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Chicago VI

Chicago - Chicago VI Audio CD

A fair review of the Chicago "Chicago VI" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Chicago reviews here, or go back to the Chicago tabs.

Band: Chicago
Title: Chicago VI
Rating:

Release Date: 2002-08-20
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Critics' Choice 2: Just You 'n' Me 3: Darlin' Dear 4: Jenny 5: What's This World Comin' To 6: Something in This City Changes People 7: Hollywood 8: In Terms of Two 9: Discovery 10: Feelin' Stronger Every Day 11: Beyond All Our Sorrows 12: Tired of Being Alone

Chicago starts a new chapter at the Caribou Ranch
The results didn't disappoint. Chicago VI, released in 1973, was the very first album recorded at the famed Caribou Ranch (which sadly burned down years later). In many ways the group was beginning to reach it's zenith. Just You N' Me was a top 5 single as well as Feeling Stronger Every Day reaching the top 10. Feeling. . has become one of my favorite Chicago songs for two reasons: (1. ) It was the very first song of Chicago that my older brother exposed me to as 3 and 1/2 year old. (2. ) I became a fan of the band after watching said brother pefectly drum Danny Seraphine's part without missing a lick.

In addition to the aforementioned commercial hits, Chicago VI also has it's share of outstanding album tracks that have been often overlooked: What's This World's Coming To and Hollywood.

Chicago At Their Best
Every performance in this set is presented with a panache that makes even (what some would consider) "filler tracks" stand out. Chicago VI is a tight, diverse collection of tunes by a band with a skill set that wasn't shy about using them. From the solo opening offering of "Critics Choice" to the full-blown finale "Feeling Stronger Every Day" (much over-exposed back then, but an excellent vibe now), this disk sounds as vibrant and masterful today as when it was released, and is an absolute must for both Chicago devotees and anyone who can appreciate the crack talents of true professionals put on fine display.

what's to worry about, huh?

So for one album and one magic moment in time, Chicago was able to create a lightweight pop album without the gritty brass instrumental jams, tricky time signatures, and heavy guitar solos and despite missing all these vital things, they were able to create an album that was actually *good*. Thank goodness for THIS album because if I didn't like Chicago VI, I would say there was *no* consistently enjoyable Chicago albums during the bands pop or ballad-dominated period (which, as we all know, started with this album and still carries on to this very day).

I love Chicago VI. This album is all about the songwriting and the vocal melodies. "Feeling Stronger Every Day" still remains my favorite song the band ever created, and trust me, it's hard coming up with my absolute favorite Chicago song when there's the entire early 70's to choose from (and I like plenty of the bands commercial ballads from the late 70's/early 80's as well- I just don't consider them to be on the same level of greatness as the early years of the bands career). "Just You 'N' Me" is the kind of song I absolutely HATED when I was a wee lad, but time changes our tastes in music (and food, hehe) so now I happen to really like the song. Beautiful ballad. "Come hold me close, never release me" great great melody here.

Seriously, I love every other song on the album as well- "Jenny" has incredible vocals, "Critic's Choice" is a weird song title (maybe it got its name because rock critics weren't very fond of the band) and alright, I guess "Rediscovery" kind of stinks, but who cares! It's not really a bad song- just an incredibly weird one with a distinct mood much different from the rest of the album, and I really don't know what to say about it. It's alright I guess.

It was all downhill from here for Chicago I'm afraid, though the next album has some good moments, they don't compare to Chicago VI.
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The Beginning Of The Slide
They began to choke when they recorded in the Rocky Mountains. Chicago smoked when recording in NYC. The edge was knocked off, guitar/vocal genius Terry Kath was shoved aside and anything not sung by Peter Cetera was an afterthought as far as single releases. Even Lamm's contributions starting slipping in quality.

Side one begins with the first Chicago solo recording: Lamm's "Critic's Choice" - a Robert piano and vocal lament about how the critics were picking on Chicago! NEXT! What a lame lead off track (and I write this as a big Robert Lamm fan).

"Just You And Me" - ignore the lyrics as they will put you in a sugar coma. Pankow's Valentine to his then-new-now-ex-wife is a soft rock classic of sorts, I guess. The horn break in the middle is nice, as are the shifting tempos, but this is the beginning of the Pankow/Guercio "Wall Of Trombones" where Jimmy's horn is multi-multi-multi tracked to the extent that you can't hear the rest of the horn section. Parazaider for once plays a sax solo that makes sense, but Pankow wrote it out for him.

"Darlin' Dear" - great rare slide guitar soloing by Kath with little else to recommend. Another Lamm throwaway.

"Jenny" - Kath's worst tune with vocals. The lyrics are unnecessarily vulgar and the subject matter is his dog! Pedal steel guitar? What is this, The Flying Burrito Brothers? NEXT!

