Ok, maybe not you... but you, and you... there's a Chicago hater in every crowd.

I know... I was one once.

Let me be straight: I DO, still, actively and passionately, hate Peter Cetera's solo stuff and the blandness it represents. What he did to Chicago... man...

What brought all this up is I was in the cave working on my turntable and listening to Chicago III on the main system via my trusty Philips CDR 775. I kept having to stop and sit down and listen. Frequently with shit-eating smile. Shit-eating, because I feel like I'm doing something naughty and wrong.

But by the time the solo in "Sing a Mean Tune Kid" kicks in again, I don't care anymore. It feels right! I sat down and just listened, slack-jawed, swept up in the soundstage, intensely focused. It's a been a while since an album did that to me.

I've had Chicago Transit Authority, CII, CIII and CV for some time. Those kick-butt early singles made me pick these up but I didn't really expect much from them. Was I ever wrong! Now that I am finally getting around to them, each one is filled with fantastic sounds. The lyrics are interesting, vocal delivery spot on, and I mean SPOT on, fascinating twists and turns in the music. And the horns, of course. The horns!

I've been pretty pleased with my current main setup- main, but it's in the unfinished basement room, main as far as best setup in the house. At the heart of it is a Kenwood KA-7100 and Infinity Qbs. Not TOTL, but a very nice vintage setup. And Chicago III sounds like pure freakin' gold on this setup!

I just had to stop what I was doing and type this up for you guys. Yeah, I'm enjoying it that much!!!! This is why we do this!!! :music:

I love the CTA album, and I bought some of the other early ones but never gave them a good sit-down listen. I will soon based on what you said. Thanks!

In a word (or maybe 2) Peter Cetera. But I too had a recent Chicago revival. I came across a great copy of Chicago IX in a box of records my sister gave me. Even though this LP is all hits that I grew immensely tired of (except Beginnings) when they were in heavy rotation, I find that I can appreciate many of them now.

In a word (or maybe 2) Peter Cetera. But I too had a recent Chicago revival. I came across a great copy of Chicago IX in a box of records my sister gave me. Even though this LP is all hits that I grew immensely tired of (except Beginnings) when they were in heavy rotation, I find that I can appreciate many of them now.

The irony is, his harmony vocals totally MAKE the classic Chicago vocal sound.

I think he should have stayed on backing vocs. Although a couple of the very poppy songs on those early albums are sung by Cetera, and they are great.

Like everyone, I love the early Chicago stuff. Speaks for itself.

But I will admit liking the Cetera stuff up to about Chicago X. Reminds me of my preteen years when baseball was pure and an orange soda was my poison.

After that and especially in the 80s, they sold their souls to blandness. I have not paid attention since then.

I do liek Chicago, but cannot stand IX...it sounds as if they took a pre-recorded cassette tape (maybe second gen? :scratch2:) and transfered it to vinyl....

The original albums (lastest I have is V) are good....I still don't have III or II.

I never hated Chicago, was just not that crazy about that much brass in a pop/rock band.

I did happen upon a Chicago reunion show- in Chicago, of course- on Directv recently. It seems they have finally shucked off the Cetera shadow and hired a guitarist that, while not the axe god Terry Kath was, comes close as far as overall sound. It was not bad at all. I wonder if they will record something or just be content to ride the nostalgia circuit.

The irony is, his harmony vocals totally MAKE the classic Chicago vocal sound.

I think he should have stayed on backing vocs. Although a couple of the very poppy songs on those early albums are sung by Cetera, and they are great.

I have to concede that fact. It's like Dennis DeYoung and Styx. He was never my favorite but it's not the sound of the band I think of without him (never saw the later tours).

Ok, maybe not you... but you, and you... there's a Chicago hater in every crowd.

I know... I was one once.

But by the time the solo in "Sing a Mean Tune Kid" kicks in again, I don't care anymore. It feels right! I sat down and just listened, slack-jawed, swept up in the soundstage, intensely focused. It's a been a while since an album did that to me.

