More than 40 years after their initial breakup, Big Star's legacy continues to shine. Following its initial, limited release in the mid-'70s, the cult rock'n'roll band's bizarre and beautiful Third is being brought out as a greatly expanded box set featuring 29 previously unreleased tracks.
A three-CD package called Complete Third comes out October 14 via Omnivore Recordings, while a vinyl release is expected sometime in the future. The collection comprises the previously issued album, as well as various demos, mixes and alternate versions tracked at Memphis's Ardent Studios in 1974. All told, it offers up 69 songs in total, with 29 of these having never before been released.
As the name would imply, Third was the troubled third full-length release from Big Star. The record was made following the departure of founding members Chris Bell and Andy Hummel, with guitarist/vocalist Alex Chilton and drummer Jody Stephens choosing to work with a group of sessions musicians for the release.
Initially released in a run of promo copies in 1975, it would see release as 3rd via PVC in 1978. It was later pressed up in various guises over the years as The Third Album, Big Star's 3rd: Sisters Lovers and Third/Sisters Lovers.
To tease the forthcoming box, a stream has been uploaded for a demo version of album standout "Kanga Roo." Titled "Like St. Joan (Kanga Roo)," you'll find it below, along with the tracklisting info for Complete Third, courtesy of Brooklyn Vegan.
Complete Third:
Disc one:
1. Like St. Joan (Kanga Roo) * (Demo)
2. Lovely Day (Demo)
3. Downs (Demo)
4. Femme Fatale (Demo)
5. Thank You Friends (Demo)
6. Holocaust (Demo)
7. Jesus Christ (Demo)
8. Blue Moon (Demo)
9. Nightime (Demo)
10. Take Care (Demo)
11. Big Black Car (Demo #2/Acoustic Take 1)
12. Don't Worry Baby
13. I'm In Love With A Girl *
14. Big Black Car (Demo #3/Acoustic Take 2)
15. I'm So Tired * – Alex & Lesa
16. That's All It Took * – Alex & Lesa
17. Pre-Downs *
18. Baby Strange *
19. Big Black Car (Demo #1/Band)
20. Kizza Me * (Dickinson Rough Mix/Alex Guide Vocal)
21. Till the End Of the Day * (Dickinson Rough Mix/Alex Guide Vocal, Kept As Final Vocal)
22. Thank You Friends * (Dickinson Rough Mix/Alex Guide Vocal)
23. O, Dana * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
24. Dream Lover * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
Disc two:
1. Big Black Car * (Dickinson Rough Mix/Alex Guide Vocal)
2. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
3. Take Care * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
4. Holocaust * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
5. Nightime * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
6. Thank You Friends * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
7. Nature Boy * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
8. After Hours * – Lesa
9. Stroke It Noel (Backwards Intro)
10. Lovely Day * (Fry Rough Mix)
11. Nightime * (Fry Rough Mix)
12. Blue Moon * (Fry Rough Mix)
13. Till The End Of The Day (Alternate Mix #1)
14. Big Black Car (Fry Rough Mix)
15. Holocaust (Fry Alternate/Rough Mix)
16. Downs * (Fry Rough Mix)
17. Kanga Roo (Fry Rough Mix)
18. Femme Fatale * (Fry Rough Mix)
19. For You * (Alternate Version/Alex Vocal)
20. Thank You Friends * (Fry Rough Mix)
21. Take Care * (Alternate Version/Alex Vocal)
22. Kizza Me * (Fry Rough Mix)
23. Till the End Of the Day (FRY Rough Mix #2) – Lesa
24. Nature Boy (Fry Rough Mix)
25. Mañana
Disc three:
1. Stroke It Noel
2. Downs
3. Femme Fatale
4. Thank You Friends
5. Holocaust
6. Jesus Christ
7. Blue Moon
8. Kizza Me
9. For You
10. O, Dana
11. Nightime
12. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
13. Kanga Roo
14. Take Care
15. Big Black Car
16. Dream Lover
17. You Can't Have Me
18. Till the End Of the Day
19. Lovely Day
20. Nature Boy
* previously unreleased
A three-CD package called Complete Third comes out October 14 via Omnivore Recordings, while a vinyl release is expected sometime in the future. The collection comprises the previously issued album, as well as various demos, mixes and alternate versions tracked at Memphis's Ardent Studios in 1974. All told, it offers up 69 songs in total, with 29 of these having never before been released.
