 Record” is how honest and earnest it is- there’s no irony here. The songs are tender, and nostalgic, and heartfelt, and that feels really good right now. There are some good rockers here, but most of the songs seem to be chill acoustic numbers- to me, this is perfect lazy Saturday morning music. I really enjoyed it. FOUR STARS

So good. Cleveland rocks!

entertaining and fun just like a 70s rock album should be. nothing too catchy but familiar enough to keep my spirits up 4 stars

Big 3 stars je definitivno najviše što može za ovaj album a i to sam možda malo precijenila

I really liked this record, and I'm unsure how I haven't heard of this band before now. There's some beautiful tracks in there in particular 'Thirteen' which has been covered beautifully by Elliott Smith and also the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Favourites: The Ballad of El Good Thirteen My Life is Right

I wasn't expecting a folk band to be almost directly responsible for Weezer's existence but I'm sure as hell not very happy about any band allowing Weezer to happen. The music itself is fine, but there isn't really a lot to it, especially with the much folksier second half. Thirteen and Try Again are nice songs, I guess. The whole thing was really in one ear and out the other for me.

Good 70s rock. Very influential to a lot of bands I like, so this is listening to yr idol’s idols. Have a good grasp on melodies, so it’s strange they didn’t have much commercial success. In the end, it’s still 70s rock and I’d rather listen to my idols

not that crazy

Not really doing anything for me, a bit of promise early on, but forgettable

Forgettable background noise.

I knew Big Star from great covers of Thirteen. They seem like a band's band. Favorite tracks: Thirteen, When My Baby's Beside Me, In The Street

Good rock album

Good album. I didn't realize this was the group behind the theme song used for That 70s Show.

Gear: ZMF Auteur Classic LTD Shedua Artwork: ⭐🔠🌃 Production (2009 Remaster): 😐👍🆗 Music: 🧼🎸😑 Rating: ⭐⭐(⭐)/5

beetje zoals de beatles maar dan amerikaans. wel prima achtergrond muziek.

3.5 rounded up

Forgot they wrote the theme song to That 70’s Show. Liked this a lot.

Thirteen is great, el goodo is good, I could take or leave the rest

May have been influential and even original at the time, but it just sounds like the Byrds, Eagles or whatever else American folk rock this list already has too much of. Pretty forgettable in my book.

New one to me. Enjoyed it and definitely need to listen to it again.

Forget the Velvet Underground. All your favourite artists’ favourite artist is actually Big Star. -First exposure was Elliott Smith’s cover of Thirteen. -Second was Yo La Tengo’s cover of Take Care -Third is Jeff Buckley’s cover of Kanga Roo. Exactly the kind of thing that deserves to be on this list.

Cool to hear the inspiration for the That 70's Show theme from "In The Street".

The definition of a 3. Good album, easy 70's glam rock/country rock. I'm not a fan of his high pitched singing voice, but the instrumentation is good.

I totally agree with my challenge buddy on this on. The documentation suggested an awesome and important piece of the 70 rock puzzle. #1 Album, dont think so. more like a #2 (see what i did there) lol

Band name and record name suggests they're pretty up themselves, shame the music doesn't live up to the hype. I'm surprised by the high ratings for this one, very middle of the road generic rock to me.

I gave it a shot. Got two tracks in, and quit. A day passed. I got to thinking, "That's not a fair shake." One of the goals of this project is to challenge me, to introduce me to things that I wouldn't have otherwise been exposed to. To be fair to the philosophy, I have added some new favorites from some genres that I never really consider in my day-to-day choices. And maybe I was just having a bad day where nothing landed right. This happens. Definitely not out of the realm of possibility. So here I am. Well-rested, took my meds, I have a coffee... Nonononononono. I have powered my way through this. Thank god it was short. I think I "get it". Maybe. But there is an ineffable aspect to music appreciation that is totally subjective based on preference and taste. I worked the late late shift at a Subway sandwich shop in the mid nineties for a couple of *years*. The radio had to be on, and the only choices of music by management decree were the local classic rock stations. Hours of classic rock. Never did one of these songs come up. If that feels like a post hoc rationalization for why I don't like this album, that's because it is. I *get* the album. I just don't like it.

