Big Star Releases Big Box Set in September

Memphis, Tennessee has produced some of music’s greatest legends, from Muddy Waters to B.B. King to Isaac Hayes. Oft-overlooked power-pop pioneers, Big Star also hail from Tennessee's other music city, and fans of the band have something new to look forward to. Keep An Eye On The Sky, a complete four-disc boxed set spanning the band’s work from 1968 to 1975, will hit store shelves on Sept. 15.

Although Big Star released only three studio albums, the band laid the groundwork for the power-pop sound that rang through the latter half of the 21st century. Formed by guitarists Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, along with bassist Andy Hummel and drummer Jody Stephens in 1971, Big Star created a model that bands like Cheap Trick, R.E.M., and Weezer drew upon.

The first disc consists of early recordings, laid down before the band officially came together, as well as reworked versions of popular songs from their debut album. The second disc covers the time after Bell’s departure from the band, with unreleased demos and alternate takes largely from their album Radio City.

Disc three of Keep An Eye On The Sky contains seven demos from their third album, and unreleased covers of Nat King Cole and The Kinks, while the fourth disc contains previously unreleased recordings from a Big Star performance in 1973 at Lafayette’s Music Room in Memphis, including “There Was A Light,” “I Got Kinda Lost,” “O My Soul,” and “She’s A Mover.” In addition, the disc contains rare covers from this special concert: The Flying Burrito Brothers’ “Hot Burrito #2,” Todd Rundgren’s “Slut,” T. Rex’s “Baby Strange,” and The Kinks’ “Come On Now.”

In addition, the collection contains in-depth liner notes, photos and essays about the band’s history. Rhino will release Keep An Eye On The Sky Sept. 15 at a list price of $69.98, one day after Chris Bell’s solo album I Am The Cosmos is re-released from Rhino Handmade.

Tracklist:

Disc 1
1. Chris Bell: "Psychedelic Stuff"
2. Icewater: "All I See Is You"
3. Alex Chilton: "Every Day as We Grow Closer" (Original Mix)
4. Rock City: "Try Again" (Early Version)
5. Rock City: "The Preacher"
6. Feel
7. The Ballad of El Goodo (Alternate Mix) *
8. In the Street
9. Thirteen (Alternate Mix) *
10. The India Song
11. When My Baby's Beside Me (Alternate Mix) *
12. My Life Is Right (Alternate Mix) *
13. Give Me Another Chance (Alternate Mix) *
14. Try Again
15. Chris Bell: "Gone With the Light" *
16. Watch the Sunrise
17. ST 100/6 (Alternate Mix) *
18. In the Street (Second Recorded Version)
19. Feel (Early Mix) *
20. The Ballad of El Goodo (Alternate Lyrics)
21. The India Song (Alternate Version) *
22. Country Morn
23. I Got Kinda Lost (Demo)
24. Motel Blues (Demo) *

Disc 2
1. There Was a Light (Demo) *
2. Life Is White (Demo) *
3. What's Going Ahn (Demo) *
4. O My Soul
5. Life Is White
6. Way Out West (Alternate Mix) *
7. What's Going Ahn
8. You Get What You Deserve (Alternate Mix) *
9. Mod Lang (Alternate Mix)
10. Back of a Car (Alternate Mix) *
11. Daisy Glaze
12. She's A Mover
13. September Gurls
14. Morpha Too (Alternate Mix) *
15. I'm in Love With a Girl
16. O My Soul (Alternate Version) *
17. Back of a Car (Demo)
18. Daisy Glaze (Alternate Take) *
19. She's a Mover (Alternate Version)
20. Chris Bell: "I Am the Cosmos"
21. Chris Bell: "You and Your Sister"
22. Alex Chilton: "Blue Moon" (Demo) *
23. Alex Chilton: "Femme Fatale" (Demo) *
24. Alex Chilton: Thank You Friends" (Demo) *
25. Alex Chilton: "You Get What You Deserve" (Demo) *

Disc 3
1. Alex Chilton: "Lovely Day (aka Stroke It Noel)" (Demo)
2. Alex Chilton: "Downs" (Demo)
3. Alex Chilton: "Nightime" (Demo) *
4. Alex Chilton: "Jesus Christ" (Demo) *
5. Alex Chilton: "Holocaust" (Demo) *
6. Alex Chilton: "Take Care" (Demo) *
7. Alex Chilton: "Big Black Car" (Alternate Demo) *
8. Manana *
9. Jesus Christ
10. Femme Fatale
11. O, Dana
12. Kizza Me
14. You Can't Have Me
15. Nightime
16. Dream Lover
17. Blue Moon
18. Take Care
19. Stroke It Noel
20. For You
21. Downs
22. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
23. Big Black Car
24. Holocaust
25. Kanga Roo
26. Thank You Friends
27. Till The End of the Day
28. Lovely Day *
29. Nature Boy

Disc 4 (Live at Lafayette's Music Room, Memphis, Tenn.)
1. When My Baby's Beside Me *
2. My Life Is Right *
3. She's a Mover *
4. Way Out West *
5. The Ballad of El Goodo *
6. In the Street *
7. Back of a Car *
8. Thirteen *
9. The India Song *
10. Try Again *
11. Watch the Sunrise *
12. Don't Lie to Me *
13. Hot Burrito #2 *
14. I Got Kinda Lost *
15. Baby Strange *
16. Slut *
17. There Was a Light *
18. ST 100/6 *
19. Come On Now *
20. O My Soul *

* previously unreleased

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