Chicago is an American group formed in 1967 in Chicago by saxophonist Walter Parazaider, guitarist Terry Kath, drummer Danny Seraphine, trombonist James Pankow, trumpet player Lee Loughnane and singer Robert Lamm.
A group that has the distinction of being considered as one of the longest-lasting groups that has sold no less than 100 million titles worldwide. And who can boast of having 23 Gold discs, 18 Platinum and 8 Multi-Platinum, 5 albums number 1 and 21 singles classified in the American Top10.
Originally, the group took the name of "The big Thing" and then "Chicago Transit Authority" from 1968 after they signed with the label Columbia Records. In the meantime, the group has been joined by the one who will become the charismatic leader over time, namely the singer Peter Cetera.
Their first production was released in 1969 and was extremely rare, it was a double album, named after the group. And it’s a huge success, selling over a million copies.
In 1970 the group again released a double album but this time under the name of "Chicago", album which will eventually bear the name of "Chicago II". Followed in 1971 by “Chicago III”, then “Chicago V” in 1972, then “Chicago VI” in 1973, then “Chicago VII” in 1974, then “Chicago VIII” in 1975. All of these albums will be success.
But it was in 1976 that the planetary consecration arrived with the intergalactic title "If you leave me now", extracted from the album "Chicago X". Superb title with a captivating melody and which will earn them their only Grammy Award.
A year later in 1977 the album "Chicago XI" was released, from which "Baby, what a big surprise" was released and which was their last Top10 of the 1970s.
In 1978, the group restructured after the accidental disappearance of Terry Kath. Restructuring which destabilizes the group and which will result in three album releases, "Hot streets" in 1978, "Chicago XIII" in 1979 and "Chicago XIV" in 1980, with very average success. To the point that the label Columbia Records thanks them outright.
1981 was synonymous with a change of label, Warner Brothers, but also a change in style and sound.
Beneficial changes which will allow the release in 1982 of the album "Chicago 16" from which will be extracted a huge hit which is "Hard to say I’m sorry/Get away".
And two years later in 1984, it was the album "Chicago 17" which in turn came out and which will remain in the history of the group as the best-selling album among all. Album which contains in particular the flagship singles "You’re the inspiration" and "Hard habit to break".
In 1985, Chicago lost its leader, Peter Cetera, leaving for a solo career. This will not prevent the group from still having some big successes.
Especially thanks to titles like "Will you still love me ?" from the album "Chicago 18" released in 1985. Or "Look away" and "I don’t wanna live without your love" from the album "Chicago 19" released in 1988.
A group with a particularly long and prolific career, Chicago will leave history with several pieces of anthology. To consume without moderation !
To discover or rediscover.
Discography (among others ...) :
Questions 67 and 68 1969
Make me smile 1970
25 or 6 to 4 1970
Does anybody really know what time is it ? 1970
Free 1971
Beginnings 1971
Questions 67 and 68 1971
Saturday in the park 1972
Dialogue (Part I & II) 1972
Feelin' stronger every day 1973
Just you 'n' me ? 1973
(I've been) Searching so long 1974
Call on me 1974
Wishing you were here 1974
Old days 1975
Brand new love affair (Part I & II) 1975
Another rainy day in New-York city 1976
If you leave me now 1976
You are on my mind 1977
Baby what a big surprise 1977
Alive again 1978
No tell lover 1978
Gone long gone 1979
Thunder and lightning 1980
Hard to say I’m sorry 1982
Love me tomorrow 1982
What you're missing 1983
Stay the night 1984
Hard habit to break 1984
You’re the inspiration 1984
Along comes a woman 1985
Will you still love me ? 1986
If she would have been faithfull 1987
Niagara falls 1987
I don’t wanna live without your love 1988
Look away 1988
You’re not alone 1989
We can last forever 1989
What kind of man would I be ? 1989
Chasin' the wind 1991
Explain it to my heart 1991
You come to my senses 1991
Here in my heart 1997
The only one 1997
All roads leed to you 1988
Show me a sign 1998
Feel 2006
Love will come back 2006
Let's take a lifetime 2008
Now 2014
More will be revealed 2014
All over the world 2019
Clips :
1969 ... first title and already first success. The group began its career in an ideal way and is ideally positioned for the transition to the 1970s
1970 ... success begins to spread to the whole planet. The rise in power is evident title after title and necessarily a good omen for the rest of the events ...
1970 ... everything is now going in an ideal way for the group. The fame grows with the success and the group just has to unroll and especially show all of its talent ...
1970 ... the first very big success. A start to the 1970s to say the least shattering and which allows the group to consider the rest in a more than serene way...
1971 ... the year 1971 will be a little notch below the year 1970 but no need to worry about them. The best is yet to come, that's for sure !
1971 ... their 'big' title of the year 1971. Nothing exceptional but quite simply a good job, isn't that the essential ...
1972 ... the rise in power will be accentuated from this year 1972. The style is refined, just like the sound, it is obvious. We are therefore impatiently awaiting the rest ...
1972 ... this one will do a little worse than its predecessor but the dynamics of success are now well in place and this is the main thing ...
1973 ... 1973 started again on a better basis but without putting the group back in the lead. Be careful not to fall asleep on their laurels ...
1973 ... a very 70s style, the group is perfectly in tune with the times. The successes follow one after the other at high speed and it is not about to stop ...
