This year, Black Friday will be a whole lot brighter. As one of their Black Friday Record Store Day releases, Omnivore Recordings will be unleashing a special new EP from Big Star. Called Jesus Christ, the 7-song release is significant for including a whopping 5 previously unreleased Big Star tracks. For a legendary band like Big Star that's a pretty impressive number considering how many times people have probably been combing the vaults for lost classics from these guys.
The release features the album version of "Jesus Christ" from Third, along with a demo version from the recent Keep An Eye On The Sky box set. There's also a pair of untitled instrumental songs, a demo version of "Big Black Car" and an odd cut called "Another Time Another Place and You" which sounds a lot like something off of Led Zeppelin III to these ears.
The EP is rounded off by what seems like a fitting song to highlight today: "Thank You Friends" (TV Mix). The string-infused cut is affecting and a nice spin on such a perennial Big Star classic.
Perhaps the most important takeaway from the release is that on the back of the liner notes booklet there's a notice that the demo version of "Jesus Christ" is from the forthcoming Complete Third which, presumably, Omnivore is now prepping for 2016 release. Good news indeed.
More than a collector's curio, this Jesus Christ EP by Big Star offers up at least a few cuts that should find their way into the hearts of Alex Chilton and Big Star fans this holiday season. I'm thankful to have this in my collection, I know that.
Jesus Christ by Big Star is out tomorrow, Black Friday Record Store Day, via Omnivore Recordings.
