In praise of Peter Cetera

[ejaggers]

Early Chicago was one of the best bands ever assembled, we did their stuff as well.
I played/sang lead on "The beginnings", and "South California purple".

Later albums got a little too mushy for me at the time, with all the ballots....057912

 

[Kaa]

Cetera, Kath, and Danny Serafine would have been one of the greatest power trios ever.

 

[pbass2]

Cetera had such a great sound on those classic Chicago tracks--a stellar example of the classic P w/flats and pick--what an undeniably great bass tone he got.

 

[GWGuitar]

Cetera, Kath, and Danny Serafine would have been one of the greatest power trios ever.

Kath was my first guitar hero; Cetera my first bass influence. The reason I nearly failed Algebra in 9th grade was listening to Chicago while doing homework.

 

[HubbardsFate]

Yup, Cetera is no slouch - and as at least one previous poster mentioned, the fact that he sings too...(I have a ton of respect for pretty much ANYONE who can sing and play at the same time, something I can't do worth a damn...)

I seem to remember reading somewhere that Jimi Hendrix crossed paths with those guys - maybe billed with them somewhere? - and was so blown away by them that he wanted to join them...that could have been interesting...

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

I have seen him with a Jazz (was a Jazz used on the Live In Japan album?)

He used a Gibson EB-3 on that album. That version of "I'm A Man" has a rare bass solo.

- Steve

 

[Cadillac_Mike]

Don't ever try to sing his songs lol. I can cover "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" and "If You Leave Me Now" maybe 75% at best.

 

[51PRI]

Back in the early 70's I played in bands that did several Chicago tunes. Back in those days I was working so hard to get the parts correct that I couldn't appreciate what I was playing. Fast forward to 2022 and I'm in MY early 70's. Now I play once or twice a month in a motown cover band. The drummer (Barry) throws a 4th party every year using our band and adding some horn players. This year we are doing "Beginnings", "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is", and "Saturday In The Park". A new KB player is singing them and he does a good job. I've practiced these songs until I know them pretty close to note for note. I have to say that these parts are some of the most lyrical, melodic, and down right pretty bass parts I've ever played. Peter's playing is outstanding and unique.

The new band I'm in decided to learn "Beginnjngs" and I started learning it last night. I didn't know what I had signed up for. That's a great bass part

 

[Zooberwerx]

Don't forget the entire band's Oscar-worthy performances in "Electra Glide in Blue".

Riis

 

[Gecko 5]

I never knew anything about Cetera till I joined a horn band.
I had no idea what a badass he is.
Make Me Smile is one of the toughest lines I've learned in 40+ years of playing.
Just You and Me is just a fun song to play.

Kinda sad, what he's become today. More a crooner

 

[51PRI]

Just a follow up: Working on the bass part in "Beginnings" is quite a challenge for me. How much of what he played is necessary and how much of it is just what he was feeling at the moment? I think I have the overall gist of the part but not every single note or nuance. Then I decided to listen to the current versio of the band Chicago and their now bassist doesn't play Cetera's part actually much at all. Then I listened to Leonid & Friends bersion and Leonid plays Cetera's part much more like the original recording that Chicago's current bass player does. So I'm going to do an approximation of the parts and see if that works in our band context.

 

[GreyBeard]

Just a follow up: Working on the bass part in "Beginnings" is quite a challenge for me. How much of what he played is necessary and how much of it is just what he was feeling at the moment? I think I have the overall gist of the part but not every single note or nuance. Then I decided to listen to the current versio of the band Chicago and their now bassist doesn't play Cetera's part actually much at all. Then I listened to Leonid & Friends bersion and Leonid plays Cetera's part much more like the original recording that Chicago's current bass player does. So I'm going to do an approximation of the parts and see if that works in our band context.

The main melodic line in the intros, verse, and bass solo are what I call signature lines and are most important (imho). I saw him play live right after the 2nd album was released and he did play those signature parts with quite a bit of embellishments as did the rest of the band. Terry Kath (rip) played some fabulous solos.

 

[51PRI]

The main melodic line in the intros, verse, and bass solo are what I call signature lines and are most important (imho). I saw him play live right after the 2nd album was released and he did play those signature parts with quite a bit of embellishments as did the rest of the band. Terry Kath (rip) played some fabulous solos.

I can believe that. I'm sure that what Cetera played on the record was essentially a work in progress. I've watched a later 70's live version of the song and a lot of the parts in the song had evolved by then, including his bass parts.