Chris Bell

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada (TBD) / Amazon U.K. (TBD)
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada (TBD) / Amazon U.K. (TBD)

Omnivore reconfigures the seminal I Am the Cosmos from Big Star's late Chris Bell as a new 2-CD set.  Prior to Rykodisc's initial release of the title in 1992, only two of the tracks were released during Bell's lifetime; both tracks were pressed on a single released shortly before a car crash took the Memphis hero's life. In 2009, Rhino issued a double-disc Cosmos that featured not only alternate versions and mixes of the album's original tracks but also cuts by Bell's pre-Big Star bands Icewater and Rock City for context. As those tracks (and more) are now a part of Omnivore's recent Looking Forward, this new 2-CD edition sweetens the deal with another 10 tracks, most previously unreleased. Compilation producer Alec Palao and writer Bob Mehr provide liner notes, and a clear vinyl version of the original album (the first release of this material on the format in years) will ship day and date alongside the 2CD set.