As the name would imply, Third was the troubled third full-length release from Big Star. The record was made following the departure of founding members Chris Bell and Andy Hummel, with guitarist/vocalist Alex Chilton and drummer Jody Stephens choosing to work with a group of sessions musicians for the release.
Initially released in a run of promo copies in 1975, it would see release as 3rd via PVC in 1978. It was later pressed up in various guises over the years as The Third Album, Big Star's 3rd: Sisters Lovers and Third/Sisters Lovers.
To tease the forthcoming box, a stream has been uploaded for a demo version of album standout "Kanga Roo." Titled "Like St. Joan (Kanga Roo)," you'll find it below, along with the tracklisting info for Complete Third, courtesy of Brooklyn Vegan.
Complete Third:
Disc one:
1. Like St. Joan (Kanga Roo) * (Demo)
2. Lovely Day (Demo)
3. Downs (Demo)
4. Femme Fatale (Demo)
5. Thank You Friends (Demo)
6. Holocaust (Demo)
7. Jesus Christ (Demo)
8. Blue Moon (Demo)
9. Nightime (Demo)
10. Take Care (Demo)
11. Big Black Car (Demo #2/Acoustic Take 1)
12. Don't Worry Baby
13. I'm In Love With A Girl *
14. Big Black Car (Demo #3/Acoustic Take 2)
15. I'm So Tired * – Alex & Lesa
16. That's All It Took * – Alex & Lesa
17. Pre-Downs *
18. Baby Strange *
19. Big Black Car (Demo #1/Band)
20. Kizza Me * (Dickinson Rough Mix/Alex Guide Vocal)
21. Till the End Of the Day * (Dickinson Rough Mix/Alex Guide Vocal, Kept As Final Vocal)
22. Thank You Friends * (Dickinson Rough Mix/Alex Guide Vocal)
23. O, Dana * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
24. Dream Lover * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
Disc two:
1. Big Black Car * (Dickinson Rough Mix/Alex Guide Vocal)
2. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
3. Take Care * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
4. Holocaust * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
5. Nightime * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
6. Thank You Friends * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
7. Nature Boy * (Dickinson Rough Mix)
8. After Hours * – Lesa
9. Stroke It Noel (Backwards Intro)
10. Lovely Day * (Fry Rough Mix)
11. Nightime * (Fry Rough Mix)
12. Blue Moon * (Fry Rough Mix)
13. Till The End Of The Day (Alternate Mix #1)
14. Big Black Car (Fry Rough Mix)
15. Holocaust (Fry Alternate/Rough Mix)
16. Downs * (Fry Rough Mix)
17. Kanga Roo (Fry Rough Mix)
18. Femme Fatale * (Fry Rough Mix)
19. For You * (Alternate Version/Alex Vocal)
20. Thank You Friends * (Fry Rough Mix)
21. Take Care * (Alternate Version/Alex Vocal)
22. Kizza Me * (Fry Rough Mix)
23. Till the End Of the Day (FRY Rough Mix #2) – Lesa
24. Nature Boy (Fry Rough Mix)
25. Mañana
Disc three:
1. Stroke It Noel
2. Downs
3. Femme Fatale
4. Thank You Friends
5. Holocaust
6. Jesus Christ
7. Blue Moon
8. Kizza Me
9. For You
10. O, Dana
11. Nightime
12. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
13. Kanga Roo
14. Take Care
15. Big Black Car
16. Dream Lover
17. You Can't Have Me
18. Till the End Of the Day
19. Lovely Day
20. Nature Boy
* previously unreleased