Music That Influenced Big Star - By Jody Stephens (March 2015)

To celebrate the UK release of ‘Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me’ Deluxe, DVD and Blu-Ray, surviving member Jody Stephens picked his top 10 songs that influenced ‘#1 Record’ and ‘Radio City’ and shared them on Facebook and Spotify. There were no real big surprises (except for the ones that were released AFTER these albums came out) with the song selections but interesting nonetheless. Here's his choice for those of you that don't do social media or free music streaming...

The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn!
"The Ballad of El Goodo" - This is one song, of several probably, that distills influences from Bob Dylan, Beach Boys, The Byrds and The Beatles.

The Kinks - Come On Now
"When My Baby's Beside Me" - Ray Davies/Kinks played into Big Star's live sets. "Come On Now" was one of them.

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
"Try Again" - Easy to hear George Harrison's influence here.

Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love
"Feel" - Chris was a Led Zeppelin fan as well. I can hear a little Robert Plant in the opening line..."Woman what are you doing..."

The Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice

The Kinks - All Day And All Of The Night

Golden Smog - Please Tell My Brother

Matthew Sweet - Divine Intervention

Lou Reed - Perfect Day

Beck - Blue Moon