I have the first 8 or 9 albums, and in all honesty I have to listen to them all again ... but there were/are a lot of very neat things, and far out things in all of those albums ... absolutely a great band, and some neat artistry in it all ... and check the Rick Beato discussion of Chicago in a couple of his shows ... beautifully done and the appreciation for the music, was excellent. 

It was one of the first times I had really heard someone appreciate CHICAGO for their music ... and I go way back to their very first album ... as they were the "brothers" in those days that we all got together and ... sometimes we had to put up with cops hitting our heads ... but in the end, the music is the greatest symbol of what life really means ... it was a scary time, but when you knew you had someone else with you ... things got better quickly. I was in Madison, WI just 3 hours up the road. 

(DD did both of Chicago's first 2 albums, but he did not exactly appreciate the work and musicianship involved and how the band worked. I was really bummed with his view on it ... and all he could do was mention a chord or two to make it look like he was into it ... I don't think he could appreciate the time and place that the band lived in, to create the works they did. They are a veritable snapshot for at least 10 years!)

Got to enjoy some things in Chicago ... Yehudi Menuhin and Ravi Shankar, Man of La Mancha with the original Richard Kiley, the Chicago Art Institute, and then the other place with all the technological stuff ... can't even remember its name. 

Thanks for sharing.

I always prefer listening chronologically.

My favourite album by Chicago is easily VII and that features the wonderful song Wishing You Were Here. Those floaty backing vocals by The Beach Boys are heaven.

I also like If You Leave Me Now. Hated it back in the day as it was played to death on radio but feel different now.

I would struggle to name anything else song wise. I don't listen to them enough that's for sure.

Frank Sinatra - Chicago (My Kind of Town)

Finnforest wrote: I love those mid-70s soft rock hits much more than their early more substantive jamming stuff. Nothing wrong with that stuff and Terry Kath was amazing, but the band for me is all about the ear candy that I heard on my transistor radio as a kid....Old Days, Baby What a Big Surprise, If you leave me now, Wishing you were here, Just you and me, Feelin' Stronger, I've been Searchin' so long, Beginnings. Great stuff.

Ever hear this one? Surprised it wasn't more popular. Great ballad.

^

I had not heard it, but it is great. Thank you. Stumbled on "Little One" too which was great. Kath's voice was something else.

"Little One" is a favorite of mine! Glad you heard it. I think Danny wrote the two best songs on XI, along with "Take Me Back To Chicago" and then Terry passes. Fitting "Little One" is the last song on the album.

^

I really need to take a spin through that catalog again. It's been a long time. Even the '80s stuff, which I hated in the 80's due to radio overplay and my friend being a relentless Cetera fan. I did like one single from that period, "Along Comes a Woman." It would be interesting to see how those '80s affect me now since I haven't heard them in 40 years.

The song I liked most after Terry died was "The Greatest Love" also written by Danny.

You might like this song - it's in my Top 5.. Beautiful piano chords, and all three lead singers singing together

^

Those were both really nice. Thank you. Def got me in the Chicago mood again.

Very cool!

I was listening this morning, and heard a couple of more ballads, and then by the third one, I thought I'd mention them

Chicago - Hope For Love

Chicago - Til We Meet Again

Chicago - Byblos (I have an interview where the guys say the "really good friend of mine" is Peter Cetera).. Every Terry song is based on a true story, saying he couldn't write "fantasy" songs.

and "You Love's An Attitude"

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- Travel Suite (side II, Chicago III)

- Hour in the Shower (side III, Chicago III)

- Ballet for a Girl in Buchanon (side II, Chicago II)

- CTA, side I....three tracks that make up an introduction suite

- Elegy (side IV, Chicago III)

- CTA, side III.....a trio tracks that feature the mastery of Terry Kath, maybe the finest album side the band ever produced

Man there are also "suites" that fall flat, think side IV, CTA or side IV, II, but I dig this side of the band far more than the Cetera hits, but I don't totally discount 'em - some of those Cetera tracks are a gas.