Chicago!

faizal_rocks

faizal_rocks

New member
Any fans of Chicago here? I know most of u would know them as a 80s pop ballad band with Peter Cetera as the only famous guy but they started way back in the late 60s n they were really a classic rock band with a horn section..Terry Kath is an creative guitarist, even Hendrix idolized him..so for u Chicago fans out there, I`ll put up video links which are worth watching..



Make Me Smile: Its incredible how this band with so many guys can sound so tight..check out Kath`s solo at the end..catchy song..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzViV6PUOSM

Dialogue: Catchy guitar riffs n incredible duet between Kath n Cetera..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHTr4Bs_sg4

Stay The Night: I love this song n I prefer this live version over the studio one actually haha..Cetera`s vocals rocks too..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rie-Jttyk8

If You Leave Me Now: The ultimate ballad..need I say more? :p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dYf2nlRQvM


Well tats all for now..there are other great Chicago vids as well..do check them out..: )
 
bw06.gif


Chicago 1967

band2.jpg


Chicago 1971

bw80a.jpg


Chicago 1980

bw87.jpg


Chicago 1987

band99.jpg


Chicago 1999

Chicago2003c215.jpg


Chicago 2003



Interesting to see how the members have aged..: )
 
Reviving this thread..been listening to their whole discography again n its simply awesome. Any Chicago fans here, whether its the Terry Kath era (70s) or the Peter Cetera era (80s)?

One of the most underrated classic rock bands.. :)
 
Chicago is an awesome band! Really love their old stuff, you can count me in as a fan...I grew up listening to it because my uncle was and is still a fanatic and used to blast it everyday.
 
snuffleupagus: Nice to hear ur a fan too :) Their late 60s to late 70s jazz-hard rock-pop era were really amazing only to be ended by Terry Kath`s death. What an amazing guitarist he was. Even Jimi Hendrix idolized him. If u see their live videos, their performances were really tight. Imagine a rock band playing with a horn section. Amazing :)

I love their 80s ballad era too(thanks to Cetera plus MTV, synths n drum machines, typical 80s standards), even though most die hard Chicago fans would think they have sold out. In the process, Peter Cetera went on to become a successful artist after Chicago. His replacement, Jason Scheff, did a good job replacing Cetera.

What are ur fav songs, snuffleupagus?
 
eh Chicago.. one of my dad's fave bands.. still remember when i was young he sang one of the songs in car.. just cant remember which one though. :p
 
Make me smile is damn awesome to me...

tell you the truth, I grew up on the sappy Chicago stuff, the ones with alot of synth and horns, i detested it and did not rate Chicago as a band then( I was 9-10 yrs old then and I was into guns n roses/ metallica)until I started listening to Hendrix and my uncle DID tell me that even Hendrix loved the guitarist of Chicago.

I thought he was just talking cock la until one day,(this was 15-16 years ago) he made me sit down to hear the real old Chicago stuff, and I was amazed at how raw and unprocessed the sound of Terry Kath was, and then I could finally relate to him as a guitarist.He was on fire, and I though for a moment my uncle was pulling a fast one on me.How the hell could this be the same Chicago I wondered?

After that then as my music taste started to mature, and I became a strong opponent against genre'-lisation as a musician, I finally understood how awesome Chicago was both past and present. Cetera is Cetera, no one can replace him in that band.The most important thing about Chicago to me is that they are able to cross boundaries in their music, I have seen their impromptu stuff LIVE on videos and wow!

Pity I did not make it to their gig back then in Singapore or somewhere(can't remember), but My uncle was in the front row with a big banner all , but I just felt damn unglam la going to this gig with a madman twice my age.HAHAHA.

Look Away, If you leave me now, you're the inspiration all classic sappy memorable stuff la, when I hear them now on the radio, Im immediately transported back in time.
 
Oh yes, Make Me Smile...I listened to the Live At Carnagie Hall version of it n I love it :)

Terry Kath is no doubt one of the most underrated guitarists. He mixed soul, r n b, rock n pop influences in his playing. Not only tat, his vocals are dark n husky,like tat of a bluesman n they really mix well with Robert Lamm`s n Peter Cetera`s vocals. Listened to their 1st album, Chicago Transit Authority? There`s this song call Free Form Guitar which is just Kath playing some random noisy feedback stuff, inspired by Hendrix, no doubt.

Cetera is also a good bassist, like on the song, I`m A Man..the bass intro riff :)

Notable songs from the Kath era would be 25 or 6 to 4,Questions 67 & 68,If You Leave Me Now (the song that eventually slowly turned them into a ballad band in the 80s),Does Anybody Know What Time It Is? and many more.

Songs from the 80s (Cetera/Bill Champlin era) would be Hard To Say I`m Sorry, Along Comes A Woman, Stay The Night,Hard Habit To Break,Look Away, You`re Not Alone,Will You Still Love Me? and many more..
 
Last edited:
Personally, I find Chicago's vocals (both the main vocalist and the harmonics') ultra whiney, loser-ish and unmanly.

Reminds me very much of Maroon 5 that vocalist - his voice super whiney.

My friend who went to Maroon 5's concert (got free ticket from her company) said he sounded like a chipmunk.

Just my personal opinion.
 
I grew up listening to them... Actually cause my parents listen to Gold 90 fm every morning.
But i never knew Chicago had that many members till i saw the pics faizal_rocks posted.
 
claire_p86: Wanna know why Cetera sounds like what u described? He sang with a wired-shut jaw after getting involved in a brawl during his younger days..:P Tat contributed to his trademark singing style, at least he could sing in pitch in the higher registers.

kerplunk182: They had many members cos of the horn section haha :)


Listening to Chicago is like listening to 2 different bands, one from the 70s and one from the 80s. Its kinda unique that they started in the late 60s, became well known in the 70s and then became huge stars during the 80s. The other band that I know that has this same success format is Genesis (70s Peter Gabriel era and 80s Phil Collins era). We all know Phil Collins became a successful solo artist from there :)
 
No problem :)

Not many people talk about this band. Mostly it would be Beatles, LedZep, Deep Purple, Ac/Dc etc....I think Chicago will forever be remembered as an 80s ballad band by the general public but die hard fans will surely embrace both their 70s n 80s eras..like me! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

zeppelinstudios
Singaporean Record Label is doing well. Thank YOU! 6000+ Subscribers & 50,000+ views on YouTube. 50,000 streams on SPOTIFY!
Replies
0
Views
153
zeppelinstudios
zeppelinstudios
M
reggae, afrobeat & funk startup
Replies
1
Views
2K
mbk
M
J
Guitarist Looking for Vocalist to write songs with
Replies
1
Views
4K
Leslielee
L
Street Noise SG
APOCALYPSE III - HELL WEEK 2025 - PART 2 : TOXIC HOLOCAUST (USA) x SACRIFICE (JPN) 15.03.25, Live in S'pore @Phil Studio x Klutch (SG) x Deceased (SG)
Replies
0
Views
123
Street Noise SG
Street Noise SG
Street Noise SG
APOCALYPSE III - HELL WEEK 2025 - PART 1 : LEFT TO DIE (USA) 11.03.25, Live in Singapore
Replies
0
Views
112
Street Noise SG
Street Noise SG

Latest posts

Share this page

Back
Top