#1 Record

I know people really love Big Star and see them as very influential but I think they have passed me by a bit. It's a very listenable album but I can't say I am in love with it.

Played in the background while working, nothing really stood out.

Very good music, it's got a few standouts, but it doesn't feel too remarkable to me. Although I'd give it a listen every so often.

DECENT, not returning

Great harmonies, seems to be an influence on Boston, foreigner and the like.

nothing really special, tho ‘Give me another chance’ was great 3.5

This was an incredibly mid album. I’m not sure what makes this so special as it seems quite generic and like it’s got some great ideas but they weren’t really used well here. It was quite catchy in some songs, the playing from the members was fine but it, again, felt like generic American rock with a more pop-orientated sound and jangling guitars. Kind of like a soft rock version of ZZ top or something. I guess it could be seen as influential and there were a couple songs I quite liked but overall it was a bit repetitive and formulaic. Favourites: Ballad of el goodo and in the street. Overall, 5/10.

Je sais que c'est bon mais j'aime pas ca.

C'est ben correct. Mais je sais que je récouterai jamais.

Album No. 0058 on my list. Never heard of either the band or the record before. Not sure why though, because I think this deserves a bit more recognition. Sound and production were a bit ahead of its time I think, this album sounds pretty good for a 1972 record! I don’t like all songs on this record (e.g. due to their respective lyrics and the singer’s voice), but “The Ballad of El Goodo”, “Thirteen”, and “When My Baby’s Beside Me” are cool pop-rock tracks that I’ll definitely listen to again. 3/5 stars.

I reviewed Big Star’s Third/Sister Lovers about 350 albums ago, and I thought it was okay. I had really high hopes for that album, and I was a bit let down by it. I had even higher hopes for this album before listening to Third/Sister Lovers, but now those expectations have been tempered a bit. I’m not sure how I’m going to feel about #1 Record, but I’m hoping this experience is better than Third/Sister Lovers was. Just like their other album on this list, Big Star’s #1 Record was fine, but I enjoyed this one a little bit more. Like Third, the slower and more melodic songs on this album were better than the other songs. Also just like Third, I really expected catchier hooks and riffs on an album that most people classify as power pop. While this album didn’t have that catchiness, the slower songs did have some beautiful guitar work, and I thought the album was pretty well produced. It was interesting to hear The Byrds’ influence on Big Star as well, and even though that influence was obvious, their sound never felt like it was trying to copy The Byrds. Alex Chilton’s vocals were pretty solid throughout the album, but to my ears, there’s not really anything unique about his voice, which is a bummer. I thought that “Thirteen,” “Give Me Another Chance,” “Try Again,” and “Watch the Sunrise” were the best songs on the album. None of them really blew me away, but they all sounded good, and they had some good emotional weight to the lyrics and singing. The rest of the album wasn’t bad, but it was just kind of bland to me. I guess Big Star isn’t for me, but I can see how others would find their work appealing.

Big Star took a different musical path in the 1970s, and you have to respect that. I’ve never really taken to the vocals—I wish they were a little bit edgier or more idiosyncratic!—but “Thirteen” is really nice.

Plenty enjoyable, just a little samey for me. Unfortunately, when you listen back to a lot of these 70s rock albums, they sort of just sound like each other. Definitely a couple great jams though. Best Track: Thirteen

Not a bad album, although felt quite repetitive/disinteresting. Thirteen and watch the sunrise highlights of the album for me. Overall easy to listen to but not lighting my world on fire.

This one started off really strong and kind of tapered out by the end. By no means are the ballads on this album bad they just don’t hold my attention like the wilder first half. Starting off strong with “Feel,” the next five songs are great. After that it’s a bit hit or miss for me. Still a solid record. 7/10 Favorite tracks- “Feel” “In The Street” “ Thirteen”

Paul Westerberg told me to come here.. a 3 because some of the tunes lack depth or whatever.

Pleasant enough.

Glad to learn about this band and their story of under distribution. They sound as good as any of the other early 70’s pop band but never quite made it.

Generic 70s rock

'Thirteen' made it to a playlist

Good albeit average 70's rock stuff. Fun to hear that 70's show song.

Fine. I don’t really have anything to say. It’s fine and decent music, nice tunes, but ultimately nothing memorable. I’d rather just listen to the Stones or something of a similar ilk.

3,5/5I really enjoyed thirteen and didn't see the jump coming from the next song, which was also nice, but that was such a mood switch. It had some great parts and some decent parts but I sometimes missed something.

A long-time under appreciated power pop (or maybe just pop/rock?) album that is now quite appreciated. Lots of good tracks on the album.

There are plenty of good albums that don't deserve the title "album you must hear before you die." I have my own personal list of 100 favorite albums, and while most of it is filled with classics, modern classics, and revolutionary albums, there is a good 1/5 or so that are just great albums I happen to love. Occasionally on this list, I come across an album that feels like the creators of the list just really like it and wanted to include it. This album feels like one of those. The only thing noteworthy I can think about this one is that it features the theme song for That 70s Show. That being said, I mostly enjoyed listening to this. It's a pretty average 70s rock album. And even though it might not be critically acclaimed, or winning an awards, or going platinum, or getting them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it's a good record that I'm happy I listened to. My only real complain is that the second half got a little sappy and a lot the songs sounded the same. This ultimately kept it out of 4-star territory for me.

I have spoken to people who are head over heals for these guys and I'm not quite sure I get it. Their sound and style grew on me as I listened but never once did I think "wow... This is incredible". Linda felt like the music that might be playing walking into a random dive bar somewhere in the middle of the country.

better than I thought it would be, and somewhat timeless.

New to me band, but I like it. Good, solid, classic 70s American rock. Band definitely had potential that was wasted.

This was just aggressively OK. I won't remember a single song after hearing this the one and only time I'll ever listen to it.

I had never heard of this band, but apparently they are a beloved cult classic rock/power pop act. You should know the third song on the album (In The Street) as the theme song for ‘That 70s Show.’ I would describe their sound like a combination of Tom Petty & Bad Company. A solid listen, and at only 37 minutes, they didn’t overstay their welcome. Nothing very memorable though. A just slightly above average 3/5 for me.

Despite never having listened to them before, every track feels safe and familiar. It's all very.. pleasant.

