Thirteen (song)

Last updated
"Thirteen"
Thirteen single label.jpg
Label to the single with mislabeling as "Don't Lie to Me"
Single by Big Star
from the album #1 Record
B-side "Watch the Sunrise"
Released1974
RecordedLate 1971
Studio Ardent, Memphis
Genre
Length2:34
Label Ardent
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) John Fry
Big Star singles chronology
"Don't Lie to Me"
(1973)
"Thirteen"
(1974)
"O My Soul"
(1974)

"Thirteen" is a song by the American rock band Big Star. Rolling Stone describes it "one of rock's most beautiful celebrations of adolescence", and rated it #396 on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. [4] It was written by Alex Chilton and Chris Bell.

Bill Janovitz of Buffalo Tom writes in his AllMusic review of the song, "There are few songs that capture the aching innocence of adolescence as well" and calls it a "perfect melancholy ballad". [5] The song encompasses folk and pop characteristics with its use of simple lyrics and the acoustic guitar. [5] [1]

Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as Big Star's 2nd best song, calling it "a gorgeous song" that "goes straight to the heart." [6] Kachejian particularly praised the "beautiful harmonies" and felt that it influenced bands such as the Replacements. [6]

SingersRoom critic Simon Robinson rated it Big Star's best song, praising the "catchy melody and jangly guitars that perfectly capture the carefree and optimistic spirit of youth" and the "simple yet poignant" lyrics that evoke the "experience of teenage romance and heartbreak." [7]

The song was originally featured on the 1972 album #1 Record . It was released as a single by Big Star with “Watch the Sunrise” as the B-Side, on Ardent Records, [8] but was mislabeled as “Don’t Lie to Me”.

"Thirteen" was featured in the season 6 and season 8 finale of That '70s Show . The song was covered by Grace VanderWaal and Graham Verchere in the 2020 movie Stargirl on Disney+ with a Grace Vanderwaal only performance appearing as a bonus on the soundtrack.

Covers

"Thirteen" has been covered by several notable musicians. They include:

ArtistAlbum
Bedouine, Waxahatchee, Hurray for the Riff Raff Thirteen (single)
Beach Slang Quiet Slang
Evan Dando Live at the Brattle Theatre
Daryll-Ann Stay single (B side)
dEUS Sister Dew single (B side)
Epic Soundtracks Change My Life
Garbage Version 2.0 (Japanese edition), "Push It" single
Albert Hammond Jr. Cool For School: For the Benefit of The Lunchbox Fund
Happy Flowers Lasterday I Was Been Bad
Håkan Hellström Nåt gammalt, nåt nytt, nåt lånat, nåt blått
Katell Keineg At The Mermaid Parade
Kind of Like Spitting The Thrill of the Hunt
Mary Lou Lord Live City Sounds
Magnapop Magnapop
Rose Melberg September
The Menzingers Covers EP
Obadiah Parker The Tip Jar
Elliott Smith New Moon
Wilco Big Star, Small World
Kathryn Williams Relations
Textor & RenzThe Days of Never Coming Back and Never Getting Nowhere
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Spotify Singles (Recorded At Spotify Studios at NYC)
Joshua Radin 10 Years of Mom+Pop (Label Compilation)
Jesse Malin Meet me at the end of the world
Lemon Sparks Lemon Sparks (album)
Grace VanderWaal Stargirl Soundtrack

When asked if there was a Big Star cover he was especially fond of, lead singer Alex Chilton mentioned Garbage's version of this song. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Star</span> American rock band

Big Star was an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1971 by Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Jody Stephens (drums), and Andy Hummel (bass). They have been described as the "quintessential American power pop band", and "one of the most mythic and influential cult acts in all of rock & roll". In its first era, the band's musical style drew influence from 1960s pop acts such as the Beatles and the Byrds, producing a style that foreshadowed the alternative rock of the 1980s and 1990s. Before they broke up, Big Star created a "seminal body of work that never stopped inspiring succeeding generations" according to Rolling Stone. Three of Big Star's studio albums are included in the Rolling Stone list of the Top 500 Albums of All-Time.