Solid album, really surprised by the quality.

Thirteen is great, the rest is okay

one song and then this could have been any other generic 70s album

Es un álbum esperanzador, me gusto

An enjoyable album saved a few songs and it’s nice to listen to more 70’s music. In particular I was drawn to ‘Feel’ and ‘My Life is Right’ The opening lyrics in the latter are lovely “ And now I hope you're here to stay You give me light” Another 4/5 GEMV (01.06.2026)

Now that was a pleasure to listen to. Good melodies, good harmony, good playing. I saved “Thirteen” to my playlist.

For me, very bland and forgettable.

Not much sticks to mind.

Listening to this obscure album from this Memphis band, I’m hearing some later Beatles, some Byrds, some Lynyrd Skynyrd (even though this album actually predates Skynyrd popularity), and a bit of Aerosmith. The sound quality is good, and the album is short. Unfortunately for Big Star, in my opinion all these songs are forgettable.

Very good album cover and title. Very 70s album. Not for me. Highlight: 'The Ballad of El Goodo' (lol)

This didn't click with me and never really got me interested at any point

Had the “That 70s show” theme stuck in my head for days after

4.4 The most known unknown album out there. I think the songs are there, but man, I think they could have used a better producer to take it to the finish line

This album gets better every time I listen to it. It is a melodic delight throughout. There’s a good variety of vibes and songwriting styles from the different writers too. Power pop, glam rock, balladry and even a kind of baroque vibe occasionally too. I’ve been listening to Big Star for a long time now, and I still don’t quite know what they are, particular when taking Third/Sister Lovers into account. For me though, being able to describe something like this, or define/pigeonhole it, is not important when you can simply sit back and breathe in the quality from start to finish. At this stage it feels like they shall forever be considered on the cult side of things, discovered by the more musically curious. Those making the discovery though often make a powerful and inseparable bond with the band. I think the album sequencing is a little odd, but it’s a small qualm.

Quite forgettable but not offensive. Nothing more to say

Siempre pendiente de darle una oportunidad a un grupo sin suerte que es famoso sin ser famoso. Referencia no comercial. Me guardo «Thirteen» (preciosa) y «Give Me Another Chance», «Try Again» y «Watch the Sunrise». Tres estrellas tirando a cuatro ****.

Has the theme to That’s 70’s show!

Hört sich wie Bee Gees an, Intressant zum Ein schlafgen eher lkangweiliug

Sounds fresh... Good rock album, not too hard. Not super memorable but all nice tracks.

I made it through, and - if I have to say that, ya know it's not going on MY list. I'm surprised this made the RS top 500 list at all.

I am a big power pop fan, so I naturally liked this. I didn't like absolutely everything, but I can see what it influenced and I appreciate its inclusion on this list.

10/5 love this album so much

music is love

It was alright

============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== --------------------BIG STAR------------------ ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- -------------------#1 RECORD------------------ ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------(1972)------------------- ============================================== ============================================== ------------------CALIFICACIÓN---------------- ----------------------★★★⯨☆------------------ --------------------(3,2916)------------------ ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== 1. Feel (★★★★★) -Fav 2. The Ballad Of El Goodo (★★★☆☆) 3. In The Street (★★★⯨☆) 4. Thirteen (★★★☆☆) 5. Don't Lie To Me (★★★☆☆) 6. The India Song (★★★☆☆) 7. When My Baby's Beside Me (★★★⯨☆) 8. My Life Is Right (★★★★☆) 9. Give Me Another Chance (★★★☆☆) 10. Try Again (★★★☆☆) 11. Watch The Sunrise (★★★☆☆) 12. ST 100/6 (★★⯨☆☆) ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== PUNTAJE TOTAL 5+3+3,5+3+3+3+3,5+4+3+3+3+2,5 = 39,5 ============================================== ============================================== PUNTAJE PROMEDIO 39,5 / 12 = 3,2916 ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== CALIFICACIÓN FINAL ★★★⯨☆ (3,2916) ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== COMENTARIO -Un disco de rock decente, sorprendemente fácil de escuchar en la actualidad —algo que dice mucho de por qué está acá— y que no me arrepiento de haberlo hecho. ============================================== ============================================== ==============================================

I like Elliott Smith’s cover of thirteen

I'd never heard of this band before, but this wasn't terrible.

