And, of course, the handclaps!👏Great peek under the vinyl on a classic! I appreciated the quotes, from Chilton, as well as Holly and Jody's, whose drumming has always been a favorite part of the song for me, especially that slow machine-gun riff following the bridge!
From ground-level, and hearing and owning the album and single upon release (I was 19), it's interesting to remember the ground-swell of print this got, but really only from the mags you'd expect: PRM, Creem, Stereo Review, Crawdaddy, BOMP, and some others, but like mainstream radio, it only seemed to register but a blip from mainstays like Rolling Stone. I'm sure they reviewed it, but extra print in the form of articles, interviews, and analysis seemed limited to the "usual roots-planted" periodicals we'd expect.
I'm right with you on this song, which hits me in the heart every time. I didn't hear it until I was in my 30's, and I never get tired of it. The apotheosis of power pop. I wish I could have seen Big Star before Alex died.
That was a fun read. For some reason, it reminded me of a story from my days as a newspaper editor. At the time, I was an AP style hound and got into an argument with an English major who was one of my reporters over the use of the serial comma. The argument — we truly did not like each other — became heated and prompted the publisher of this small-town North Carolina newspaper to pose the question: "Really, do you think our readers give two shits about the serial comma."
For once, the reporter and I agreed as we said in unison: "They should."
I somehow always knew there was an apostrophe there. Only now am I realizing I had no concrete reason for that.
I also thought it was based on the college-student dynamic, except the December boy was a young man who (like me) grew up in a college town and annually swooned over some fraction of the students.
I was just reminded at the grocery store of another punctuation moment: Just before the bass break in “Boogie Oogie Oogie,” it sounds like Janice-Marie Johnson is saying “Listen to my bass man,” as if she’s introducing the bass player. In fact, she’s saying “Listen to my bass, man,” because she’s playing it herself.
For a long time Don't Lie To Me was my go-to, because I could follow it up with New York Dolls—Chatterbox, and as I was deejaying a lot I just got locked into it, and Record #1. But late one night, my roommate at the time and I were winding down after playing together, and he threw on September Gurls and my brain did a double-take, as if I'd never heard Big Star before. It's weird how a song will hit you at the right time and rearrange what you thought. So, Radio City started popping up in my crate more and more. I do find it funny that over time, I went from Big Star's first & Dolls second albums to playing vice versa at our record nights.
You may want to book yourself a pilgrimage to Memphis. The entire record collection of John King, who co-founded Ardent with Fred Smith and organized the 1973 writer’s convention that showcased Big Star (and convinced them to record a second album), is at the Memphis Listening Lab. They have an EP that Chilton self released in 1986 with an alternative version of September Gurls.
Til this day I wonder if Alex had any insights on Stones' Paint it black because of this line in Thirteen: Tell him what we said about Paint It Black. I even asked that for Jody when I interviewed him about Thos Pretty Wrongs
And, of course, the handclaps!👏Great peek under the vinyl on a classic! I appreciated the quotes, from Chilton, as well as Holly and Jody's, whose drumming has always been a favorite part of the song for me, especially that slow machine-gun riff following the bridge!
From ground-level, and hearing and owning the album and single upon release (I was 19), it's interesting to remember the ground-swell of print this got, but really only from the mags you'd expect: PRM, Creem, Stereo Review, Crawdaddy, BOMP, and some others, but like mainstream radio, it only seemed to register but a blip from mainstays like Rolling Stone. I'm sure they reviewed it, but extra print in the form of articles, interviews, and analysis seemed limited to the "usual roots-planted" periodicals we'd expect.
Thanks, man! Jody is def one of my fav drummers of all time. I don't feel he gets nearly the respect he deserves.
I'm right with you on this song, which hits me in the heart every time. I didn't hear it until I was in my 30's, and I never get tired of it. The apotheosis of power pop. I wish I could have seen Big Star before Alex died.
It's a stunner! "Hits me in the heart every time..." is spot on. Thanks for checking it out, and for the note.
That was a fun read. For some reason, it reminded me of a story from my days as a newspaper editor. At the time, I was an AP style hound and got into an argument with an English major who was one of my reporters over the use of the serial comma. The argument — we truly did not like each other — became heated and prompted the publisher of this small-town North Carolina newspaper to pose the question: "Really, do you think our readers give two shits about the serial comma."
For once, the reporter and I agreed as we said in unison: "They should."
Thanks! I was a journalist for a while too, so I'm familiar with these heated punctuation debates. Also, FWIW... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_i1xk07o4g
I’ve seen that one before!
For sure. They were ubiquitous for a little while there.
I somehow always knew there was an apostrophe there. Only now am I realizing I had no concrete reason for that.
I also thought it was based on the college-student dynamic, except the December boy was a young man who (like me) grew up in a college town and annually swooned over some fraction of the students.
The apostrophe does seem at least implied! I'm also hearing quite a few people mentioning the college student dynamic.
I was just reminded at the grocery store of another punctuation moment: Just before the bass break in “Boogie Oogie Oogie,” it sounds like Janice-Marie Johnson is saying “Listen to my bass man,” as if she’s introducing the bass player. In fact, she’s saying “Listen to my bass, man,” because she’s playing it herself.
Different without the comma...
For a long time Don't Lie To Me was my go-to, because I could follow it up with New York Dolls—Chatterbox, and as I was deejaying a lot I just got locked into it, and Record #1. But late one night, my roommate at the time and I were winding down after playing together, and he threw on September Gurls and my brain did a double-take, as if I'd never heard Big Star before. It's weird how a song will hit you at the right time and rearrange what you thought. So, Radio City started popping up in my crate more and more. I do find it funny that over time, I went from Big Star's first & Dolls second albums to playing vice versa at our record nights.
Both amazing bands, for sure. Crazy to think that all that music is 50 years old at this point. But "September Gurls" in particular seems timeless.
I think about this with Flaming Groovies a lot—how ahead of the curve they were, by being also kind of behind it.
That's the secret power of power pop/power pop-adjacent artists! Nostalgia in action.
You may want to book yourself a pilgrimage to Memphis. The entire record collection of John King, who co-founded Ardent with Fred Smith and organized the 1973 writer’s convention that showcased Big Star (and convinced them to record a second album), is at the Memphis Listening Lab. They have an EP that Chilton self released in 1986 with an alternative version of September Gurls.
https://memphislisteninglab.org
That's a trip I definitely want to take.
I've been known to put "September Gurls" on repeat in the car and drive all day with just that song.
That sounds like a pretty good road trip to me.
Perfectly manifesting the "it ain't the destination, it's the journey" ethos, Sherman......nice!
This was lovely to read, and it was great to see someone so concisely articulate the evolving relationship we have with our favorite songs. Thank you!
Thanks! It was a fun one to write. Really glad you enjoyed it.
Til this day I wonder if Alex had any insights on Stones' Paint it black because of this line in Thirteen: Tell him what we said about Paint It Black. I even asked that for Jody when I interviewed him about Thos Pretty Wrongs
I'm sure he had opinions!