1974 ... a magnificent foray into the Intimist world which shows the group's full potential in this field. And the following years will prove it vividly !
1974 ... a beautiful year 1974 with a plethora of titles of more than certain quality and a level of success that matches as a result. All good little guys !
1974 ... another sumptuous track with 3 members of the Beach Boys as backing vocals, just that. Incredible but true !
1975 ... we are in the mid-70s and the sound is evolving a little, especially the tempo which accelerates. An obligatory step if the group wants to stay in contact with the best ...
1975 ... a title which will not remain as the best classified of all but which at least has the merit of being finesse and lightness, at least at the beginning. It's already that...
1976 ... a year 1976 which will prove to be absolutely exceptional for the group. Not on this title even if it is not devoid of quality but especially for the next one ...
1976 ... comes the WONDER. A mind-blowing title, with extra-terrestrial inspiration and which will offer them their first planetary mega-hit. They sign here one of the most beautiful titles of this end of the XXth century, quite simply! ABSOLUTELY MA-GIC !
1977 ... impossible for this title to compete with its predecessor as the bar has been raised. It must be said that on the tempo side we went from one extreme to another ...
1977 ... with them, since their beginnings, it's on average a top hit per year. For the year 1977, this will be it !
1978 ... the adventure continues to be beautiful and the group continues to unroll with ease to say the least impressive. It must be said that with a talent like theirs, nothing surprising ...
1978 ... a timeless title, halfway between the Intimist and the Dance. And always this 'Chicago' style, unique and recognizable among all
1979 ... 10 years of career and a number of stars among the most flattering of the moment. It remains to be seen how the group will pass the course of the next decade ...
1980 ... a change of decade which sees a very clear acceleration of the tempo. An essential adaptation to start the new decade in the best possible way
1982 ... the new WONDER. With them, it is a Masterpiece per decade. One of the very few bands to have signed 2 exceptional pieces in the Intimist area. MO-NU-MEN-TAL !
1982 ... a continuation of certain quality but which, of course, cannot compete with the previous gem. The impossible no one is bound...
1983 ... a year 1983 when not much will happen except the release of this title. A title that will pass somewhat 'through' unfortunately ...
1984 ... one would have thought that the group would not survive the 80s. Quite the contrary ! The proof once again with this excellent title
1984 ... another sumptuous title in the register 'With emotions'. An area where they excel and where they are almost the best in the world ...
1984 ... and what about this one ! A truly extraordinary inspiration which confirms once again that this group is really part of what we did best at that time. And it's not over !
1985 ... bring in the handkerchiefs, here comes the time for Dance. And again, the group has never really produced a hit dance in the true sense of the term. We will not blame them, far from it ...
1986 ... a new Chicago version which has lost none of its talent or its unique know-how. Mighty feat !
1987 ... for 1987, the big hit will be this. And still in the Intimist area. An area they really master perfectly
1987 ... another title which will pass somewhat 'through' despite a certain quality. Sometimes you don't have to try to understand ...
1988 ... a year 1988 which will prove to be exceptional, one more. Here they deliver a breathtaking new title of lyricism and inspiration. MAGICALLY MA-GIC !
1988 ... a second title of very very large caliber which allows them to once again meet the summit of the Charts. Never run out of inspiration for little guys !
1989 ... a perfectly mastered and orchestrated end of the decade. The machine is perfectly oiled and unrolls the hits at a staggering speed !
1989 ... 1988 was exceptional, 1989 will more or less approach it. An incredible career that has already lasted for 20 years. An incredible longevity that only the Greatest can achieve ...
1989 ... a decade-long finale in a climax with a title that will undoubtedly remain one of their best. But the 'best', there have been so many with them !
1991 ... they are entering their 4th decade ! Very few groups can say the same. With an incredible number of hits on the clock !
1991 ... very few titles will pass 'through' but it happens to them all the same and this in spite of a certain quality of title. But nothing to worry about at this point ...
1991 ... a recovrery of decade on the hats of wheel with an inspiration always as much to the cleats. Incredible but true !
1997 ... then almost nothing for 6 years. It was obvious that the band was not going to continue at the same pace for decades and decades ...
1997 ... we do not change a recipe that works ... Even if the hits are fewer and fewer, the group remains afloat against all odds ...
1998 ... an incredible group that will have kept its unique style almost until the end. A style recognizable among all !
1998 ... this time, it is indeed the beginning of the end. The group will begin to gradually disappear from radar over the following decade. It must be said that managing to stay within the Elite of the 2000s would have been a feat hitherto almost unmatched !
2006 ... they will try all the same to exist a little bit during this decade 2000. And my faith, the production of titles will be minimalist but with some quality. The proof !
2006 ... they will never find the level of before, as well on the inspiration side as on the production side of titles, but they are still there. Isn't that the main thing ...
2008 ... times are getting harder and harder with titles that won't even appear in the Charts, including this one. And yet they are far from unworthy once again ...
2014 ... here they arrived in the following decade with the desire to continue the adventure no matter what. It starts from a good feeling but they know it will be more for fun than anything else ...
2014 .... anyway, the quality continues to be essential and this is the main thing above all. Afterwards, the results in the Charts, that's something else ...
2019 ... they disappear more and more often and longer and longer but they keep coming back and forth. We therefore imagine that we will see them again the next decade ...
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Official Website :
Greatest Hits :
Discography :