<i>Radio City</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Big Star

Radio City is the second studio album by the American rock group Big Star. Released February 20, 1974, Radio City was recorded during 1973 at Memphis' Ardent Studios. Though not a commercial success at the time, it is now recognized as a milestone album in the history of power pop music. Critically acclaimed upon its release, the record sold poorly, partly due to a lack of promotion and the distribution problems of the band's struggling record label, Ardent Records. The album included "September Gurls" and "Back of a Car", which remain among the most famous Big Star songs; both the Searchers and the Bangles have covered "September Gurls".

<i>Third/Sister Lovers</i> 1978 studio album by Big Star

Third is the third album by American rock band Big Star. The sessions started at Ardent Studios in September 1974. Though Ardent created promotional, white-label test pressings for the record in 1975, a combination of financial issues, the uncommercial sound of the record, and lack of interest from singer Alex Chilton and drummer Jody Stephens in continuing the project prevented the album from ever being properly finished or released at the time of its recording. It was eventually released in 1978 by PVC Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Bell (American musician)</span> American singer

Christopher Branford Bell was an American musician and singer-songwriter. Along with Alex Chilton, he led the power pop band Big Star through its first album #1 Record (1972). He also pursued a solo career throughout the mid-1970s, resulting in the posthumous I Am the Cosmos LP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peace of Mind (Boston song)</span> 1977 single by Boston

"Peace of Mind" is a song by American rock band Boston, written by Tom Scholz. It was on their 1976 self-titled debut, and was released the next year as the third and final single from the album. It peaked at number 38 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1977, as well as number 33 on the Cash Box Top 100. It received substantial radio airplay, both upon the initial release of the Boston album and subsequently, and has been described as a "rock-radio staple".

"Smokin'" is a song by American rock band Boston, released from the band's debut album Boston (1976) as the B-side to the band's first single, "More Than a Feeling". "Smokin'" was written by the band leader, guitarist and main songwriter Tom Scholz and lead vocalist Brad Delp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tumbling Dice</span> 1972 single by the Rolling Stones

"Tumbling Dice" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. It was released worldwide as the lead single from the band's 1972 double album Exile on Main St. on 14 April 1972 by Rolling Stones Records. A product of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards' songwriting partnership, the song contains a blues and boogie-woogie-influenced rhythm that scholars and musicians have noted for its unusual tempo and groove. The lyrics are about a gambler who cannot remain faithful to any woman.

<i>Number 1 Record</i> 1972 studio album by Big Star

#1 Record is the debut album by the American rock band Big Star. It was released on April 24, 1972, by Memphis-based Ardent Records.

"No Expectations" is a song by English rock band the Rolling Stones featured on their 1968 album Beggars Banquet. It was first released as the B-side of the "Street Fighting Man" single in August 1968. The song was recorded in May 1968. Brian Jones' acoustic slide guitar on the recording represents one of his last major contributions before leaving the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Janovitz</span> American musician and writer (born 1966)

Bill Janovitz is an American musician and writer. He is the singer, guitarist, and songwriter of alternative rock band Buffalo Tom, and has also released three solo albums. Janovitz has written extensively for Allmusic, authored the Exile on Main St. book for the 33⅓ series, and contributed to Boston magazine, the Boston Phoenix, and Post Road magazine. He wrote Rocks Off: 50 Tracks That Tell the Story of the Rolling Stones (2013) and Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time's Journey Through Rock & Roll History (2023), which was a New York Times Best Seller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">September Gurls</span> Song by Big Star released in 1974

"September Gurls" is a song written by Alex Chilton that was first released by Big Star on their second studio album Radio City in 1974. "September Gurls" was also released as a single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">For My Lady</span> 1972 song by the Moody Blues

