Alex Chilton

By the age of 17 Chilton had already conquorued the art of pop song writing - writing numerous hits including "The Letter" for the group the Box Tops. Next up was Big Star, who virtually invented the genre of janley gutiar pop. After reaching the heights of pop rock guitar writing - Chilton did the only thing that was natural to him - creating pop songs, whlist simultatnely trying to destroy them - all in the same song.

My favoutire cut of Chiltons's solo career has to be this suberb cover of the Seeds "Can't Seem to Make You Mine". Hearing Chilons , Elvis like yelps at the end of each line, strangely fits in with the desperatness of his vocals. As per usual Chiltons vocals manages to overshadow everything, even the clangy garage guitars, which finally work enough steam overtake his vocals to end the song.

Chiltons delivery of this classic hit represents a Chiltons classic strut of unstablility and desperation. His spits out the classic lines "Flying around likes a bee, hurtin everything you see", before yelping out the classic chorus "Can't you see what you're doin to me, You fill my heart with misery, In every breath and step I take, I'm more in love with you" Before another redition of the chorus to end, Chiltons vocal in the breakdown drop to a whisper "girl I wanna love you tonight"

What this song demonstrates is the importance of danger and unstability to vocal delivery. This song has been covered by many (including the Ramones) but Chilton simply owns it. As someone once said “When Paul Westerberg stands behind the mike there’s danger. And when Tom Petty stands behind the mike, you’re safe". Westerberg (from the brillant band the Replacements) a self confessed Chilton follower - can easily be swapped for Chilton in the above statement...