Chicago (the pop group) were really strange people.

I love Chicago. But I’m a tad biased, being that one of my closest girlfriend’s dad is in the band.

They’re good musicians. All of them. Definitely all over the place in their discography, as you pointed out, but it worked, obviously.

Incredible band . Colour My World is a favorite.

You sometimes have to plough through a lot to get to the good stuff, but it's there.

Their sound and style changed a lot.

I always loved Saturday In The Park.

And 25 0r 6 to 4.

Terry Kath was the identifiable lead singer up until his death at age 31.

I'm a fan of their eponymous (at the time) Chicago Transit Authority LP, their first one, which was a breakthrough fusion of brassy jazz and progressive rock. Their later, MOR-ish and poppy stuff, not so much.

Good god. It looks like an ugly contest.

I dunno. I always thought trombone player/composer James Pankow (on the right with the, um, festive green shirt and VPL) was DILFy.

Of course now he's much older:

[quote]Good god. It looks like an ugly contest.

I don't think they ever actually appeared on their album covers.

In those days we often didn't know what singers or bands looked like. Nor did we care.

Terry Kath. I recall reading about his demise in a teen magazine. Playing with a revolver as I recall. It was a horrid article to come across in a teen magazine. They werent teen idols.

Peter Cetera was a pretty big name, but maybe it was after he went solo that his name became known.

Why so many of them? Isn't 4 or 5 the go to number for band?

I've watched their Live in Tanglewood concert again and again. Hard to believe 50 years have passed because the sound was incredible. Saw them live in 1974. One of the best concerts ever. They still had that punchy sound before Peter Cetera took over for good.

All the band members were very talented and somehow they managed to put out a tremendous amount of music in a relatively short time. I also wonder how they got so good so fast. Lots and lots of practice probably lol.

English is not your first language, I take it. After your English classes, ask them to focus on grammar.

Colour My World was the big "slow dance" song when I was in high school, but their most representative song was "Beginnings". Loved, love, loved "25 or 6 to 4", but hated their later remake of the song. Of the ballads, my favorite was "Hard Habit To Break".

Colour My World was the big "slow dance" song when I was in high school, but their most representative song was "Beginnings". Loved, love, loved "25 or 6 to 4", but hated their later remake of the song. Of the ballads, my favorite was "Hard Habit To Break".

R13, that was rude and inaccurate. OP, your post was fine.

They started out as a more jazz-oriented rock group -- like Blood, Sweat and Tears -- but eventually morphed into more generic MOR-rock.

I didn't Chicago until after Peter Cetera left so to me the definitive Chicago Era was when Chicago 19 was released. A near perfect cd.

They had so many members because they used so many horn instruments.

Terry Kath was an amazing singer and guitarist - doing both on this song. Their drummer Danny Seraphine was world class level too.

[quote][R13], that was rude and inaccurate. OP, your post was fine.

Thank you, R16. What an unpleasant person R13 is!

It's the second snippy one I've encountered this evening. I don't usually get them too much...so it takes me by surprise.

And yes, my post WAS fine. I wouldn't send it in to The New Yorker, but it was fine for here and for Chicago.

Terry Kath was amazing! Great big brute of a man, so sexy too.

“Make Me Smile” is a favorite!

Baby, What A Big Surprise is my favorite.

When I was in college they became big again with the album that had "You're The Inspiration"

I liked their first two albums, back when they were hippie radicals—or that was the persona they were selling, at least. Then I had a bad acid trip in 1970 during which Chicago II played all night long. I never wanted to listen to them again, after hearing their music drip down the walls of my dorm room that night.

I never bought, or was even aware of, any subsequent music. I failed to realize the pop drek they put out in the '70s was even by Chicago until sometime in the '80s.

I still want to leave the room, the restaurant, or the car when "Color My World" comes on.

Peter Cetera announced in November he’s retiring before his voice gives out. When he got kicked out of Chicago in 85, he wanted a Phil Collins arrangement with the group where he could solo work and do band stuff. They wanted to tour immediately again. He wanted to do a solo album so they let him go. Huge mistake. Chicago tours endlessly now, so Cetera would’ve left eventually, but they could’ve done a few more memorable albums. None of the singers post Cetera have ever measured up.

[quote] I don't think they ever actually appeared on their album covers.

Just once that I know of.

[quote]Then I had a bad acid trip in 1970 during which Chicago II played all night long. I never wanted to listen to them again, after hearing their music drip down the walls of my dorm room that night.

Are you OK now gurl, or are there still repercussions?

God, I hated Peter Cetera's voice

Favorite song: Feeling Stronger Every Day

But I also really like Saturday in the Park, Beginnings, Colour My World, & Happy Man (and even Harry Truman)

Color my World was the ubiquitous go to talent show performance if you played the flute.

They sucked completely after the 5th album--more of a MOR band than the jazz rock of their beginnings. The 60s and esp, 70s lead to a lot of fusions of music, most famously the art-rock, glam rock and prog-rock bands, but "Chicago" like "Blood Sweat & Tears" and the lesser known Chicago-based band "Ides of March" did a jazz infused sound with horns. There were locals bands all over the country that did this sort of thing--House in Philadelphia was one. It probably sounds odd now, but then everything these days is homogenized electronic crap with no melody or depth.

James Pankow is the older brother of character actor John Pankow.

I always lump them in with Bread. Same era, I guess.

I LOVED Chicago as a young teen. I was a fan of all the songs featuring the punchy horn section. All the slow dance ballads without horns are the worst. "Color My World" (Terry K lead vocals) was the slow grind song of Junior High dances.

This is a band I now hear on the rarest occasions on the radio or someone's playlist. When I visited NYC I definitely sang "Another Rainy Day in New York City" to myself while I strolled around with my umbrella in the drizzle. I do still have the majority of my childhood albums, maybe I'll play Chicago on the old record player later today.

[quote]This is a band I now hear on the rarest occasions on the radio or someone's playlist. When I visited NYC I definitely sang "Another Rainy Day in New York City" to myself while I strolled around with my umbrella in the drizzle.

And me...THIS ☞

Can anyone explain what “25 or 6 to 4” is about? I’ve wondered since childhood.

So many great songs, but Beginnings is my favorite. Hearing that takes me back to such younger days. Happier days.

Also love Feeling Stronger Every Day and Make Me Smile. Hearing either of them instantly improves my mood.

Saw Chicago in concert at LA's Greek Theater in 2007. Fantastic concert. One of the best I've ever seen. Even in their 60s, the band put on a lively show. America opened for them. So, it was a great 70s evening.

[quote]Can anyone explain what “25 or 6 to 4” is about? I’ve wondered since childhood.

He'd been up most the night and kept looking at the clock and got himself into a muddle - is it 25 to 4? NO, IT'S NOW 6 to 4.

r32 Bread and Chicago had almost nothing in common.

Bread had a very different audience--much more female, MOR. Even, Chicago's later sound was more Michael McDonald-ish than anythging like Bread. Oddly, Bread did well on the R&B charts as did the Beach Boys and Carpenters.