I really enjoyed the 70’s pop rock sound of this band….very talented 🎸

Is it me, or is this album cover more famous than the album? Funny that i'm well familiar with the cover versions rather than the originals, but this is a great album. Solid songs, good flow, harmonies, timeless feel.

3.5. Really cool listen!

I am another that got into Big Star via R.E.M. great power pop album. There’s that Beatles and Byrds vibe running through this album but with a heavier driving rhythm making that great power pop sound, their followup Radio city really developed that sound that yeah influenced all the indie music, this has a more obvious beatles/byrds sound above and beyond the jangle guitar, but it’s a damn fine album in it’s own right. It’s probably easy to dismiss it as yeah it’s just doing all the things I hear so many times but this is the blue print that was copied.4..5 Star

that 70's show song...

Alright. Listened to it twice, really liked it a lot better the second listen. Obviously already knew In the Street. But man The Ballad of El Goodo and Thirteen are sooooo good. Don’t Lie to Me is very solo Paul McCartney sounding. Really good listen.

beeeg

I tried really harr but found this very generic. 70's pop rock without anything to hook on to. Seemed well played and i couldn't find anything wrong, but also nothing to excite me.

Album #97, Big Star, #1 Record, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If it wasn’t for the distribution issues with their record label, I genuinely think we’d all be sick to death of hearing about Big Star in the same way we hear about The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. I honestly think they would have become that ubiquitous. And they should have, because this album is on par with any of those classic records in my opinion. Every song sounds like a single. Every song is unbelievably catchy. They had absolutely everything going for them musically. Great harmonies, great riffs, great songwriting, great lyrics, great vocals, great looks, brilliant instrumentation, brilliant production. The whole thing just sounds so slick and effortless. So yeah, I hold this album in extremely high regard. As much as I wish they’d had the reputation they deserved during their lifetime, the reality is that because of the issues with the label and the way things fell apart for them, they ended up making this very strange and broken third album, Third/Sister Lovers, and I honestly don’t think that album would exist without all the struggles they went through. And funnily enough, that’s actually my favourite Big Star album. I absolutely adore it and would recommend everyone listen to it. I’m not sure if it’s on this list, but it definitely should be. Along with Radio City, which I also love. I just love Big Star. Without them, we probably wouldn’t have bands like R.E.M. or The Replacements, two of my favourite bands ever, and for that alone I owe them a lot.

Pretty cool, sounds like they had fun making it. Didn't expect to find the 'That 70's show' theme in there. Not bad!

Not a bad listen but nothing to come back to

I didn’t know what to expect from this album, but I liked it.

Today was probably mmy 2d or 3d time listening to this album in the last 4 or 5 years. Unfortunately at least for me its not any better than the other times. I.fiest became aware of this album after reading about it years ago in Rolling Stone. I think it was reviewed as part of a rerelease. This album was not well distributed when it came out but lots of te leading lights of alternative music in the 80s and 90s believed it was a perfect power pop album. To me its all kind.of one note and nothing musically, lyrically, or singing wise make it stand out. The best track is the song chosen to be the theme for "That 70's Show" and that song like this album was better done by Cheap Trick. Again this isnt horrible it just doesn't live up to the high praise it receives from some.

Me gustó. Watch the sunrise es super inspirador, pero mi fav es thirteen, suena muy de peli.

ummmmm

het klinkt een beetje als kiss maar dan pop? niet echt mijn rock stijl maar er zitten wel oké liedjes tussen

I had never heard of this group but I was very pleasantly surprised. I had no idea the theme for That 70s Show was a cover.

New to me band but I was aware of the box tops and “The Letter” due to Joe Cocker. Easy listening album and I’d explore more of their work.

