“Radio City” is a scrappier record than “#1 Record” (Big Star’s first album) because it is a bunch of bits pulled together to achieve an overall effect, as opposed to a deliberately prepped collection of songs. While “#1 Record” sounds well-crafted and composed, “Radio City” veers all over the place.

In that sense, the music betrays the circumstances. Chris Bell left in the interim, and the band foundered for months before reconvening. Alex Chilton grabbed a few of the leftover pieces that were lying around and patched them together, and even eschewed his bandmates by working with outside musicians (“Mod Lang” and “She’s a Mover” had a different rhythm section). He also recorded a few tunes solo and acoustic. Nevertheless, this album, unlike subsequent efforts, conveys Clinton’s idiosyncrasies in a light that is consistently flattering. Instead of ending up a jumbled mess, the pieces fall together gracefully and sound wonderfully eclectic.

Very little of “Radio City" could be labeled as predictable. It is an album of complimentary contradictions. Even the titles play with expectations (“Life Is White”, “Daisy Glaze”, “Morpha Too”, etc.). Some songs are deliriously light and melodic (“September Gurls”, “I’m In Love with a Girl”) while others seem dense and challenging (“Daisy Glaze”, “Life Is White”). The challenging songs express subjects that are extraordinarily dark and negative. “I’m thinking ‘Christ. Nullify my life’. You’re gonna die” seems to be the lyrical summation of “Daisy Glaze” while “Life Is White” is a relentless putdown of a potential partner. On the other hand, the melodic songs are lyrically positive and uplifting (“When I go to bed, late at night, that’s the time she makes things right”, or “I’m in love with a girl, finest girl in the world. I didn’t know I could feel this way”). It’s these contradictions that bring life to the album, adding a complexity that transcends mere pop, turning it something deeper, more complex and expressive.

It is the utter lack of pretense that makes “Radio City” so enjoyable. The musical arrangements have a graceful punch, while the lyrics are honest and more than a little bit confused. Despite circumstances, it sounds like a ‘band’ record, featuring unpredictable twists and turns that go beyond the standard ‘verse-chorus-verse’ approach. As the sole guitarist and lead vocalist, Chilton got most of the attention, but the input of Jody Stephens and especially Andy Hummel should not go unrecognized. Hummel’s co-writing credits on five of the songs speaks for itself, and Chilton himself felt as though his writing on this album was not particularly strong, but it might be his insecurity that causes the songs to connect on a primal level. Whether he agreed or not, “Radio City” is now considered Alex Chilton’s power-pop masterpiece.

Featured Tracks:

O My Soul   [Note: Mono; No stereo mix has ever been released]

Life Is White

Way Out West

What's Going Ahn

You Get What You Deserve

Mod Lang

"Back of a Car

Daisy Glaze

She's a Mover

September Gurls

Morpha Too

I'm in Love with a Girl

February 1974 – Billboard Did Not Chart