Here’s as good a place as any to pay homage to Donnie Dacus, the well-traveled rock guitarist who stepped in to fill the enormous hole left by Kath, and played dutifully on Hot Streets and Chicago XIII. “Gone Long Gone” (from Hot Streets, 1978) The fourth and final of those was “Along Comes A Woman, a Phil Collins-esque sizzler with a hook that’s just memorable enough to make us forget about that repugnant drum machine.
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“Along Comes a Woman” (from Chicago 17, 1984)Ĭhicago’s mega-polished pop wizardry reached its zenith on Chicago 17 - the band’s best-selling record to date - as all four singles cracked the Hot 100’s top 20. Some of the song’s more aggressive lyrics (“I won’t take no if that’s your answer”) haven’t aged particularly well, but the sneering chorus cry remains such a brain-sticker that the dudes in Foreigner are probably still seething at not having thought of it first. Perhaps best-remembered for its action-packed music video, “Stay the Night” was also one of the most striking singles of Chicago’s early ’80s pop period, captivating from its opening drum hits through to its staccato verse synths and melodic left turn at the chorus. 1 song of 1989 - remains a serious earworm, courtesy of prolific songwriter Diane Warren and Bill Champlin’s soaring lead vocals. 1 hit on the Hot 100 without Cetera, and Billboard‘s year-end No. There’s a whole lot of ‘80s shmaltz on Chicago 19, but this single - the band’s only No. If you’re too good for Chicago’s post-Peter Cetera era, then you’re too cool for our list. While this change in style, which would define the group’s sound throughout the ‘80s, was derided by some fans at the time, Hot Streets has aged fairly well, and the jammer “Little Miss Lovin’” is convincingly propulsive pop-rock - and if you listen closely enough, you can hear the Bee Gees singing the skyscraping background vocals.
Hot Streets was Chicago’s great sonic shift, away from the band’s defining jazz-rock mode (following the death of Kath months earlier) in favor of disco and pop.
“Little Miss Lovin’” (from Hot Streets, 1978)
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The band found the majority of their success using a much lighter touch, and were wise to do so, but kudos to axeman Kath for showing when necessary that the band knows how to swing it. Not a ton of Chicago riffs that you’d be likely to mistake for Tony Iommi at any point, but the chugging of Chicago VIII deep cut “Hideaway” is vicious enough that you kinda expect it to turn it into “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” in its early minutes - even before you get to its blistering solo. The tune, which asks Jenny to watch over and protect Kath’s lover while he’s away, is soulful and bittersweet, considering the singer-guitarist’s accidental death in 1978.
BOBBY OLIVIERĬhicago VI, the first of five straight albums to be recorded at producer James William Guerico’s Caribou Ranch in Colorado, topped the Billboard 200 due in large part to the success of singles “Just You N’ Me” and “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day.” But a more obscure fan favorite from the record is “Jenny,” a tender song written and sung by Terry Kath about Kath’s dog with the titular name. But this is a fun, jaunty song, with a sharp tongue and vibrant accompaniment from percussionist Laudir de Oliveira (who left the band after this album). 71 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, sold in comparison to most other Chicago LPs. “Everything’s cool until you lose your money,” Robert Lamm sings on this slightly jaded album track - the content of which feels prophetic considering how poorly Chicago XIV, which peaked at a paltry No. “I’d Rather Be Rich” ( Chicago XIV, 1980) They run the gamut from deeply soulful and orchestrally tethered early contributions, courtesy of guitarist Terry Kath, keyboardist Robert Lamm, and trombonist James Pankow, to the later mega-polished super singles pumped out by bassist/singer Peter Cetera and renowned producer David Foster.įind your favorite song (via our Spotify playlist at the bottom of the post), blast it in your earbuds and let’s all salute a band that continues to perform before thousands of fans deep into its sixth decade of rock and horns - and whose 50th birthday is still only the beginning.ĥ0. Chicago on Their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction: 'I Had No Idea It Would Be As Exciting As It…Īfter combing through an overwhelming amount of recorded music - four of the band’s first six LPs were double albums, mind you - here’s Billboard‘s tally of the 50 best Chicago songs.
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