Garage Sale Vinyl: Chicago
Chicago II / Columbia Records / January 1970
by Christopher Long
Wow, this one has really been on my mind lately.
As a much-admired career club DJ, I currently have a weekly Sunday night residency at Wid’s Place — a jumpin’ little joint down in Melbourne, Florida. If you dig darts, have a penchant for pool, or appreciate a proper cocktail, you might want to pop by the next time you’re in town. BTW, Korrie cooks up the angriest bacon-cheeseburger in the biz. But I digress.
One of my favorite Wid’s patrons is a fella named Mike. The guy is a full-on classic rock freak and a huge fan of the band Chicago. Every other week or so, Mike will roll up to the DJ booth and request one of his top go-to jams, “Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon,” the 13-minute opus from Side Two of Chicago II. Composed by co-founding trombone player, James Pankow, the seven-song suite includes two of the band’s most beloved early chart-busters: “Make Me Smile” and “Colour My World.”
Like Mike, I too am something of an old-school rock geek. We’ve both been around since back in the mid-1900s, and we both possess a passion for Chicago’s white-hot ‘69-‘76 era. As a result, the band’s entire second record resides within my massive digital DJ arsenal. However, in the spirit of full disclosure, I will confess that I never owned it on vinyl — until I discovered a poorly aged original LP copy for a couple of bucks while on a recent thrift store expedition. Although my digital 2017 Steven Wilson remixed edition packs a bit more punch, revisiting the original version on crackly vinyl is a particularly warm and cozy experience.
After dropping “Transit Authority” from their original moniker, Chicago released their self-titled sophomore set in early 1970. Known now to even casual fans as Chicago II, the album was overseen originally by famed producer James William Guercio. A truly impressive follow-up to the band’s platinum-selling 1969 debut, Chicago Transit Authority, the double LP featured the aforementioned Top 10 singles, “Make Me Smile” and “Colour My World,” as well as the riff-driven doozie, “25 or 6 to 4.”
Despite reported initial label pressure to ditch the horns, Chicago wasn’t the only band doing brass in those days. They just did it better than most. Plus, they had great songs. Living without artistic borders, Chicago seemingly could pull off anything. They could rock. They also could swing. They could schmooze with the elite jazzers. They also could ooze funk factor and classical cred. Boasting guest appearances from the likes of Charlie Rich and Anne Murray, the band’s downhome 1974 ABC TV special, Meanwhile Back at the Ranch, pointed to Chicago even owning a smidge of country appeal.
Soaked with Terry Kath’s soulful lead vocals and brimming with his blues-inspired guitar work, “Movin’ In” truly moved, along with the qualified assistance of Peter Cetera’s punchy backup vocals and groovin’ basslines. The band’s iconic horn section — Lee Loughnane (trumpet), Walter Parazaider (sax), and James Pankow (trombone) — takes centerstage in short order and makes this one zing. The ever-smooth keyboard work of Robert Lamm combined with drummer Danny Seraphine’s ferocious jazz chops further force the four-minute opener to serve as a high-resolution, one-song thumbnail showcase.
Of the record’s slew of additional highlights, “In the Country” was a funky lil’ stinger. “Wake Up Sunshine” was a genuine soft-pop treasure that remains a live setlist staple, while “Fancy Colours” is still a paisley-clad, psychedelic-sounding trip, man. The delicate strings of “A.M. Mourning” pinned to the tight-knit light jazz horn arrangements of “P.M. Mourning” offer additional proof of what made Chicago such a uniquely special and important band.
In sum, Chicago II was a massive effort. More than 50 years later, it still beams as one of the band’s best and brightest works.
(5/5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chicago II Track List
SIDE ONE
- Movin’ In (Pankow) – 4:062. The Road (Kath) – 3:103. Poem for the People (Lamm) – 4:254. In the Country (Kath) – 6:34
SIDE TWO
- Wake Up Sunshine (Lamm) 2:292. Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon (Pankow) – Total Time 12:55* Make Me Smile – 3:32* So Much to Say, So Much to Give – 1:04* Anxiety’s Moment – 1:00* West Virginia Fantasies – 1:34* Colour My World – 2:58* To Be Free – 1:21* Now More Than Ever – 1:27
SIDE THREE
- Fancy Colours (Lamm) – 5:102. 25 or 6 to 4 (Lamm) – 4:503. Memories of Love (Kath, Matz) – Total Time 9:12* Prelude – 1:18* A.M. Mourning – 2:05* P.M. Mourning – 1:59* Memories of Love – 4:01
SIDE FOUR
- It Better End Soon (Lamm, Kath, Parazaider) – Total Time 10:24* 1st Movement – 2:30* 2nd Movement – 3:47* 3rd Movement – 3:19* 4th Movement – 1:152. Where Do We Go from Here? (Cetera) – 2:53
