#474 Big Star, '#1 Record' (1972)

Previously #434

This album was a major standout for me last time I did the challenge. I wasn’t at all familiar with Big Star’s music, or so I thought... Enter track 3, ‘In The Street.’ Anyone that watched the adventures of Eric Foreman and friends in ‘That ‘70s Show’ would immediately be familiar with this cut; it was the theme song of the show!

The band’s harmonies are in the vein of The Beatles and The Beach Boys, which is no real surprise as songwriters, Chris Bell and Alex Chilton were massively inspired by The Beatles when the band passed through their hometown of Memphis in 1966 (lucky they caught them as that was The Beatles’ last ever tour). Every song on this record could be a single. It’s thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. It’s a shame these guys weren’t bigger. Chris Bell passed away a few years after this release in a car accident at the age of (you guessed it) 27 years old. That is sure to be a trend on this list.

#rs500albums