Some time ago I tried to write a blow by blow analysis of “Third Complete.”  I’ve abandoned that but there are some things worth noting.

I first heard “Third” on cassette reissue circa 1978.  It had a blue cover with Alex Chilton’s face on it.  I really do still think that this was the best version.  So many versions have been released with different songs, song orders and even edits.  These were also released with different titles.  Eventually, in the nineties a version was released that was said have a running order that Alex had originally intended.  I thought it was awful.

Your reaction might be: why are you disagreeing with a musical genius?  Because as Talvo from Panther Burns pointed out, the first order of the day is to create a thing of extraordinary beauty and then the next phase would be to destroy it.

“Third/Sister Lovers” has become a create your own album project.  With the release of “Third Complete,” one can do that.  The sessions were a mess and it was difficult job for Jim Dickinson but with A Alex being in “el destructo” mode, someone had to take charge.  Recording it alone was like herding kittens and mixing it wasn’t much better.  Sequencing is the easiest task but even that is not easy.  I find it interesting that Alex’s intent at one time was to start with “Thank You Friends” and end with “Take Care.”

This order would have set the album up to be a monument of cynicism and despair, effectively saying, “See? This is what you get when you hope or dream.  Beware!”  Considering the history of Big Star and the fate that would await Chris Bell this would be understandable.  The thing is that Alex never really did give up.  Sure, the album is dark no matter what way you sequence it but despite itself there are encouragements in there as well.  The thing I liked most about the 1978 cassette was that at the end of “Thank you Friends” Alex says, “I think I did something wrong.”  I think you could take that as an ending humourously or seriously.  I take it as both.

Recently, I made my own revised running order which is similar to that cassette.  I don’t include “Femme Fatale” despite the fact that I like that version and tack “Dream Lover” on the end.    I do this because it could be taken a number of ways positively and negatively as well as the fact that I enjoy its disjointedness.  It seemed fittingly untidy way to end an album with so many twists and so much depth.  It’s not a feel good album but it is cathartic.

Side A

1.) Stroke It Noel

2.)For You

3.)Kizza Me

4.)You Can’t Have Me

5.)O Dana

6.)Blue Moon

7.)Take Care

Side B

1.)Jesus Christ

2.)Nighttime

3.)Big Black Car

4.)Holocaust

5.)Kanga Roo

6.)Thank You Friends

7.)Dream Lover