Rediscovery (Chicago ) (LP 2164 - 2166)

Chicago  Chicago VI (CD, Warner Bros. Records, 1973) ***

Chicago  Chicago VII (CD, Warner Bros. Records, 1974) ****  

Chicago  Chicago VIII (CD, Warner Bros. Records, 1973) **   

Genre: Jazz rock; pop rock 

Places I remember: Fopp

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Just You 'N' Me (Chicago VI)

Gear costume: What's This World Comin' To , Feelin' Stronger Every Day (Chicago VI); Wishing You Were Here (Chicago VII) 

Active compensatory factors: I kind of lost track of Chicago after that first album, but the appeal of Chicago albums remains. I'm a sucker for that jazz rock sound.

Curiously, unlike with Blood Sweat and Tears, I haven't had the desire/need to own all of their albums. I think it's the relatively quick journey into schmaltzy pop songs that made the difference. BS and T have pursued that jazz fusion route more consistently for my money.

Instead, I tend to pick up things like this - a triple album multi-pack collection, which I bought on sale at Fopp. These multi-packs are great value for money!

And so, to Chicago VI. There are pop sensibilities present fersure, and yet they can still produce something more progressive like What's This World Comin' to.

Chicago VII continued the blueprint of a couple of hits along with the jazz rock moves. Wishing You Were Here has those great great Beach Boy Harmonies and (I've Been) Searching So Long has another great pop hook.

Generally, I like the mix of pop ballads and jazz rock (espesh on VII) but, also generally, they headed too much away from their roots for me to be a slavish fanatic. No denying their pop smarts though.

By Chicago VIII the heavy touring was having an effect and while it's an okay rock album, there was only Old Days that would make a highlights reel.

Where do they all belong? A lot of Chicago product to catch up on if I ever have the mind.

Beginnings (Chicago Transit Authority) (LP 824)

Chicago Transit Authority  Chicago Transit Authority (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1969) ****  

Genre: Jazz fusion/ Jazz rock

Places I remember: Marbecks Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Questions 67 and 68

Gear costume: Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? 

Active compensatory factors: A double album for a debut? Of course!

The Chicago sound is fully formed here - brass arrangements mix with rock guitar and some free form jazz style improvisation to stretch things out (particularly on side 4). Plus, of course, some catchy commercial sounding songs (particularly on sides 1 and 2).

Stars of the show: producer William Guercio; Robert Lamm (keyboards, lead vocals); Pete Cetera (bass, lead vocals); Terry Kath (guitar, lead vocals); James Pankow (trombone and brass arrangements).

Where do they all belong?  The band would go mega in due course but these are their awesome beginnings.

Circled so fine like a velvet palace (Hot Tuna)

Today's album cover theme centres on the striking typography used to register a name into a buyer's consciousness.