Was ok

Feels like the unknowing collision between glam and country, wrapped up in some clever rock

agreed with the people saying something’s missing. it’s fine, just not memorable

it was fine Will I listen to again: 3%

Fully had never heard of Big Star before, not too bad. Pretty generic american rock..

I don't get the hype. Lots of other reviews saying this is a 5/5 album. It's kinda basic. Like, it's still decent. I can see it's influence, and it sounds like it belongs in the Cheap Trick power pop era despite being released at the beginning of the decade in 1972. It's just kinda an average classic rock album. The latter half of the record kinda peters off. That being said, the melodies are catchy, the production is good, and some of the ballads are nice.

You know, I’m usually a sucker for this kind of song, and the theme from that 70s show was a surprise, but this got boring the longer it went on

This was kind of a fun little gem! New to me, though I was familiar with a few of the songs. Dig.

Calling their album #1 record is wild when it’s mid AF. 2.5 out of 5

This one had its moments. I had no idea that the theme from “That 70’s show” came from here. I enjoyed it for the most part, dragged a little on the back half. 3.5/5

This is the most 70s rock band that ever 70s rock banded. I started unintentionally singing In the Street (think everyone my age prob knows that) and the cowbell was <chefs kiss>. At times it did sound like a less good Boston but maybe that’s completely unfair. Lyrics on The India Song also felt like a bit of a give up. Regardless, overall enjoyable.

Wait.. Big Star is actually good? I first listened to Big Star when going through the Rolling Stones Top 500 Albums back in 2023. That list had three Big Star albums and at the time I really didn't care for them. But that was a while ago and I haven't listened to any Big Star since. To my surprise, they're not bad. Nothing crazy, but definitely better than I remember. Makes me curious to relisten to the other two Big Star albums that were on that list. Favorite track: The Ballad Of El Goodo

Started out like some Deep Purple, kinda just turned into a band toward the end. Nothing special here.

Feel sounds similar for some reason but I can't put my finger on it. Jam of a song though. I know it'll piss off all the old heads but super weird hearing the "That 70's Show" theme song on here in this format. I may actually prefer it to the show theme. Also recognize Thirteen from That 70's Show lol the creators must have been fans. Really beautiful song though. This album was good, but something was just missing from it. Enjoyable enough though for a high 3.

good

Nice. I'd never heard of them and they seem the kind of thing I would have been listening to at the time. It almost feels like reminiscing, but without the associations of a song you know.

Pretty laid back 70s album. Effortlessly cool

I love thirteen as a song and have for a long time, but it really is so different from the rest of the album

Fine, I guess. I can see how this album created a blueprint for 70s pop rock and in turn, became an influence for what came after, but in *that*, it's Tom Petty meets The Byrds, stepping in some Beatles' tracks, here and there. Not really sure what the big deal is.

That 70’s show!

Plätschert so vor sich hin. Paar gute Riffs

Не мой кап оф ти, хотя могу понять почему он может кому-либо понравится. Приятный блюзик, который к сожалению под конец становится хиппи балладой. К удивлению есть песни которые мне понравились. 6/10 Highlights: When My Baby's Beside Me

65/100.

Like one reviewer said, this album has the right components, but it needs to be put together. The first half contains average glam-rock. What about the second half? It's just plain acoustic tracks. I prefer this album over the salsa record I reviewed yesterday. 3 stars for "#1 Record".

3 08.19.2025

HANGING OUT!

Generic light rock album.

This was a bit of a surprise. I'd honestly never heard of it before this listen. It sounded kind of familiar, but it wasn't. Not a concept album, it feels more like those compilation albums that everyone bought in the 70's because we couldn't afford all the '45's we wanted. Has a Byrds like instrumentation. Lyrically you would say there was a definite design to make all these tracks tight and radio friendly, the 3 and a half minute rule was seldom if ever broken. If it was a compilation, you'd swear you were listening Mott the Hoople, The Byrds, Tom Petty, James Taylor, Slade and even some whimsical Beatles. But seeing this was before many of those you'd have to ask who was influencing who? It's like a radio Sampler, and I liked it.

Ah Big Star, one of the most fucked over bands ever. How can such an acclaimed album have less than 10,000 copies? Absolute failure from the record label. This album pretty much showcases all of what power pop was going to sound like throughout the 70s. As for the music itself, personally? Eh it's alright. Couple great tracks. Fine music But do I think that because I've heard everyone copy them 100 times?

Strong start, got samey towards the end. I liked Feel and Don't Lie to Me

Well-written, but inconsistent

Ups and downs, strikes and gutters

Early 70s southern rock with a tinge of Simon and Garfunkel elements mixed in. It's not bad at all, and many of the tracks are fairly rocking. It's bound to satisfy nostalgic rock fans for sure. There aren't any really bad tracks, though a lot of it doesn't move me much. Might just be due to first listen. Probably worth another listen in the future. 3/5

need to listen to again

While this did hit it didn’t hit as hard as I excepted, I think a future listen may bring it to a 4 it’s not there for me yet

70’s Heavy Rock. Ok but no reall bangers

Melodic 70s rock, harmonies are on point. Not necessarily a top 1001.

6/10 Favorite: My Life Is Right

Decent 70s rock. No more, no less

Pretty good classic rock, some of the tracks stood out as good jams but the rest were just ok. Standouts: Thirteen, Don't Lie To Me Rating: 3.4/5

I’d never heard of this band till I got a free CD with a music magazine. I can’t say that I was blown away by it and not sure they were worth the praise heaped upon them by the article! It’s well played reasonable good MOR rock with a slight sound of Robert Plant in places.

It's fine. Just another band in an ocean of bands.

Some gorgeous melodies here, like the somewhat disquieting “Thirteen.” I wasn’t quite as taken by this as our last couple from the same era, but I can see the innovation and influence of Big Star.

i didnt care for it the first time i listened to it but i guess i kinda calmed down now and think it's nice and sweet

A very 1970s album. Very easy to listen to with some strong guitar work

ganz nettes rock album. 3.5.

Really good!

