Reaching No. 8 in the UK on its release in December 1969, and subsequently making it to No. 24 in the US Billboard Hot 100 almost two years later, this group (originally called "Chicago Transit Authority") surfaced under the sublime influence of Peter Cetera, and returned to the charts time and time again over the next fifteen years before Cetera's departure heralded a downturn in their chart activity.
this is my kinda band, looks like everyone's welcome so long as you know some of the words and you've got a tambourine, cowbell, or a block of wood you're in.
@kemiladashdot Was. It wasn't long after this really that they replaced the various play-along pieces with a sizeable brass section. Either sound did it for me, and still does. :)
You have to remember that the Sixties love and flower power culture years bred an army of spaced out dudes who just met up carrying whatever they had to hand, and Jammed together (like us!). However, as the big commercial record companies picked up on the popularity of all this, and saw a buck to be made, influence was introduced to commercialize sounds and recording methods too. All of a sudden, only the real 'artists' were welcome to sit in. (I was too young for the 'Summer of Love'. Damn!)
And seven piece bands became four, or three, with session boys adding the body of the music. More moolah for the main players, a few scraps for the seshies too, everybody happy. Except the three of four ex-bandspersons who missed out on the big time. More sour grapes, and more bad feeling, which not so evident at the time, but found its way into a myriad of minor biographies as time went by. Sorry - starting to sound like a History of Pop - I'll shut up now. :)
There's a Dexy's Midnight runners documentary on youtube, similar story with them whereby only 4 members got signed because of record company pressure. It's a shame, I was just polishing my triangle.
Well, yeah, I was referring to the Seventies more than anything. Things have become less restrictive, and there are less arseholes around in the industry now and certainly since the 90s! :)
I did quite like the 90s as a musical decade, but I'm afraid my age and dislike of most modern forms of music has rather locked me into a nostalgia cycle. Don't mind, actually, I still love the music of the 70s etc., and I do still sit up and take notice of true genius (Amy RIP, Gabi Cilmi, Noah+Whale, The Pierces, etc. in particular float my boat). :)
I'd contend that Kath was the leader. Proof: the quality of their output after he proved the gun wasn't loaded. I suspect that Kath/Cetera/Lamm/Pankow had the same creative tensions that McVie/Buckingham/Nicks had - which was a good thing!
@dmaxRadio Aha! All I said was "Under the sublime influence of Peter Cetera". I would never imply that he was the actual leader. He offed and did his own thing eventually anyway, so that became a moot point. :)
22 Comments (since 19 Sep 2012)
leejohnson
Reaching No. 8 in the UK on its release in December 1969, and subsequently making it to No. 24 in the US Billboard Hot 100 almost two years later, this group (originally called "Chicago Transit Authority") surfaced under the sublime influence of Peter Cetera, and returned to the charts time and time again over the next fifteen years before Cetera's departure heralded a downturn in their chart activity.
leejohnson
However, they have remained big players on the tour schedules, and play to this day. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_%28band%29
dutchzaphod
Peter Cetera, one of my musical heroes.
leejohnson
This is also a very clever dub job. On YouTube, uploader admits it's studio stereo dubbed onto concert footage. Not a bad sync, I'd say.
palexan
Great jam!!
J_Dub
♥
Sid_Bonkers
Neat, thanks for posting...
cybergabi
I had kinda forgotten about this. Thanks for the reminder!
zakozprime
I'll admit that that I never quite knew the title of this song. Thanks for sharing.
lynn200
GOOD ONE
kemiladashdot
this is my kinda band, looks like everyone's welcome so long as you know some of the words and you've got a tambourine, cowbell, or a block of wood you're in.
leejohnson
@kemiladashdot Was. It wasn't long after this really that they replaced the various play-along pieces with a sizeable brass section. Either sound did it for me, and still does. :)
leejohnson
You have to remember that the Sixties love and flower power culture years bred an army of spaced out dudes who just met up carrying whatever they had to hand, and Jammed together (like us!). However, as the big commercial record companies picked up on the popularity of all this, and saw a buck to be made, influence was introduced to commercialize sounds and recording methods too. All of a sudden, only the real 'artists' were welcome to sit in. (I was too young for the 'Summer of Love'. Damn!)
leejohnson
And seven piece bands became four, or three, with session boys adding the body of the music. More moolah for the main players, a few scraps for the seshies too, everybody happy. Except the three of four ex-bandspersons who missed out on the big time. More sour grapes, and more bad feeling, which not so evident at the time, but found its way into a myriad of minor biographies as time went by. Sorry - starting to sound like a History of Pop - I'll shut up now. :)
kemiladashdot
There's a Dexy's Midnight runners documentary on youtube, similar story with them whereby only 4 members got signed because of record company pressure. It's a shame, I was just polishing my triangle.
kemiladashdot
Thinking about it Happy Mondays & Madness both had non musicians signed though.
leejohnson
Well, yeah, I was referring to the Seventies more than anything. Things have become less restrictive, and there are less arseholes around in the industry now and certainly since the 90s! :)
leejohnson
I did quite like the 90s as a musical decade, but I'm afraid my age and dislike of most modern forms of music has rather locked me into a nostalgia cycle. Don't mind, actually, I still love the music of the 70s etc., and I do still sit up and take notice of true genius (Amy RIP, Gabi Cilmi, Noah+Whale, The Pierces, etc. in particular float my boat). :)
JohnRoux
Very often used by James Murphy in the disco / oldies part of his mixes. A classic, can light up a dancefloor, even in 2012.
dmaxRadio
I'd contend that Kath was the leader. Proof: the quality of their output after he proved the gun wasn't loaded. I suspect that Kath/Cetera/Lamm/Pankow had the same creative tensions that McVie/Buckingham/Nicks had - which was a good thing!
lynn200
A GREAT CLASSIC ''''''DISCO TRACK. ALLWAYS WILL LIGHT UP THE DANCE FLOOR.......the ''''''''''''óldies just take a gin with the antyinflamitory@
leejohnson
@dmaxRadio Aha! All I said was "Under the sublime influence of Peter Cetera". I would never imply that he was the actual leader. He offed and did his own thing eventually anyway, so that became a moot point. :)