I've had Chicago Transit Authority, CII, CIII and CV for some time. Those kick-butt early singles made me pick these up but I didn't really expect much from them. Was I ever wrong! Now that I am finally getting around to them, each one is filled with fantastic sounds. The lyrics are interesting, vocal delivery spot on, and I mean SPOT on, fascinating twists and turns in the music. And the horns, of course. The horns!


Sounds like you have all the ones that matter, to me at least. Chicago III is IMO their best album. not heavy on hits...just kick-ass jams.
I think after V the money started to be too good to change anything. It was all downhill from there.

Sorry. Just don't. I Don't hate the old or the new. Don't hate Cetera, don't hate the post Kath era. Don't believe the band died with him. Don't hate the Christmas album.

http://www.billchamplin.net/

Don't kill me. I don't HATE them but I never really cared for Chicago even though I bought the first 3 double LP's back in the day. There were some things I liked well enough that I thought, may be this time... I'll like an entire LP. It just never happened. A few months ago I went through my LP's and pulled all the Chicago out and 20 or so others. I gave them to a co-worker who just got into vinyl and had nothing. He's enjoying them so it's all good.

I never hated Chicago, was just not that crazy about that much brass in a pop/rock band.

Me either, I must admit. I like Van Morrison's band fine, because he's going for a soulful sound. But when it's atypical, like Neil Young, I just can't do it.

Only exception: Stereolab. They started peppering their songs with rather Chicago-esque horns (and outright ripped them off in "Fluorescences") and thought it strange at first, but it really grew on me. It's what brought me back to Chicago, strangely.

Don't kill me. I don't HATE them but I never really cared for Chicago even though I bought the first 3 double LP's back in the day. There were some things I liked well enough that I thought, may be this time... I'll like an entire LP. It just never happened. A few months ago I went through my LP's and pulled all the Chicago out and 20 or so others. I gave them to a co-worker who just got into vinyl and had nothing. He's enjoying them so it's all good.

Even I must say, amidst my Chicago-enthusing, there is at least one song on each of the early albums I've heard that I don't like. maybe a few on II and V. I'm sure if I listened to all of them that number would just grow over time to total dislike.

I have to concede that fact. It's like Dennis DeYoung and Styx. He was never my favorite but it's not the sound of the band I think of without him (never saw the later tours).

Perfect example. Styx really needs opera man back in the fold.

Chicago did sell out after the 70's. I was lucky and heard them live in Cincinnati when they were great and Terry Kath was among the living. Like all music, moderation is the key. I've got nine of their albums. And I just wonder what happened to the original CTA I bought in '74? Oh Well, it's here somewhere! Just stay away from Robert Lamb's solo album Skinny Boy. It's 1974 debut was pitiful and still to this day is pitiful IMHO. But I've still have a copy. Call me Mr. Packrat, cause I am.

I.......................................


Don't like Chicago at all.


Sorry. No particular reason; just perhaps I'm a moron. Who knows?

You prolly wouldn't agree with what's in my cd/viynl-rotation.


Enjoy what you like and others be damned!


:D


Matt

Sorry. No particular reason; just perhaps I'm a moron. Who knows?


No, no! Not at all! That's what I love about AK! I was expecting, and looking forward to, this sort of reaction! As you rightly point out, to not like them at all, or in Fropiler's case, to not even care to love or hate, all of it's perfectly valid.

My post is almost as much about my stereo as Chicago. It's one rare case, I must admit, where the sheer sonic impact of the album got my attention, and the album had its chance to win me over, against all instincts..

I don't 100% love Chicago, nor do I hate them. I'll admit I never owned any vinyl, but back in the days of AOR, my local station played pretty much everything Chicago did at one time or another and I liked what I heard. I've always liked the sound of brass anyway, so Chicago wasn't the only band of its type whose sound caught my ear: Ides Of March, BS&T, EW&F and the like were other brass-reinforced groups which I've always enjoyed listening to.