Good album. Very 70s sound which was cool Standout songs: Feel Dont lie to me Give me another chance

Not bad but missing something tk make it great

Helt greit, men veldig intetsigende

No está mal, pero me ha parecido demasiado lento y monotono para mi gusto

It was a fun listen while me and the boys had a board game day. 7/10

I know the name, I know they get love from critics and have a cult following but I've never given them a listen. Big horns on the opener, "Feel", it feels like the birth of alt rock in 1972. The guy can certainly sing and gives off a rockstar vibe. I knew "The Ballad Of El Gordo" from the 90's Evan Dando cover but others have covered it over the years as well. It's a catchy song. This is an album I'm surprised no one ever turned me on to. It's good rock and roll and you can feel the influence and roots it had on future alt rock (Matthew Sweet, I'm looking at you!) artists. "Don't Lie To Me" has early KISS vibes. They have a ton of listens with "Thirteen" clocking in with 54M plays. Nice but average song. A handful of other tracks range from 2M to 10M listens, very respectable. Half of it sounds like it's 1972, but half sounds like 1992, it's held up pretty well as compared to their colleagues at the time. Good pull, this is the kinda stuff I was hoping to hear and learn from this T1001 list, not the weird experimental crap, with 4 thousand listens over 35 years, that I've had earlier this week. While I don't consider this a must listen album, nor would I include it in my Top 1001, it was a good listen. 3 stars.

Feel 4 The Ballad of El Goodo 3.4 In the Street 3.4 Thirteen 3 Don't Lie to Me 3.6 The India Song 3 When My Baby's Beside Me 3.2 My Life is Right 3 Give Me Another Chance 3.1 Try Again 3 Watch the Sunrise 3 ST 100/6 3 Score: 3.225

Not a bad listen, never heard of them & was pleasantly surprised.

had high hopes for this one (not to judge an album by its covet but i did). meh at best, not a lot of substance. not displeasing to my ears but not the best ever. 3/5.

Dieses Album entstand im Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, einem damals modernen Studio, das zu den ersten gehörte, die eine 16-Spur-Tonaufnahme ermöglichten. Die Band Big Star, bestehend aus den US-Amerikanern Alex Chilton (Gesang, Gitarre), Chris Bell (Gesang, Gitarre), Andy Hummel (Bass, Piano) und Jody Stephens (Schlagzeug), kombinierte britisch beeinflussten 60er‑Pop mit warmen Harmonien zu ihrem charakteristischen Power‑Pop-Sound. Besonders prägend sind Songs wie „Thirteen“, eine zarte Ballade über jugendliche Sehnsucht, das energische „The Ballad of El Goodo“ mit seinen kraftvollen Gitarren, sowie der eingängige Ohrwurm „In the Street“. Diese Stücke zeigen die Bandbreite von introspektiven Acoustic-Tracks bis hin zu melodischen Rocknummern. Musikalisch ordnet sich das Album klar dem Power Pop mit Folk‑Rock‑Einschlägen zu. Es trägt Merkmale klassischer Songstrukturen, vielstimmiger Gesangspassagen und einer Mischung aus Reflexion und Energie. Persönlich beeindruckt mich, wie trotz technisch sauberer Produktion und melodischer Klarheit ein leicht melancholischer Unterton bleibt, der das Album emotional auflädt. Die Gitarrenarbeit und Stimmen harmonieren präzise, ohne sich künstlich anzufühlen. Die abschließende Bewertung: Ein gut ausbalanciertes, stilprägendes Debüt, das klare Strukturen mit emotionaler Tiefe verbindet – überzeugend umgesetzt, nachhaltig einflussreich und heute nachvollziehbar relevant.

liked it, probably need to revisit because i could see my rating increasing with some familiarity outside of the "That 70s Show" theme song. I'm intrigued by the beatles influence that is referenced.

Didn’t do much for me, I liked thirteen and the ballad of el goodo. But overall kind meh

Decent powerpop som åbenbart ikke var mega comercially populært, men det var critically acclaimed. Det var lidt cult omkring folk som kendte det men der er mange store kunstnere som har udtalt sig om at være inspireret af dette album.

pleasant enough

I thought it was solid, but was really hoping they'd take that extra step at some point. Not fantastic - they have the elements - but hardly bad. 7/10

An interesting fusion of power pop with folky elements. I like power pop, but I prefer it to be more "aggressive," like the heavy Weezer-esque power chord spam. This is not exactly that. And although this album is generally more fun and energetic than most pop rock and folk rock albums, it's still a bit too folky for my taste. 7/10

Not bad, not great. You can hear some influence for 90's rock, but apart from that it's just another solid rock album.

Cool!

Good sound, quite Beatles esque, specifically George. Liked the first few tracks, tailed off towards the end.

Many rate this as an underrated band. I think they're properly rated. They're okay but there's something missing. I wish they rocked out more instead of focusing on acoustic ballads. Overall fine but it never gets out of neutral.

My initial reaction to this album was that it sounded fine, albeit nothing special, although I *was* struck by how this didn't seem like something from as long ago as 1972. After reading about this album and Big Star more generally, I can see better why it was included in this collection, and I'm glad to have heard "#1 record" before I die. (Not so sure whether they warranted a second album in the collection, but I'll guess I'll find out eventually.) I'll admit their sound isn't really all that interesting to me (but no less so with their descendants like REM or The Replacements), and I do wish that it had been mixed better, with clearer vocals and not quite so tinny guitars, but it's still a very solid rock album. My favorites were probably their more (Southern fried) rocking number "In the street", their hit ballad "Thirteen" (although it felt a bit more creepy than sentimental at times), and the truly sad "Try again"; the only real dud was "The India song". Either way, though, it's sad that the record label was incapable of marketing Big Star pretty much at all, as they probably could have thrived with more attention.

Never heard of this, surprisingly good.

I can definitely see how this was influential to groups like REM, but honestly I think about half of these songs would have fit well on George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass. Solid collection of songs. Favorites were The Ballad Of El Goodo, Thirteen, Try Again, and Watch The Sunrise.

Not bad! Sounds very of its time but it was fun and didn’t take itself too seriously (despite the album name).

Kind of boring, but strong otherwise

3.5

One of these, where you ask yourself "why is it on the list". It is not bad. It is quite typical of its time. It's also ok to listen to. But what make it such a special album, that it needs to be on this list. It's a big big question.

More rock, but not really my kind of thing.

It was pretty good. Nothing special and not something I’ll come back to but I enjoyed it whilst it was on. 3/5

Cool album, but kind of one-song affair.

