2000 Great Songs #1493: Alex Chilton

I'd been turned on to Big Star by my college station friends a couple years before The Replacements released 1987's Pleased To Meet Me, but "Alex Chilton," their rollicking, infectious ode to the tragically overlooked 70s band and its inscrutable frontman Alex Chilton certainly solidified his status as an unheralded rock legend. And while the Replacements didn't have quite enough mainstream cache to trigger a commercial revival, I have to think Paul Westerberg's bold pronouncement that "I never travel far without a little Big Star" was a contributing factor in the decision by Chilton--who had completely ignored the Big Star catalog (and the power pop genre it had a large role in inspiring) throughout his unpredictable solo career--to join up with original drummer Jody Stephens and a few members of the Posies a few years later and take those classic songs on tour. Though whatever credit the Mats deserve for helping revive Big Star is separate and apart from the fact that "Alex Chilton" is just a kick-ass riff-driven rock & roll song on its own merits.

Live:

Paul Westerberg solo 2002:

Kisschasy acoustic cover:

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