The Heart of Chicago 1967-1998, Vol. 2

Performer: Chicago
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Chicago: Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow, Walter Parazaider, Jerry Kath, Peter Cetera, Danny Seraphine, Bill Champlin, Jason Scheff, Tris Imboden, Keith Howland. Producers include: James William Guercio, Roy Bittan, David Foster, Ron Nevison, Chas Sandford. Photographer: Dan Arsenault. Unknown Contributor Roles: Daniel Seraphine; Keith Howland; James Pankow; Jason Scheff; Lee Loughnane; Peter Cetera; Robert Lamm; Terry Kath; Tris Imboden; Walter Parazaider; Bill Champlin. Though they began life as band that combined late-'60s progressive rock with Big Band horn charts and Beatlesque pop, Chicago toned down their sound over the course of their long career. Eventually, they began to aim their songs squarely down the middle of the road, focusing more on accessible, radio-oriented tunes. As this second installation of their retrospective proves, though, the band never lost their way with a hook, no matter what the context. The band's early years are well represented here by such classics as "Old Days," "Baby What A Big Surprise" and, of course "25 Or 6 To 4." The latter part of the band's career is acknowledged as well, by mega-hits like "Stay The Night."

Chicago was the longest-running and most commercially successful of the hordes of jazz-rock bands with horn sections that sprang up in the late-1960s wake of Blood, Sweat & Tears. After myriad personnel changes (including the death of founding guitarist Terry Kath due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound), Chicago eventually mutated into a more conventional pop group that was able to score hit after hit well into the '80s, usually with romantic ballads. They remain among the best-selling American bands of all time. In the mid 1990s they briefly returned to their roots with an album of big band-era standards given the Chicago treatment.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25