Big Star was like 95% of the way to being a solid band. I don't know why, but I just can't maintain focus on their music. It's just lacking something. They were so close, but just needed a little extra. It just feels like they are going through the paces. There is no passion injected into the music they were making... Favorite songs: Don't Lie To Me, When My Baby's Beside Me, In the Street Least favorite songs: Try Again 3/5

Yeah, fun album!

Thirteen is the Big Star of this album. 3.5 Stars.

The album feels like the soundtrack from one of those Cameron Crowe films in which nothing really happens, but it gets by on vibes. Feels like summer and I like it.

3.5

I really like the songs on this album and it sounds great, but I can't overlook the low-key religious lyrics that pop up at times. Almost went 4, but dropping to 3 as it's just off putting to me.

Never even heard of this group or album over the years until recently when seeing the album cover, perhaps due to vinyl reissues. The music was not what I was expecting based on the cover. Seemed like it was influenced by a blend of later psychedelic Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, CSN. There’s a song that reminds me of early KISS (which I know came later). I also hear a lot of influences on bands many years later. A surprisingly good listen. Would rank it higher but need to hear it more to give it 4 stars.

Decent. Recognize “in the street” from that 70’s show. Also dug “thirteen”. Get some big hair, zeppelin vibes.

I really enjoyed this. It was a lot of fun. "Thirteen" was absolutely beautiful. Also hearing "In The Street" (from That 70s Show) was crazy. It was missing something to really push it to the "next level" but this was a solid 3.5 listen. "Watch The Sunrise" was SOOOO cool. Adding it to my list of songs to learn. Liked Songs: "Feel" , "The Ballad Of El Goodo" , "Thirteen" , "Don't Lie To Me" , "When My Baby's Beside Me" , "Give Me Another Chance" , "Watch The Sunrise"

Good 3

Strong Byrds influence but more on the rock side.

- unterhaltsam, entspannt und kurzweilig. Tolles Album ohne große Überraschungen oder hervorstechende Songs

Liked this much more than expected for an album from 1972 by a band I'd never heard of. Solid if unspectacular. 3.4

A perfectly adequate album for listening to while barbecuing on a summer afternoon.

Enjoyable but yet forgettable at the same time

3/5

doesn't hurt but it's a bit bland

Hard to believe this band never crossed my radar as much music I listen to. Super pleasant surprise. Beautiful song writing akin to the Byrds or Kinks. That said, only a few stand out tracks.

The hype train is leaving the station for Wisconsin.

Semi-acoustic soft dude, a bit old, kind of boring but good background?

Complete

Power pop, indeed. Big Star was not on my radar but I have heard some of these songs.

I don't see much of the Beatles' influence, but more of The Byrds and the like. They were a bit late to the game when they released this album, but maybe that was to their advantage. The production was quite good, and the quality of the songs throughout the album was mostly on par. The vocal harmonies and their guitar work were better than most other bands from that genre.

Enjoyable, but not very memorable.

2.9.

Nice, Beatlesesque vibes, Gode vokaler. Feeed' guitar spil

This sounds like a Dad record, as in a record my Dad would probably have liked back in the day. It had some good wee tunes on it though! Enjoyed it more than I thought I would

inoffensive yet unremarkable for me

In listened to this. Then forgot to rate it. Coming back late I’m going to give it a 3 as I’m pretty sure it was solid.

cool album cover

A perfectly sound album I won’t listen to again. (It’s me, not it, to be clear)

Seminal. Hilarious. A direct showing of how being introduced to different forms of expression creates a domino effect. I'm surprised of all places the Beatles stopped, Memphis is on the list, but the waves from that particular visit not only created this album, but this album continued to develop and make a big point for genre diversity and taking control of your work. One must wonder the impact this album would have had were it not for the limited production

3.5 stars. Very listenable power pop/rock. Made for the radio. Singer has a high/falsetto voice. The track "In The Street" is the theme from "That 70's Show". Standout is the acoustic "Watch The Sunrise".

Decent.

Good 70s Rock. Good balance of electric and acoustic numbers.

I remember this album from way back when one of my friends got hold of a copy. He was a massive R.E.M. fan, and he'd obviously heard that Big Star were an influence, so he played this to death for a few weeks. Strangely, I was excited to see this come up, but it turns out I didn't remember a single track from it. I also never appreciated that it was from the early 70s, and not from the 80s, as I had always imagined. It fizzles out by the second half and managed to outstay its welcome a little. I also found myself feeling that the fantastic production couldn't hide the fact that this is basically a Beatles Tribute album, albeit in a slightly more soft rock style. The lack of anything that truly stood out means this is delegated 3 stars from me.

6.5/10 - it was pretty decent

Nice. I like Give me another chance and Try again.

OK. Not great, OK. That's why you don't hear them on the radio anymore.

À la première écoute, m'a paru un peu classique et générique, à la lumière de tous les albums rock qu'on peut trouver dans ce palmarès. En réécoutant, je dois admettre que c'est accrocheur, efficace, et bien senti

Pretty fun record. It's got the theme from That 70s Show on here!? Favourite track: The India Song 3.5

Feels like it peaked at the title.

The Wikipedia page quoted someone who correctly said how unfair it is to listen to influential albums after having listened to all their influences over the years. I bet he is right, but still, this album sounds like a collage of '60s and 70s songs. It means that it's enjoyable and recognizable, but not memorable. I enjoyed the listening session, but I'll forget about it in some days.

It was ok. Nothing special.

Not bad, but its not doing anything for me either. 3/5

Ik kende enkel Thirteen en als ik eerlijk ben dacht ik dat dit een 90s nummer was. Als dat niet voor je tijd zijn is! Voor de rest is dit album nu niet echt benoemenswaardig. One hit wonder? 2.8

I will say this is a lot better then the other album of theirs, which just sounded like a bunch of demos. It also has "In The Street," which we all know from "That 70s Show," so they got THAT going for them. But there were a lot of songs that sounded... so dated. I mean "The India Song," wtf was THAT? Same with "The Ballad of Goodo." Um, sure. It was weird hearing this, the original version of "In The Streets". I'm so used to the cover they made for "That 70s Show", but it was still good. Ultimately, it is very planted in the 70s, and doesn't transcend that for me. Top songs: "Thirteen," "In The Streets," "Watch The Sunrise," "Feel"

Cool

i think one of the reviews on the website said it best in that there’s all the elements of a good album here but it just doesn’t ever fully come together. the guitars are the best part, and the sound is very obviously influenced by george harrison’s style of playing, along with a bit of the byrds twelve string acoustic. the vocal harmonies are very beatles-y as well. but the lyrics are very middle of the road imo and the second half of the album kind of falls apart entirely for me. it’s fine overall, and there’s a few really nice songs and melodies/riffs in there (weird predatory lyrics not withstanding) but i’m a bit confused by people calling it a 5 star album. it’s 70s pop rock and it obviously had an influence on people like tom petty and later artists but at the end of the day other bands do the same kind of thing much better.

