Something About Alex Chilton
Rest in peace, Alex Chilton.
I want to acknowlege the passing of one rock music's underappreciated talents, Alex Chilton. He was in his late fifties and died of a heart attack a few days before he was supposed to play with a reunited Big Star at SXSW.
He inspired alot of people and will be missed.
I know him, of course first, as the 16 year old singer of The Box Tops whose recording of 'The Letter' is iconic, selling tons of copies and inspiring Joe Cocker's better known version only a few short years later.
Even though it probably irked Chilton that so many folks still loved this period of his work, go back and listen to The Box Tops Greatest Hits - great stuff to this day.
Then, I know him as the lead singer of Big Star, the inventors of power pop, who inspired the formation of such bands as the Replacements. They even immortalized him in a song call 'Alex Chilton' on which he sings backup. Big Star's second album, 'Radio City,' is described as "brilliant and addictive," by critic Robert Christgau. "Can an album be catchy and twisted?" he asks.
There is also, of course, the theme song from 'That 70s Show' - yep, Chilton wrote and sang that, too. Called 'In the Street' it was featured on Big Star's #1 Record.
So, whether you know him or not, you've heard alot of him for a long, long while.
I have to admit that I never caught up with his solo work. Just never heard it I guess. Not sure if I would have gotten into then, if I had.
But I hope alot of people go back and listen to his records now. I know I plan to...
was at TONDA in nyc (e 4th st btwn A &
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