Big Star's Radio City (33 1/3)
by Bruce Eaton
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Book Summary Information
Author: Bruce EatonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-05-02
ISBN: 0826428983
Number of pages: 160
Publisher: Continuum
Book Reviews of Big Star's Radio City (33 1/3)
Book Review: This is the sort of 33 1/3 book I love: Facts and history, not purple prose
Summary: 5 Stars
Of the few 33 1/3 books I've read, this is my favorite so far. The book is full of first-hand accounts from Chilton, Hummel, Stephens, John Fry, Richard Rosebrough and others, recounting both the history of the band and the specifics of recording "Radio City."
The truth, as always, is somewhat messy: Participants occasionally contradict each other w/r/t specific details, as is to be expected when trying to recall events from 30+ years prior. These contradictions do not mar the tale, however; if anything, they improve the story by adding texture and scope. The author is not content to let any single member write history, and in situations where written records do not exist, he allows for competing memories to vie for their place in history. That's not to say the book is full of confusing contradictions. It happens only occasionally, and never regarding anything substantial, but their retention stood out to me, because it showed that Eaton was trying to be as honest and true as possible regarding this legendary album and band.
Unlike the small handful of other 33 1/3 books I'm familiar with, Bruce Eaton saves most of his own personal narrative until the very end. And in his case, it's actually interesting and relevant: the author describes meeting and performing with a post-Big Star Chilton, who had moved far astray from the detailed, focused work of early Big Star, into his more infamous "chaotic" period. Eaton's personal narrative helps flesh out this last piece of Chilton during that era, in a way the other interview subjects may not have been able to. It is not self-aggrandizing or mired in purple prose, but rather serves the book quite well.
I've seen other Amazon reviewers who prefer the "book as thesis" format of some of the other 33 1/3 titles. One reviewer stated that they prefer to read about the "emotional effect of the music" rather than the technical aspects of making a record. Another reviewer said they liked the "Meat is Murder" volume because it wasn't about the historical facts, but rather captured what it was like to be a teenager listening to the Smiths (paraphrasing here). Which is fine for them, but I much prefer actual researched historical insight rather than the self-conscious purple prose I've read in some of the other titles.
I'm a relatively smart guy, more or less, and I've listened to the music myself. I know how it makes me feel. I know what images and thoughts the music conjures in my head. I don't really need to know what sort of free-associations occur to some random author. At least, not to the extent that they seem to take up other 33 1/3 titles. Intelligent dissection of any work of art is certainly acceptable and appreciated, but why do I want to pay money for a book written by someone who thinks they themselves are the primary subject matter, while the band and the album take a backseat to the author's personal meanderings?
I can get discourse on par with that at the local record store or watering hole, or on someone's blog. Much rarer is true historical insight, and if I'm paying money for a book like this, that's what I want. And that's Bruce Eaton delivers in "Radio City." Worthwhile interviews with actual participants and interesting historical info on the band (I was unaware of the Rock Writers Convention, or that Bell and Chilton had "horse-traded" some of their songs when Bell left the band), all compiled in a way that makes for enjoyable reading.
The only negative thing I could say is that the B&W photos at the end of the book are horribly reproduced for the most part. They are dark and muddy like poor photocopies, and occasionally too small, in a way that suggests that not much thought was put into how these images would look printed in B&W in this book. However, they weren't a selling point for the book (the other 33 1/3 books I've read did not have photos in them at all), so I did not deduct any stars from my rating.
Summary of Big Star's Radio City (33 1/3)
Released when ELP and Elton John were plodding from one packed stadium to the next, Radio City was a radical album influenced by records that were already deemed oldies and yet sounding like a lean electrical jolt from the future. Here, Bruce Eaton examines the key ingredients of Radio City's lasting appeal- and through extensive interviews with all of those involved, gets to the heart of the cult of Big Star.
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