Mediocrity shouldn't elicit strong emotions.

Mediocrity shouldn't elicit strong emotions.

even within the mediocre?

I'm not exactly Khalil Gibran, man...

Why do I hate Chicago? Because I used to live there!!! Just kidding!!! I love Chicago the city that is. Back in 1973 I went on a double date because this chick had 4-2nd row center seats to see them. We wern't too excited about seeing them at the time, my buddy and I were into Jazz Fusion & Art Rock and stuff . . . so near the end of the concert we told the girls it was the last song, so we left and were walking about 2-3 blocks away from the concert and they kept playing & playing . . . we were definitely on their Schiltz list!! I don't dislike them. And actually play the CTA LP once in a while but I dislike commercial radio and what it's done with music.
I just had to add something to this thread!!! Thanks ponderbear

Have any of you early Chicago fans heard the recently-released [i]Stone of Sisyphus]/i]? It is supposed to be a return to form, recorded 15-some years ago, but their record label wouldn't release it at the time.

Why do I hate Chicago? Because I used to live there!!! Just kidding!!! I love Chicago the city that is. Back in 1973 I went on a double date because this chick had 4-2nd row center seats to see them. We wern't too excited about seeing them at the time, my buddy and I were into Jazz Fusion & Art Rock and stuff . . . so near the end of the concert we told the girls it was the last song, so we left and were walking about 2-3 blocks away from the concert and they kept playing & playing . . . we were definitely on their Schiltz list!! I don't dislike them. And actually play the CTA LP once in a while but I dislike commercial radio and what it's done with music.
I just had to add something to this thread!!! Thanks ponderbear

I too Lived in Chicago basically all my life, and it might've been the very same concert you saw, that I saw. Was it at Chicago Stadium, because that is where I seen them? Yes, Terry Kath was still alive.

Danny's drumming was great, he always was an oustanding drummer, with a very nice style. And yes, it was around this same time that I had seen some other great rocking drummers, such as John Bonham at the Chicago Stadium (Zep, when they came out with Houses of the Holy), and Carl Palmer (ELP, when they came out with Brain Salad Surgery) at the Chicago Ampitheather.

Still, Chicago seemd quite lackluster, I expected more.
Seemed that they were so underpowered, and almost sounded under-staffed in the Stadium. Perhaps, just too big a venue for them?

If I recall correctly, Terry K was playing a Strat, and had a Fender Twin Reverb sitting on a Chair! It didn't even sound like they ran him through the PA.
The Horns sounded a bit anemic, and thin. So did the vocals.

My older cousin Armond used to tell me, that Chicago was primarily known in the olden days, as a small venue, nighclub band, and he told me he used to see them before they even became big, at a Place in Chi-Town which was called "Club Laurel".

All in all though, I am very glad I got to see them, especially since it was not that long after, that Terry K had passed. Mark

I too Lived in Chicago basically all my life, and it might've been the very same concert you saw, that I saw. Was it at Chicago Stadium, because that is where I seen them? Yes, Terry Kath was still alive.

Danny's drumming was great, he always was an oustanding drummer, with a very nice style. And yes, it was around this same time that I had seen some other great rocking drummers, such as John Bonham at the Chicago Stadium (Zep, when they came out with Houses of the Holy), and Carl Palmer (ELP, when they came out with Brain Salad Surgery) at the Chicago Ampitheather.

Still Chicago seemd quite lackluster, I expected more.
Seemed that they were so underpowered, and almost sounded under-staffed in the Stadium.

If I recall correctly, Terry K was playing a Strat, and had a Fender Twin Reverb sitting on a Chair! It didn't even even sound like they ran him through the PA.
The Horns sounded a bit anemic, and thin. So did the vocals.

