Alex Chilton's Jukebox #3

In 1977, Alex moved from Memphis to NYC, where his backing band The Cossacks included Chris Stamey.  Alex brought The Cramps to Memphis and produced their first singles and LP.  

Jim Dickinson had worked with Alex on Sister Lovers, and Dickinson helped Alex make Like Flies On Sherbert in a raw and unrehearsed style that was a big change from Big Star.  A batch of songs that Alex recorded with Peter Holsapple (while making Sherbert) were recently released as The Death Of Rock.

Sherbert was released on Sid Selvidge's label, Peabody Records.  Alex and Tav Falco were inspired to form The Panther Burns by The Cramps and Mud Boy And The Neutrons (a Memphis group led by Selvidge and Dickinson).

In 1982, Alex left Memphis again and moved to New Orleans, where he met bassist René Coman. Alex began another phase in his musical career, less anarchic and more "cool" in his playing and singing (like Chet Baker). He performed and recorded New Orleans and Memphis soul and blues, backed by Coman and drummer Doug Garrison (who had played in a jazz band with Alex's father). Garrison backed Alex from 1985 (Feudalist Tarts) through 1995 (A Man Called Destruction).

Alex enjoyed bawdy songs like Take It Off, Thank You John, Tip On In and What's Your Sign, Girl? His laconic delivery of the lyrics made these songs popular with a college radio audience. He stimulated interest in artists like Slim Harpo and Cordell Jackson among young people who had just discovered Big Star.

The Replacements (another band that reveled in musical anarchy and unexpected cover songs) recorded 1987's Pleased To Meet Me in Memphis with Alex and Jim Dickinson, and the Mats album included their song Alex Chilton. Alex received a financial boost when The Bangles recorded September Gurls (1986), and got another in 1998 when Ben Vaughn arranged for In The Street to become a TV theme song.  

In 1993, Alex and Jody Stephens reformed Big Star as a touring band with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of the Posies. Alex also performed with The Box Tops on package tours. Alex, Ben Vaughn, and Alan Vega released the improvisational Cubist Blues album in 1996. Alex recorded Tear Off! with the Box Tops (1998), and Big Star's studio album In Space was released in 2005.

Alex Chilton's last solo album was 1999's Loose Shoes (aka Set). Alex "produced and directed" the LP, which was recorded in NYC and completed at Ardent Studio in Memphis.  His song choices spanned many of his influences (jazz, blues, soul, gospel, country and more), and his performances reflected both his serious side and his sense of humor.  You can also hear Alex's many interests in this final volume of Alex Chilton's Jukebox.

BREAKING NEWS: Tav Falco and the Panther Burns will embark upon a US tour next month! Dates and deets here!