Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4 (Official Audio) I Artist Reacts I

[@jacobscreek1000]

Treat yourself to the Tanglewood live version. You won't regret it

[@craigw1911]

SECONDED! Watching Terry Kath shred in his solo is mind boggling!

[@VintageWanderer]

This

[@jerryg53125]

I think you are ready for the Tanglewood version.Fasten your seat belt.

[@McShaganpronouncedShaegen]

Yep!

[@raiderfan346]

A master class in guitar.

[@DanielFrost21]

The original Chicago lineup was the some of the greatest musical talent ever assembled.

[@DanielFrost21]

@IntroToClassicRockKevin Yes, he has dementia, but he stopped touring in 2018 due to a heart condition. Although not active, he is still technically a member of the band.

[@RCullis47]

Amen. R.I.P. Terry Kath.

[@myownchannel247]

This original lineup had three great singers, Peter Cetera on this song ( bass guitar), Robert Lamm ( keyboards), and Terry Kath (guitar). Terry’s guitar work in this song still sounds original and inspired. r I p Terry Kath

[@bayareathrasher666]

Terry is god...and Lemmy lol

[@michaelelliott5760]

Early Chicago is much better than the later stuff. They knew how to rock then! Must listen to side 2 of Chicago II.

[@ML-jk3sz]

They also weren't produced by David Foster then, Foster ruined their sound once they hit the 80's.

[@michaelelliott5760]

I think the absence of Terry made a big difference also.

[@thomastimlin1724]

@@michaelelliott5760 yes it turned into the new producer's show and Peter Cetera sh*t show and his back up band with the horns buried in the mix rather than prominent, instead of the real Chicago sound

[@RobertSmith-iw2kb]

Terry kath helped.

[@RobertSmith-iw2kb]

If u like horns,this is band along with blood, sweat and tears 😊

[@alansilverman8500]

"A writer looking for inspiration in the middle of the night" Exactly! ...and this is what he ended up writing!!!

[@suebeawho6537]

Yeah, and I have been listening to this song since it first came out and did not realize til recently that the title was referring to the time on the clock like oh it's about blah blah time. I thought they were just saying random numbers. I am an idiot. And btw it is about 38 or 9 to 4 as I am typing this (pm). See I learn lol

[@JamesBond-ib9tq]

Congratulations to Koality because she's the first one to get all the meaning of the song.

[@darikmatters8866]

This studio version is a great mix and the lyrics come through loud and clear (and you are the only reactor I have seen that got it right, was up all night writing lyrics and when he looked up it was 25 or 26 to 4AM.). If I remember correctly, the bassist (peter Cetera), who is also lead vocals on this, broke his jaw a few days before the studio session and sung this with his mouth wired shut.. As great as this is you must watch Tanglewood 1970 live.. It is one of the greatest performances on you-tube. The drummer was having issues with his kit and stage hands came out.. The guitarist did want to wait and started before the rest of the band forcing the issue.. His lead on the song is awe inspiring..

[@VinE83656]

Terry Kath was the guitarist and he unfortunately passed away but was an excellent guitar player. Some say he was very underrated, at the very least he was under appreciated.

[@craigw1911]

Go dig up their debut album when they were known as The Chicago Transit Authority and play these two tracks: "Introduction" and "Poem 58". Guitar player Terry Kath wrote "Introduction" and sang lead vocals. He was called "The White Ray Charles" by his bandmates. Soulful baritone voice! "Poem 58" is nine minutes of PURE FUNK led by Terry Kath on guitar, Danny Seraphine on drums, and Peter Cetera on bass. Kath's guitar will have you needing an ice pack for your jaw after you pick it up from the floor! When they were "The Chicago Transit Authority", they were the house band at the Whisky a Go Go in LA. One night between sets, Jimi Hendrix, who was in the audience, went to their dressing room after catching their first set. He walked up to their sax player Walt Parazaider and said, "You guys have a horn section that sounds like one set of lungs and a guitar player that's better than me! You wanna go on the road?" They said "YEAH!". And that's how they became Hendrix's opening act on a national arena tour. The original lineup had three lead singers. You heard Peter Cetera (bass player, tenor voice) on "25 Or 6 To 4". The other two lead vocalists were Terry Kath (guitar, deep baritone vocals) and Robert Lamm (keyboards, baritone vocals).

