the.com/big star
the band that lost commercially in 1972 and won permanently by 1995.
means a memphis power-pop band whose gorgeous, melancholic records flopped on release but became the blueprint for a generation of guitar bands.
from named ironically after a memphis grocery store chain, formed in 1971 by alex chilton and chris bell, who wanted the beatles' melody with the who's crunch.
distribution disasterstax records could not get albums into stores
chilton pedigreealready a teen star with the box tops
bell leftquit after album one, died in car crash 1978
posthumous famer.e.m. and replacements worshipped them decades later
for instance
number one record — 1972 debut, critically adored, commercially invisible
radio city — 1974 album with september gurls, later covered endlessly
third sister lovers — 1978 breakdown album, chilton unraveling on tape
the replacements alex chilton — 1987 song literally named after their singer