Rock City

Rock City | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 22, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 1969
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Lucky Seven Records
• ASIN: B00009WVTK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,328 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #60 in Music > Rock > Power Pop

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Lost" power pop gems unearthed., September 22, 2003

By 

Mark Janovec "mjanovec" (Hudson, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rock City (Audio CD)

Okay, it's hard to call something "lost" if it never was released until now AND because most of the fans of Big Star didn't even know a fully realized album from this pre-Big Star lineup existed! Just like Badfinger evolved from the Iveys, Big Star evolved from Rock City. And now there is a full album to show you that evolution.

This CD warrants four stars because it unearths some really cool power pop gems. While Chilton wasn't yet on board for these recordings, his place is taken up by Tom Eubanks, who himself was a pretty decent singer and songwriter. The opening two tracks demonstrate this very well. The nice discoveries here also include two early Chris Bell vocal efforts on "My Life is Right" (which is rawer and a little more energized than than the Big Star version) and "Try Again" (which has a very cool pedal steel solo which kind of takes you by surprise). There are a couple of tracks on the disc which border on filler (hence only four stars, not five), but they are quickly forgotten and overshadowed by the more powerful material.

The bonus cuts here show an ever earlier incarnation of the band when it was called Icewater, with Chris Bell taking the vocals for "Feel." Funnily enough, nearly half of the backing track from this 1969 version was utilized for the 1972 version released on #1 Record. Only the vocals, bass, and a few other odds and ends were changed for the more widely known version.

Two tracks from Tom Eubank's solo career round out the disc. These are strong tunes which hold up well to just about anything else produced by other 70's power pop groups.

Perhaps the most shocking thing about this disc is just how great the production sounds. Big Star fans should be able to recognize that unique production style John Fry adds to the mix. Fry has a way with recording an acoustic guitar that makes you think "this is Big Star" ...even when it isn't. Then again, credit should be given to Chris Bell too, who had a somewhat unique style of his own.

This is a definite must for any Big Star fan. Power pop fans should also consider this disc, as it is more than just a historic artifact...it stands up well on it's own merits.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting artifact in the evolution of the Big Star legacy, July 30, 2003

By 

"halfgifts" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rock City (Audio CD)

This CD, from Terry Manning's Lucky Seven Records, is a necessary addition to any Big Star completist-obsessive-fanatic's collection. Rock City was the group the immediately preceded Big Star -- Chris Bell, Terry Manning, Thomas Dean Eubanks, and Jody Stephens. The songs hint at things to come; in fact, different versions of "Try Again" and "My Life is Right" appear (songs which would later appear on Big Star's #1 Record). The band briefly morphed into Icewater, and their version of "Feel" closes the cd. Interesting artifact from the late 1960s/early 1970s Memphis rock scene.