The Alex Chilton Playlist

I’ve been listening to a lot of the Big Star box set, “Keep An Eye On The Sky” this summer, and I cannot emphasize enough how great it is. I’ve also been listening to some of the Alex Chilton solo work, specifically “Like Flies On Sherbert” and while it’s also great, it shares that distinction for a whole set of entirely different reasons.

The entire Big Star catalog is a masterpiece. A shimmering, towering template of the entire genre of what would later be known as power pop. Songs with hooks to spare, played brilliantly with emphasis on guitar jangle, punchy bass and powerful drums that tie it all together.

“Like Flies On Sherbert” is the exact opposite. This record is Chilton giving the middle finger on both hands to the entire recording process and the music industry, to boot. Similar to what Brian Wilson did when he released “Smiley Smile”, but 100 times more blatant. The album is loaded with false starts, errors and hap hazardous vocals.

It’s unclear how much of the recording of this was accidental or on purpose, but there is no doubt that the mistakes were left in for all to witness. It was a conscious decision by Chilton to have the record sound sloppy. Producer Jim Dickinson goes so far as to say that during the recording of this ragged masterpiece there were times on some songs where “there was nobody in the control room”. Instruments used for the recording were sometimes not fully functional or in some cases broken entirely.

It’s open debate as to why Chilton did this, but he provides some insight here: When sessions began he thought to himself, "’Man these guys don't know the songs...this must sound terrible'. But when I went in the control room and heard what we’d been doing, it was just incredible sounding. Getting involved with Dickinson opened up a new world for me. Before that I'd been into careful layerings of guitars and voices and harmonies and things like that, and Dickinson showed me how to go into the studio and just create a wild mess and make it sound really crazy and anarchic. That was a growth for me."[

If you can get past the records blatant anti-commercial stance, it is at it’s core, a do it yourself tour-de-force with flaws that actually make it sound better. Kind of like a hand-made charm bracelet that makes your wrist turn green. I recommend approaching it in small doses at first, juxtaposed against his more polished Big Star work if possible.

The Big Star Playlist

“The Ballad Of El Goodo”-There’s a lyric bit on the second verse that goes “People round you tell you that they know…The places they have been, and it's easy to go…They'll zip you up and dress you down, and stand you in their role…You know you don't have to…You can just say no” In many ways that’s what “Like Flies On Sherbert” is all about….just saying “no”.

“Thirteen”- The ultimate coming of age ballad. Indestructible in it’s sentiment, delivered it that yearning trademark Chilton warble. Thank God nobody’s ruined this song by using it to sell pimple cream or something.

“When My Baby’s Beside Me” – To me, good rock and roll is supposed to be uplifting. This thing never fails to take me to the outer edge of the stratosphere.

“Daisy Glaze” This was the song that eventually made me realize how great Big Star really were. I had been listening to them for a few months and when I heard this track about the seventh or eighth time, it was a bonafide “holy shit” moment. It plods along at the beginning, providing the perfect contrast and subtext for the power pop payoff.

“You Get What You Deserve”- I’ve read rumors that some of these songs may have been written or co-written by Chris Bell. One of Big Star’s original members, he reportedly left after the first album, but may have anonymously turned up on some of these later efforts. Bell is another dominant figure in the Big Star story and will probably be the subject of a future blog piece. Either way, this on many days is my all time favorite Big Star track. Perfect verse, perfect chorus, followed by a killer power chord bridge. Then a guitar solo takes us back to the verse, but not before three beautifully understated taps of a snare drum.

The “Like Flies On Sherbert” playlist

“Hey! Little Child!” These sloppy double-tracked drums trip over each other at the outset before settling into a rudimentary groove. And what a groove it is.

“Walk Across Texas” You can almost taste the moonshine.

“Boogie Shoes” The piano bit is almost prolific. The guitar parts and vocals are a complete mess. The overall effect is just so damn charming.

“I’ve Had It”-The very essence of what Rock and Roll is supposed be. Three chords, no net. Listen and be amazed as Alex slurs and slithers his way over and around this incredible piece of authentic garage rock. If you’re listening and not on the floor convulsing in laughter, then you’re not alive.