Meh.

It's not bad. However this style and time are not for me.

Oh shit that 70s show theme. This could use a tempo increase. Maybe some guitar effects. It was a little anemic.

I listened to this album as a teenager and didn’t really get into it. Don’t lie to me is very catchy and was in my rotation for years. Thirteen is a classic. Ballad of el Goodo is considered a great song of theirs, I actually find it really irritating. Cult status maybe but was fairly meh 3/5

A lot of this was pretry standard 70s stuff but a nice easy listen with some highlights in there, thirteen, try again and watch the sunrise highlights

Fine. There’s a few good songs on here but overall the album did not grab me. Apparently this album influenced a bunch of people. I wonder if this is a case of this album being a trailblazer and then its fans leapfrogging it with better music.

2.75

A definite 3 from me. It was produced and performed well, but nothing made me groove or connect emotionally with the music or the subject matter in the lyrics. I could see how "Thirteen" could easily be misconstrued. I know it is supposed be from the perspective of another thirteen year old, but yeah, I could see how people got the wrong impression on that one. Never watched THAT 70s SHOW, so I didn't notice a track that was used as a theme song. While I didn't feel the urge to add anything to my collection, it is possible that with a handful more listens of "When My Baby's Beside Me" might change my mind. If this is your favorite band and/or album, then great for you. I am glad it exists. I don't know if it really belongs on this list. I don't see how other bands like The Pretenders, Tom Petty, and Cheap Trick don't ultimately land on their sound and produce their albums. This stuff was in the ether with other bands. It wasn't a completely fresh new idea despite what Wikipedia tries to tell you.

Easy listen, unmemorable

Middle of the road music that apparently inspired a lot of other artists I don’t care about. Typical music critic nerd music - no real bangers, only well crafted pop music unloved by the masses.

A nice listen but mostly forgettable. Nothing really grabbed me.

I was so far in my cheap trick ass that I thought they wrote the that 70s show theme song… come to find out. this is good, it’s interesting how this band completely missed me. seems like everything I would have loved as a teen

Never heard this album before, and of course, the only song I recognize is In The Street. I could see myself playing it again, though, it was enjoyable! Nothing special, but a good vibe.

3.5

It’s like a directors cut of Led Zeppelin and Beatles! I’m surprised all my early Weymouth years didn’t include this band—it’s so very Weymouth

Totally acceptable soft rock album.

Generic 70s Softrock.

Really pleasant stuff. I might be starting to get rock music outside of what I've already heard. The highlight was hearing where the That 70s Show theme came from

It sounds soft but it is pretty good music but nothing too memorable. In The Streets brings back some That 70s Show nostalgia.

Enjoyed this nice sounding combo of early 70's influence. Pock Rock sound.

Classic rock. I see a lot of inspiration from posterior bands.

fínt powerpopp. ekki mikið af eftirminnilegum lögum samt.

A good little rock band that pleasantly surprised me. A little too mellow for me, but still, pretty good compared to most of the lesser knowns on this list.

Nice music, I really enjoyed some of this very well produced album

Rating: 6/10 So decent 70s rock.

At first impression I thought I would hate this. After a few songs I was surprised I didn’t hate it, it seemed ok. But as I got deeper into the album I found I lost all my grace with this. It became as grating and mundane as I thought it would. I can see why they never took off.

Some hard rock riffs at the start but the album mostly mellows into folk-leaning rock by the second half. Nice vocals throughout too. And “In the Street” is the theme song to “That 70s Show”! Such a great choice for a sitcom theme song: “Hanging out, down the street / The same old thing we did last week / Not a thing to do, but talk to you.”

Pretty cool classic rock album that has some nice dynamic shifts and grabs from a few other bands / genres which isn't what I was expecting. They wear their influences on their sleeves and that hurts the rating a bit though, as to me it feels at times like they were trying pretty hard to sound like an amalgam of other bands before trying to make their own sound. "Thirteen" is really beautiful and I love the guitar parts. Great production as well. I did have to look up the lyrics of this one though as it's kind of gross how so many classic rock songs are about young love in uh... interesting ways. Thankfully the lyrics tell a story of two same-aged people from what I could tell. I grew up really loving "That 70's Show", so the final track "In The Street" was a really great surprise. Nice album cover. I think a lot of modern day indie rock bands would use this kind of imagery and it wouldn't be out of place.

Nice...

Another unmemorable, middle-of-the-range American rock band. I’m surprised I haven’t really heard their stuff before.

Non-offensive, run-of-the-mill, early 70s pop rock.

Decent 70’s pop. Nothing is really bad, nothing is really excellent. You can’t be mad at this.

#1 Record is obviously a fairly pretentious title, and sadly they don't deliver. I am not sure what they have that merits inclusion on the list, but I am sure there are some good arguments. They just didn't leap out at me.

This feels like they were on the verge of making something great but nothing really stood out to me. Just fine.

Just fine, maybe groundbreaking’ish once upon a time.

248/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

I would give this one a 3.5 and definitely would give it another listen. I think there is something here that I could appreciate.

This is decent enough, but it feels like something is missing and I can't put my finger on it. It starts fairly strong but I lose interest by the end, which isn't great for a 37 minute album. Don't Lie To Me sounds a little bit like The Murlocs so I like that one. Feel is cool too, a little Zeppeliny to begin with and segues into what could be a Ziggy Stardust era Bowie glam rock tune I like In The Street musically but the vocals on the verse are pretty annoying, a nasally kind of wail that overpowers everything. I don't think I'd say I dislike anything but there's too much that doesn't hold my attention to rate it highly. Highlights: Don't Lie To Me, Feel

again it's ok I don't get the hype

This is an interesting band and a interesting record. Like I'm sure there are some cult following Big Star fans that absolutely love their music and claim that they're the most underrated rock band of the 70s. I think there probably is some truth to that, but in a lot of ways, I feel like they're kind of trying to be an American version of The Beatles with a bit of Southern influence. Its fun pop rock with some cool country and blues riffs, but I'm never totally blown away by it. The one exception is Thirteen, because that song is incredible and is something to cherish. But otherwise, I enjoyed this but didn't really love this.

