The Best performers of Chicago's Discography are Brass Transit -- not current Chicago.

They are a cover band playing someone else's songs. Great for them, not sure why I need to listen to them. Surprised you're not championing Seraphine's California Transit Authority. At least he was in the original band.

Sorry to be negative, you do seem to be trying a bit hard to push these guys. My friend was excited to play an Elvis impersonator singing for me as he "sounds just like Elvis". Ok but I can play the real Elvis's records anytime I want, don't need to hear a copy!

 

The quality of the performances is the reason why I'm so excited. They sound better than the real thing in its current state. They offer an authentic sound paired with high-level musicianship. Australian Pink Floyd Show and The Musical Box are two other great bands that do the music justice. Based on all who have tried and failed, it is also uncommon to find someone who can nail the Peter Cetera vocals.

The other reason I'm so excited is that the musicians in the band have large resumes. It's a collection of musicians who have played in many other bands and contributed to some big projects. Their drummer, Paul Delong, for example, was the drummer on Kim Mitchell's first three solo albums.



There's no reason to put down a guy who played with Roger Hodgson.





Don Breithaupt, meanwhile, is also very accomplished.

https://www.socan.ca/jsp/en/pub/interactive/DonBreithaupt.jsp

The lead vocalist has also done a ton of work on many of the albums we know and enjoy.

http://www.jeansnclassics.com/artists/neil-donell.asp

The band is comprised of top-notch musicians, which, in my book, validates them as a real band, not just a bunch of amateurs. When you see these guys on stage, you're seeing guys who at various points in their careers were on some of the biggest stages in the world, guys who are seasoned vets. There is quality here. When I went to see Kim Mitchell live in 1987 in a packed arena, I didn't go to see only him but also the whole package -- the whole band; whenever I hear "Patio Lanterns" or "All We Are" on the radio, I'm also hearing Paul Delong's contributions. Delong, in my opinion, is just as much a part of that music as Mitchell himself, and he's just as much of a musician as any "famous" drummer. Why shouldn't I appreciate his work as much as others do about the works of "X famous drummer."

Cover albums aren't new. Cover artists aren't new. That said, everyone is mightily impressed when a recognizable name releases material of that sort. What we have here are musicians who aren't recognized by name but who have done a ton of stuff as band members for famous musicians. They don't receive nearly as much credit as they deserve.

Sometimes only the famous frontman receives credit for something that band members contribute to. There's no reason for us not to appreciate what these musicians have accomplished in their lifetimes and what level of musicianship they possess. Plus, they're giving audiences a better show than the actual Chicago right now, with all due respect to the members of Chicago.

Another reason to be excited:

Their 2014 debut record covers non-Chicago material and features one original song. There's the potential that they'll do another album of brand new material. It's not out of the realm of possibility.

 

great for third-rate casinos filled with drunk old folks. That James Taylor tribute clip was hilarious.

 

Donell has had a few songs on the charts as a solo artist. "Love Takes Time" hit #5 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart in 1987.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5QGIuHnQW4



The discographies listed online are incomplete, but his voice can also be heard on many albums. Triumph's The Sport of Kings, David Clayton-Thomas' In Concert: A Musical Biography, etc, etc.

This is what guitarist Bob McAlpine's website states:

http://www.bobmcalpine.ca/

 

That's Bob on guitar, 1985...

 

As long as Robert Lamm is still around, Chicago wins out over a tribute band. IMO, there should be no debate. The man can go out every summer and play a bunch of classics that HE wrote.

 

Saw Brass Transit yesterday at the Blue Mountain Jazz Festival. I have never seen the original Chicago or Lamm's current band but these guys were fantastic!

 

The singer you are talking about will be joining the band Chicago soon if he has not already. I used to watch him when he was 18 years old in a local barband. He was great then in '77.

 

Yup, I've heard from two different reliable sources that Brass Transit's singer, Neil Donell, has been hired by Chicago. He's joining them mid-May. So @segue and @utopiarun may think he's laughable, but the guys in Chicago don't.