Big Star film documentary, soundtrack due soon
With the theatrical release of a documentary feature on indie-rock cult group Big Star looming for July 3, the 22-track soundtrack album will be released a week earlier on June 25 with previously unissued versions of the group’s cornerstone songs.
The “Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me” soundtrack, to be issued on a single CD and double LP, will consist of demos, alternate takes and remixes created for the film, which was an official selection at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival and winner of best documentary at last year’s Indie Memphis festival.
The film traces the story of the Memphis-based band formed by lead singer and songwriter Alex Chilton, who became a rock star at 16 fronting the Box Tops, which charted hits including “The Letter” and “Cry Like a Baby” in the late-’60s.
Big Star, which also included Memphis singer and songwriter Chris Bell, was a critical favorite in the early-’70s and has been cited as in important influence by subsequent generations of indie rockers including the Replacements, R.E.M., Beck, the Flaming Lips, Wilco, Belle & Sebastian and Jeff Buckley.
A statement issued by Omnivore Recordings describes the album as “an audio version of the documentary.” Most of the songs originally appeared on the group’s three studio albums, “#1,” “Radio City” and “Third.”
A special vinyl edition of the soundtrack released recently for national Record Store Day sold out quickly, an Omnivore representative said.
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Follow Randy Lewis on Twitter: @RandyLewis2
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