I Realize Some May Laugh, But...

Cetera is no joke. But like a lot of players who made the move from player to performer/composer he hasn't kept the high cred among bass players. That's a shame. Great band with lots of good dark-horse material that kicks butt on the "hits".

 

good stuff! That was a mainstay on my folks HiFi in the days after I discovered I wanted to play bass, but before I started. Some of those lines are etched on my subconscience

 

I wont laugh, Peter is also one of the best at singing and playing at the same time, I'm surprised his name did'nt come up in that thread. A great pocket player.

 

I'm not a fan of alot of Chicago's music, especially later stuff, but anyone who underrstands music knows they are great players. Peter Cetera was definitely great as a player and player/singer. I understand that his replacement, Jerry Scheff, I think, is great too.
I would have liked to have seen that joint Chicago/Earth Wind and Fire tour that went out last year, I bet those guys did some great playing. I wonder if they proved which was the greatest band out of Chicago?

 

"Skintight" & "Scrap Book" are pretty happenin' tunes from Chicago X.


Another overlooked Cetera gem is "Brand New Love Affair, Parts 1 & 2" from Chicago VIII(with the cardinal on the cover; its hit is "Old Days"). Part 1 is a jazzy/Blues, Part 2 is Rock/R&B.

Also, Chicago IV-Live At Carnegie Hall just recently got reissued with bonus/alt tracks; two mean versions of "Sing A Mean Tune Kid" are on it...about $35-$40 for the 4 disc set complete with the original posters!
(albeit, sized-down).

 

That would be Jason Scheff. Jerry is his dad.

 

Stick to the albums with Kath(especially the early ones); each album has buried gems that never saw the light of day on radio.

IMHO, that woulda been a great concert in the '70s.
Nowadaze? Nah.

I have seen a DVD featuring both bands in a recent concert together.

 

I've been watching/listening to the Chicago/EWF DVD lately. Jason Scheff is a great player. Nice lines on that gig.

 

I had their first album CTA a couple years before I began to play, and learned a pretty much the whole album when I did play.[except Freeform Guitar]...a big early influnence on me as well!
I also was a big Sons Of Champlin fan, Bill Champlin is a funky mother-shutyourmouth!!! He just doesnt get to show it much these days, but I'm sure the checks are good
I also think Jason Scheff is very tasty bassist/vocalist.

 

Check out Chicago V, probably their "jazziest" album, Dialog is a GREAT bassline! And Jim, your right about Terry Kath, one of the best guitar players in an era of great players. Chicago III is another album with some "hidden gems" like "Sing a mean tune Kid" a TOP type funk tune. A great band until Terry Kaths tragic passing.

 

Just so happens I did see that show in Saint Louis at the Riverport pavillion. Both bands were great, but as far as putting on a high energy show.... EWF kicked chicago's backside. And that's coming from a huge chicago fan from their very begginings. Pun intended.
My favorite part of the show was at the begining and end of the concert when both bands were on stage together. They would go back and forth playing an EWF song then a Chicago song with about 20 musicians playing on stage at the same time. You'd think it would sound bad that way but it was tight.
Anyway yeah X was a top notch album. They are supposed to be coming out with Chicago 30 next spring. Well see how it sounds. Some of their 90's stuff was pretty lame IMO. Their best '90's CD, Stone of Sisyphus never got released. shows you what record companies know.

 

btw if you are looking for the "soul" of the band Chicago. It still exists on Robert Lamm's solo CD's. His latest "Subtlety & Passion" has a song titled "Intensity" that was recorded around an old demo tape that Robert and Terry Kath were working on together. Terry's guitar solo sounds like it was recorded through a pignose amp (just my guess). But getting to hear anything by Terry Kath that was previously unavailable is a treat.

 

Absolutley nothing to laugh at. Some excellent musicianship coupled with sparkling production by David Foster. Not to mention some very well written pop tunes. No wonder it sold so many copies.

 

David Foster...hmmmm. At one time, I dug his style; after awhile, for me, it became apparent that bands like Chicago, EW&F, & AWB became glossed-over imprints of their former selves under Foster's production/writing.

Just one man's opinion...

 

Make that two I never been a big fan of David Foster's production.

 

But I am a huge fan of David Foster's badass mansion:
http://grasstain.com/images/Malibu/The Malibu Mansion.JPG

http://grasstain.com/images/Malibu/

Onward with the ruling,

JT

 

Waitaminute are we talking about the same Jerry Sceff who was Elvis' bassist?...if so ...WOW!!!!