"What's This World Comin'To?" - at LAST! A decent track! Pankow makes up for JYAM with this funky protest jam. Roaring horns, tough guitar and all three vocalists trade leads! A gem!

"Something In This City Changes People" - Lamm's soft rock lament about Hollywood and music industry types contains some thoughtful piano by the author. Trumpeter Lee Loughnane makes his vocal debut on the solo lines of this mostly group vocal. Great harmonies! Walt gets in a nice flute solo at the end that was probably written out for him. No drum set on this one but lots of congas by future member Laudir De Olviera and triangle from drummer supreme Danny Seraphine. Soft rock done right.

"Hollywood" - Another Lamm protest tune about plastic people. Great horns, lyrics, drums, percussion, etc. A real winner!

"In Terms Of Two" - I HATE this tune. Cetera's goofy hillbilly hoedown tune is grating and the "Old Suzanna" harmonica part makes it barf - enducing.

"Rediscovery" - slow boring funk from Robert with an uninspired wah-wah solo from Kath, who doesn't seem plugged into this album much at all.

"Feelin' Stronger Every Day" - one of the last truly rocking hit singles the band would release. Great Cetera vocal, horns and tempo changes - a classic from the pens of Pankow/Cetera (I think it's the only writing collabortion they would have) and cements their future dominence of the band.

Bonus cuts:

"Beyond All Our Sorrows" - an unfinished, rambling Terry Kath piano/vocal ballad demo. Nice, passionate vocals from Kath, miles better than "Jenny," but difficult to plow through on repeated listenings.

"Tired Of Being Alone" - one of the best things the band ever cut, from their doped-out (as is this album and NOT in a good way) "Chicago In The Rockies" T. V. special backing Al Green on his classic soul hit. Essential!

So what do we have, maybe half good, half bad? Quite a comedown from CTA-V where IMHO there was little filler. Chicago did NOT rock the Rockies IMHO. Completists might enjoy the better cuts, casual fans avoid and pick up one of the endless complilations to get the two big hits.
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Something About Chicago Changes People
This is not Chicago's actual "6'th" studio album;considering they counted live and best of's as actual albums this is actually their fifth release. During this period in Chicago's musical development was forging ahead at such a high speed that it seemed they'd meet themselves along the way at any point. Not only that but the other reviewers here are very right when they say this represents a change in direction,and in some cases priorities for the band. Continuing in the tradition of their previous (and very barn storming) album Chicago V this album steers away from the heavy social and political concerns of the early recordings and more towards far lighter lyrics with more of a poetic twist. Not only that but much of the musical ideas going in different places. "Critic's Choice" is basically Robert Lamm on piano,with some leslie amp effects and. . . what really amounts to commentary about Chicago as a band. Of course "Just You N' Me" amounts to. . . well the earliest in a long line of hits for them featuring Peter Cetera on lead vocals and really paves the way for Chicago's future. There are a couple songs like "Darlin' Dear" and Cetera's mellower "In Terms Of Two",both country-rockish tunes with some steel guitar on them are alright but does show that as diverse as Chicago's music could be. . . . . . there were some styles they were more comfortable with than others. A big highlite here is Terry Kath's "Jenny". He was a big guy with an apparently very big heart and aside from being a guitarist and songwriter he had this pension for jazzy chord progressions and this song is chocked full of all that stuff. Ditto for the demo of "Beyong All Our Sorrows" on the bonus cuts. "Something In This City Changes People" and "Hollywood",both yet more self commentary on celebrity and the pop making music machine are married to these soft,pop jazz tunes-kind of ironic for what were already one of the biggest bands in America. Despite going more and more to the pop side there's still plenty of examples of funky rock n' roll such as "What's This World Comin' To",with it's social commentary and heavy horns an example of the earlier Chicago sound and "Redisovery" has the same kind of effect. "Feelin' Stronger Every Day",another hit is actually one of Chicago's gutsier,uptempo hits at this point this side of something like "Make Me Smile" from Chicago II (Repackaged). One of the bonus tracks is a really nice treat:Chicago backing up Al Green on his hit "Tired Of Being Alone". Al was and still is one of the funkiest singers on the PLANET,normally referred to as a soul vocalist but able to wrap himself around different instrumental accompaniment. Fact of the matter is,Chicago's back up of Al is jazzier and doesn't have the same kind of punch the wonderful Hi rhythm section had with him. But it's still wonderful to hear two musical greats at their peak form together at their best. In terms of Chicago's catalog this album,aside from it's huge hit singles isn't all that well known. It's may have been the first album to show the band's picture as part of their logo but still it deserves more overall attention than it gets.

You can see a complete list of all Chicago discography, or go back to the Chicago tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.