Alex Chilton at 17

httpv://youtu.be/HIWY8UyW9bw

Before he was a rock icon and the frontman of seminal power pop band Big Star, Alex Chilton had huge commercial success as the teen frontman of the Box Tops. He was 17-years-old when “The Letter” remained #1 on the Billboard Music Charts for four weeks.

A few years later, in 1972, Chilton wrote one of the prettiest rock songs about adolescence ever recorded.

httpv://youtu.be/lS0_uKHQ6OE

Won’t you let me walk you home from school 
Won’t you let me meet you at the pool 
Maybe Friday I can 
get tickets for the dance 
and I’ll take you 
Won’t you tell your dad, “Get off my back” 
Tell him what we said ’bout ‘Paint It Black’ 
Rock ‘n Roll is here to stay 
Come inside where it’s okay 
And I’ll shake you. 
Won’t you tell me what you’re thinking of 
Would you be an outlaw for my love 
If it’s so, well, let me know 
If it’s “no”, well, I can go 
I won’t make you.

Thanks to Carl Williamson and Olivia Laing for the tip!