Alex Chilton was not just another name
The sad death last week of the voice behind The Box Tops and the legendary Big Star was dismal indeed.
Chilton died of a heart attack age 59. We all know him as the voice behind The Box Tops, with hits like “Soul Deep” and “Cry Like a Baby.” But if you have ever seen “That 70s Show,” you’ve probably heard at least one of Chilton’s songs entitled “In the Street,” modified for the theme for the program. This song was on Big Star’s first album, which had a 1972 release.
Alex Chilton became legendary via Big Star.Three albums combining the influence of The Who, The Byrds and The Beatles. As William Ruhlmann writes “… in 1972 … nobody except Big Star (and maybe Badfinger and the Raspberries) wanted to sound like this.”
It was a format that Chilton followed for the rest of his life.
“In the Street” isn’t organized as the Cheap Trick cover that plays before episodes of “That 70s Show.” Big Star never had a hit single. Chilton’s solo work went deeper towards the chaotic, making it harder to attract newcomers.
It was both glory and chaos that made Chilton an artist of the highest caliber. Chilton could write a beautiful song, and he knew how to write things that would stick in your head, if you could handle listening.
“In The Street” Big Star
Some of Chilton’s stuff is certainly difficult to listen to. But one can always appreciate that he marched to a different drummer. He created as he did because he had no choice. Whenever someone is in a predicament like that, you should check them out.