3

I wasn’t super Moved by this, but there’s definitely something kinda special about it. It’s like… an unusually tasteful interpretation of Big 70s Rock or something? I might regret rounding down if I listen to it again in the coming weeks.

I listened to the album during a walk. I was still very interested at the beginning of the first track. But that cooled off quickly. During the walk, I noticed that the music was still playing, but I didn't notice most of it. So it didn't interest me, but it didn't bother me either. 3/5

Solid 70s sound

While it was fun to learn the origin story of the That 70s Show theme song, this album was otherwise fine and okay and decent to listen to.

this was fine. 2.5

Real catchy and easy to listen to. Nothing too special though, very clean and well produced 70s pop music. Caught off guard when all of a sudden the room started spinning, then that scientology rapist and Fez were sitting in my garage with me. -Red enters- \"jackass\"

I think if the album had maintained the energy and sound to the A side I would be more into this album, I think it manages to make two sides of older rock (folkier rock and power pop) that I don't care for into something that is interesting personally, perhaps because they lean into hard rock elements in some of the songs but still. The 2nd side goes for more folksy heartache which I don't like but I can imagine some people more into folksier stuff would get more out of it

cover art is so bad get this shuttershock bs outta my face good music tho

++: Feel, In the Street, Don't Lie to Me, Give Me Another Chance +: Thirteen, My Life Is Right, Try Again, Watch the Sunrise, ST 100/6 +-: The Ballad of El Goodo, When My Baby's Beside Me -: The India Song 7,3/10

Generic dad-rock. Don't get me wrong, I like this kind of music, it's just that there's nothing novel or exciting for me here. Nice enough a listen, but nothing that really grabbed my attention

3.5

This is so 70s that it made me nostalgic…and I’ve never even heard it before. Liked it more than I expected, but not as much as I wanted.

This is an alright album that almost makes it to really good, but never quite measures up. Favorite track: "Watch the Sunrise"

Ironic it’s called #1 Record and the record company struggled to distribute it. Sounds very agreeable and simple but nothing crazy. 5/10

Samaa sarjaa kun edellinen. Tämä ehkä hieman parempi. 3/5

Rentouttavaa poprockia jenkkivaalikuumottelun aamuun eli palsamia haavoille. 3.5/5

super enjoyable pop rock favorite track: the ballad of el goodo

With a name like Big Star, I expected "#1 Record" to be heavy rock 'n' roll. I was pleasantly surprised by a power pop record. Big Star is reminiscent of Eric Carmen, in my opinion, and I'm surprised the band was chosen over him, given how massively famous and influential "All By Myself" is. The album is surprisingly lush and laidback — like "Savage Eye" era The Pretty Things. Not memorable but quite good nonetheless. I think they'd be popular on r/drunkhifi, if either the record or the subreddit was more well known.

3 stars - I hear some interesting influences but not exactly my thing

I liked that era of music and this was enjoyable

I wasnt familiar witb Big Star, aside from the That 70s Show theme song. A decent rock album that captured the spirit of the 70s, but ultimately it didnt really capture me or have any standout hits that left me wanting more.

Another in the category of -this is music, and seemingly we'll done music, that just doesn't vibe with me. But also doesn't vibe with me.

Kevyttä rockia. Vähän ehkä jätti kylmäksi ja työpäivän ohessa kuuntelu usein unohtui. Kolme kertaa pyörittelin läpi enkä edelleenkään muista mikä oli suosikkibiisi jonka aikana heräsin aina kuuntelemaan.

Ei jäänyt erityisesti hyvällä eikä pahalla. Muut teki tuon paremmin, mutta laadukas tää kyllä oli vaikkei karismaa ollut

Never heard of Big Star, the blog notes them as a reference point for REM and Cheap Trick, and I can hear that. Also fun to hear the origin of the 70s Show theme song, I liked that show growing up. Good music overall, nothing that excites me too much but I have no criticisms.

I liked this one actually

Never heard of this band before, the album was alright

It's a good, maybe even great folk rock album. Good think they went their own way. 3.5/5.

The mix of Folk Pop and Power Pop tracks on this are quite charming. Fairly enjoyable (#1) record.

Very forgettable but not bad.

Not bad 7/10

Didn't blow me away, it was ok

Helt ok 70-tals rock. Kul med that 70s show-introlåten. Men jag går inte igång mer än "bra". Detta album kom och gick skulle jag tippa på.

Det här gillade man ju redan vid första genomlyssningen, väldigt lättsmält och jämnbra. Inget som verkligen sticker ut dock, men en stark trea får det bli.

Definitely better than the other Big Star album on the list but still quite boring.

Oh I hate it when my review doesn't save. Long story short, some on songs. Some terrible leftovers from the 60s (India?) Shows promise but fails to achieve greatness. Three minus.

Another band that I hadn't heard of before. It was interesting reading the synopsis after listening. The blame game seems to point at the record company for screwing up distribution as to why this band wasn't huge. I'm not sure if that's entirely true though. Does this band have enough to make it big even without the other issues? There were some songs that grabbed me but most didn't really leave an impression, and I couldn't tell you what they sounded like the next day.

Stunned when I hit that 70s show song. They really fall under the radar though. Average band by definition.

Cool. They sound like every other 70's band

Who? Apparently this album is now widely-regarded as a seminal work in pop rock and power pop, but I don't know how much of influence it was at the time if virtually no one had ever heard of it until it subsequent re-releases. It's OK.

Some parts does hit it but it's buried amidst a lot of fillers.

Pretty decent 70’s rock this

Solid all around, nothing special.

Solid 70's. Not every song was great but a good listen.

Leuk! Maar er zat niet echt iets bijzonders in. Teksten raken me niet, instrumentatie wel oké

Pretty decent proto pop rock

Really good (with a few exceptions), and I'd probably grow to love it.

