Chicago, (unofficially titled
Chicago II), is the second album by
Chicago-based
rock band
Chicago. It was released in
1970 as a double-
LP.
The official title of the album is
Chicago. However, many fans refer to it as
Chicago II, after the naming scheme Chicago would follow for their next several albums.
Chicago is considered by many to be Chicago's breakthrough album, yielding a number of top 40 hits, including "Make Me Smile", "Colour My World", and "25 Or 6 To 4". The centerpiece of the album was the 15-minute long
song cycle Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon, consisting of the songs "Make Me Smile" through "Now More Than Ever" (the second side of the first record on the LP release and tracks 6-12 on the later
CD release).
Another highlight of the album is the four-part "It Better End Soon". Both "Buchannon" and "Soon" showcase the band's talent for multi-part works.
Track listing
"Movin' On" (Pankow) 4:05
"The Road" (Kath) 3:10
"Poem for the People" (Lamm) 5:30
"In the Country" (Kath) 6:33
"Wake Up Sunshine" (Lamm) 2:29
Ballet for Girl in Buchannon: "Make Me Smile" (Pankow) - 3:16
Ballet for Girl in Buchannon: "So Much to Say, So Much to Give" (Pankow) - 1:12
Ballet for Girl in Buchannon: "Anxiety's Moment" (Pankow) - 1:01
Ballet for Girl in Buchannon: "West Virginia Fantasies" (Pankow) - 1:33
Ballet for Girl in Buchannon: "Colour My World" (Pankow) - 2:39
Ballet for Girl in Buchannon: "To Be Free" (Pankow) - 1:15
Ballet for Girl in Buchannon: "Now More Than Ever" (Pankow) - 1:26
"Fancy Colours" (Lamm) - 5:10
"25 or 6 to 4" (Lamm) - 4:50
"Prelude" (Kath, Matz) - 1:10
"A.M. Mourning" (Kath, Matz) - 2:03
"P.M. Mourning" (Kath, Matz) - 1:58
Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon: "Memories of Love" (Kath) - 3:58
"It Better End Soon 1st Movement" (Lamm) - 2:33
"It Better End Soon 2nd Movement" (Lamm, Parazaider) - 3:41
"It Better End Soon 3rd Movement" (Kath, Lamm) - 3:18
"It Better End Soon 4th Movement" (Lamm) - 0:51
"Where Do We Go from Here" (Cetera) - 2:34
Bonus tracks on Rhino re-issue
"Make Me Smile" version (Pankow) - 3:00
"25 or 6 to 4" version (Lamm) - 2:53
Personnel
Peter Cetera - bass, vocals
Terry Kath - guitar, vocals
Robert Lamm - keyboards, vocals
Lee Loughnane - trumpet, vocals
James Pankow - trombone
Walter Parazaider - woodwinds, vocals
Danny Seraphine - drums
Production
Producer: James William Guercio
Engineers: Chris Hinshaw, Don Puluse, Brian Ross-Myring
Mixing: Paul Klingberg
Remix producer: John Kellogg
Remixing: Paul Klingberg
Orchestration: Peter Matz for "Prelude"
Cover design: John Berg
Cover art: Nick Fasciano
Photography: Herbert Greene
Liner notes: David Wild
Charts
Album
| Year |
Chart |
Position |
| 1970 |
Pop Albums |
4 |
Singles
| Year |
Single |
Chart |
Position |
| 1970 |
"25 or 6 to 4" |
Pop Singles |
4 |
| 1970 |
"Make Me Smile" |
Pop Singles |
9 |
