Big Star – You Get What You Deserve

This song was on Radio City, their second album. Some say it is a response to the Chris Bell song off the first album called My Life Is Right…or a message to his girlfriend Diane that he was leaving her at the time. The chorus is perfect to me by the way he sings it.

Big Star was formed out of a shared love for British Invasion bands like The Beatles, The Kinks, and The Byrds. Alex Chilton had already been successful as the teenage lead singer of the Box Tops, while Chris Bell had been active in local Memphis bands. They wanted to become the next Lennon-McCartney and for this fan…they were in song quality. The Ballad of El Goodo and Thirteen were as about as top shelf as you can get.

Big Star - Radio CityAfter the failure of their first album, singer/songwriter guitar player Chris Bell quit Big Star. Alex Chilton didn’t know if Big Star was going to make another album. He continued making demos because he could always do a solo album. The two other members, drummer Jody Stephens and bass player Andy Hummel weren’t sure either what was going to happen. They had talked about ending the band.

Their record company Ardent was under the Stax umbrella. They sent out invitations to all of the major rock journalists of the day in 1973. They invited them to Memphis to see Ardent’s roster of bands but most of all Big Star. The rock writers loved Big Star. Many legendary writers were there including Lester Bangs. The critics loved them but when your records don’t get to the record store because of distribution and promotional problems…nothing is going to happen. September Gurls should have got a nationwide audience.

You Get What You Deserve

Try to understand what I’m going through
Don’t blame me for what folks will do
For some of us it’s not a good time
But you’ve gotta to get used to it
And you’d better resign yourself

You get what you deserve
You ought to find out what it’s worth
And you’ve gotta have a lot of nerve

You just do what pleases you
Go on and sigh out every move
You’re gonna get a place in the scene
All God’s orphans get face in the dream

You get what you deserve
You ought to find out what it’s worth
And you’ve gotta have a lot of nerve

Too bad
Such a drag
So much pain
Down the drain
A lot of us ain’t got many friends

Try to understand what I’m going through
Don’t blame me for what folks will do
For some of us it’s not a good time
But you’ve gotta to get used to it
And you’d better resign yourself

You get what you deserve
You ought to find out what it’s worth
And you’ve gotta have a lot of nerve
You get what you deserve

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

40 thoughts on “Big Star – You Get What You Deserve”

  2. Big Star were a really great band and every additional song you post further reinforces that. I also 100% agree “September Gurls” should have been a hit – such as great song! “You Get What You Deserve” ist another decent song. I love the chorus! It really is weird Big Star were on Stax.

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  4. any band that counted Peter Buck, Susanna Hoffs, Tom Petty and more among their fans was doing something right! This one… the guitarwork is really catchy, the composition is strong – good melody, but somehow to me it lacks the ‘it’ factor. I think it’s the lyrics and the delivery kind of don’t catch me. Was this picked as a single or an album cut?

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      1. that probably also worked against them. It’s too bad that ‘That 70s show’ didn’t use their original song for a theme, it might have brought in some new ears

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  7. Now, talk about serendipity! I have just got my hot little hands on the latest Uncut and the free CD is a Big Star sampler, track 4 is this song, and I have it ready to roll when I go out for a drive. Out down/in the street!

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      1. Uncut magazine, October 24 freebie. In the street, When My Baby, Try Again, You Get What, Daisy Glaze, Oh My Soul, Kanga-roo, Kizza, Take Care, Thank You Friends. Some of the ones I’d heard less off are starting to impress me more.

        There’s also a five page article on Bell. (Maybe a trip to your local Barnes and Yodel is in your future?😉)

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      2. That is really cool…yes I have to get that. I read a book on Bell that was released not long ago…I found out more about them from that than any other thing I’ve read.
        I love Oh My Soul and Kanga-roo…. hell I like all of them…I’m just huge fan as you know…I already have another one ready to go soon.

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  8. Great sound and good to know the background info on it. I remember loving The Box Tops and I’m sure it was mostly due to Chilton’s voice, which kind of reminds me of Eric Burdon in its special quality.

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      1. “Cry Like a Baby” is the one I remember. Didn’t they also do, “Don’t Walk Away, Renee”? And “The Letter.” These songs bring back a LOT of memories! Right around the time my folks were about to split up iirc.

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      2. No that was The Left Banke…the reason I know is because my cousin gave me her old single of it…I think of her Lisa when I hear it because she passed away at 17 when having a baby when I was 8.
        Sorry to get dark! You probably know The Letter and maybe…my favorite Soul Deep.

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  11. Pingback: Big Star – You Get What You Deserve – MobsterTiger

  12. First time hearing this, Max. I love it! I can really hear how they influenced alternative rock here, Radio Head and R.E.M especially. I love how they blend that western, Bakersville sound with pop and glam. The first album is the only one I know, and that’s because of In the Street.

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    1. Yea…I probably post them too much but I can’t help it. I just wish they would have had a fair shot….but that is probably some of the allure to them….the mystery and the unknown. That is what got me to listen…but yea I do love their music… R.E.M. and The Replacements as well…they helped the 80s alt scene a lot.

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  13. Kinda crazy when the band has all the hype and the record company drops the ball. How many times has this happened? Then another band like REM comes along and breaks through due to their label getting behind them.

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