I remember hearing this at least once before, but listening to it properly is a revelation. Great balance of rock, pop, and folk. The ingredients aren't a million miles from those of 1960s psych-folk-rock, but they've cleared out all the muddiness, overblownness, and whimsy. It's a very clean, stripped-back sound with lots of melodic, catchy moments. The songwriting is solid throughout and the vocals are really enjoyable with an emphasis on harmonies. And the album is under 40 mins with no fluff or bluster. This isn't my area of music, but I can't fault this. 5*

AAnother familiar classic, probably my favorite Big Star album. (This is the one I always listen to, anyway, though I'm looking forward to a focused listen on Radio City and Third/Sister Lovers to reconsider.) The rockers are fun, they stomp and swagger, and there are no ballads sweeter than The Ballad of El Goodo, Thirteen, and Try Again. Watch the Sunrise is a perfect sunrise song. There's no virtuoso performances, but everything hangs together so well. The songs are great and the songs sound great. It'd be wrong to leave this of a list of 1001 must-listen albums. 5/5 Hmm. Just realized that Radio City isn't on this list of 1001, which is maybe a little weird, when you figure the overrepresentation of Morrissey and britpop...

very 70s rock. quite dated.

Just so nice. We love you Alex Chilton. Listen to his coked out cover of 'I Will Always Love You', cheers.

4 star

Didn’t really like it to be honest, sorry guys.

It’s missing something from being a great album. It’s a solid album. 3.5

5/10 On reading up about Big Star, they are referred to as being hugely influential on a number of bands that would follow, including R.E.M., The Replacements and, oddly enough, KISS. That range of endorsements is usually a pretty good indicator that something will be a decent listen. What I wasn’t really expecting, was an album that sounded like a real melting pot of sounds from 60s bands, such as the Kinks, the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, but with relatively little in the way of further development of those sounds. That isn’t to say this wasn’t good, it just felt fairly derivative and unoriginal, and to my ears rarely conjured up any moments that particularly made it memorable in any way. I kept hearing moments that reminded me of various other bands, and they even every now and again arrived on a decent hook or vocal harmony stack, but at no point did I ever feel that I would prefer to come back to this album over albums by the bands that inspired them. That sounds very dismissive, but it’s not really meant that way, because the band put in good performances throughout, the production was well put together and sonically coherent, but there just wasn’t anything particularly exciting about it. They did lean towards some almost glam or hard rock sounds here and there, which did add a touch of spice to the mix, but those moments were rather fleeting. So this one falls very much down the middle for me. Good enough to enjoy my time with it and not be turned off at any point, but not good enough to make me want to bother listening to it again in future. Perhaps this is one of those situations where a band’s influence actually comes from their more developed work on later albums and this is an interesting look back at the start of their career as a band, but there’s nothing in here that really captivated or enthralled. Feel - This is almost half way between Led Zeppelin and glam rock, but with much simpler songwriting and a more limited sound palette. It’s got a decent groove and vibe to it, but there’s nothing particularly standout here that’s making me do any more than enjoy it in passing and there’s nothing that memorable about it either. The Ballad Of El Goodo - Now this sounds more reminiscent of bands like the Kinks and the Beatles. There’s some nice harmonic moments and some of the melodies are pretty decent too, but it generally feels a little bit derivative of that British invasion sound without actually adding anything particularly fresh or exciting. It’s a pleasant listen, to be fair, but I’d rather listen to those aforementioned bands ahead of this. In The Street - This has got a bit more personality to it. It’s still a bit glam, but it blends it well with that British invasion sound. It’s got good rhythms with a bit of endearing swing, the playing is good and there are some good melodic choices in there too. It’s not necessarily the most exciting of tracks, but it’s a pretty decent pop-rock song. Thirteen - Quite a pretty little song now that almost leans a little bit more towards folk/country rock. It’s well written and the vocal harmonies, despite having a slightly weird effect on them, add a nice depth to the sparse arrangement. Again, I’m not massively invested in this just yet, but it’s a pleasant enough listen. Don't Lie To Me - And now we’re getting a more blues-rock number. The production is pretty cool here and there are some cool, if not vastly original, guitar lines going on. It’s a tad messy in places, but that’s actually quite endearing, and the chorus is a pretty decent hook. Not a bad one. The India Song - Again, this feels quite derivative of popular 60s music, more like Simon and Garfunkel, with a touch of Beach Boys thrown in. It’s nice, but it’s a bit too repetitive and doesn’t really develop the main themes into anything beyond a nice and easy to listen to song. Not that you can expect much development in 2 minutes 20, but it just feels a touch throwaway. When My Baby's Beside Me - More 60s throwback stuff, with a slightly more 70s groove to it. This one’s pretty good and the guitar and vocal rhythm is a bit more interesting and engaging. Despite its throwback core, this feels like they’ve actually started to take this more into a fresher direction. There are good hooks, a nice swagger to the performances and it’s got good forward momentum too. Not bad. My Life Is Right - This album really is a melting pot of 60s influences. It’s really well put together and sounds great, but as with much of the record there’s not anything vastly standout or memorable about it that wouldn’t make me just turn to the bands that influenced them over this record. The chorus is pretty good, to be fair. Give Me Another Chance - Quite pretty, quite bland, and feels quite long despite being only three and a half minutes long. Tonally, this is nice, but there’s nothing particularly standout or memorable about it and the synth strings sound pretty bad too. Try Again - The strumming pattern here is relentless. The vocal harmonies are pretty nice, but melodically it’s a bit rambling. It’s a pleasant enough listen, but as with much of the record up to this point, hardly memorable or standout. Watch The Sunrise - There’s a bit more zip to the playing on this one and the main guitar line is really nice. This builds well, and there’s a good vibe to it by the time the band comes in just after half way. The overall sound is good and it’s got some nice melodic moments too with a twist of folksy rock feel. Altogether very pleasant. ST 100/6 - This is a pretty pleasant closer. The vibe is cool and the harmonies are really nice. Good guitar playing too. And it’s all done in under a minute.