Not a thiiiiing to doooooo

Solid rockplade, poppet, følsom, harmonisk

Not too exciting

Yeah, I don’t know. This is good. Nothing really wrong with it. Just feels a little ordinary for this list. It’s fine. But not essential. 3/5

приятный и местами знакомый

Some really classic songs on here like In The Street and Thirteen. I prefer the covers though. Speaks to the quality of the bones on this record.

This is a good album. It's catchy pop-rock with jangly guitars and nice harmonies (and so much cowbell). The lyrics are often a little too simple and sometimes saccharine, but they're not bad songs. I hear a lot of people talk about how influential this album was on future artists like Tom Petty and R.E.M. My issue with it is that it sounds kind of derivative to me. It often sounds like they're trying to imitate someone else — The Byrds, The Beatles, George Harrison, The Monkees, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, etc. It never really feels like they're a uniquely identifiable band. Even the vocals sound pretty generic. There's nothing that announces that this is Big Star. 3.5/5 — I'd probably listen to it again, but it's not life changing.

This is crazy. Never have i ever heard of this band before. And yet listening to this album was....familiar somehow, beyond the obvious influence echoes. I couldn't put my finger on it. It was like....the *essence* of the 70s, or.maybe the essence of the 70s from a nostalgic point of view. The music doesn't foreground itself, and isn't all that memorable...but it just fits. I said to Jenn as I was listening to this: "this music sounds like the interludes they used to have in "That 70s Show" between scenes when the characters were dancing to some instrumental rock in front of a green screen where psychedelic stuff was projected...." .......and then I heard it: "In the Street" I knew it immediately.... The theme song for "That 70s Show"! 😄 I love it when music burbles to the surface of awareness even though it's always just been there, under the skin all along, echoing though cultural legacies... This is a good pack.of bubblegum cowbell throwback poprock to end my day and week with. (Weirdly too, the first few notes of the first song reminded me of the beginning of Jesus Jones' tune "Right Here, Right Now"!!)

I don’t think I’ve ever listen to this album before. It’s really good… although it does sound like so many other band of that time, they do it really well. No cheesiness. I’m Not bored! But the drums are so treble-ly though… the snare sounds like hitting a stack of wet paper… needs a lot more body… amazing how production styles have evolved over a few decades.

Always heard of this, never listened to it. Have to admit it grew on me over past 24 hours. This quote stuck with though: The problem with coming in late on an artwork lauded as 'influential' is that you've probably encountered the work it influenced first, so its truly innovative qualities are lost. Thus, if you are hearing Big Star's debut album for the first time decades after its release (as, inevitably, most people must), you may be reminded of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers or R.E.M., who came after—that is, if you don't think of The Byrds and The Beatles circa 1965. What was remarkable about #1 Record in 1972 was that nobody except Big Star (and maybe Badfinger and The Raspberries) wanted to sound like this—simple, light pop with sweet harmonies and jangly guitars." I didn’t find the album exciting but it was pleasant and some of the songs were great (but the India song reminded me of Cups and Cakes by spinal Tap). My big nitpick with this album is the production - it felt thin and tinny and I would have loved more warmth.

3.5 It’s nice! Sometimes it sounds like Wings, sometimes it sounds like Paul Williams, it’s got the theme song for That 70s Show and a song about going through puberty! Short and sweet and easy to listen to, doesn’t move me in any major way!

It's an enjoyable listen, but didn't actually find myself connecting with any songs in particular. Kind of just enjoyed the pop 70's rock as a whole. Epitome of a 3/5.

kinda gives early Bowie vibes but with a more folky base. enjoyable listen but nothing crazy good

Don't understand the hype regarding this album. Seems like it's not much different than any other 70s obscure rock album. Critics must have been paid to back this record and that nonsense spread like wildfire. Kind of like Graham Parsons albums are really good😂💩👎🏻. 2.5, 3 is prob too generous, but the mathematician in me is rounding up.

fun and simple, an ode to basic songwriting and simple themes. not many highlights, but not many lowlights either. Soft 3

I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in this one. After reading a handful of reviews on this site, I was hopeful that this would be one of the hitherto undiscovered (for me) amazing albums that I'd really love. Alas, not the case. It's pretty generic 60s/70s pop rock. A couple good songs here and there but nothing to really grab my attention. It is well played, well recorded, well produced, and fun to listen to but I can't see myself going back to it again. 2.5/5

This feels like a wannabe CSNY offering. If that was what the band was aspiring to, they missed the bar by a skosh.

This album brings the mid century rock and roll into the modern era. This is a quintessential 70's album but it makes strides to bring rock and roll into the 80's and beyond despite being released in 1972. The album isn't amazing by any stretch, but its influence on other artists can be seen. It is a decent album to listen to but I could not be bothered to really pay attention due to the slow pace. For an album that short, the pacing should be quicker in my opinion.

Better than the other one, didn't need two from these guys

It was an ok.album

I enjoyed the first half more than the second. Overall pretty enjoyable.

Generally enjoyed this and was glad to discover it. It does seem interesting an innovative for the time, though perhaps doesn't stand so strongly on its own. Reminds me a bit of the Kinks, which I think of as praise.

Jangly guitars and honey-sweet harmonies make this power pop gem shine, even if it doesn't always dazzle.

I mean, yeah its a nice record, with pretty harmonies sometimes, but i don't get the hype behind this album. It's aight

normalin 5/10

Great sound for a first album

early 70s pop/rock, decent effort

Pretty basic

Didn’t give a dedicated listen, liked it in the background though

So so

Started off strong but had a pretty serious St Peter-out toward the end. Extra star to me for recognising the That 70s show theme song but it not being called out on the Wikipedia page.

Some fun tunes. But ultimately indistinct in its sound. Thirteen is a great song. I can't say the rest grabbed me much. I think given its release in 72, this must have been a pretty fresh album at the time.

This is a band that is probably more enjoyed by musicians than casual listeners. They have harmonious ballads that are reminiscent of Beatles music, they have rock music that has been covered by significantly more popular bands and they have tracks that are catchy and fun. All in 40 minutes. That’s a good collection of songs for a relatively now unknown group. Pretty good album. 6.8/10

Pretty good, I’ll have to revisit it for a deeper listen

Out of all records this is definitely one of them. HELLO WISCONSIN (2.5/5)

Big Star maybe, many stars ... No! Basically music I don't give a crap about so no more than 3 stars.

