Government Center - Alex Chilton sings Jonathan Richman 2007 & 1977

[@ChrisSeahorse]

Both Jonathan Richman and Alex Chilton are megaheroes so obviously this works a treat for me. Great find Jesus.

[@gjg8766]

Wow...where did this come from? Very few people on this planet would understand the significance of this.

[@mclff6926]

nobody did "chaotic mess" as good as Alex did

[@lukeheywood7334]

Yeah man.. 2 legends

[@judebeeman7745]

Are. You. Kidding. Me. No idea this existed. Well done, Jesus! And the two side by side pix...thud.

[@wallytbm]

This is wonderful, thanks for sharing - never heard these before 👌👏

[@benjaminlyons9676]

Saw Alex (and Jonathan) many, many times but never heard sing this. In fact, the first time I heard Alex (probably 1984 or 85) he played an opening solo set for Jonathan w/Andy Paley at Jimmy's, New Orleans.

[@zenobardot]

Based on the setlists I've seen for dozens of Alex Chilton concerts from 1984 to 2000, he didn't play this regularly, if at all. From what I can tell, he didn't like to spring totally random tunes on his rhythm section unless they were pretty widely known and simple R&B/R&R classics like "Duke of Earl" or something. His late-1970s NYC band obviously knew this tune (maybe one of them like Chris Stamey even turned Alex on to it), and Yo La Tengo knew it (hence the later version here), but my guess is that he never ran through it with the guys he toured regularly with.

[@benjaminlyons9676]

@@zenobardot I see Doug Garrison (drums) and René Coman (bass) all the time; I will ask.

[@zenobardot]

@@benjaminlyons9676 That's very cool. I enjoyed reading about them in the Chilton biography from a few years back. Storming around North America in that 1973 Buick. And Coman and Alex playing covers at Papa Joes for World's Fair tourists who picked songs from a list on the table in the summer of 1984. What I find fascinating is that Alex seemed to have plenty of club gigs worldwide from 85-90, despite the general unavailability of the Big Star stuff and his extremely low profile from 1975-1984. I guess world of mouth kept the flame alive? I know people paying close attention to college rock would have been aware of the 1987 song by the Replacements and praise from REM, etc. but it still surprises me that this was enough to get gigs on two continents during those first years back on the scene.

[@hoffmannkarl63]

A secret dream you never knew existed...came true!

[@simoncobcroft9006]

Alex, The Big Star Tzar, , was glorious. up-state victorious, on this Jonathan Richman cover. So sad to see him die soon afterwards.

[@ewantaylor483]

BRILLIANT ! Sorry J.R. but I think I prefer this

[@buzzbabyjesus]

Of course he did.

[@Koshirozation]