pretty good, i liked this one

It was okay. I don't understand why there are two albums by this band on the list. Its better than the other album, but the review on this site comparing it to the ingredients of cake, while not being cake is spot on

Liked this a lot more than Third / Sister Lovers. The rock numbers seriously ROCK! Even the slower tracks have something there that you can just feel. Perfect it is not, but it is pretty great even at its worst. I now get why others hold them in pretty high regard.

liked this more than i thought i would!

I enjoyed this, think it was well paced. Some typically uneasy early 70s lyrics in places. Made me feel quite nostalgic about the end of uni. Top track: the Ballad of El Goodo

Lets gooo

Sale

Some iconic material on here, and honestly getting this album after a Cheap Trick release seems incredibly fitting. Damn can these lads write a tune, showcasing great power as well as sincerity. 'In The Street' is an obvious outlier, 'Thirteen' is properly rated as one of their top tracks and with a slight southern rock edge these guys rip. Plesantly suprised by how much I like this album. Maybe im just in a good mood or something.

fine enough but this album shows an issue with the list, so much standard British rock that just doesn’t stand out

Interesting. Feels like high quality country tinged rock. Perhaps cleaner production feel than the eagles in places even. Not the silky harmonies and hooks of the eagles but otherwise kind of remind me of them. Probably more depth there than I can get at in a day.

Not bad but not super stellar. Might relisten? But probably not.

It’s ok.

Good album, reminds me of Tom Petty

Always had some kind of instinctive emotional affinity for Big Star. Came to them backwards, from listening to Teenage Fanclub and REM, so was already aware of the strands of influence that ran from them, and just came to love them. That slight worldly sadness detectable even in the freest, upbeat pop rock. A great album, and a really important 70s stepping stone.

Fine for OWG music. I like the That 70s Show version better.

#3 imho

It sounds like the 70s

A run-of-the-mill 70s rock album with many ballads and emotional guitar work. I fail to see what makes this a must-listen.

i said i’m in love.. with that song…. i’m in love….. what’s that song……. highlights: feel, thirteen, watch the sunrise (may 5 2024)

The first half was pretty good, the second half was a bit bland. Nothing too exciting, nothing too bad.

