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SGSpecial View Drop Down
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Posts: 14 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Chicago Transit Authority
    Posted: July 04 2006 at 21:20
I know this sounds ridiculous, but Chicago's first album, CTA, as well as Chicago, Chicago III, and Live at Carnegie Hall sounds somewhat proggy to me.  Especially, b/c of the fusion sound.  These albums contain lengthy suites with experimental and even some psychadelic sounds ("Free From Guitar").  Clearly Chicago's later albums, especially after V and the death of Terry Kath are anything but prog.  The big question here is whether their earliest albums can be considered prog and could these be added?  Thanks for your time.
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Posts: 3578 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 04 2006 at 21:24
Can't be added, but you are 100% correct. The first four albums (and hints of later ones e.g. "A Hit by Varese") are totally Prog Rock, still if we add Chicago, we have to add the whole discography, which is about 80% pop/rock.
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Posts: 14 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 04 2006 at 21:35
Thanks for the help.  I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one that considers their early albums prog.  And I'm also glad to know that only whole discographies can be added.
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Posts: 15511 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 05 2006 at 03:02
I reckon they would fall into the prog-related category without too much difficulty.
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Posts: 8571 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 05 2006 at 18:33

They're still on my albums-to-check-out-list, the early Chicago albums. The AMG site says the 2nd one is the best. I don't really dare to buy them, knowing some of their later stuff. Are those albums really that good? They certainly get good reviews!



Edited by Moogtron III - July 05 2006 at 18:34
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Posts: 192 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 05 2006 at 18:40
Chicago 2 (the double lp one. Silver cover) is a masterpiece. It has the hits 25 or 6 to 4 and make me smile (which are excellent although not exactly prog). The last half hour is like a classical music piece with jazz parts and lots of soloing. By far the best chicago album. Chicago 7 is also good but it tends to be more funky/latin.
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Posts: 1479 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2006 at 06:44
Originally posted by pepo

Chicago 2 (the double lp one. Silver cover) is a masterpiece. It has the hits 25 or 6 to 4 and make me smile (which are excellent although not exactly prog). The last half hour is like a classical music piece with jazz parts and lots of soloing. By far the best chicago album. Chicago 7 is also good but it tends to be more funky/latin.
 
strangely, the album you mentioned was dubbed just "Chicago" in the beginning! (the first one being Chicago Trasit Authority) it was subsequently dubbed "II" by fans.
 
25 or 6 to One is somewhat poppy, but make me smile is a different story:
 
if you listen the album in its context, you will notice the same theme recurs some ten minutes later... That's because it's part of an excellent suite, namely, Ballet for a Girl in Buchanon. I'm not sure if any edition retains this naming, because I have the mp3 only... The suite is one of the few examples of Chicago's excellent talent in multi-part suites, which they soon abandoned anyway. (check out "Travel Suite" and "An hour in the Shower" from the next album, also "Better end soon" in this one. at least this is indicated and numbered into sections...)
 
even for the first three albums they certainly deserve a place here, and as Bob rightfully stated, they go well with prog-related... (I mean, who could be more "related" to prog ?!?!?)
the reviews will do the rest of the work: any serious listener is aware that first 3 albums are excellent Jazz-Rock/Fusion works...
Thumbs Up for Chicago
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Posts: 1479 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2006 at 06:46
Originally posted by Moogtron III

They're still on my albums-to-check-out-list, the early Chicago albums. The AMG site says the 2nd one is the best. I don't really dare to buy them, knowing some of their later stuff. Are those albums really that good? They certainly get good reviews!

if you like Zappa's Hot Rats, Waka Jawaka or Grand Wazoo, go for it my friend! The one thing that characterizes their music is the horn section. first three are all excellent, but my fave is 2.
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Posts: 4264 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2006 at 08:45
Originally posted by Moogtron III

They're still on my albums-to-check-out-list, the early Chicago albums. The AMG site says the 2nd one is the best. I don't really dare to buy them, knowing some of their later stuff. Are those albums really that good? They certainly get good reviews!



Oh yes, those early albums are well worth it. They really went downhill later. It was one of those cases where it made you sick, because you knew how good the band could be.

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Posts: 11660 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2006 at 08:53
Originally posted by Moogtron III

They're still on my albums-to-check-out-list, the early Chicago albums. The AMG site says the 2nd one is the best. I don't really dare to buy them, knowing some of their later stuff. Are those albums really that good? They certainly get good reviews!

 
Marcel,
 
Since you do not live too far from Wallonie, you can subscribe to La Mediatheque De Belgique and order then for renting. But I think you might have to go to Moekroen for that.  >> very wide choice including some mega-surprising prog groups. ~ €1.65/week
 
Or you can try the Flemish equivalent: much cheaper, but not quite the same choice >> but you should find the early Chicago.
 
