My Favorite Albums of All Time (Part 9)

 

My Favorite Albums of All Time (Part 9)

Terry Manning's "Home Sweet Home" by Tosh Berman

 

Terry Manning's "Home Sweet Home" by Tosh Berman

Book Musik: "It Came From Memphis" by Robert Gordon. Interview with Robert Gordon

 

Book Musik 038 – It Came from Memphis by Robert Gordon

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Book Musik

Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Robert Gordon to discuss his classic book It Came from Memphis newly revised for its 25th anniversary release. Many have made the convincing case that Memphis is the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll. It is without a doubt a cultural hub on par with New York, Paris, and San Francisco and yet remains somewhat under the radar. Alex Chilton, Jim Dickinson, photographer William Eggleston and bluesman Furry Lewis are just a few of the prominent characters who make the scene in this riveting book. Gordon has a passionate attachment to his city’s history and culture and celebrates those on the edge and those creating the chaos that make life interesting.

Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17

Book Musik · Book Musik 038 – IT CAME FROM MEMPHIS – discussion with author Robert Gordon

January 12, 2021, by Tosh Berman

 

January 12, 2021

Today is Big Star's Chris Bell's birthday. He died at 27, and if alive, he would be 70. When you listen to his recordings, he sounds like a young man who died at 27. By his music, I can't think of him being at 70. His despair feels very young, in that one's emotions are at a peak, and the world is either opening up or closing on you. "Should believe in Jesus, it can do you no harm," from the song "Better Save Yourself," which I think is not really a song to someone, but for himself. It's a sad song, but then again, all of Chris Bell's songs are tragic sounding. Wishful, and with no poison in his soul, he stands the opposite of his one-time bandmate, co-songwriter Alex Chilton.

Similarly, as Lennon (Chilton) and Paul (Chris), the tension between the two artists gives the music and lyrics a pull/push. One can say the same for Brian Jones (non-writer, but iconic in that band) against the Jagger/Richards world. The relationships don't last forever. One tends to overshadow the other, but still, a fascinating relationship within the band's makeup.  

When I close my eyes, I like to imagine that Chris and Alex's portrait as an oil painting by John Singer Sargent. He was a master in capturing the aristocrat personality. There is something very class orientated about the two members of Big Star. Alex, having the experience of being a teenage pop star/musician and coming from bohemian family background, then Chris Bell, who worked in his Dad's restaurant. While watching the documentary, I can sense the difference in their approach to life. Chilton looks fearless, and there are some hesitant overtures from Bell.  I can't express it precisely; this is all that I see in photographs and hearing their music.  I sense a built-up tension in Bell's music. At least on his solo album, his spirituality is not enlightenment but from some form of mental pain. 

Chris doesn't want to be alone, and Alex wants to be alone. Now, both are dead, and I guess they're both alone. At the least in the physical sense. It's that yearning for some new experience, such as love, travel, or an adventure of some sort. I think this is what I find appealing in both Alex and Chris Bell's work. Now, I'm re-discovering Chris's music, and I now understand the moments of weakness, doubt, and the ability to think 'what the hell?' I am not that far from such a world, and I will never embrace religion, but the guitars' ringing is a good exit plan. 

Carmaig de Forest Singer Songwriter on Tea With Tosh

Carmaig de Forest, to me, is a unique singer-songwriter.  For one, his main instrument is the Ukulele,  and the majority of his performances at the time (the 1980s) was just him, voice, and ukulele. The beauty of his work is partly charm, but he is also a very good pop songwriter, with a political stance - but it's not one-dimensional.   The interview here is still fascinating.  He has good points on the craft and art of songwriting.  I love this episode, speaking as the host!  - Tosh Berman.

"A Man Called Destruction: The Life and Music of Alex Chilton" by Holly George-Warren

I have not previously met a person who didn't like something by Alex Chilton.   He's a cult artist by definition, but he is without a doubt a major work who made priceless pieces of treasure throughout his long career in music making.  Why he didn't play the Greek Theater or the Olympia or Albert Hall on a regular basis is not his fault, but it was  the 'general' audience that was asleep at the wheel, or using their extra funds foolishly by buying 'that' other record.  At this point and time, everyone 'now' knows that Big Star are essential recordings as well as his long and complicated solo career.  And of course, The Box Tops, you can't forget that!

The story of Alex is really the story of the South, and the southern aesthetic in how it played to the rest of the world, as well as the influences that touched the region that Chilton came from.   In other words, it's a Cecil DeMille production, but in reality it was directed by Sam Fuller.  Chilton and Big Star are blessed with some exceptional books.   Rob Jovanovic's biography on Big Star and Bruce Eaton's focus on Big Star's Radio City are excellent titles.  So is this biography by Holly George-Warren, which is well-researched and well-rounded view of this unique figure.   "A Man Called Destruction" (a catchy title, but I feel there is nothing tragic or destructive about Alex, compared to.... Chet Baker or ....etc.) covers all the bases and she, like the other writers, has a feel on Alex, his music, and his world.  The thing is Alex is just one character in this fascinating story - the whole creative and boho culture of Memphis is also part of this story.

I always felt that Alex's genius lies in not only in his music, but in his culture as well.   What you get is black American culture, Elvis culture, and William Eggleston culture as well.   It's an insane world, but one that is totally manageable, but it does have its tragic side as well.   I got the feeling from reading this book and the others that he really felt the death of his parents, Chris Bell, and his brothers - he didn't talk about it, but the silence is pretty loud. Excellent biography.

"Big Star: The Story of Rock's Forgotten Band" by Rob Jovanovic

In one word to describe the band Big Star: Iconic.   Like the Velvet Underground, Ziggy Stardust, and the early to mid Kinks, the work is faultless.  Big Star is part of that grouping due that they made music at a specific time in a special city that's Memphis.   To make such perfect noise in the Memphis landscape is quite remarkable.  Does that genius come through the Memphis tap water?  Sun Records, Stax, and then Big Star.

Rob Jovanovic did a great job with respect to research and capturing what makes Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Andy Hummel and Jody Stephens' music so special.   The one sour note, and it is not the author's fault, that he didn't get to speak directly to Chilton, who without a doubt, is probably one of the most interesting figures in contemporary pop music.  Bruce Eaton's  book on Big Star's "Radio City" (part of the 33 1/3 series) is a much better book, due that he had actually had a relationship with Chilton, and Alex was willing to talk to him.  Through that book one finds out he was devoted to Civil War history,and was quite knowledgeable about Memphis and New Orleans history.  Plus he was totally devoted to the world of Zodiac signs - and had a long interesting relationship with the great photographer William Eggleston.

But by no means does that mean one should ignore Jovanovic's book.  Its a very good (and detailed book, especially the early years of The Box Tops) bio on a band that is endlessly fascinating.  So do get this beautifully produced edition (by the great Jaw Bone), as well as Eaton's book on "Radio City" and the masterpiece by Robert Gordon "It Came From Memphis."  The beauty of the Alex Chilton narrative is one gets a bigger picture of Memphis as well as American music.

Also Read:

And:

"1,274" by Tosh Berman (Part 5)

Memphis blues

Big Star footage by Chris Bell and Andy Hummel.


Alex Chilton and Dan Penn Photograph by William Eggleston


Photo by William Eggleston

The God Like Genius of Alex Chilton