Happy to hear the original That 70s Show intro song =) and the whole album was all alright

This is one of those albums I don't love to rate. It is both good and really novel, and it is also kind of sort of what I expected, but with a bit more cleverness. I love some of the lyrical bits, found it confusing between whether it is pseudo-country or more rock oriented, and felt it was mildly, but not horribly (!) era specific. It is novel enough to almost be experimental but not quite. The best part was the lyrics and some of the songs will stick with me pretty directly. Otherwise the genre is not a big front room choice of mine, although like some people wondered, I don't know why they were not better known within their genre and era?

Es klingt wie ein leuchtendes Versprechen, das nie ganz eingelöst wird: wunderschöne Melodien, glasklare Harmonien, ein Hauch jugendlicher Sehnsucht. „Thirteen“ ist pure, fragile Nostalgie, „The Ballad of El Goodo“ ein stiller Triumph, und „When My Baby’s Beside Me“ zeigt, wie catchy Big Star sein konnten.

Big Star – #1 Record (1972) On Day 130, I reached a milestone with a "chill" but decent listen. You can clearly hear the Beatles' influence throughout the project, especially in the production and the vocals, which gave the music a high-level weight and a melodic feel. While it wasn't perfectly consistent from start to finish, the standout tracks were outstanding. "In the Street" was a beautiful highlight for me, alongside the immaculate vibe of "The Ballad of El Goodo" and "Thirteen." I also saved "My Life Is Right" and "Watch the Sunrise" to the playlist. It’s a great example of songwriting that feels both great and nostalgic. A very respectable 4/5.

It was just fine

ChatGPT-generated 70s soft rock

Very solid album. The first half is strong, but the second lags a bit unfortunately. Still, some really good rock and roll. It shows it's age a little bit. Standout tracks were "Feel" "In The Street" and "Thirteen" I think #1 Record gets a 4 for me, pretty good and I'd love another listen sometime.

Χαλαρό αλμπουμάκι. Γενικώς έδεινε μια αίσθηση beatles που εκτίμησα αλλά δεν θα άκουγα συχνά Don't Lie to Me

Safadinho esse título. Cansado desses álbuns que não tem o que falar, nada se destaca, mais uma banda que seria uma atração das 4 da tarde do Rock in Rio, que iria curtir, mas não ia fazer adicionar algo no Spotify.

The Ballad of El Goodo In the Street Thirteen

I don't really know what I expected going into this, probably some more mid rock that I'd have to push through. But I couldn't be more wrong, this really hit for me. Such a great overall record with tons of great lyrics, instrumentation and just overall style. It has a very clear Beatles influence throughout, but it is clearly Big Star's own baby. I can't really explain why this works so well, it really hit me hard. The ballads are so good, almost makes me tear up at points with the heartfelt emotion and beautiful melodies. I was washing my car on a sunny day when I first listened to this and I felt like I was in a movie. Perfect listening experience for this. Ugh just really enjoyed it. Only complaint would maybe be about pacing and the latter half gets a bit slow. But otherwise really good. I think 'Thirteen' is just lovely, that alone puts it right up there with the best. Fav Track: Thirteen

I didn't realize this was the group that did the song used as the theme for that 70s show - how appropriate! Mellow, classic 70s rock.

Quite enjoyed a lot of this after it had grown on me following a few listens. Can also hear the influences this had on later bands like Teenage Fanclub.

Enjoyed this more than their last offering although it does fail to really get going.

I have listened to this occasionally over the years. Always because it influenced Teenage Fanclub’s excellent ‘Bandwagonesque’ so much. Tbh I didn’t much care for it, and it’s only in recent years that I’ve found a much greater appreciation. And 30yrs later I really enjoyed that today. I know there are ‘grower’ albums, but 30yrs to get into it is going some stretch.

A case study on how wrong the music industry can be, this should have been one of the biggest albums of the 1970s and not a cult classic. Children by the millions and all that.