[@taylortyler1867]

If horns in rock is your thing, Chicago is your band. "Saturday in the Park", "Just You n Me", & "Feeling Stronger Every Day" are 3 of my _MANY_ favorites by them.

[@CJConnor620]

Peter Cetera-bass guitar and vocals. Terry Kath- lead guitar and vocals. Robert Lamm- keyboards and vocals. Danny Seraphine- drums. James Pankow- trombone. Walter Parazaider- flute/saxophone. Lee Loughnane- Trumpet

[@michaelt6218]

Chicago was THE most musical band of the post-Beatles 1970+ era. Their first few LPs were unbelievably rich, a sonic blend of rock jazz blues funk & soul, just wow!!! Later, after their 7th album, when they lost their leader, the incomparable Terry Kath, they mellowed out and were never as good. But early Chicago is legendary.

[@ghengriff3600]

The song was written before digital clocks. The big hand was in between the 25 and 26 position on the minute marks.

[@dagmar.6954]

Great band from the 70's-80's. They were a rock & roll band with horns & blended elements of classical music, jazz, R&B, & pop music. They had a lot of great songs such as "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", "Beginnings", "Feelin' Stronger Everyday", "Questions 67 & 68", "I'm A Man", "If You Leave Me Now", "Hard To Say I'm Sorry", "Saturday In The Park", "Colour My World", "You're The Inspiration", "Will You Still Love Me?", "Look Away", "Old Days" etc.

[@seekfirst817]

what a group

[@kevinhouse1015]

Watch the live version at Tanglewood. Lots of energy.

[@FlamesCagney]

Yep. This is what we listened to on the radio everyday. Banger after banger.

[@OklasoonaHomer]

You pretty much nailed it. 25 (or 26) minutes until 4am. Before I retired, 25OR6to4 was the password for my work computer.

[@richardhundley4371]

It's about writing a song. 3 lead singers. Extreme musicians.

[@markmurphy558]

LSD.

[@paulbeatham6530]

Exactly. Robert Lamm said he needed one more song to finish the album. He said he stayed up all night trying to finish. And no, despite what a lot of people thought, it had nothing to do with drugs. Even the Filipino government thought it had something to do with drugs and banned it from radio play.

[@timconway7962]

This song in particular captures all the strengths of early Chicago: the songwriting of Robert Lamm, the guitar work of Terry Kath and the lead vocals of Peter Cetera.

[@michaelwelsh7362]

Every high school band for several generations played this rift at sporting events🎶🎶🎶

[@AndrewMadeloni]

Check out "Introduction", the first cut from the first album (Chicago Transit Authority)...😀

[@steveyaworsky6170]

Good job on figuring the song out so quickly. I was 11 when this came out, and in all my years have never seen anyone get it on their first listen. I'm sure you've already discovered that the lead singer was Peter Cetera. Another good one to check out would be "Make Me Smile", with Terry Kath (lead guitarist) on vocals. He was amazing.

[@chetstevensq]

Chicago had three lead singers in their original line up, Peter Cetera (bass) heard here can also be heard on Feeling Stronger Everyday and Wishing You Were Here. Robert Lamm (keyboards) who wrote this song, sings lead on Saturday in the Park and Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is. Finally the lead guitarist is Terry Kath and you should check out Make Me Smile and Colour My World to hear his bluesy soulful leads. Chicago IX is possibly the greatest Greatest Hits album ever. (these are 7 of the 11 songs on the album)

[@oldsoldier4u814]

You were spot on about the time reference. Being that early in the morning and being a little blurry eyed they couldn't quite see what time the clock was showing!

