Chicago Chicago Vii (1974) [teichiku Records, Tecw 1909]

Chicago was one of the most successful bands of the rock era, racking up 21 Billboard Top Ten hits between 1970 and 1990, a period where they survived the departure of key band members while also subtly adapting to changing times. That's not an easy task for any rock band and it's especially difficult for a group like Chicago, a band that placed equal (if not greater) emphasis on horns as guitar. Picking up where Blood, Sweat & Tears left off, Chicago initially specialized in jazz-inflected prog-rock, using the sides of a vinyl record as canvasses for sprawling, adventurous rock. Chicago quickly learned how to channel this expansive sound into concise pop songs, scoring hits in the early 1970s with such punchy tunes as "25 or 6 to 4" and "Beginnings," while also showing facility with sweeter melodies on "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" and "Saturday in the Park." As the decade progressed, the band began to emphasize their softer side with bassist Peter Cetera singing such mellow standards as "If You Leave Me Now," "Baby, What a Big Surprise" and "Hard to Say I'm Sorry."

CHICAGO CHRISTMAS COMPLETE features all three of Chicago's classic Christmas albums - FROM WHAT’S IT GONNA BE, SANTA?, O CHRISTMAS THREE, and CHICAGO CHRISTMAS - in a 3CD set.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Chicago became the first non-classical group to perform six nights in a row at Carnegie Hall 50 years ago. Between April 5 and 10, 1971, the band played eight shows at the celebrated venue (including two matinees) and recorded every one of them. In October of that year, performance highlights were featured on the band’s first-ever live album, Chicago at Carnegie Hall. That quadruple-LP reached #3 on the Billboard 200, was certified platinum, and is still the band’s best-selling live album.

Released by Columbia Records in 1975, the 9th Chicago album debuted as the band's first ever greatest hits collection. It had trumendous success and would be their only album to showcase the band members on the cover. The legendary John Berg, who oversaw a great many album designs during his time as Art Director, drew the inital sketch of (what he considers the first of its kind) the Chicago band logo. Taking a look into Berg's design practice as it is modeled through his work with Chicago reflects a great deal of what '70s graphic design is all about.

Chicago XIV is the 1980 album by American jazz rock band Chicago. This was their last release for Columbia Records before getting the boot and becoming one of the biggest yacht rock bands of the 20th century. This is the 2003 pressing released by Rhino with three songs not on the original album.

Chicago was one of the most successful bands of the rock era, racking up 21 Billboard Top Ten hits between 1970 and 1990, a period where they survived the departure of key band members while also subtly adapting to changing times. That's not an easy task for any rock band and it's especially difficult for a group like Chicago, a band that placed equal (if not greater) emphasis on horns as guitar. Picking up where Blood, Sweat & Tears left off, Chicago initially specialized in jazz-inflected prog-rock, using the sides of a vinyl record as canvasses for sprawling, adventurous rock. Chicago quickly learned how to channel this expansive sound into concise pop songs, scoring hits in the early 1970s with such punchy tunes as "25 or 6 to 4" and "Beginnings," while also showing facility with sweeter melodies on "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" and "Saturday in the Park." As the decade progressed, the band began to emphasize their softer side with bassist Peter Cetera singing such mellow standards as "If You Leave Me Now," "Baby, What a Big Surprise" and "Hard to Say I'm Sorry."

Chicago (sometimes referred to as Chicago II) is the second studio album by Chicago-based American rock band Chicago. Like their debut album, Chicago Transit Authority, this was a double album. It was their first album under the name Chicago (the band's prior name, Chicago Transit Authority, was changed due to a threatened lawsuit) and the first to use the now ubiquitous cursive Chicago logo on the cover. Released in January 1970 on Columbia Records, Chicago was commercially successful. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in April of the same year of its release, and certified platinum in 1991. The album received three Grammy Award nominations - for Album of the Year, Contemporary Vocal Group, and Best Album Cover.

This double-length set, not the "legendary" four-LP Carnegie Hall concert, is the one to get to hear what Chicago sounded like in their classic early period. In contrast to the Carnegie Hall show, where the band emphasized its precision to the point of deadening any excitement that might have been generated, here Chicago sounds upbeat and lively, bent on giving a good, exciting show and not on capturing a perfect performance. There are moments, as on the crescendo of "Dialogue," where the spirit outstrips the cleanness of the performance, but the group is so tight and forceful that one lets them slide by; at other times, as on "Beginnings," they're so smooth and lithe in their extension of the piece that one just wants to bask in it; and then they switch gears to the rougher, harder "Mississippi Delta City Blues," and make that work too. The whole performance is good, with a steady stream of worthwhile high points.

Previously unreleased Chicago 1971 Live Concert from The John F. Kennedy for the Performing Arts available on 4xLP and 3xCD. Chicago was one of the first musical acts to perform at The Kennedy Center, after spending their time in 1971 developing songs for their live shows that would be included in future projects, such as Chicago V, which was recorded soon after. Fans will enjoy hits such as "Saturday In The Park" which was first performed at this show, "25 to 6 to 4", and many more!