Not bad

Never heard of these guys. Feel it should be absolutely in my wheelhouse but it just didn't inspire me. Read some of the 5 star reviews and I just don't see it. Listened to 13 again just to see if I can see what I'm missing. Power rock? Maybe at the time but I just don't get any emotional connection to the music at all. Pass for me.

Not really my thing. Should be flagged for false advertising.

Well we're going one year back from my last album. This is definitely very obviously rock and I can get behind this one. Though I do not belive I've even heard of Big Star. Well maybe I have hear of Thirteen it's their most listened to track on Spotify with 57.5 million plays. Today is April 21 and this album was released on April 24th That's kinda cool. Diggin the harmonizing on this album. I kinda like getting GPTs summary on these albums. Nope I had never heard Thirteen, but boy is it a good song.

Good but could’ve been better, felt a little random

That was cute. Reading an essay on the trivialisation of culture while listening to this was definitely something.

Cute but nothing special

Never heard of them but this was actually quite enjoyable! 4/5

Hmmmm. Had high hopes when I saw "power-pop" and yes, I kinda get that. *IF* this was the singularity for (especially) REM, They Might be Giants, Fountains of Wayne etc then I shall award 3 points, despite not loving it all that much.

#1 Record by Big Star was slightly above average—around a 3.2 out of 5. I enjoyed the energy it brings throughout. It was also strange and unexpected to hear In The Street, which I know as the theme song from That ’70s Show. Hearing the original version instead of the Cheap Trick remake was a fun surprise.

This was a solid '70s rock album, but like some of the other reviews it just didn't quite hit. It was a nice surprise to hear the original that '70s show theme song.

I've been listening to Big Star's first album, and while it's a good record and totally sounds like the 70s, it feels a bit samey. It's like they're trying to be America or any combination of Crosby, Stills & Nash, but also a little Steely Dan or Jefferson Airplane, you know? The harmonies are awesome, super clean, but even though the songs and production are good, it doesn't really stick in my head. It's chill background music, but it's missing that "it" factor to make it something special. It sounds a lot like their influences, especially the guitars and tunes that were all over the radio back then. The second half gets a bit slow with all the ballads, they all sound kinda similar. It's not bad, songs like "Thirteen" and "The Ballad of El Goodo" are serviceable, but it feels like it's copying other stuff. It's solid, but it needs that extra something to be amazing.

This was kind of an interesting record, almost an early alt-rock record but that still has a toe dipped in the big stadium rock sound of the 70s. Still, not many super memorable songs.

Favorite Song: In The Street

Its a reasonable snapshot of early 70's pop/rock But this isnt anywhere close to the Stones, Fleetwood or Beatles! More like a poor version of Styx It's not terrible, just not for me

Considerably better than their other album on here, much more engaging, at least until the last few songs. It did feel a bit like a poor man's Beatles at a few points, and the guy's vocals still aren't anything great.

Ain’t no one going to turn me around.

Decent American rock, with a few pop twists.

As a kid I had heard The Letter by the Box Tops somewhere, probably in a movie or TV. I heard Down The Street because of That 70's Show but as a kid I thought it was written specifically for the show. At my first job someone commented that the way I dressed made me look like I was from Big Star. I looked them up on google image search to see what they were talking about but didn't research much farther into it. Later on I got way too into The Replacements and wanted to know who Alex Chilton was which was then the point I put on #1 Record. I'm ambivalent about this album. It gets celebrated by musicians that I like and while I think there are great parts to it, it is not an album that I recommend to everyone. For example, the opening to 'Feel' is just a great way to start an album. The song in it's entirety is, in my opinion, worth hearing. I can see how it wouldn't be for everyone. There are definitely standout tracks on here. Thirteen is a timeless classic. Songs like 'India' just didn't really need to be on it, I don't know if that's controversial. The story of this album and band and how they had a resurgence on college radio is maybe an artifact of its time. Now there are probably more talented bands putting out albums under-the-radar because of the sheer numbers and platforms. Everyone is drowned in the noise. I get the feeling that Big Star in some ways became a myth for music people to namedrop that kind of outstripped the intrinsic merits of what is a pop record.

increible, A great discovery!