My older cousin Armond used to tell me, that Chicago was primarily known in the olden days, as a small venue, nighclub band, and he told me he used to see them before they even became big, at a Place in Chi-Town which was called "Club Laurel".

All in all though, I am very glad I got to see them, especially since it was not that long after, that Terry K had passed. Mark

Hey MarkD . . . where did you live in Chicago?? Who was the back up group?

Hey MarkD . . . where did you live in Chicago?? Who was the back up group?

Near West Side, Taylor St (Between Western, and Ogden Ave). I lived close enough to the Stadium, that often we walked to Black Hawk Games. Wasn't exactly a "good neighborhood" (Madison St), and probably still isn't.

When I seen Chicago, I'm pretty sure they were solo, meaning no other Bands, Shortly after though, I recall one of my good friends seeing Chicago playing a concert (I believe at the Stadium) with The Beach Boys! Mark

Near West Side, Taylor St (Between Western, and Ogden Ave). I lived close enough to the Stadium, that often we walked to Black Hawk Games. Wasn't exactly a "good neighborhood" (Madison St), and probably still isn't.

When I seen Chicago, I'm pretty sure they were solo, meaning no other Bands, Shortly after though, I recall one of my good friends seeing Chicago playing a concert (I believe at the Stadium) with The Beach Boys! Mark

Interesting . . . I googled Laurel Club and there seems to be a little info on that. When I saw them they had the Pointer Sisters backing them before they hit it big, they played that tune "I Think We Can Make It" or something like that with a 3 piece Jazz group. I grew up in the Old Town/New Town area at Lincoln & Diversey and moved to Mesa, AZ in 2000. Sans Winter!!!! Cheers!

MarkD51 . . . Are you a drummer too? I'm digging that Slingerland Kit!!

MarkD51 . . . Are you a drummer too? I'm digging that Slingerland Kit!!

Yep Bob, of course I'm a Drummer, studied at the old, now long gone Frank's Drum Shop that was on 226 S Wabash under the tutelage of Phil Stanger for 5 years.

Phil was a student of Roy C Knapp, who taught all the greats, Gene Krupa, Louis Bellson, Ed Shaugnessy, the two Bobby's (Christian, and Rosengarden), William F Ludwig II, Haskell harr, Baby Dodds, and 100's of other notararies. I took my NARD Test from Roy Knapp, and passed that first time out (I was scared shitless of Roy!) in July 1968.

The Drum Set pictured in my Avatar was one of Barrett Deems own personal sets, which has been in my possession since 2001. Barrett was Louis Armstrong's Drummer in the 50's, was best friends with Gene Krupa, and in fact, was one of gene's Paul Bearers in '74, played with many greats, including Benny Goodman, and was very close friend with my Teacher Phil.

Both Danny Seraphine, and Barrett Deems were Slingerland Drum Company Endorsers, Barrett probably so, for close to 40 years.

My particular Drum Set was made for Barrett by Slingerland in 1980, when Barrett, and his own Big band, where playing a lot of Krupa Tribute Tunes at the Elbo Room on Lincoln Ave in Chicago.

The BD/GK Insignia on the Bass Drum of my Drum Set was made for Barrett, at his request. I did not put that on the Drum, Barrett did. Mark

Yep Bob, of course I'm a Drummer, studied at the old, now long gone Frank's Drum Shop that was on 226 S Wabash under the tutelage of Phil Stanger for 5 years.

Phil was a student of Roy C Knapp, who taught all the greats, Gene Krupa, Louis Bellson, Ed Shaugnessy, the two Bobby's (Christian, and Rosengarden), William F Ludwig II, Haskell harr, Baby Dodds, and 100's of other notararies. I took my NARD Test from Roy Knapp, and passed that first time out (I was scared shitless of Roy!) in July 1968.

The Drum Set pictured in my Avatar was one of Barrett Deems own personal sets, which has been in my possession since 2001. Barrett was Louis Armstrong's Drummer in the 50's, was best friends with Gene Krupa, and in fact, was one of gene's Paul Bearers in '74, played with many greats, including Benny Goodman, and was very close friend with my Teacher Phil.

Both Danny Seraphine, and Barrett Deems were Slingerland Drum Company Endorsers, Barrett probably so, for close to 40 years.

My particular Drum Set was made for Barrett by Slingerland in 1980, when Barrett, and his own Big band, where playing a lot of Krupa Tribute Tunes at the Elbo Room on Lincoln Ave in Chicago.

The BD/GK Insignia on the Bass Drum of my Drum Set was made for Barrett, at his request. I did not put that on the Drum, Barrett did. Mark

I owned a print shop at 2900 N. Lincoln 3 doors away that I sold in 1999 and used to go to The Elbo Room . . . I printed their business cards and flyers for them. I saw Barrett their. I still have my Sonorlite kit bought in 85' Scandinavian Birch, I hardly ever touched it got a Tama beater kit . . . . small world!

Their CTA album was truly original and ahead of its time. I'd call it a landmark album for the time.

The second album was good. After that I lost interest because the music became repetitious and something was missing.

Cheers, Snade

And yes, it was around this same time that I had seen some other great rocking drummers, such as John Bonham at the Chicago Stadium (Zep, when they came out with Houses of the Holy), and Carl Palmer (ELP, when they came out with Brain Salad Surgery) at the Chicago Ampitheather.


Man! We went to a lot of good concerts together it seems.

I owned a print shop at 2900 N. Lincoln 3 doors away that I sold in 1999 and used to go to The Elbo Room . . .

Ever hear of Discount Carpet at 3012 N. Lincoln? Worked there for most of the late 70's early 80's.

When I was growing up I always thought that Chicago was a pop band for the grown ups and the parents-kind of Big Band sounding.You would always hear Doc Severinsons band,or the band on Merv Griffin doing their songs during commercial breaks.
Better than Barry Manilow,but thats about it.
Jimmy

Don't hate 'em, but got a bad taste from "If You Leave Me Now" due to an ex-GF telling me that's exactly how she felt after we split.
I never liked sappy love songs and she had it coming anyway.

My freshman year of high school, we did a Chicago field show in marching band. When we started working on it, I dug through my parent's closet and found their Chicago II album. I think I listened to it when I got home from school nearly every day that entire year! Lots of good music on that album, as well as everything else up to about Chicago V. After that like others have said, it became too pop-ish for me, they lost that edge the earlier music had.

I unashamedly admit I really liked their first album. Then came the next 487 albums.....

I rarely hate anything, but I'd rather have it burn when I urinate than listen to Chicago.

This also goes for late period Billy Joel, Elton John after Bernie Taupin split, phil Collins period Genesis, Bobby McFarin's "Don't Worry Be Happy" song, and for whatever reason I've a strong dislike for Ska & Reggae.



To each his/her own however. I've got plenty of recordings I'm sure would make some folk wretch and question my tastes, if not sanity.

oh- the stake in the heart was Peter Cetera, for me. Same way I felt a out Phil Collins and Genesis.

Can't wait to get rid of the Chicago albums I picked up in a lot buy.

For me, I rode the ride til Chicago lll and then baled. What pissed me off was this was a band I thought had alot of potential and they sold out and went commercial. they were the first rock band with horns i dug.

Man! We went to a lot of good concerts together it seems.



Ever hear of Discount Carpet at 3012 N. Lincoln? Worked there for most of the late 70's early 80's.

Yes Sir . . . I did work for them for years, they were at Lincoln & Barry, small world!!

Only have the first 2 on cd, enough for my yearly fix. The post Terry Kath period was just pop music. Too bad, there was a lot of potential there.

Honestly, having never heard Chicago before Peter Cetera, I never have given them a shot. Sorta kicking myself now for giving away the early albums to a friend. Got several in a bulk record buy and, having such a bad taste from the 80s, never even listened to them.