"Big Star served as a Rosetta Stone for a whole generation of musicians." -- Peter Buck, R.E.M.

4-CD, 98-Song Career Retrospective

Big Star inspired a fevered allegiance among fans of power pop, giving rise to a cult of believers who spent decades spreading the gospel. Their enthusiasm turned this obscure Memphis pop band – one that got little airplay, sold few records, and only played a handful of times – into a remarkable rock and roll resurrection story. Big Star’s trek from obscure Memphis band to standard bearers for an entire genre of music has never been fully mapped – until now.

Keep An Eye On The Sky spans 1968 to 1975 and shows the progression of Big Star through selections from such studio precursors as Rock City and Icewater; music from Big Star’s acclaimed albums (the Ardent/Stax releases #1 Record and Radio City, as well as Third/Sister Lovers); and relevant solo work by group principals Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, who formed Big Star in 1971 with bassist Andy Hummel and drummer Jody Stephens.

The collection mixes classic Big Star tracks with a trove of unreleased demos, unused mixes, alternate versions of songs, and a 1973 concert recorded in Memphis. The lavish packaging includes extensive liner notes, rare and never-before-seen photos from William Eggleston and others, and insightful essays about the cult of Big Star and the band’s history.

TRACK LISTING

-- Disc 1 --

1. Psychedelic Stuff – Chris Bell [Original Mix]*
2. All I See Is You – Icewater
3. Every Day As We Grow Closer – Alex Chilton [Original Mix]
4. Try Again – Rock City [Early Version]*
5. Feel
6. The Ballad Of El Goodo
7. In The Street [Alternate Mix]*
8. Thirteen [Alternate Mix]*
9. Don’t Lie To Me
10. The India Song [Alternate Mix]*
11. When My Baby’s Beside Me [Alternate Mix]*
12. My Life Is Right [Alternate Mix]*
13. Give Me Another Chance [Alternate Mix]*
14. Try Again
15. Gone With The Light *
16. Watch The Sunrise [Single Version]
17. ST 100/6 [Alternate Mix]*
18. The Preacher – Rock City [Excerpt]*
19. In The Street [Alternate Single Mix]
20. Feel [Alternate Mix]*
21. The Ballad Of El Goodo [Alternate Lyrics]*
22. The India Song [Alternate Version]*
23. Country Mourn
24. I Got Kinda Lost [Demo]
25. Back Of A Car [Demo]
26. Motel Blues [Demo]*

-- Disc 2 --

1. There Was A Light [Demo]*
2. Life Is White [Demo]*
3. What’s Going Ahn [Demo]*
4. O My Soul
5. Life Is White
6. Way Out West
7. What’s Going Ahn
8. You Get What You Deserve
9. Mod Lang [Alternate Mix]*
10. Back Of A Car [Alternate Mix]*
11. Daisy Glaze
12. She’s A Mover
13. September Gurls
14. Morpha Too [Alternate Mix]*
15. I’m In Love With A Girl
16. O My Soul [Alternate Version]*
17. She’s A Mover [Alternate Version]
18. Daisy Glaze [Rehearsal Version]*
19. I Am The Cosmos – Chris Bell
20. You And Your Sister – Chris Bell
21. Blue Moon [Demo]*
22. Femme Fatale [Demo]*
23. Thank You Friends [Demo]*
24. Nightime [Demo]*
25. Take Care [Demo]*
26. You Get What You Deserve [Demo]*

 -- Disc 3 --

1. Lovely Day [Demo]
2. Downs [Demo]
3. Jesus Christ [Demo]*
4. Holocaust [Demo]*
5. Big Black Car [Alternate Demo]*
6. Manana *
7. Jesus Christ
8. Femme Fatale
9. O, Dana
10. Kizza Me
11. You Can’t Have Me
12. Nightime
13. Dream Lover
14. Big Black Car
15. Blue Moon
16. Holocaust
17. Stroke It Noel
18. For You
19. Downs
20. Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
21. Kanga Roo
22. Thank You Friends
23. Take Care
24. Lovely Day *
25. Till The End Of The Day [Alternate Mix]*
26. Nature Boy [Alternate Mix]*

-- Disc 4: Live at Lafayette’s Music Room, Memphis, TN * --

1. When My Baby’s Beside Me
2. My Life Is Right
3. She’s A Mover
4. Way Out West
5. The Ballad Of El Goodo
6. In The Street
7. Back Of A Car
8. Thirteen
9. The India Song
10. Try Again
11. Watch The Sunrise
12. Don’t Lie To Me
13. Hot Burrito #2
14. I Got Kinda Lost
15. Baby Strange
16. Slut
17. There Was A Light
18. ST 100/6
19. Come On Now
20. O My Soul

* Previously Unissued, including all of Disc 4.

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