• Lee
  • Lee
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Topic: Chicago

Not sure if the band Chicago has ever had their own thread so here goes...

Probably the first band I would call a favorite when I started really getting into music, I was a huge fan of the early Chicago from their first album when they were called Chicago Transit Authority through about Chicago V. I lost a lot of interest when they became a little bit heavy on the ballads and also when original guitarist and bandleader Terry Kath died in 1978.

Anyway. I ran across an amazing early performance from 1970 on youtube. Most of the material is from their first two records, with a couple from Chicago III which they were in the process of writing and recording. Lots of great moments, but my favorite is "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" - aka the "Make Me Smile" medley - which begins at about the 1:09:55 mark and runs about 12 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWKtVzzWo4U

  • gary
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Re: Chicago

The first album Chicago Transit Authority is one of my all time favorites as well as the 4 album set Live at Carnagie Hall which also spams their first 3 albums.
Terry Kath was just absolutely great.I thought Early Chicago did a better job than Blood Sweat and Tears in the horns rock mix.Chicago could rock out harder.I too lost interest when Kath died and the band went too mellow.
   I have read that Hendrix was a big fan of Kath.Idon't think there has ever Ben another band like that early Chicago  since. Also seems that horns died out in rock and barely stay in the blues. Sure part of it is the cost to have a large touring band as well as styles change.
I also liked the vocals of Kath and the contrast he and Cetera brought to the table.

Your rock candy baby
Your hard sweet and sticky

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  • From: Maryland
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Re: Chicago

Thanks for the link.  Excellent stuff.

Particularly liked the fantastic version of 25 or 6 to 4.  Kath tore it up.  Always been one of my favorite songs.

  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
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Re: Chicago

gary wrote:

The first album Chicago Transit Authority is one of my all time favorites as well as the 4 album set Live at Carnagie Hall which also spams their first 3 albums.
Terry Kath was just absolutely great.I thought Early Chicago did a better job than Blood Sweat and Tears in the horns rock mix.Chicago could rock out harder.I too lost interest when Kath died and the band went too mellow.
   I have read that Hendrix was a big fan of Kath.Idon't think there has ever Ben another band like that early Chicago  since. Also seems that horns died out in rock and barely stay in the blues. Sure part of it is the cost to have a large touring band as well as styles change.
I also liked the vocals of Kath and the contrast he and Cetera brought to the table.

I only saw Jimi once in the spring of 1970 and CTA was the middle support band just before Jimi. Years later I heard the same story that Jimi thought highly of Terry Kath and that probably prompted their addition to the tour. The 1st album is a classic. Growing up in the Bay Area I was exposed to Cold Blood followed by Tower of Power the premier horn bands on the West Coast in their day. Cold Blood had more of a blues groove to their sound and TOP were funky like a bow legged monkey. Still 2 of my favorite bands and enjoy catching up with them whenever possible.

                                                                      Bump da Bump da Bump,

                                                                      J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint
  • RickB
  • RickB
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Re: Chicago

Great band in the early days. I remember seeing them at Winterland in the upper Haight district somewhere around late '67 if those severely damaged brain cells still are correct. Very fine sound and I was a fan forever. I've always had a soft spot for a good horn section and they had that for sure!
Rick

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  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
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Re: Chicago

RickB wrote:

Great band in the early days. I remember seeing them at Winterland in the upper Haight district somewhere around late '67 if those severely damaged brain cells still are correct. Very fine sound and I was a fan forever. I've always had a soft spot for a good horn section and they had that for sure!
Rick

The earliest Chicago gig in the Winterland archives was March 27 & 28, 1970 with James Cotton & The Fritz family. This is very close to when I saw them with Hendrix in Oakland. In '67 they weren't officially known as CTA yet. Does this sound familiar Rick?

                                                                                   Winterland Ruled!!!

                                                                                   J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint

7 Reply by RickB (edited by RickB 2014-08-02 22:24:01)

  • RickB
  • RickB
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Re: Chicago

ohiodawg13 wrote:
RickB wrote:

Great band in the early days. I remember seeing them at Winterland in the upper Haight district somewhere around late '67 if those severely damaged brain cells still are correct. Very fine sound and I was a fan forever. I've always had a soft spot for a good horn section and they had that for sure!
Rick

The earliest Chicago gig in the Winterland archives was March 27 & 28, 1970 with James Cotton & The Fritz family. This is very close to when I saw them with Hendrix in Oakland. In '67 they weren't officially known as CTA yet. Does this sound familiar Rick?

                                                                                   Winterland Ruled!!!

                                                                                   J Dawg

You have it right. I saw them when my carrier pulled in at the end of a WestPac tour. Homeported in Alameda. I had gone to Winterland many times during the period I was stationed at T.I. during the Summer of Love, ( I had a wig so I'd not scream squid and have some fun big_smile ) but geeze, so many great memories that they all fade together. Remember the oilblob projections on the screen behind the bands?
Thanks for the memory jog JDawg

Free download from Vienna! http://mbsy.co/bNLR
Lots of unique videos of Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd5vL8fXTw
Buy Joe's merchandise here. http://www.jbonamassa.com/affiliates/id … hp?id=1381

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  • gary
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Re: Chicago

I missed out on that era by a few years.Must have been something!

Your rock candy baby
Your hard sweet and sticky

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  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
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Re: Chicago

RickB wrote:
ohiodawg13 wrote:
RickB wrote:

Great band in the early days. I remember seeing them at Winterland in the upper Haight district somewhere around late '67 if those severely damaged brain cells still are correct. Very fine sound and I was a fan forever. I've always had a soft spot for a good horn section and they had that for sure!
Rick

The earliest Chicago gig in the Winterland archives was March 27 & 28, 1970 with James Cotton & The Fritz family. This is very close to when I saw them with Hendrix in Oakland. In '67 they weren't officially known as CTA yet. Does this sound familiar Rick?

                                                                                   Winterland Ruled!!!

                                                                                   J Dawg

You have it right. I saw them when my carrier pulled in at the end of a WestPac tour. Homeported in Alameda. I had gone to Winterland many times during the period I was stationed at T.I. during the Summer of Love, ( I had a wig so I'd not scream squid and have some fun big_smile ) but geeze, so many great memories that they all fade together. Remember the oilblob projections on the screen behind the bands?
Thanks for the memory jog JDawg

Yep, the light shows were a big part of the show so Bill listed the light show companies for each  show along with the music line-ups in case you had a particular favorite. Besides the parabolic oil dish lights many of the artists included antique cartoons and very bizarre old film clips. The light shows totally enhanced the music experience along with whatever you fed your head!

                                                                                    Freak Out!!!

                                                                                    J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint