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box star
 Star Wars Box Set (6 Movie Novelizations) $41.94 My second grader loved this series. It really gave him incentive to become a good reader. I never had to prompt him when it was time to do some reading each evening. Worth noting he was already a Star Wars fans before we bought the books.  PEZ Star Trek Limited Edition, Numbered Collectors Set, 3.48-Ounce Box $19.98 This is a great set with very realistic characters, esp. Mr. Spock. My sister loved it.  Keep An Eye On The Sky $69.98 I'm probably like a lot of you folks reading this. I first heard of Big Star in the late 70's, from a friend and record collector who managed a record store, and actually had the vinyl. Sometime shortly after that the two-disc vinyl reissue came out and it moved into my permanent top-ten LP's. The list of recordings that can change someone's life, or at least how they feel about the power of music is relatively short, but Big Star's classic pair belong on that list. I won't rehash what everyone is saying about this great set... It's not the place to start for first time listeners, but for the rest of us, this is the LAST WORD on the original Big Star. Complete studio recordings, demo's and even a live show recording! The accompanying book blew me away! I had never seen more than a handful of photo's of the band, and suddenly there is a whole collection of insightful and revealing pictures. They really were four guys from Memphis! I have always been conflicted about this band. Had they broken through (especially with Chris Bell), would they eventually suffer the same fate as most bands - either ruined by success, drugs, etc., the quality of music diminishing, and ending up on the outs with each other? Part of me thinks that their rapid descent into oblivion only makes the treasure they left us more precious. Still it is poignant to read about Chris Bell's love for the record they made, and his heartbreak over it's utter commercial failure. Never could that be more understandable. It is reassuring to know that after the repeat non-success of Alex Chilton's masterpiece follow-up 'Radio City', he was savvy enough about the record biz to survive relatively unscathed. All's well that ends well I guess. So yes, get this box-set. It captures a brief period all those years ago, when four (then three) young men made music that mattered. Big Star - Long may they shine! PS. Get Big Star 'In Space' also. Support the members, plus it's good on it's own merit. |
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