Big Star- Keep an Eye on the Sky

Big Star is a cult band – perhaps the original cult band. The bands they influenced include R.E.M., The Replacements, Mitch Easter, The dBs, and countless others. They have gained in stature over time. They are the original indie-rock band.

Big Star’s Keep an Eye on the Sky is a four-CD, 98-song career retrospective box set featuring unreleased tracks, demos, alternate takes, and live performances. It also includes material from founder member Chris Bell’s pre-Big Star bands, Rock City and Icewater. It includes all titles (in many cases as alternate mixes or demos) from Big Star’s three studio albums.

In addition to the music, there is an excellent mini coffee table book with three essays and photos.

My “introduction” to Big Star was the 1986 The Replacements song “Alex Chilton” from Pleased To Meet Me. I had no idea who he was until I started reading the Pleased To Meet Me reviews and PR. Based on Paul Westerberg’s infatuation with Chilton, I picked up Chilton’s 1987 solo album, High Priest. Unfortunately, High Priest sucks. At about the same time, I got a copy of Big Star’s Third/Sister Lovers, which baffled me (I eventually learned to appreciate it). I assumed Paul Westerberg was hearing something I was not.

It wasn’t until 1992, when a two-for-one CD of the first two Big Star albums (#1 Record and Radio City) was released, that I got Big Star’s music – I immediately understood the hype. It was Beatlesque but with an American twist. All the songs were good to great. This would be my recommended introduction to Big Star.

By 2009, when Keep an Eye on the Sky came out, I was hip to Big Star. For some reason, I did not listen to it extensively. Now that CDs are part of the Desert 🌵 Sessions and I am retired, I am seriously exploring the box set. It was pretty random that I grabbed Keep an Eye on the Sky to bring to the Desert 🌵 Sessions. I am glad I did!

The first three CDs are chronological and follow the arc of their three studio albums, and the fourth CD is a live show. Disc One includes pre-Big Star material and the songs from their debut. Disc Two includes songs from their second album and some Chris Bell solo material. Disc Three includes songs from their third album and covers.

Disc Four is a live set at Lafayette’s Music Room in Memphis, TN (January 1973), shortly after the release of Radio City. It is a solid performance by the band (now a three-piece as Chris Bell had departed the band). Sonically, it sounds great—especially given that it was miked in the audience rather than a board recording. It’s a mix of Big Star originals and covers. It is a remarkable artifact that made its first appearance on this box set.

Keep an Eye on the Sky is a grad school course in one of the most influential bands in rock history. Highly recommended.