Chicago Enters The Super 1970's-- "CHICAGO II"--POLL:

Chicago

Studio album by Chicago
Released January 26, 1970
Recorded August 1969
Studio Columbia Recording Studios, New York and Columbia Studios, Hollywood
Genre Jazz fusion, rock
Length 67:21
Label Columbia
Producer James William Guercio

Singles from Chicago

1. "Make Me Smile/Colour My World"
   Released: March 1970
2. "25 or 6 to 4"
   Released: June 1970

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Got done listening to Chicago Live In Japan and just decided to spin the original Columbia double arrow vinyl.
Well I'm sure everyone knows what an album II is. Love the Transit Authority for Chicago 1 but II had the band at a different level of creativity.





From April 28th 1969 to October 25th 1971 Chicago was in the middle of a staggering 3 straight 2 lp run releases capped off with a 4 lp Carnegie Hall.

Just flipped to side 4 and WOW!! what an album forty eight years since its release it's actually a time machine listen. Damn! I must have really cleaned these Chicago lps to the max.
I get a kick out of firing up the older vinyls after a thorough cleaning and listening to a Chicago vinyl from 1970 it hits the spot.

This band broke their backsides during this era, James William Guerico working his production magic. 200 + live shows a year getting the Chicago name out there as the record companies owned you. All this and recording a staggering amount of material on top of a staggering amount of released albums.

Colour My World was a mainstay at many weddings, school proms. As played out as it is there is so much feeling in that tune. James Pankow wrote Colour but Terry Kath vocals nail it down. Wake Up Sunshine now that's a tune I always end up singing to. To Be Free is an incredible instrumental. Don't need it but will be getting the Steven Wilson remix as I wish to hear this album with a different mix.

Many tunes to enjoy on this legendary 2 lp set. Share your favorites your memories 1970 or later on of Chicago II.

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Chicago:

• Peter Cetera – bass, lead and backing vocals
• Terry Kath – guitar, lead and backing vocals
• Robert Lamm – keyboards, lead and backing vocals
• Lee Loughnane – trumpet
• James Pankow – trombone
• Walter Parazaider – saxophone, flute, clarinet
• Danny Seraphine – drums

Production:

• James William Guercio – producer
• Peter Matz – orchestration on "Prelude"
• Donald Puluse – engineer
• Brian Ross-Myring – engineer
• Chris Hinshaw – engineer
• Robert Honablue – mastering engineer
• Don Young – remix engineer
• Al Lawrence – remix supervisor
• Nick Fasciano – cover art
• John Berg – cover design
• Herb Greene – photography and poster photos

Check out "Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago" on Netflix
www.netflix.com/title/80138615?

Chicago - Chicago II (album review ) | Sputnikmusic

Chicago ll Steven Wilson Remix - YouTube

 

i love everything on this album except side three, always hated it, still do.

 

Wake up Sunshine, Make me Smile, Fancy Colours, 25 or 6 to 4

 

25 or 6 to 4...phew, that's a great one.

 

It's so hard to separate top favorites from this one because so much of the album is intertwined as a whole.

That said, my five favorite tracks are probably:

The Road
Poem For The People
Fancy Colours
Wake Up Sunshine
Memories Of Love

Side 3 has always been my top favorite, followed closely by sides 1 and 2. Side 4 is the only side I somewhat lose focus on, at least until Cetera's closing song, which I really like.

 

The 3 singles.

 

I can't separate the "suite" on side two any more than I can the second half of side two of Abbey Road...so in my mind, I always counted "Ballad For..." as one long song...and it would be this which is my favorite part of the album. Far as true individual songs, it's a tie between Wake Up Sunshine and 25 or 6 to 4. The former is one of my all time favorite Chicago songs as well as lead vocals by Robert Lamn. 25 isn't quite as creative in terms of melody, chord changes and things but it has an irresistable energy that I haven't tired of to this day. Adding to that is one of my favorite Rock guitar solos of all time; Certainly my favorite on any Chicago track.

 

Make Me Smile
25 or 6 to 4

 

Love Sunshine.

 

The entire album, every track, since 1970.

 

Well put!

 

I have bought this album 6 times. All that remains are the Wilson remix on vinyl, and CD, and the Bellman vinyl, and the Quadio box.

 

Lots of good music on this album. But Kath's solo puts 25 or 6 to 4 over the top for an easy win

 

In the Country = The purist of GOLD.

 

A staggering solo for Kath.

 

On a Saturday morning, I rode the bus downtown to Rhodes department store and purchased Chicago very shortly after its release. I loved CTA and was super excited about this one coming out. Local radio had been playing Wake Up Sunshine, so I knew I was in for more great music from this great band. I was not at all disappointed. In fact, I was, and still am, thrilled with the entire album. Definitely in my Top 10 albums of all time.

 

The Road
Poem For The People
Wake Up Sunshine
Ballet For a Girl in Buchannon
Fancy Colours
25 Or 6 To 4

 

All of side three? Fancy Colours and 25 or 6 to 4?

 

On a side note, will the 1970 Tanglewood concert film ever be released commercially?

 

no no no....you knew what i meant......didn't you?

i really dislike the whole memories stuff, but like i said, i dislike all 3 of the "boring sides on I<II< III

 

Just wanted to clarify... phew!...

 

Like EVERYTHING on and about this album.
The shiny silver dollar cover is to me, an iconic design.
The poster, the calligraphy of the text in gatefold, all top notch.

I like ALL of Side Three with the string suite.
They were willing to explore, and with 4 sides, took advantage of it.
“Wake Up Sunshine” evokes both the Beatles “Good Day Sunshine” and a bit of the Spoonfuls “Daydream”.
This along with “Fancy Colours” are my two favorite tracks.
Among many on this fantastic album.

 

A really great album, I don't like much Chicago after this, to be frank ... the two singles are the best