In a sort-of response to johnp's post about a rumored new Big Star album in
the future, gotta say that that's news to everyone in Memphis, including a
few Ardent employees I know.  There is, however, a Big Star tribute album in
the works that Jody Stephens is putting together to honor Ardent Records'
25th Anniversary (and Ardent Studios' 30th).   There was an article by Larry
Nager in yesterday's Memphis Commercial Appeal that gave a few details - he
first reported the album back in late September.   Here it 'tis, reprinted
without permission:

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BIG STAR TRIBUTE ATTRACTS FAN BAND LETTERS TO CLEO

    Message to Big Star from Letters to Cleo's Kay Hanley - ''Please let us
be on the tribute record.''

    As Ardent Studios' re-animated Ardent Records label prepares a 25th
anniversary album in tribute to the highly influential Memphis band, some
very high-profile young bands are clamoring to be a part of it. The Gin
Blossoms and the Afghan Whigs are two of the groups contributing tracks to
the project, which is being produced under the auspices of Big Star drummer
and Ardent Records A&R director Jody Stephens. The release of the album is
set for 1996, a quarter century after Big Star's Ardent debut, ''No. 1
Record.''

    The album was a poor seller and the followup, ''Radio City,'' fared even
worse. ''Big Star Third/Sister Lovers'' never even made it into release on
Ardent, as the Stax-subsidiary label was by then going down with its big
brother.

    Nonetheless, the Big Star legend grew, as dozens of young post-punk bands
cited the Memphis group led by Alex Chilton as a major inspiration. The
Replacements' Paul Westerberg even wrote "Alex Chilton" in tribute.

    That influence continues today, when a reunited version of Big Star plays
select dates such as last Wednesday's publication party in Manhattan for the
newest edition of Rolling Stone magazine's rock history. Letters to Cleo
debut album, ''Aurora Gory Alice,'' includes the track Big Star.

    But it was that album's "Here & Now", featured in the soundtrack to TV's
Melrose Place, that landed the Boston-based band on the charts. Letters to
Cleo is now touring behind its second album for Giant Records, ''Wholesale
Meats and Fish.'' Wednesday, Letters to Cleo plays the New Daisy Theatre
(doors at 7 p.m., $8 advance, $10 day of show).

    The Big Star link helped bring Letters to Cleo to Ardent Studios, where
the band recorded Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" for the pro-choice ''Spirit of
'73'' compilation featuring modern acts doing '70s rock.

    Given the band's history as Big Star fans and Ardent veterans, Letters to
Cleo's desire to do the project is understandable. Hanley, 27, also gives
another, more personal reason.

    ''I also have a tremendous crush on Jody Stephens,'' she said with a
laugh, adding, ''You tell him that if we're not asked we'll be really mad.''

    Hanley insists she's joking about Stephens, but her choice of song seems
to say otherwise.

    ''I personally would want to do "Way Out West", which is the only song
that Jody sang. I really don't have a crush on Jody, although he is very
handsome. "Way Out West" just happens to be my favorite Big Star song.''