If you want great power pop pick up a Big Star album…take your pick between their three original albums.
This song was on Radio City released in 1974…their second album and follow up to their debut…Big Star #1 Record. Although Chris Bell had quit the band after the release of #1 Record…Andy Hummel (bass player) stated that Chris Bell came back and helped with this song and O My Soul but received no credit.
Back of a Car slowly builds into a great song. The album got some better reviews than the first but Stax again could not distribute their album…so only around 20,000 copies were sold at the time.
Alex Chilton laid down great guitar for this song. Jody Stephens’ drums fills through the song are busy but adds to the over all sound.
Back Of A Car
Sitting in the back of a car
Music so loud can’t tell a thing
Thinking ’bout what to say
I can’t find the lines
You know I love you a lot
I just don’t know, should I not?
Waiting for a brighter day
I can’t find a way
I’ll go on and on with you
Like to fall and lie with you
I love you, too
Wo wo wo
Baby, I’m too afraid
I just don’t know if it’s okay
Trying to get away
From everything
Why don’t you take me home
It’s gone too far inside this car
I know I’ll feel a whole lot more
When I get alone
I’ll go on and on with you
Like to fall and lie with you
I love you, too
Wo wo wo
Sitting in the back of a car
Music so loud can’t tell a thing
Thinking ’bout what to say
I can’t find the lines
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The mix is horrible. The vocals are buried.
It’s the same as In The Street and September Gurls…I’ve always liked it
No, I just listened to September Gurls. The vocals are not as buried.
Ok… they never had the vocals up front with Big Star…maybe this is the reason I hate modern mixes when you can hear the singer breathe and the drums are way too loud. It’s a preference.
Listen to a song called It Won’t Take Long (Remastered) by the Stones… it’s not a bad song but the mix ruins it for me… the drums sound like they are in my head…micks voice is way too loud
I don’t want vocals way too loud but you can hear at all what they are singing. AC/DC’s album Fly On The Wall they buried Brian Johnson’s vocals. It was horrible.
Sorry, That supposed to be can’t not can.
Vocals are definitely buried! But for me it kind of evokes ‘live’….I dig the mix. Great track!
I like the guitar a lot but Freefallin might have a point- at least on my very mediocre computer speakers, the treble and guitar really rolls over everything else on that video… would like to hear it on a different player and maybe from a different source than YT. Basic sound of song is very good…
I listen to it through headphones and it sounds great. I guess it’s just the way I like mixes…I things more equal and the voice and drums not booming like on modern mixes
I will try it on headphones and see if it sounds better.
I have the cd of Radio City
It’s better on headphones but they could’ve punched those vocals up a tad bit.
Fair enough…there is a line I guess I don’t like mixes to cross…and I would rather have lower than too high.
I was wondering what he was talking about. I had on headphones and the voice isn’t buried. It was clear as a bell and balanced to me.
Yeah I could hear it fine also. I don’t like modern mixes with the voice is so loud you can hear the person breathe. I don’t like where the voice dominates the song and the drums.
I agree. Most music, today, focuses on the singer…hence all these stupid singing shows. Everyone wants that “perfect” voice with range and vibrato. An iconic voice is better, along WITH the music.
I love Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson…but, not because they were on AI. I like their whole package & persona.
Also the drums…they mix them where they bang in your head…way too loud
It almost feels like two different sounds weaving together here. A different sound but very pleasing to the ears.
p.s. about what dominates on the record, could remaster it?
Yes it could be…It would be a simple remix….I was just saying to Dave and Ricky…one of the reasons I don’t like as much modern music is because the voice and drums are way too loud for me on new releases. It’s like they are mixed for clubs…for dancing…even new Stones recordings are like that.
It’s just a preference of mine…and I’m in the minority… I live in the minority lol.
I don’t believe I’ve ever heard this song ever in my life (and with a bit of luck I won’t be hearing it again!)
Dont sugar coat it Bruce…tell me what you really think!
Ha Ha! LOLs
This song has a definite Badfinger feel to it. I like it!
Did you say their albums were on Stax? Interesting, because that’s usually a big R&B label.
Yes…that was a BIG problem and one of the reasons they failed…plus the company was failing at that time…teenagers and critics LOVED their three albums but you couldn’t find it at the store but of distribution problems….glad you liked it John…I’ll be posting another one next Friday off of that album.
Why did they stay with STAX after the first album? Was it because they signed contracts for more than one album with STAX? They had a distribution deal with Columbia and Columbia screwed them by not distributing the albums.
I think they did sign with more than one album. They should have stayed with that studio and paid for the recording themselves and shopped it around.
Jim Dickinson produced their third album…the one that over saw Brown Sugar.
I love the guitars on this – I like them loud. The album feels like it’s falling apart a bit anyway, after the pristine #1 Record.
The guitars and drums I really like. I didn’t know Bell had come back briefly to help out.
Jody Stephens is really good. I remember listening to a Golden Smog album for the first time and thinking that the drummer sounded like Stephens. I looked up the credits, and it was. He’s got a distinctive, splashy sound.
It was hard describing his drumming…splashy is good. I rarely do in my posts but I wanted to say… sort of like early surf records but slowed down to the rhythm of the song.
Yea the guitars are great! Sure the vocals could do with a bump as someone said in the comments but the mix is exciting as is
Love Radio City and No.1 Record. Was always amazed by the distinctive guitar work from Alex and Chris. Thanks for great the piece, and reminder I need to give these guys a listen again soon..
I think this tune sounds pretty cool!
Thanks for listening Christian! I feel like an agent for this band lol.
The opening riff reminds me of Beatles.
Maybe that is the reason I like them… but they put a different spin on it.
Yeah. Exactly. It developed in a different direction.
I like the sound of one of your favorite bands. Has it’s own vibe. Rock n roll.