RARE ORIGINAL 250-COPY PROMO BIG STAR #3 RECORD

$

1,026

The following is from WIKIPEDIA: “In September 1974, eight months after the release of Radio City, the two remaining members of Big Star returned to Ardent Studios to work on a third album. Chilton and Stephens were assisted by producer Jim Dickinson and an assortment of musicians including drummer Richard Rosebrough, and Lesa Aldridge, Chilton's girlfriend, who contributed on vocals. The sessions and mixing were completed in early 1975, and 250 copies of the album were pressed with plain labels for promotional use.” This is a copy of that rare original pressing, manufactured for distribution to aid in securing a deal for a major-label release of the record, which was several years later to be released and become known in succeeding years variously as BIG STAR 3, THIRD, or THIRD/SISTER LOVERS. (Alex had told me that SISTER LOVERS was the title he wanted to use, and why, but that he doubted whoever bought the record would let that happen.) The producer of this album, Jim Dickinson, a true gentleman and a fine man all around, was a friend of mine for many years and he gave me this copy, which we listened to together, telling me that I was the first person for whom he had played the finished record. (If he told me who made the notations and symbols on the label, I have forgotten that, though Alex’s name is in my hand.) Alex and I became friends in the mid-1970’s, and were close while I still lived in Memphis, even sharing writing credits, along with two others --- and rarely did so many contribute so little --- for the lyrics to his early independent single “Take Me Home and Make Me Like It”, and we continued to stay in touch infrequently after 1976, meeting for dinner a couple of times when he played Atlanta. The last time, when he was playing a venue in the Virginia Highlands area, it appeared we might be in danger of running late, which fear I voiced and Alex replied that I wasn’t to worry, noting that the show couldn’t start without him, which was said more impishly than arrogantly, and sums him up in a nutshell. The record appears to be in beautiful condition. There are some crackles audible in some of the quieter parts of the record, such as the intros to Femme Fatale, Holocaust, and Blue Moon, and there were a few light pops in Night Time, but I have two copies and played them both and those flaws are apparent in both. My guess is that the attentions of a record-cleaning kit and the use of a good needle --- neither of which, alas, I have --- would minimize them, unless, of course, they're due to sloppy manufacturing: John Fry did, after all, refer to these demos as Test Pressings. The tatty cover sheet from Ardent is the original one I was given and not a copy; and the inner-sleeve too is original. The record was not issued with an outer-sleeve.Free Shipping. Satisfaction guaranteed. Returnable at my expense, with notification of intent within 7 days of Confirmed Delivery. See my other auctions for Alex/Big Star; Bryan Ferry; Bette Davis; Tim Renwick, and The Bonzo Dog Band.