5 Big Stars for this one. During the mid 70's, when rock was at a crisis point, in Memphis a masterpiece was made.

3.2 2x cool to see the original source of that 70s show theme song 9covered by Cheap Trick for the show)

Extremely 70s in the best way. It’s honestly bizarre that I didn’t know about this band or The Band. Hearing the origin of the That 70’s Show theme was a bit of whiplash. It’s a good song. I feel like I’ve heard covers of some of these songs elsewhere too. Anyway, it was a fun listen with some really nice instrumentation. They do what they do really well here.

An album that is basically half power pop tunes and half ballads/acoustic tracks, and I wasn't fascinated by neither of both sides. I do have to say that I prefer the more spirited parts coming from the power pop, as it has the most catchy and memorable aspects, with high pitched and almost screamed vocals and nice distortion on the guitars. However, I think they are quite tame in terms of ideas. I called this side memorable, but just in comparison with the other, as I didn't find it entertaining or exciting enough to truly impact me. What is truly uninteresting, dull and even empty are the acoustic driven pieces. I found them to be boring, specially the last four songs. They aren't neither emotional nor catchy nor pleasant. The only song that falls under this classification and I think is decent is "The India Song" thanks to the use of the flute (or that is what it seems to be), which adds a very folk feeling and sounds very nice. Overall, I think this is very mediocre and quite forgettable.

No, it's nowhere even close to as such, in any way, shape, or form.

Such a perfect album.

The vocals are a bit grating, and the songs do end up blending together a bit, but mostly just good rock music.

Pretty fun!

3.6/5

This record was bound to get a good review just because it has Thirtheen a.k.a. the best song ever made in it. But overall is a pretty solid work.

I was really surprised by this album! I wasn't really vibing with the earlier songs because I didn't like the vocal timbre / delivery, I thought the instrumentation wasn't anything special, and I had an especially hard time making out the lyrics. However, the last four songs were really soft and emotionally-charged. The album didn't have much of a grip on me until those last few songs really tugged on my heartstrings. The vocal delivery also got better throughout the album; it sounded pretty nasally while the singer was in a higher register, but that mellowed out as they descended in register. Not sure I'd listen to the whole album again, but I saved the ones that got me a little emotional.

Solid 3. Nothing special, not especially bad. 3/5

Big BLAND star. That is does this by straddling several styles is remarkable.

At fist I was like, I literarily never heard of this band before. And when 'In the Street' came on, I was like, hold on , this is the theme song from 'That 70s Show, but slightly worse. Didn't mind it, but I will forget about this very soon.

we got the Beatles at home

Really enjoyed listening to this. Interesting throughout. Lovely melodies. Good harmonies and great playing. By a band id never heard of... (even though I've already reviewed the other album on this list and given it a 2!) This is far better than a 2. So much so that I'm going to go back and relisten to 'Third' simply because I can't believe a band that produced this in 1972 had sunk so far by 1978 (drugs, splits?)

Wonderful album. Truly sounds both perfectly of its time and ahead of its time. Brilliant songs and shimmery production, the voices of Alex and Chris also fit perfectly. Ballad of El Goodo is one of the best songs of all time, and this album is essential for anyone. Easiest 5 stars yet.

Sometimes I feel bad when I know a lot of the songs on an album but have never heard of the band. Certified radio hit machine.

Honestly, an incredible early 70s rock album. Easily one of the best albums of the decade. Why was Boston’s first album forced upon my ears 700 times before I heard this album? Makes no sense.

1. feel - 1 2. ballad -0 3. ztreet - 1 4. thirteen - 2 5. lie - 1 6. india - 1 7. bezide - 0 8. right - 1 9. chance - 1 10.try - 1 11. zunrize - 1 12. ten 16 - 2

The only real positive for me, seems to be the fact that this album contains the original version of the intro song for That '70s show.

No private session used for Spotify. Never sat down a listened to a Big Star album before. Heard some good rock and some songs that have been covered.

Dreary 70s American dirge rock