[@doghouse151]

Dear, you can almost here all there typs of music in the song "introduction". It's the first song on there first album they made. The band was named Chicago Transit Authority, however they were sued by the real CTA for using their name. I am 76 and I grew up on the great and wonderful music of the time. You had a terrific reaction. Bill.

[@kevinhouse1015]

Check out Blood, Sweat, and Tears another "horn" band.

[@michaelt6218]

Both bands produced by James William Guercio!

[@Man_The_Machines]

One of the coolest songs ever! Hendrix loved the guitar player Terry Kath :)

[@BobKovacs]

If you like rock bands with horns, it pretty much started with the Beatles "Got to Get You Into My Life." Chicago started a bigger trend in jazz/rock fusion bands. You would also like Chicago's "Make Me Smile," which was a bigger hit than "25 or 6 to 4." A more jazzy version of Chicago was a band called Blood, Sweat and Tears, which had a big hit with "You Make Me So Very Happy." And there was a big one-off hit called "Vehicle" by a band called Ides of March. It's a Chicago clone, but it is a terrific song with great horns. If you like rock with horns, I recommend any of the songs I mentioned: Got to Get You Into My Life (Beatles) Make Me Smile (Chicago) You Make Me So Very Happy (Blood, Sweat and Tears) Vehicle (Ides of March)

[@kennethbryson7751]

I was in high school in the 70’s and Chicago was just one of the great bands of that era! Enjoyed your reaction! Low bass Kenneth

[@z71ne1]

Terry Kath was an AMAZING guitarist!!!

[@russelljoslinjr4387]

Great song! This is my favorite guitar solo. It never fails to wind me up!!

[@peterm4486]

One of the great guitar solos ever!!!

[@philipcarrell3945]

This song is actually a cool story. The band needed one more song for the album, and they just couldn't come up with anything. They were sitting in the studio, and one of them asked what time it was. The answer was, 25 or 6 to 4 am. What flowed from that was a description of that writing session. That was the birth of this great song. Sometimes that's just how the magic happens!

[@michaelbenge2388]

Dig deep! You won’t be disappointed.

[@MagsonDare]

I grew up in Chiacgo as a "child of the 80's" and Chicago the band was definitely popular through the decade. We played 25 or 6 to 4 in the "pep band" at basketball games, sang Chicago songs inthe school choirs. What a time to be alive.... ;-)

[@duanevp]

It's a song about trying to write a song. The character in the song has reached a creative blockage. He's been up all night, struggling to stay awake, looking out the window, whatever... just trying to finish the song. But he has a part that he can't fit with lyrics that work. So, a common songwriting/poetry trick is to insert a nonsense phrase that reproduces the beat, the rhyme, etc. and then you work backwards to replace that with something you actually want to say. "25 or 6 to 4" _doesn't_ _mean_ _anything_ . It's just the placeholder phrase he's using while he tries to come up with lyrics that he actually wants. :)

[@DarrellW_UK]

Who ever thought we could be listening and appreciating music like this over 50 years from its inception? A great piece of music from a great band, glad you liked it! 🌹 Edit: I’m a man from Tanglewood 1970 is a really great follow up!

[@Knightveil]

This is literally a song about writing a song in the early morning, not having much luck, being tired but wanting to continue because there's something in the idea, something that won't let go but also won't let the writer find all the right words. Like many of the early Chicago songs, 25 Or 6 To 4 has lyrics that work on more than one level. Add to that the masterful arranging and musicianship and it's not hard to see why they lasted as long as they did as a band.

