Tune of the Week: Kanga Roo

After releasing a couple of albums of textbook Power Pop, Memphis’ Big Star were set to implode. Both inintal albums were critical hits but poor distribution led to commercial failure. One by one, each member ended up leaving. Ardent Studios owner John Fry continued to believe in singer-songwriter Alex Chilton and gave him keys to the studio. Hopped up on booze and downers, Chilton and his girlfriend would go to the studio late at night and record. After one late night session, legendary musician-producer Jim Dickinson showed up with a challenge by Alex and finish a track he had begun recording the night before. Up to the challenge, Dickinson pulled out all the stops and the result is one of Big Star’s most ethereal and unhinged songs. RIP Alex and Jim.