CHICAGO

"Chicago Transit Authority" (Rhino; 1970)

Reviewed by Snidermann

This band was initially called The Big Thing, then Chicago Transit Authority, and then finally settled on the simpler name of Chicago. They were formed in 1967, and everyone over a certain age has heard of this rock band with their wind and brass instruments. A few songs still have heavy rotation on the FM classic oldies stations and can be heard through out the world at any given time. They were always on the fringe musically, for me. Yes, I had heard of them and, yes, I would recognize their music; however, I never really went deep into their catalog.

So in 2020, COVID happens and suddenly, I have a lot of time on my hands and I hear the song "25 or 6 to 4" (admit it, you sang that title) on the radio and I thought, I'm gonna listen to some Chicago. For the first time, I really listened to all the aspects of the music and, let me tell you, I was blown away. The attention to detail, the outstanding talent and the downright moxie of the band showed through the recording like a freight train. That is hard to do when it comes to a recording that came out 55 years ago(!). The combination of rock, jazz, soul, pop, R & B, classical and a few more genres I have yet to figure out—combined with outstanding songwriting—make Chicago simply a national treasure.

In the band they have, of course, guitar (Terry Kath, more on him later), drums, keyboards and bass. Right alongside of them is a saxophone, trumpet and trombone. Who would have thought that those instruments would work in a rock band? But it just so happens to work perfectly. When the band was recording this release, the record company complained that there was way too much music for an album and they would have to cut some songs. The band wanted a double album. The only way the record company would pay for it was if the band took up the difference themselves and, hence, the first Chicago release is a double album. There is another good story about their debut release: The engineer noticed they were seven minutes short so the producer told Terry Kath they needed seven minutes of filler and he improvised a song on the spot. That song is "Free Form Guitar." One other thing: This album was retro-actively renamed "Chicago II." Although it was the band's first album to be released as just Chicago, they had previously released an album as The Chicago Transit Authority.

Every aspect of this band is at the top of their game in 1967 and, after many years, records, world tours and numerous line up changes, Chicago is still a force to be recognized with in the rock industry. Jimi Hendrix said Terry Kath played better guitar than he did and also called him the greatest guitarist in the world. The members of that 1967 recording have become legends: Terry Kath, guitar; Robert Lamm, Keyboards; Peter Cetera, vocals and bass; Lee Loughnane, trumpet; James Pankow, trombone; Walter Parazaider, woodwinds; Danny Serapfhine, drums. They could all write music and also play multiple instruments.

Outstanding band all around and, frankly, the more you listen to the music the more you notice how truly great it is.

For more information, check out https://chicagotheband.com/.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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