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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 4:28:59 GMT
For my cd of the week, this time, I picked the first Greatest Hits album by one of my favorite bands, Chicago.
So enjoy Chicago's Greatest Hits Vol. 1. from the year 1975.
Song List 25 Or 6 To 4 Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? Colour My World Just You & Me Saturday In The Park Feelin Stronger Every Day Make Me Smile Wishing You Were Here Call On Me I've Been Searching So Long Beginnings
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Post by jrmugz on Jul 19, 2015 4:58:18 GMT
Very cool Brax, looking forward to soaking in all those beloved songs again! : )
Jim
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Post by queenofthehours on Jul 19, 2015 14:14:34 GMT
I know the band name but I don't know if I know the tunes.
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Post by Helmut83 on Jul 19, 2015 15:55:22 GMT
Same as me. I'll give it a listen, two if possible, through the week and then leave my feedback towards the end of the week.
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Post by unomusette on Jul 19, 2015 21:06:28 GMT
Excellent choice @brax! Although I'm surprised not to see I'm a Man in there
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Post by Chippa on Jul 20, 2015 4:04:34 GMT
Were Chicago not big in Europe and South America? Given Helmut83 and queenofthehours comments, I would assume not. I love a lot of Chicago's work, aside from the majority of their 80's output, which is schlocky soft rock at it's very worst. And Peter Cetera definitely went into a spiral after he left the band, as far as quality of music goes. My review.... 25 Or 6 To 4- Like Steely Dan's "Reeling In The Years", this is one of the most iconic openings in pop music. No idea what the lyrics mean, though. Fantastic horns here, as in most Chicago songs. Love that Terry Kath guitar solo. What a massively talented guy he was. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? - A classic American rock hit. Always liked the jazzy bit that opens the song, going right into those gorgeous horns. Robert Lamm delivers some really good, almost Sinatra-esque vocals, here. Outstanding song, overall. Colour My World -Simple, but really beautiful. As great as a guitarist he was, Terry Kath had an unforgettable, soulful voice. The flute solo comes off as cheesy, now, but it works well, here. Just You & Me- Prototypical 70's lite-pop. Again, the horns are up front here, with some funky bass and guitar lending support. Good song. Saturday In The Park - Instantly recognizable from it's opening piano riff. Not a huge fan of this song, but I like the way it swings. Feelin Stronger Every Day- The beginning almost reminds me of the opening riff to "Radar Love" by Golden Earring. A nice flow to this song. Catchy bridge and chorus. I like the energetic closing minutes. Make Me Smile - This song almost sounds like it's coming from an old mono AM car radio. That's not a knock on the song, at all. Love the drums, and the sudden ending. Wishing You Were Here- Some of the Beach Boys contributed backing vocals to this song,which gives it that Southern California laid back vibe. Fantastic harmonies, here. Very haunting melody, too. Great stuff. Call On Me-I think one of our local late night movie tv shows used to use this as their theme song. Interesting Latin-flavored tune. Not great, but has enough going on to keep it from getting boring. I've Been Searching So Long -Very cool, dramatic sounding opening. Nice and melodic, and some really good vocals by Peter Cetera. Beginnings - Almost reminds me of ELO's "So Fine", in parts. Very summery, and romantic sounding. A bit long, but that's forgivable because the song is well written. Love that burning trumpet solo! Overall, I give this a strong 8/10. Nice pick, Brax!
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Post by Helmut83 on Jul 20, 2015 4:29:42 GMT
Were Chicago not big in Europe and South America? I don't know in Europe, but definitely they were not big in South America. Very rarely you come accross something of theirs on the radio or anywhere else, and I don't think I've ever met anyone who told me they were among their favorite bands (which makes the whole prospect more intriguing). Where they so big up in the States?
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Post by Chippa on Jul 20, 2015 17:01:33 GMT
Were Chicago not big in Europe and South America? I don't know in Europe, but definitely they were not big in South America. Very rarely you come accross something of theirs on the radio or anywhere else, and I don't think I've ever met anyone who told me they were among their favorite bands (which makes the whole prospect more intriguing). Where they so big up in the States? From the early 70's to late 80's, they had thirty-five top 40 hits, in America. So yea, they were a pretty big deal.
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Post by Horacewimp on Jul 20, 2015 17:41:33 GMT
Apart from a couple of big hits they never seemed to really break through in the UK, in that same period of time they had six top 40 hits in the UK.
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Post by Helmut83 on Jul 20, 2015 17:59:28 GMT
Wow! That only goes to confirm that music industry rubs you in the face very different kinds of stuff according to the geographic region you live in.
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Post by jrmugz on Jul 21, 2015 3:45:52 GMT
If some of you guys never heard Chicago before, you are in for one great treat with this album.
Jim
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Post by jrmugz on Jul 21, 2015 3:47:15 GMT
I feel like I can cut and paste most of Chippa's review for mine; but will give it my own spin later this week when I get a chance.
