I never thought of myself as being a good songwriter. There are a ton of other people that are good songwriters, but I don’t think I’m in the club. What I do well is perform, sometimes sing pretty good, and accompany myself well and arrange fairly well.
~Alex ChiltonIf you’re writing anything decent, it’s in you, it’s your spirit coming out. If it’s not an expression of how a person genuinely feels, then it’s not a good song done with any conviction.
~Alex Chilton
The Box Tops – The Letter (Upbeat 1967):
From Wikipedia:
| Birth name | William Alexander Chilton |
|---|---|
| Born | December 28, 1950 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | March 17, 2010 (aged 59) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock ‘n’ roll, power pop, proto-punk, hard rock,blue-eyed soul, indie rock |
| Occupations | Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1966–2010 |
| Associated acts | Box Tops, Big Star, Tav Falco’s Panther Burns |
A young Alex Chilton w/ Dan Penn:
William Alexander “Alex” Chilton (December 28, 1950 – March 17, 2010) was an American songwriter, guitarist, singerand producer, best known as the lead singer of the Box Tops and Big Star. Chilton’s early commercial success in the 1960s as a teen vocalist for the Box Tops was not repeated in later years with Big Star and in his indie music solo career on small labels, but he drew a loyal following in the indie and alternative music fields and is often cited as an influence by many mainstream rock artists and bands.
Big Star – Thirteen (1972):
Box Tops – I Shall Be Released (Bob Dylan Cover):
Album of the day:
Big Star – #1 Record (1972):
…. Big Star’s debut album for the first time decades after its release (as, inevitably, most people must), you may be reminded of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers or R.E.M., who came after — that is, if you don’t think of the Byrds and the Beatles, circa 1965. What was remarkable about #1 Record in 1972 was that nobody except Big Star (and maybe Badfinger and the Raspberries) wanted to sound like this — simple, light pop with sweet harmonies and jangly guitars. Since then, dozens of bands have rediscovered those pleasures. But in a way, that’s an advantage because, whatever freshness is lost across the years, Big Star’s craft is only confirmed. ….
~William Ruhlmann (allmusic.com)
Other December 28:
Continue reading Today: The late Alex Chilton was born in 1950 – 62 years ago