August 03, 2020

1970 - January: Chicago “Chicago II”

36 minutes

Although commonly called Chicago II, this album is technically the first Chicago album because their first album was under the name The Chicago Transit Authority. They changed their name in 1969 under pressure from the municipal governmental body called the Chicago Transit Authority.

Chicago II is a double album, full of jams and their trademark horns. The first four albums would all be double albums. We're going to feature two songs from this album, although one is actually a seven part song cycle with at least two parts you will identify as well known singles.

Chicago is: Peter Cetera on bass and vocals, Terry Kath on guitar and vocals, Robert Lamm on keybards and vocals, Lee Loughane on trumpet and flugelhorn, James Pankow on trombone, Walter Parazaider on saxophones and flute, and Danny Seraphine on drums.

Chicago describes itself as “rock and roll with horns,” though it is a fusion of many types of music, part hard rock, part jazz, part prog rock, part soft rock, maybe even a little classical music for good measure. Whatever you call it, we enjoy the variety and depth, and hope you will too.

Ballet for a Girl in Buchanan

This is a seven movement song cycle written by trombonist James Pankow. The namesake girl is Terry Heisler, Pankow's ex fiancee who was attending West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, West Virginia at the time. Pankow wrote the piece in an attempt to get her back, and also because of his inspiration from classical music song cycles.

Movement 1: Make Me Smile

Terry Kath is on lead vocals for this movement. You have likely heard the single on the radio, which is created by splicing the first movement and the last movement together.

Movement 2: So Much to Say, So Much to Give

This movement features Robert Lamm on lead vocals.

Movement 3: Anxiety's Moment and Movement 4: West Virginia Fantasies

The third and fourth movements are instrumental tracks, and rather straightforward prog rock concepts.

Movement 5: Color My World

Terry Kath returns to lead vocals on a piece that should be familiar as its own single. Frank Sinatra supposedly wanted to record a version of the song if Pankow would write an additional verse. Pankow declined, so we have the song as a long piano intro, one verse, and a flute solo.

Movement 6: To Be Free

This instrumental has a distinct 1970's feel to it, and builds to the final movement.

Movement 7: Now More Than Ever

The final movement is a reprise of the theme from the first movement, Make Me Smile. You will recognize this from the single.

25 or 6 to 4

We can't do a Chicago album without catching Peter Cetera on lead vocals somewhere. Robert Lamm wrote this song about trying to write a song in the middle of the night - 25 or 26 minutes before 4 a.m. (who really knows?)

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Theme from "M*A*S*H"

The motion picture M*A*S*H appeared in January 1970. Only one of the actors from the motion picture would reprise his role in the television series - Gary Rich Burghoff, aka Radar O'Reilly.

STAFF PICKS:

“My Baby Loves Lovin'” by White Plains

Wayne's staff pick is a bubble gum pop hit from the one hit wonder group, White Plains. “She's got what it takes, and she knows how to use it.” Lead vocalist Tony Burrows had 5 hits, all with different one hit wonder groups.

“Come Together” by The Beatles

Rob features the well-known psychedelic hit from the Fab Four. It was inspired by a request from Timothy Leary to write a campaign song for his California gubernatorial run against Ronald Reagan. While Lennon couldn't come up with a campaign song, he did create this one using a Leary quote — “come together.”

“Up On Cripple Creek” by The Band

Brian's cranks up the swamp rock that references his hometown Lake Charles, Louisiana. Robbie Robertson wrote this song about a mountain man and a girl named Bessie. “A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one!”

“I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5

Bruce's staff pick introduces the first hit from the kid who would become the King of Pop. This would start a string of 4 singles what would be consecutive number 1 hits.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

“969 (The Oldest Man)” by The Guess Who

We wind up this week's episode with an instrumental blues number from the album American Woman.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings