By Marcelo Costa - Alex with Big Star at Hyde Park

Now this is interesting and I only just spotted this but Aquarium Drunkard have posted a lovely and fascinating article on Alex Chilton. Now in terms of singles bought when they came (a current thread for posting music I have used for the past year or so) I bought the Box Tops' 'The Letter' when it came out and we adored it and played it to death. I was still at school but it was never off the youth club turntable for an age. I loved the blue eyed soul sound and Alex's voice belied his callow years.

 To know that he went on to become an enigma and the brains behind Big Star (alongside the tragic Chris Bell whose band it had been, killed in a car accident at 27 - yes, that age again 27 ) came to us Brits really slowly, we had thought the Box Tops a one hit wonder but this article shows a searchlight onto Chilton's ambitions, his tastes and his breadth of interest from the blue eyed soul of pop, to the later indie band retro sound beloved of REM and others, to an abiding interest and a serious one in jazz standards. Check it out here . . . . . 

Frame For The Blues: The Powerful Ease of Alex Chilton - Aquarium Drunkard

Big Star

The source . . . . . . 


more interesting stuff about the Big Star guitarist and guy who invited Alex to join his band [Chris Bell] here
Chris Bell -Big Star - Gay Cultureland

ALEX CHILTON

Born on this day: December 28, 1950 - Box Tops and Big Star lead singer Alex Chilton (born William Alexander Chilton in Memphis, TN). Happy Birthday to this pop and indie rock icon on what would have been his 68th Birthday.
thanks to Jeff Harris' blog Behind the Grooves

You know it . . . . .when it came out! still have it!
Classic single . . . . . . 

Alex and Big Star Hyde Park July 2009

Alex passed away from a heart attack in New Orleans in 2010 he was 59