I was incredibly sad to read this morning about the death of Alex Chilton. He was the creative force behind one of my all-time favourite bands, the indie band’s indie band, Big Star. An anglophilic Memphis power-pop band from the early 70s, they never had much in the way of commercial success, but were immensely influential. This is possibly the first time since George Harrison or Douglas Adams died that I have been this upset by the death of someone I’ve never met.
I listened to Big Star a lot around the turn of the millennium. I played a cover of the Big Star song September Gurls live at open mic nights around Melbourne a few times, in the early days of The International Language Of Mime. This recording is from around that time – early to mid 2002 – recorded direct to MiniDisc in my makeshift bedroom in the band’s North Fitzroy home. Just me and my guitar. It’s not a particularly inspiring cover, but it was a fun song to play. Thank you, friend.
September Gurls (Chilton)
September gurls do so much
I was your butch and you were touched
I loved you, well, never mind
I’ve been crying all the time
December boy’s got it bad
December boy’s got it bad
September gurls, I don’t know why
How can I deny what’s inside
Even though I’ll keep away
Maybe we’ll love all our days
December boy’s got it bad
December boy’s got it bad
When I get to bed, late at night
That’s the time she makes things right
Ooh, when she makes love to me
September gurls do so much
I was your butch and you were touched
I loved you, well, never mind
I’ve been crying all the time
December boy’s got it bad
December boy’s got it bad
December boy’s got it bad
Here, have a bonus track – Big Star covering The Kinks: