CHICAGO XI

The last strong Chicago album of the 70's. Strong not meaning being jazz-rock or progressive but having enough music craftmanship for pop/rock tunes and executing them nicely. Some traces of funk thrown in like "Mississippi delta blues" compensated by hard-jazz-rock instrumental section."Baby what a big surprise" is a simple but effective ballad putting Cetera's vocal to the front.

"Take me back to Chicago" is a pop-rock song but has a prog-rock exercise a la late Genesis (listen to the drums and synth solo) and as usual marvellous horn arrangements. Noteworthy are instrumental tracks(after a long time): "The inner strugles of a man" and partly "Prelude" have a classical music stamp.

"Little one" has a nice vocal by Kath, soulful and one of his best.