Columbia: Live at Missouri University
Columbia: Live at Missouri University 4/25/93 is a reunion live album by the American power pop group Big Star, recorded and released in 1993 by the original Big Star members Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens together with The Posies' members Jonathan Auer and Ken Stringfellow.[8] It was recorded at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.[9][10]
Columbia: Live at Missouri University | ||||
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Live album by | ||||
Released | September 14, 1993 | |||
Recorded | April 25, 1993[1] | |||
Genre | Power pop | |||
Length | 48:59 | |||
Label | Zoo[2] | |||
Producer | Jim Rondinelli | |||
Big Star chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
Robert Christgau | A-[4] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [5] |
Rolling Stone | [6] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 4/10[7] |
In April 2016, the concert was reissued for Record Store Day as a 2-LP vinyl edition titled Complete Columbia: Live at Missouri University 4/25/93, with an additional six tracks ("O My Soul," "Thirteen," "Kansas City," "Till the End of the Day," and "Duke of Earl," plus "Jody Rap" - Stephens reciting a thank you list to those who made the concert possible).[11] The release, on 180-gram vinyl and pressed at MPO in France, was limited to 4,000 copies.
Critical reception
Rolling Stone wrote: "Without trying to recreate pristine versions of the original songs, the rejuvenated Big Star go for feel: Guitars battle and build to crescendos, impassioned vocals push the melodic hooks with heart, soul and guts."[6] Trouser Press wrote that "the under-rehearsed playing, if hardly airtight, is free of preciousness and nostalgia and vibrantly on the emotional money; the sloppy singing is hearty and tuneful."[9] The Spin Alternative Record Guide dismissed the album, writing that the only song worth hearing is the cover of "Slut."[7]
Track listing
- "In the Street" – 3:10
- "Don't Lie to Me" – 3:22
- "When My Baby's Beside Me" – 3:25
- "I Am the Cosmos" (Chris Bell) – 4:12
- "The Ballad of El Goodo" – 4:28
- "Back of a Car" – 2:53
- "Way Out West" – 2:54
- "Daisy Glaze" – 3:34
- "Baby Strange" (Marc Bolan) – 4:03
- "For You" – 3:04
- "Feel" – 3:34
- "September Gurls" – 2:58
- "Thank You Friends" – 3:19
- "Slut" (Todd Rundgren) – 3:58
Complete Columbia (2016 reissue) track listing
Side A
- "In the Street" – 3:22
- "Don't Lie to Me" – 3:15
- "When My Baby's Beside Me" – 3:25
- "I Am the Cosmos" (Chris Bell) – 4:11
- "O My Soul" – 4:38
Side B
- "The Ballad of El Goodo" – 4:33
- "Back of a Car" – 2:54
- "Way Out West" – 2:48
- "Daisy Glaze" – 3:36
- "Thirteen" – 2:51
Side C
- "Baby Strange" (Marc Bolan) – 4:05
- "Jody Rap" – 0:46
- "For You" – 3:04
- "Feel" – 3:35
- "September Gurls" – 3:00
- "Thank You Friends" – 3:19
Side D
- "Slut" (Todd Rundgren) – 3:58
- "Jeepster" (Marc Bolan) – 5:35
- "Kansas City" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) – 3:05
- "Till the End of the Day" (Ray Davies) – 3:37
- "Duke of Earl" (Chandler, Edwards, Williams) – 3:35
Personnel
- Jon Auer – guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "I Am the Cosmos" and "Back of a Car"
- Alex Chilton – lead vocals, guitar
- Jody Stephens – drums, lead vocals on "Way Out West" and "For You", backing vocals on "Slut"
- Ken Stringfellow – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Daisy Glaze" and "Feel"
Produced, recorded, and mixed by Jim Rondinelli
References
- Wyman, Bill. "Big Star to Reune Soon/Prince Be, Nothingness, and Reality/Important Non-Rock Radio News/Splitsville". Chicago Reader.
- George-Warren, Holly (March 20, 2014). A Man Called Destruction: The Life and Music of Alex Chilton, From Box Tops to Big Star to Backdoor Man. Penguin. ISBN 978-0698151420 – via Google Books.
- "Columbia: Live at Missouri University, 4/25/93 - Big Star | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- "Robert Christgau: Album: Big Star: Columbia: Live at Missouri University 4/25/93". www.robertchristgau.com.
- Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958 – via Google Books.
- George-Warren, Holly; George-Warren, Holly (November 25, 1993). "Columbia: Live At Missouri University".
- Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 40–41.
- Caro, Mark. "BIG STAR REUNION". chicagotribune.com.
- "Big Star". Trouser Press. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- Staff, MAGNET (September 9, 2002). "Power Pop: Big Star, All The Way From Memphis".
- "RSD '16 Special Release: Big Star - Complete Columbia: Live at University of Missouri 4/25/93" – via recordstoreday.com.