My Personal thoughts on
Chicago...
Favorites...
Song= "Beginnings"
Member= Robert Lamm (musically) and Tris Imboden (personality-wise)
Album= Chicago Transit Authority
Producer= James William Guercio
Video= "Stay the Night"
Unfortunately, many people now a days hear about the
band Chicago, and think of the ballads from the eighties. I wish I
could save the world's population from themselves!!! I am of the belief
that everything after Chicago XI, while likable, is not the real
Chicago. I feel like Chicago is really several bands... The early
years were dominated mostly by Robert with great additions from Jimmy and
Terry. The "real" Chicago.
Hot Streets (12) and 13 seem come from a different
band. With an "attractive" new singer, Donnie Dacus, Chicago
tried to compete with the whole disco thing. And I get a sense of
"please accept us , we want to be hip" I almost never listen to the
result, Hot Streets, but I find a few gems in 13. Specifically "Reruns"
by Robert.
XIV marks yet another change in Chicago. With
the departure of Dacus, Robert and Peter are left to half-heartedly
carry the vocals. I like XIV, but it marks the low point in Chicago's
career in terms of excitement. The early '80's were rather strange,
and Chicago had not yet found their place in new music.
Chicago was ditched by Columbia in the early '80's despite
the fact that they had been the labels first platinum act, and a final Columbia
album was released... Greatest Hits Volume II. (15)
Mega hit, mushy producer David Foster was brought in
to turn the band's career around. There are two ways to deal with this
change: Positive and Negative. Postitive= They made a HUGE comeback
with their second number one song "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" and reached a new
generation of fans. Chicago 17 was the biggest selling Chicago album
, selling over 7million copies around the world. Both 16 and 17 were
very well produced. BUT... These albums changed Chicago's image
permanently. They have since been sentenced to the hells of middle
of the road, adult oriented mushy, blah , sincerless music. That was
fine when it was "in", but that damaged the impression todays teens have
of Chicago. Their management wants more heartwarming hits and Chicago can
not break free.
Chicago 18 was similar to the previous two, but Jason
Scheff was hired to take over on bass and vocals when Peter went his own
way. 19 brought us a new producer, but contained hardly any original
Chicago written music. Please, Robert... Jimmy... write us a CHICAGO song rather than handing us a heart-warming, mass produced Diane Warren
song!!!!=(
Chicago Twenty-1 is admired by many fans, but in my mind,
it does not stand out. I don't hate it, but it will not be found in
my frequenty played CDs pile. After its release, the fairytale Stone
of Sisyphus began. It was destined to be Chicago's definitve comeback,
cutting edge album. But alas, the grey coats have deemed Chicago
a ballad band.....sigh..... It has joined Brian Wilson's Smile in music heaven.
That's all I can say because I hear Chicago's management is rather
touchy about this subject. Maybe it is guilt...
Night and Day was Chicago's version of becoming a cover
band. Very good, and rather appealing, but it lacks the spark that
I am seeking as a sign that there is hope for the band I love so
much.
Currently Chicago is focusing on the past with Greatest
Hits releases, and possibly, a Christmas album. Hmmm....
Don't get me wrong, I love Chicago, I just feel that
we are being cheated out of ggod music and they out of creative merit.
"What's This World Comin' To?"