Chris Bell’s only solo single during his all-too-short lifetime, I Am The Cosmos is now recognised as a classic.

Often acclaimed as the originators of power pop, Big Star are one of those bands revered by music critics but mostly unappreciated by the public at large.

The same goes for co-founder Chris Bell’s only solo single to be released in his brief lifetime – I Am The Cosmos is a woozy, psychedelic ballad with a glorious guitar solo.

It’s the kind of sound Kurt Vile has dedicated his entire career to recreating and an influence on many other musicians, such as Jonathan Wilson.

After playing in several Memphis garage bands in the late 1960s, Bell formed Big Star with Alex Chilton, but left after co-creating their now-critically acclaimed 1972 debut, #1 Album.

Depressed by its commercial failure, he was troubled by drink and drug problems, and tormented by the conflict between his Christianity and repressed homosexuality.

Two days after Christmas 1978 he joined rock’s “27 Club” when he died in a car accident in Memphis.

This song, his first solo single, came out earlier that year, backed by You And Your Sister, but remained more or less undiscovered – aside from cover versions by This Mortal Coil – until they came out on Bell’s only (very) posthumous solo album I Am The Cosmos in 1992.

It’s also been covered by Beck, who memorably performed it live with Wilco.