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big star

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big star grocery store (former)

from big star posted in music by nevereatshreddedwheat

The band Big Star got their name from a grocery store located here, part of the Big Star chain of supermarkets in Memphis in the 60s and 70s. This building, currently occupied by an auto shop, is located across the street from the old Ardent Studios where Big Star recorded their first album.

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ardent studios (former)

from big star posted in music by nevereatshreddedwheat

Ardent Studios, home to the in-house label Ardent Records, was located on National Street in Memphis after founder John Fry moved the studio there from his family's garage in 1966. This is where Big Star recorded their first album #1 Record. Led Zeppelin III was mixed here in 1970, and Ardent also recorded sessions for Stax Records.

In 1971 the studio moved to its current location, where they would go on to work with hundreds of bands including the Replacements, R.E.M. and the White Stripes. This building on National now houses a small deli.

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t.g.i. friday’s (former)

from big star posted in music by nevereatshreddedwheat

In the early 70s, before it was just a depressing place to eat Guy Fieri-themed burgers with your coworkers, T.G.I. Friday's was actually a popular hangout for the hip crowd, at least in Memphis. A photo shot by William Eggleston on the back of Big Star's second album Radio City shows Jody Stephens, Andy Hummel and Alex Chilton partying down at the former Overton Square location.

The original T.G.I. Friday's was located in New York, but it was first franchised at this spot in Memphis in 1970 where it stayed until 2003.

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