 
Up to the fourth album >> quadruple Live At Carnegie Hall, Chicago was excellentThumbs Up
 
From Chicago V to Chicago VIII, they still have some excellent moments, but there is some mega-weak stuff on them albums too >>> I will probably make a compilation of their best tracks from those albums.  Stern Smile
 
Forget anything later than VIII.Thumbs Down
 


Edited by Sean Trane - September 13 2006 at 08:56
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Posts: 444 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2006 at 15:42
Originally posted by Easy Livin

I reckon they would fall into the prog-related category without too much difficulty.
 
That's right.
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I know every scene by heart, they all went by so fast.....
Either I'm too sensitive or else I'm gettin' soft.'

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Posts: 11660 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2006 at 03:11
Originally posted by bsurmano

Originally posted by Easy Livin

I reckon they would fall into the prog-related category without too much difficulty.
 
That's right.
 
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Posts: 9738 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2006 at 15:45
I'll recommend they're added to the list of bands to be debated.
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Posts: 12232 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 24 2006 at 09:35
Some recovery from the intermediate albums with Chicago VII (Carnegie Hall - a rather self-indulgent set-  5 and 6 - the latter two aimed squarely at the pop market). Then the very lean times - thought the two variants of Street Player worked. And the recent DVD Chicago & Earth Wind & Fire At The Greek, works for the large minority of the film.
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Posts: 7374 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 25 2006 at 00:21
Chicago is great, mostly just the first 5 albums. If they released more stuff in that vein I could see a probability of them being included on PA, but after "V," they just went to boring poppy ballad stuff. That material far outweighs what was done 1969-1972. So I think they shouldn't be included- too much of a stretch.


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Posts: 3 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 19 2006 at 14:07
The recent Rhino reissue of Chigago (II) retains the Ballet for a Girl in Buchanon naming, although each piece is tracked separately.  The sentimental "Color my World" (played at every school dance and wedding for a decade) is actually part of this longer suite.
 
THe album version of 25 or 6 to 4 inlcudes additional guitar solos which I had never heard after all these years of classic rock radio.  Lots of good guitar moments. 
 
This is a very good album, and a good value, as they squeezed what was originally a double album and a couple bonus tracks (radio edits) onto a single disc.  (You dont have to shell out $22 for a double album a la the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway)  Good liner notes too.
 
 
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Posts: 1479 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 20 2006 at 02:23
^^ Welcome to the forum, fenderjazzbass... I'm looking forward to your contributions to other topics, too!
 
As I said above, I am a fan of Chicago II myself. I thought my copy (in an mp3) was a special edition with lots of bonus tracks! Then I found out it was a double, indeed. To be honest, it's rather short for a double album. But the CD issue is really a good bargain.
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Posts: 4254 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 20 2006 at 02:38
I've been a fan of Chicago since about "i'm a man" hit the charts back in 1969/70. i have many of their early albums, which i would call heavy pop (though do include some interesting pieces, such as "free form guitar") and some later ones which are unashamedly in the pop ballad mould. "Color my World" is a great song, extremely simple but very powerful stuff!
 
 
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Posts: 9386 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 22 2006 at 10:29
Originally posted by Zac M

Can't be added, but you are 100% correct. The first four albums (and hints of later ones e.g. "A Hit by Varese") are totally Prog Rock, still if we add Chicago, we have to add the whole discography, which is about 80% pop/rock.
 
The 80/20 rule! It would seem that Deep Purple got in on the 90/10 rule ... maybe even 10% of the DP discography being considered proggy is a bit generous Ermm
"Without prog, life would be a mistake."

...with apologies to Friedrich Nietzsche
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Posts: 441 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 27 2006 at 06:17
Originally posted by T.Rox

Originally posted by Zac M

Can't be added, but you are 100% correct. The first four albums (and hints of later ones e.g. "A Hit by Varese") are totally Prog Rock, still if we add Chicago, we have to add the whole discography, which is about 80% pop/rock.
 
The 80/20 rule! It would seem that Deep Purple got in on the 90/10 rule ... maybe even 10% of the DP discography being considered proggy is a bit generous Ermm
 
Well, I don't know the background of why Zac states that they can't be added, but for a pointer, let me just say that Deep Purple are still active and greater than ever in their professional delivery of - sometimes old tunes. (Thanks to Steve Morse, one of the most incredible and solid guitar players of all times.) I really don't appreciate your comparison to DP and to quote an old Hungarian proverb, it comes across as "beating the stinging nettle with someone else'prick..."
 
Regardless of 90/10, 80/20 which is a regrettable measure in the first place, Chicago would still be accepted by me, albeit it's been more than 20 years that I've heard a single sound from them. Frankly, I care little about Chicago these day, while I go to Deep Purple performances..., because they still perform....
 
Sorry T Rox, I don't mean to be too heavy on you, but you touched a nerve with your reference to DP. 
 
 


Edited by S Lang - October 27 2006 at 06:19
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