Chicago Bound

My wife made a statement that got me thinking. As many of you who read my posts know, lots of things get me thinking. I'm a thinking kind of guy. Anyway, she said that Chicago really is an amazing band. This is a band whose sound is primarily brass, yet over the years they have been able to consistently produce hits and make the pop and rock charts right alongside bands like Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, etc. That doesn't seem like a big deal on the surface, but when you really think about it, keeping a brass-heavy band on the pop and rock charts is quite a feat. Not so much the pop charts, maybe, but the rock charts for sure.

And Chicago have been labeled everything from progressive rock to pop to soft rock. Chicago themselves have proclaimed they are a rock and roll band with horns.

The band was formed in 1967 in (where else?) Chicago, Illinois. They wrote and performed politically inclined tunes and incorporated a progressive rock feel that later leaned on soft rock elements and lyrics that might be considered more widely accessible.

The original band (Chicago Transit Authority) consisted of keyboardist/vocalist Robert Lamm, James Pankow on trombone,Walter Parazaider on saxaphone, Lee Loughnane on trumpet, Terry Kath on guitar, and Danny Seraphine on drums. Peter Cetera joined the band as a vocalist/bassist shortly after its formation. Many members have come and gone since the beginning. Of the original lineup, Robert, James, Walter, and Lee are still with the band.

The first album, released in 1969 and entitled The Chicago Transit Authority, produced two big hits, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? and Questions 67 and 68.

Due to legal issues with the mass transport Chicago Transit Authority, the band changed its name to Chicago and released its second album, simply entitled Chicago, in 1970. Make Me Smile, Colour My World, and 25 or 6 to 4 all became hits.

More albums followed, along with additional hits that included Saturday in the Park, Just You 'n' Me, Wishing You Were Here, Old Days, If You Leave Me Now, and Baby What a Big Surprise. In '78, guitarist Terry Kath died of an accidental gunshot wound (self inflicted) and the band nearly called it quits.

Instead, they released the album Hot Streets (the first without a numbered title since their third album). Hot Streets proved a big success with the hits Alive Again, No-Tell Lover, and Gone Long Gone. This particular album is one of my favorites.

The next couple albums failed to grab much attention, but Chicago 16, released in 1982, produced three huge hits, Hard to say I'm Sorry, Love Me tomorrow, and What You're Missing. Next came Chicago 17 with Hard Habit to Break, Stay the Night, You're the Inspiration, and Along Comes a Woman. By the time of  Chicago 18 Peter Cetera had left the band. Chicago 18 featured If She Would Have Been Faithful, Will You Still Love Me?, and a re-recording of 25 0r 6 to 4.

Chicago 19 blew the charts out of the water. It's my favorite Chicago album. Soft rock and pop to the core, as far away from the original Chicago sound as you can get, but an exercise in writing hooks. The big hits from the album are What Kind of Man Would I Be?, I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love, Look Away, You're Not Alone, and We Can Last Forever. Those songs aside, the rest of the songs on the album have all the ingredients necessary for a hit as well.

Founding member Danny Seraphine (drums) departed from the band in 1990. Chicago's popularity diminished somewhat after the 80s, but the band has continued to make albums, the latest being 2008's Stone of Sisyphus, which is a "lost" Chicago album, and 2011's O Christmas Tree, a collection of classic Christmas songs and a new original tune.

Whether you prefer their progressive rock sounds, their lush brass arrangements with pop undertones, or their full-on soft rock/adult contemporary sound, Chicago has carved its niche in the musical world.