"For My Lady" is a song written by Ray Thomas that was released on the Moody Blues 1972 album Seventh Sojourn. It was also released as the B-side to the single "I'm Just a Singer ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Know You're Out There Somewhere</span> 1988 single by The Moody Blues

"I Know You're Out There Somewhere" is a 1988 single by the English rock band the Moody Blues. It was written by guitarist Justin Hayward, and it is the sequel to the Moody Blues' 1986 single "Your Wildest Dreams", also written by Hayward. It is the band's final Top 40 single in the United States, peaking at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Chilton (song)</span> 1987 single by the Replacements

"Alex Chilton" is a song by American rock band the Replacements from their fifth studio album Pleased to Meet Me. The song was written as a homage to Big Star frontman Alex Chilton, who was an idol of the band's who worked with them on several occasions. The song's hook was inspired by Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg's attempt to compliment one of Chilton's songs upon meeting him for the first time.

"Rock & Roll Band" is a song by American rock band Boston written by main songwriter and guitarist Tom Scholz and helped out by lead vocalist Brad Delp. The song appears on the band's 1976 self-titled debut. It is one of many songs Scholz worked on in his basement in 1974 and 1975 before Boston got its record contract, five of which eventually appeared on the Boston album. The "Rock and Roll Band" demo was finished in 1974, along with three of the six. However, Scholz had begun writing the song years earlier, in the early 1970s. The drum parts of this and other early Boston songs were developed by Jim Masdea, but this is the only song on the Boston album on which Masdea plays drums. Scholz plays clavinet and all the guitar parts, including bass guitar, and Brad Delp sings vocals. Boston consistently opened with "Rock and Roll Band" while playing at live concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In the Street (song)</span> Song by Big Star released in 1972

"In the Street" is a song by the American rock band Big Star. It was written by Chris Bell and Alex Chilton. The song was featured on the 1972 album #1 Record. The song was the B-side of their first single, "When My Baby's Beside Me." Lead vocals on "In the Street" were handled by Chris Bell. An altered cover version became the theme song of That 70s Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Pretend (Raspberries song)</span> 1973 single by Raspberries

"Let's Pretend" is a song by Raspberries, released in March 1973 as the second single from their second LP, Fresh. It was written by band leader Eric Carmen, who also provided the lead vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whispering Pines (The Band song)</span> 1969 song by The Band

"Whispering Pines" is a song written by Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson that was first released by The Band on their self-titled 1969 album The Band. It was released as a single in France, backed by "Lonesome Suzie".

"I Am Waiting" is a song recorded by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and released on the band's 1966 studio album Aftermath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm in Love with a Girl</span> Song by Big Star released in 1974

"I'm in Love with a Girl" is a song written by Alex Chilton that was first released by Big Star as the last song on their 1974 album Radio City. It was also released along with another short song, "Morpho Too", as the B-side of the lead single from Radio City, "O My Soul".

References

  1. 1 2 Sarig, Roni (1998). The Secret History of Rock: The Most Influential Bands You've Never Heard . Billboard Books. p.  40. ISBN   978-0-8230-7669-7.
  2. McMillan, Graeme (May 2, 2013). "Big Star: The Ultimate American Pop Band". Time . ISSN   0040-781X . Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  3. Molanphy, Chris (June 29, 2018). "The Deadbeat Club Edition, Part 1". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate . Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  4. "500 Greatest Songs of All Time — Thirteen: Big Star". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Janovitz, Bill. "Thirteen - Big Star". AllMusic . Retrieved February 2, 2009.
  6. 1 2 Kachejian, Brian. "Top 10 Big Star Songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  7. Robinson, Simon (March 14, 2023). "10 Best Big Star Songs of All Time". SingersRoom. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  8. George-Warren, Holly (March 2014). A Man Called Destruction: The Life and Music of Alex Chilton, from Box Tops to Big Star to Backdoor Man . Viking. ISBN   978-0-670-02563-3.
  9. Luerssen, John D. (February 28, 2000). "Alex Chilton Set to Go". Rolling Stone . Retrieved August 26, 2009.