For many years, fans of power pop had their Magna Carta of a CD: Fantasy Records’ two-fer of Big Star’s #1 Record and Radio City, the primary records issued by the legendary Memphis band. Various vinyl reissues of the individual albums have come and gone, too, most notably the 2014 reissues on the Stax label.  Now, both #1 Record and Radio City are coming back to vinyl on January 24 from Craft Recordings.

Both albums will be newly remastered – all-analog! – by Jeff Powell at Memphis’ Take Out Vinyl, and manufactured there in Big Star’s hometown by Memphis Record Pressing.  The titles boast replica Ardent Records labels.

Taken together, #1 Record and Radio City are touchstones of Beatle-esque, visceral, often beautiful pop courtesy of frontman Alex Chilton (who’d rose to fame as the young, powerful voice behind The Box Tops’ “The Letter”) and singer/guitarist Chris Bell. Together with bassist Andy Hummel and drummer Jody Stephens, they earned immense acclaim for #1 Record (despite no sales to match); Bell departed shortly thereafter, and equally celebrated Radio City was recorded as a trio. (The third, semi-released album entitled Third has been repackaged over the years including as a complete multi-disc set from Omnivore Recordings; and Omnivore has also just delivered an exemplary expanded reissue of Big Star’s 2005 “reunion” record In Space featuring Chilton and Stephens.)

Craft’s reissues represent another chance for fans to discover or rediscover the two albums that established Big Star as masters of their pop craft. Pre-order #1 Record and Radio City on vinyl at the links below.  They’re due January 24.

Big Star, #1 Record (originally released as Ardent ADS-2803, 1972 – reissued Craft Recordings, 2020)

Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

1. Feel
2. The Ballad of El Goodo
3. In the Street
4. Thirteen
5. Don’t Lie to Me
6. The India Song
7. When My Baby’s Beside Me
8. My Life is Right
9. Give Me Another Chance
10. Try Again
11. Watch the Sunrise
12. ST 100/6

Radio City (originally released as Ardent ADS-1501, 1974 – reissued Craft Recordings, 2020)

Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

1. O My Soul
2. Life is White
3. Way Out West
4. What’s Going Ahn
5. You Get What You Deserve
6. Mod Lang
7. Back of a Car
8. Daisy Glaze
9. She’s a Mover
10. September Gurls
11. Morpha Too
12. I’m in Love with a Girl