Across the landscape of pop music, there have been certain artists whose influence far outpaced their popularity. There\u2019s an old saying that while, for example, the Velvet Underground didn\u2019t sell a lot of records in their day, many who bought those LPs were inspired to form bands of their own. Memphis-based Big Star is another group to which that idea applies.<\/p>\n
While neither of the albums they released during their short time together in the \u201870s found its way onto the charts, their brand of proto-power pop made an indelible impression on those lucky enough to hear them. The music of Teenage Fanclub, R.E.M., Game Theory and the Posies all owe a debt to the band featuring Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel. Big Star\u2019s second album, the sublime Radio City<\/em> was released 50 years ago this month. Here are five songs that hint at the greatness of the influential band from Memphis, Tennessee.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the Street\u201d from #1 Record<\/em> (1972)<\/strong>
\nCo-written by Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, this brilliant rocker distills all of the energy and joy of being young into less than four minutes. There\u2019s nary a weak track on Big Star\u2019s debut album; it\u2019s so consistently strong. In fact, that \u201cIn the Street\u201d would be relegated to the b-side of one of the three (non-charting) singles released from the LP. The tune found a new life 26 years later when it was used as the opening theme for That \u201870s Show<\/em>, in a new version recorded by Cheap Trick.<\/p>\n