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CHICAGO
CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY
Chicago Transit Authority
(Columbia/Sony)
This was the amazing debut of the jazz-rock outfit soon to become known strictly as Chicago. Hereafter most of their album titles would be simply be known by numerals, and by their other trademark; clever cover artwork, that included chocolate bars and skyscrapers in the shape of the words 'Chicago'.

'Introduction' is an apt title as this serves as an introduction to every player, plus styles. One of the first singles to come off Chicago Transit Authority was 'Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?', a song that questions Christians and secular people alike as to where are they are at. 'Question 67 & 68' is comparable to anything that Blood, Sweet & Tears had to offer. 'Listen' purports that "we might be in it for the money". 'Poem 58' is an 8 minute-plus track that takes you through some amazing guitar chords and brass arrangements; whereas 'Free Form Guitar' is exactly what it says; this is a guitar only track that features Terry Kath giving his stratocaster a real workout, and in turn helping to sell 1,000's of Fender guitars. This is a track where you should turn your stereo system up to the max. [Jimi Hendrix actually thought of Terry as a better player than himself.] 'South California Purples' is a blues-rock track, and coming from Chicago what would you expect? 'I'm A Man' is the Stevie Winwood (Spencer Davis Group) classic, and Chicago's version has now become the standard on FM Rock stations World-wide. This rock anthem also features a dynamite drum solo from Daniel Seraphine. 'Prologue/Someday' were both recorded during live-protests at a Democratic convention in 1968. 'Liberation' is a 14 minute-plus jazz-rock jam recorded live entirely in the studio in one take. This two album set is now available as a single CD, and is well worth checking out.

I bought all the Chicago albums right up to their 5th, thereafter they got too wimpy for me. There may have been some shining rock moments thereafter, but most of the time it was typical commercial crap, like Kenny G. with vocals.
Gazz

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Chicago-Transit-Authority