Jim
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Post by unomusette on Jul 22, 2015 22:02:58 GMT
This is a classic band which I've always had a soft spot for. I even liked some of their cheesy '80's output. You don't hear them much on the radio these days so it's nice to be able to listen to a greatest hits selection. Here we go: 25 Or 6 To 4 - must admit to bias here as this is one of my all time favourite songs. Do I recall them once saying it's not about drugs? It joins an exclusive club then which includes Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and I Can Hear the Grass Grow. Love the pace of it, the funky guitars, the cool brass breaks, the epic drumming, just everything. A million out of ten. What a great start! Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? - Brilliant period feel to this one, love the piano opening that drops into an almost Sinatra-esque groove when the brass comes in. Interesting spoken part overlaying the vocals, another very cool track. Colour My World - N'aww, I thought it would be a cover of the Petula Clark classic, how unreasonable of me. Intro goes on just a bit too long, but the song as a whole is just about right in length. And there's a different vocalist; I always assumed Peter Cetera was the only singer so I've learned something. Pleasant enough but not setting the world on fire for me. Just You & Me - Love the funky background guitars on this one, along with the up-front brass this makes the song stand out from the ordinary. Nice bit of sax and the keyboards don't intrude too much. Great laid back song which brings back the late 60's/early '70's sound. Saturday In The Park - Immediately strikes me as very radio friendly. The tempo changes are interesting and the trademark brass leaves you in no doubt who you're listening to. Feelin Stronger Every Day - Another song I can imagine being popular on FM radio in the US. Smooth, saved from being run-of-the-mill by the uptempo outro which is fab. Make Me Smile - Very soulful, it sounds familiar too. Great vocals and harmonies and yet more interesting drumming. Some nifty tambourine and percussion in there that BSJ would be proud of. Nice one. Wishing You Were Here - And here's another of my all time faves, as soon as it slides off with those waves breaking in the background I'm wafting away with it. Must have crooned along with it a million times; the tune is gorgeous, the music twinkles away and it simply can't be faulted. Call On Me - Difficult to follow such a classic but some sprightly bongo-ing here does a good job of dragging me back to reality and makes this track stand out. More great guitar and brass, well up to their usual high standard. I've Been Searching So Long - Nice ballad but doesn't stand out particularly. I've probably been spoiled by all the big hitters that came before. Beginnings - Laid back and has the Chicago sound but again I think it's overshadowed by its companions. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this album, it brought back loads of great memories. The musicianship is amazing and the whole sound is pretty much unique which is a trademark of a classic band. I'd give it 8 out of 10 and I'm going to add lots of it to my Spotify playlist - thanks for reminding me how fab Chicago were @brax!
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Post by 88keys on Jul 23, 2015 16:10:10 GMT
This was my first time really sitting down and listening to a lot of Chicago music, and I was surprised by how much of it I actually enjoyed. 25 Or 6 To 4 .....I'm going to ride my bike fast, while listening to this. It's just that kind of song. Favorite moment - the wah-wah guitar. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? ....This is cool. Like a really good cocktail lounge song. I could slam back a few Crown &Coke's while hearing this. Favorite moment- "a pretty lady looked at me and said her diamond watch and stopped cold dead.." Colour My World....This sounds like some of the music my piano teacher would have me listen to when I was first learning to play. lol. Very rudimentary, but the guy's singing is really nice. Favorite moment - The flute solo is pretty sweet. Just You & Me.... I hear parts of this during one of the Time Life Music infomercials that airs at 4am. Favorite part- the horn section after the bridge. Saturday In The Park....I remember seeing Chicago perform this with Robin Thicke on the Grammy's a couple of year ago. Not too bad. The singer is really good. Favorite moment- the part about the man selling ice cream, singing Italian songs. Reminds me of NYC! Feelin Stronger Every Day.... I know I've heard this before. I spotted a little tiny bit of The Beatles' She Came In Through The Bathroom Window, right before the vocals kick in. Favorite moment - The closing moments when everything picks up tempo. Make Me Smile....I read what Chippa said about this sounding like it's coming out an an AM car radio, and I agree. It sounds almost low-fi and mono. It's appealing, in that way. Favorite Moment - The horn/tambourine combo! Wishing You Were Here....This could be a 70's Beach Boys song, without a doubt. Carl Wilson can be heard clearly, which is always a great thing. Favorite moment- The old analog synthesizer that sticks out in the chorus. Call On Me....I always thought this was Santana. lol. I don't really like it. Next... I've Been Searching So Long....This is probably a song that helped make a lot of babies. Sweet, without being ridiculous about it. In a way, it reminds me of Strange Magic by ELO. Favorite moment- the horns, vocals and guitar at the end. Beginnings....I played this song when my Mom was here, and she said it was one of her favorite songs when she was little. I guess I like it, by proxy. lol. This was a fun listen. Thank, Brax.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2015 15:54:38 GMT
There are some interesting views, so far. 88keys, I never spotted the similarity between Searching So Long, and Strange Magic. but now that you mention it,I can hear it!
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