Bach's Bottom is the second solo album by American pop rock musician Alex Chilton, released in 1981.[2] Bach's Bottom was recorded in September and October 1975 at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.

Bach's Bottom
Studio album by
Released1981
RecordedSeptember–October 1975
StudioArdent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee
GenreRock
Length29:42
LabelLine Records[1]
ProducerJon Tiven
Alex Chilton chronology
Like Flies on Sherbert
(1979)
Bach's Bottom
(1981)
High Priest
(1987)

Production

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The album was produced by Jon Tiven, who also played guitar in place of Chilton.[3] The album title is a play on both the Box Tops and the phrase "rock bottom."[4]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [5]
Robert ChristgauB+[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [2]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide     [6]
Orlando Sentinel     [7]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide     [8]
Spin Alternative Record Guide7/10[9]

The Orlando Sentinel wrote that "nothing is pretty on Bach's Bottom, but it's all beautiful in a scary, decrepit sort of way."[7] The Spin Alternative Record Guide deemed the album a "major 'lost'-era work."[9] Stereo Review called it an "unholy mess of an album," writing that "if you like Chilton at his most ludicrously dissolute, you'll be glad to have it."[10]

Track listing

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Side 1
  1. "Take Me Home and Make Me Like It" (Alex Chilton, Benny Davis, Danny Graflund, Grover DeLuca, Jon Tiven) – 2:32
  2. "Everytime I Close My Eyes" (Jon Tiven) – 1:47
  3. "All of the Time" (Alex Chilton, Lesa Aldridge) – 2:42
  4. "Oh Baby I'm Free (Part 1 & 2)" (Alex Chilton, Jon Tiven) – 6:22
  5. "I'm So Tired (Part 1 & 2)" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 3:12
Side 2
  1. "Free Again" (Alex Chilton) – 2:20
  2. "Jesus Christ" (Alex Chilton) – 2:18
  3. "Singer Not the Song" (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) – 2:02
  4. "Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart) – 2:35
  5. "Take Me Home Again (Part 1 & 2)" (Alex Chilton, Danny Graflund, Jon Tiven) – 3:52

Personnel

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  • Alex Chilton – vocals, piano, backing vocals
  • Ken Woodley – bass
  • John Lightman – bass
  • Jonathan Sanborn – bass on "Take Me Home and Make Me Like It (Version 1)" and "I'm So Tired"
  • Rick Clarke – bass, piano, backing vocals
  • Chris Bell – guitar, timbales on "All of The Time"
  • Richard Rosebrough – drums, engineer
  • Jon Tiven – acoustic and electric guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals, percussion, producer
  • Andy Hummel – organ
  • David Beaver – organ, clavinet
  • Tommy Hoehn – piano, backing vocals
  • The Bad Acoustics (Dave Rave, Lauren Agnelli, Gary Pig Gold), Andrew Loog Oldham – additional backing vocals

References

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  1. ^ a b "Alex Chilton: Bach's Bottom". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 340.
  3. ^ "Alex Chilton". Trouser Press. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  4. ^ Lapidos, Juliet (18 March 2010). "Alex Chilton, RIP". Slate. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  5. ^ "AllMusic Review by Stewart Mason". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  6. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 231.
  7. ^ a b "ALEX CHILTON". Orlando Sentinel. 14 October 1994. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  8. ^ (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. p. 162.
  9. ^ a b Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 40–41.
  10. ^ "Tales from the vaults – Bach's Bottom by Alex Chilton". Stereo Review. 58 (9): 95. Sep 1993.