There Was A Light: The Cosmic History of Chris Bell and the Rise of Big Star

Rich Tupica

Sept 2020 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Chris Abernathy

About this audiobook

There Was A Light details the pop culture phenomenon that made Big Star legendary and divulges how its staunch fanbase saved the band from obscurity. With Chris Bell at the center of the Big Star universe, this book carefully reveals the production of the band's masterful 1972 debut LP, #1 Record, for Ardent/Stax Records. Despite stellar reviews, the record suffered abysmal sales. Soon after, toxic personality conflicts and turmoil tore the band apart while Bell battled drug abuse and depression. There Was A Light then delves into Big Star's second and third albums, while recounting Bell's second act as a struggling solo musician and born-again Christian. During several trips to Europe, he produced ambitious recordings and pitched himself to record labels-even crossing paths with Paul McCartney. From this fertile era arose Bell's lone solo album, the posthumously released I Am the Cosmos-his swan song and masterpiece.

About the author

Rich Tupica is a Lansing, Michigan-based journalist and music critic whose work has been published in national and international publications, including UNCUT, Record Collector, American Songwriter, and Ugly Things magazine.

Chris Abernathy is a lifelong professional storyteller who found his calling telling scary stories to campers around a roaring fire at Camp Sumatanga in Alabama. In 2015 he began narrating audiobooks and now works full-time from his home studio.