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Peter Cetera in Bass Player

#81
The interaction between Terry and Peter in the middle of Better End Soon on CH is effortless and inspiring.

Sing A Mean Tune Kid is another killer live cut - Cetera's vocals are saucy and soulful. They capture the lyrics very well. And his wah-wah bass line is the anchor for the entire song. Check out Terry's blistering solos throughout the song.

On LIJ - Peter takes the the only bass solo I know of that's captured on tape - tasty AND funky!
 
#82
cetera said:
A great live album to be sure.... but I always much preferred the 'Live in Japan' album from the same period. Check around for the CD on eBay etc...
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LIJ sounds a little better than Carnegie Hall (better recording, IMO)...the price for the OOP LIJ album is pretty high. For the time being (until it's re-issued?), I picked up a 'copy' from iTunes ($12-$13).

Same thing went for the Carnegie Hall set; when it was OOP, the prices were crazy. Thankfully, it was recently re-issued.
 
#83
JimK said:
LIJ sounds a little better than Carnegie Hall (better recording, IMO)...the price for the OOP LIJ album is pretty high. For the time being (until it's re-issued?), I picked up a 'copy' from iTunes ($12-$13).

Same thing went for the Carnegie Hall set; when it was OOP, the prices were crazy. Thankfully, it was recently re-issued.
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I found a near-mint, virtually unplayed Carnegie Hall box set on vinyl in an antique shop a couple of years ago. It even had all the posters, booklet and inserts in there, in mint shape. Got it for $15.00. Not bad eh?
 
#84
I think it's interesting to note that the early Chicago albums along with the second[and classic] Blood Sweat & Tears albums were produced by James Guerico, who I think was also a bassplayer. The bass tone and prominence in the mix on those albums still sound great almost forty years later.
 
#85
jerry said:
I think it's interesting to note that the early Chicago albums along with the second[and classic] Blood Sweat & Tears albums were produced by James Guerico, who I think was also a bassplayer. The bass tone and prominence in the mix on those albums still sound great almost forty years later.
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Indeed he was..... he toured with the Beach Boys....

I'd be interested to hear what he could do with the band these days but since the lawsuit I don't see that happening!
 
#88
cetera said:
Personally, I can't think of a better replacement for Peter Cetera as a dual bassist/singer.... apart from maybe Richard Page of Mr Mister who apparently was also considered at the time...
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It's my understanding he was offered *both* the Toto and Chicago gigs but wanted to stay true to his bandmates and try to make Mr. Mister a long term success.
 
#89
Geez.. I think these guys are playing the county fair here in a couple months...judging from the ad in the paper, there's only 1/3 of one original member still in the band (a prothesis of some sort, set on a stool with a spotlight on it--gets a rousing introduction, so I hear)
 
#93
The thing is, the last two times I saw the current incarnation of Chicago on TV, they sounded much more like a Chicago tribute band than like Chicago. Nothing new brought to the table at all, either in material or in interpretation. It really sounded like even Walter (the most vibrant soloist still in the band) was just going through the motions and phoning in the parts. Everything was played with pristine perfection, but no life.

But, then the last time I saw Chicago live, Terry Kath was still in the band tearing things up.

jte
 
#94
I agree with that description of the "new" Chicago.

What really bothers be is all the people who bash Peter Cetera for his "ballads" - some of those songs were a sign of the times and that is the direction pop music was going then.

I personally had no problem with it but what I didn't like was all the synthesized bass lines and drum machines that started to invade the music.

In a way, I can understand why he left the band as things were changing and as a musician, maybe he didn't feel comfortable.

I for one can NOT listen to post Cetera Chicago because (to me) some of the songs sound like they were recorded with a Casio keyboard using the "auto chords" and built in drum rhythms.

Just my $.02, I really liked Peter's bass playing.
 
#95
JTE said:
The thing is, the last two times I saw the current incarnation of Chicago on TV, they sounded much more like a Chicago tribute band than like Chicago. Nothing new brought to the table at all, either in material or in interpretation. It really sounded like even Walter (the most vibrant soloist still in the band) was just going through the motions and phoning in the parts. Everything was played with pristine perfection, but no life.
e
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Sadly that's what most babyboomer concert goers want these days, a nice safe package. Earth Wind & Fire are another once vibrant band that uses a lot of tracks these days so they can do the dance steps and play it safe. Most of these bands make their bucks on the Vegas/corporate circuit that does not like them to go outside the lines.:(
 
#97
I was in a band back in the day that did most of the stuff from the first 8 albums, so you could say I cut my bass teeth on Cetera's brilliant lines.

I was also fortunate enough to see them live when Terry Kath was still around, touring for Chicago VII.

I always got a kick out out of seeing Peter with a RIPPER! I started gassing for one, even though I knew it was a bit of a dog.
 

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