BIG STAR
compilations

Third/Sister Lovers bonus tracks (1992)
Rykodisc

Compensating for the erratic nature of '70s issues of this album, Rykodisc used the CD to collect all known and available recordings from the album. The result is a tantalizing taster of the mostly long-lost SISTER LOVERS sessions. There are two originals, one of which, "Dream Lover," was the b-side of the original "Kizza Me" 7". The other one, "Downs," will appeal to fans of "Kanga Roo." The three covers vary greatly in quality. Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy" is an odd choice, and they certifiably wreck Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On." A straightforward take on the Kinks' "Till the End of the Day" fares better and stands, in fact, with the original version.


Nobody Can Dance (1999)
Norton

Alex Chilton remembered well how to command an audience; he seems to actually be enjoying himself on this disc's very nice live performance. Additionally, the disc offers some rough demos of various tracks, and in the concert, a cover of Todd Rundgren's "Baby Strange" and an excellent runthrough of Chilton's less-than-two-minutes-of-fame, the Box Tops' "The Letter." For fans only, but if you're not a fan you haven't listened to them.