Pretty good. Some nice tunes

I'm aware of the influence this band has had on the alternative/indie music scene but never really fully listened to them. I wasn't expecting it to sound so Glam & Pop-like but the fact it was released in 1972 kinda explains why. It's a very good album with great production & well crafted songs. It definitely deserved more success at the time of it's release. Looking forward to hearing more from this band. 3+ stars.

There's seemingly lots of big fans on here. Either I don't get it, or maybe it's a cultural thing, or perhaps it plays hard into nostalgia for some? For me it's just quite easy-going, generic rock 'n' roll. Heavy emphasis on 'generic'. I mean, it's fine. The first half was better. There's some Led-Zep sounding moments, just without the Led-Zep ooomph. And there's some nice enough ballads that aren't offensive. The second half, slower acoustic stuff, again, is nice enough to listen to, but it's all a bit bland and ponderous. A generous 3 out of 5

Power pop. Ni fu ni fa.

Feels like a great classic rock album, but totally new to me. Great Led Zeppelin vibes.

This had a definite 70s vibe which I didn’t mind at all. 3*

Marginally OK.

I liked the first track but the album soon lost my interest. I love me some 70s dad rock but this was pretty forgettable. I won't be listening to it again.

Als ik de baas was had ik deze band 'The Falcons' genoemd, want ze klinken een beetje als huismerk Eagles. Niet dat dat heel erg is: Liever huismerk Eagles dan A-merk Fiona Apple. De enige track van dit album die ik ken is het 70's Show intro op track 3, waarbij ze overigens ook niet te beroerd waren om de cowbell er even bij te pakken. De rest van de tracks zijn niet slecht, maar wat is het uiteindelijk een, mag ik dat zeggon ja dat mag ik zeggon, oersaai geheel. Ontzettend vergeetbaar. 3 sterren omdat het niet irriteert.

I was not previously familiar with this artist or album before listening. However, I recognized In The Street as being the theme from That 70's Show. The whole album is pretty good, it's pretty straightforward pop/rock. It reminded me a little bit of Badfinger and Cheap Trick. I enjoyed the album, and would listen to it again.

I had heard of Big Star but I don't think I had ever really listened to them -- definitely didn't know they were Tom Petty and the Replacements mixed together! Struggled not giving this one 4, especially with Thirteen and Try Again. I'll go with 3.5 but also put it on my shopping list

jovisst

In the Street

I enjoyed this overall, sort of classic rock, had a bit of an AC/DC sound to them. Nothing really caught my ear so I doubt Ill be seeking out more.

30 seconds in and this is somewhere between Led Zeppelin and Cheap Trick soundwise. Now at track 3, In the Street, I didn't realize this wasn't written by Cheap Trick which is amusing considering my first comment. The India Song was nice, reminded me of the band America. The ballads are kind of dull and there's a few of them.

Simply ok! 3/5

On first listen, I didn't think much. 6 out of 10 tops. Maybe 4 or 5. But on second listen, well, it's still not going to make it past the "7 out of 10" hump where so many good, but not great albums wind up, but "The Ballad of El Goodo" and "Thirteen", in particular, are quite good. It's good, not great, and given the awful initial sales (10,000 copies), it clearly wasn't terribly influential (though I suppose there are some exceptions to cases like that, e.g., the infamous Velvet Underground -- not popular, but very influential. Big Star is no VU.) I know it's random, but I got this recommendation right after a Thin Lizzy recommendation. These both have too much "white boy rock" (e.g., "Dont Lie to Me") for my tastes (and I'm a "white boy".) 3 stars

Overall, just an ok album. It does have the original "That 70s Show" theme on it! Also, the song, "Thirteen" is fantastic. Most of the other songs are like a poor man's Led Zeppelin.

I knew I'd eventually get to an album where my gut reaction was, "I need this on CD, and I need to be stuck in a situation where it's the only CD I have on hand because it's in my Walkman, and then, and only then, would I like it." Unfortunately, those days are long gone, and I somehow missed Big Star back when those days were very real, even though I knew they were important and influential and a point of reference for so many bands. A part of me wants to say this is two records. The first part belongs to Bell, who I don't really see as an "forefather of alternative rock," but rather a fairly mediocre mimic of CCR and other one-hit-wonder rootsy blues-based hard rock groups like Kansas from that era. I don't particularly like that sound, really at all, but I especially don't get this version as an alternative to mainstream rock. I find most of these songs to be filled with too many bells and whistles, and I also find Bell's singing to be annoying. But, then again, sometimes, the Bell songs are very tight and the guitar fucks, and I'm sold. Obviously there's a bit of nostalgia for the That 70s Show theme song "In the Street," an obvious lightbulb moment, sure, but I think my favorite Bell song is "My Life is Right." Then, of course, there's the Chilton songs. Recently, my Spotify has been suggesting "September Gurls" as an autoplay song, and I do like that song, so I'm not surprised that of the two, I like Chilton's songs more. "Thirteen" is obviously a standout, not only for this half of the record, but for the album in general. But at the same time, some of the Chilton songs on this half are wayyy too drab, way too quaint, and felt like Paul McCartney pastiche, and I mean that as an insult. And here's the thing, I want to say it's 2 records from two different solo projects, but I can't. "The India Song" ruins that, not just because it's bad, but because it's by neither of the band leaders. And then the closer is a duel-song of nothingness. But even when I want to make this clear distinction, I can't, because I can hear Bell and Chilton cross-pollinating, especially on Side B. And that cross-pollination? It's not for me, but sometimes, it's almost for me. If I'm generous and say this is a 10-song record, I like more than half of it, and I like 3/5 songs each songwriter brings to the table. But do I *love* them? Ehhhh, not really. I get how this is cool, but I don't find it particularly interesting for its time. On top of that, I can see the seeds of a great band, but they're also not ✨there✨ yet, not just because they're allowing shit like "The India Song" to slide into the track list to appease their poor bassist – they're still learning from each other as collaborative songwriters, and they're not done learning, and it shows. Still, I like enough material here to be intrigued. I wouldn't buy this on vinyl today, but I could imagine revisit it and liking it more. Honestly, the hype may have fucked with my brain chemistry, but while I don't get it, I at least get its allure now, which is enough to justify a relisten once I'm further on with this list.