This is Chicago's second album (which is why it has the unofficial title Chicago II) but as their first was recorded under their original long name - Chicago Transit Authority - this was the first with their new shortened moniker. Their next album though was called Chicago III and they carried on with Roman numeral titling for many of their subsequent releases.
I could probably write the whole post about just one song on this album.
Who knew, straight away, what '25 or 6 to 4' meant? Be honest, did it make sense? - was it enigmatic? - did you care?
I never gave it a lot of thought except it was possibly to do with time, but I didn't pin it down until years later when I came across this explanation from Robert Lamm, the guy who wrote it. He was living in the Hollywood Hills where he could look out over the city. He reckons the song is about actually writing a song and he just put down what he saw .. "'waiting for the break of day, searching for something to say, flashing lights against the sky' - there was a neon sign across the city. That song came from the fact that it was 25 or 6 to 4 a.m. in the morning when I looked at my watch."
OK, we can all sleep easy in our beds now, another of life's mysteries solved.
Peter Cetera, one of three vocalists in the group, took centre stage on this track under very trying circumstances. The band had been to a baseball game where their team beat the hometown team. Peter got into an altercation with 4 marines. His broken jaw was still wired when he sang lead. There's no mistaking this song, right from the strong distinctive opening. It hits the ground running with a Peter Cetera bass riff that's instantly recognisable and then the brass comes in strongly to lead into the first couple of verses. At around the 2 minute mark here's Terry Kath with an electric guitar full of fuzz and wah-wah giving it what for over the next minute and a half, then playing a frenetic background to the brass and vocals again. It's a great song, it's almost raw and experimental and deserves it's place in music history.
Oddly, their next single release coming 6 months later, 'Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?' was taken from their earlier album when they were still Chicago Transit Authority. It has that same full-throated brass sound though, a style that was making it's mark with others such as Blood, Sweat & Tears and later Earth Wind & Fire and one of my favourites, Average White Band.
Rock and roll and brass kept them going for a while, with some great songs and great airplay. 'Saturday in the Park', 'Another Rainy Day in New York City' and one that Tracy loves to direct at me, 'Just You 'n' Me'. You have to know the song .. we were listening in the car one day, Chicago were singing ..
You are my love in my life
And you are my inspiration
Just you and me
Simple and free"
and without missing a beat she said .. "I'll be free" - which by process of elimination left me being simple !!
In 1978 the band experienced a major blow. Terry Kath, founder member, guitarist and vocalist, met a tragic end. He had a history of drug and alcohol abuse and a collection of guns, not a good mix. Messing about one evening in January '78 he first picked up an empty .38 revolver and put it to his head and pulled the trigger. Then he grabbed a 9mm pistol with no clip in and put that to his temple. His last words were, "What do you think I’m gonna do? Blow my brains out?" - and then he blew his brains out. There was a live round in the chamber.
The group didn't stop, although they did almost disband, but many critics feel they lost that edge, the experimentation, and certainly in later years their style changed to middle of the road adult contemporary and even the brass was pushed to the back.
Regardless of change, the 1970's catalogue of Chicago music holds it's own and is well worth revisiting.
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