Big Star, considered to be among the founders of power pop, has been cited as an influence by many of the major alternative bands of the ’80s and ’90s, and continues to be a powerful presence in today’s musical landscape. Artists such as R.E.M., Teenage Fanclub, The Replacements (who famously penned the song “Alex Chilton”) and Wilco all enthusiastically tout the artistic impact of the group. Mike Mills recalls Big Star as “a band who had gotten it right, who made records that sounded like rock and roll bands should sound. A band who wrote all the songs, from flat-out rockers to achingly beautiful ballads that were still somehow rock songs.”

The legacy of #1 Record has far exceeded the original commercial letdowns of both albums (Radio City and #1 Record), which are now considered to be milestones in the history of rock by critics and musicians alike. The LP made it onto Rolling Stone‘s 500 “Greatest Albums of All Time” lists, and numerous artists (Elliott Smith, Beck and Jeff Buckley to name a few) have recorded covers of the band’s songs.