Big Black Car

Well, FUCK. Yet another thing to be sad about. Alex Chilton dies of a heart attack at the age of 59. Right before an anticipated appearance at SXSW. There is something tragic in almost everything connected to the man. He released a clutch of absolutely brilliant albums in the 70s and was ignored. You feel him falling apart on the brilliant "Third/Sister Lovers" album. He became a cult hero, and has obviously become part of the pantheon of Things Most Hip.


It is certain that his music is going to be around as long as there are sentient creatures to enjoy it, particularly his Radio City album. When I get money, I'll buy the Rhino boxset "Keep an Eye on the Sky."


This is the only "celebrity" death that has brought tears to my eyes that I can ever recall. It's hard to think of an entertainer that has meant more to me in a personal way.

Beware The Need For Help

Drastically different from #1 Record or Big Star, though those are also excellent. This is a moody, intermittently suicidal record filled with lovely angst.

The CD version of this comes with several bonus tracks; I removed them because they wreck the mood. I have mixed feelings about bonus tracks in general, for this reason. Why add random miscellany to the end of a cohesive album?

I originally heard this as an album I borrowed from a friend-of-my-girlfriend back in 1995 or so, along with Dylan's John Wesley Harding. In exchange I loaned out my Syd Barrett albums and a Nick Drake CD. Eventually I returned the items I borrowed, but I never got mine back. Oh well.

I once had a dream about 'Big Black Car', in which I was floating silently through a night city in a black limo, on my way towards Death. I was very worried for several days afterward, but at least I would have died with a good song stuck in my head.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/zemrngxztkr/Big Star- Third-Sister Lovers.zip