[@SFSpiegelbergSteinwayPianoForS]

Great reaction. The song is all about deciding whether or not to take some more LSD at 3:54am after a long night of tripping, OR accept that it's time to stop and go to sleep. I am old. I was there. And by there, I mean in the front row of Chicago playing 25 or 6 to 4 in concert, on LSD, with all my friends, also on LSD, and much of the crowd also on LSD, all celebrating the greatest song about LSD that will ever be written. Listen again in that context and it will actually makes sense. Chicago lied then, and have lied ever since, for obvious legal and PR reasons, but that changes nothing. 🙂

[@allendesalme197]

You need to see them do this live just to watch Terry Kath play guitar...then watch cover band Leonid and Friends, a cover band from Russia, who cover them (and others) so darn well - Blood, Sweat, and Tears was also a great rock band with a horn section

[@joes2514]

You could spend a year just reacting to Chicago songs. For anyone REALLY into Chicago (and other bands with incredible horns sections) check out Leonid & Friends channel. They are an amazing Russian Chicago cover band. They nail every song. Enjoy.

[@abevillanueva1974]

A GOAT group before and today!!! Love your reaction...today's generation trip out when they hear music we "baby boomers" grew up with (late 60s to early 80s). Chicago still touring today; their horns are among the best up there with Tower of Power and Earth, Wind, and Fire. Enjoy your journey. Hey, they're performing in Vegas...and soon again with Earth, Wind, and Fire. React to their joint 2004 concert on youtube jamming to this classic!!

[@mcbeezee2120]

Great observations, ma'am. Yeah, when this came out, it was when the airwaves were full of Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, Led Zeppelin, etc, and I remember thinking, "What is THIS?" So much talent in just one band. The 70s were definitely off to a running start, musically.

[@catdude5567]

This version is tame compared to the live version at Tanglewood.

[@allendesalme197]

He wrote this song very early in the morning when he couldn't get back to sleep - they often wrote great songs about very common things (Saturday in the Park, Color My World, etc) - so they were big wen I was in high school in the early 70's - we used to play their music in stage band and at talent shows

[@ndpd11]

I enjoyed watching you react to this fantastic music that I grew up with. You really must listen to "Beginnings", "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", "Make Me Smile", and "Questions 67 & 68". You are in for a real treat.

[@kengoodsmith5437]

You hit the meaning incredibly well for a first listen. I thought it was about drugs for years. But you nailed it- it’s about writing a song in the early morning.

[@Grynslvr2]

I agree. Well done.

[@marthagavey9321]

I feel when there's reactions to these groups, especially like Chicago with so many members and talented singers, you should WATCH the group so youre not guessing at who did this or that every time! Amazing music in the '60's and 70's!!!

[@NickWoolfolk-n1m]

I read this quote from one of the greatest guitarists of all time; Jimi Hendrix cited Terry Kath (Chicago’s guitar player) as one of his favorite guitarists, and considered Kath to be "the best guitarist in the universe".

[@brianfisher6165]

You did awesome, most people can't figure that out what 25 or 6 to 4 is or means. I know what it means, but I've been listening to them for nearly 50 years!!!👌👌👍👍✌✌😁😁

[@genorp]

You figured it out. It’s a song about writing a song in the middle of the night. He looked at the clock and thought, “It’s 25 (minutes) to 4(:00). Or is it 26 to?”

[@paulschirf9259]

You nailed it. In studio, trying to write lyrics to wrap up the album and on a deadline. There are so many songs by Chicago that you really need to experience, just in case you haven't already. Make Me Smile, Saturday in the Park, Beginnings, Feelin' Stronger Every Day, Just You 'N' Me... etc. I recommend you stick with studio versions for the 1st listen.

[@charlesmarkley220]

Make Me Smile, another great song of their great songs. The guitar player sings on it. So so good. So good in fact the end of the song reminds me of the end of a Western movie, where the hero rides off into the sunset. 58 years old for reference 😊.

[@cindydegraaff5083]

Exactly right on your lyrics guess! Good job. They were having a song writing session and it was the middle of the night and someone said “What time is it?” Of course, with analog clocks, the answer was 25 or 26 to 4:00am. Lots of people speculated that it was a bad drug trip or something, but the answer was much more mundane. The music was the focus, not the lyrics.

[@michaeldezego340]

I loved your reaction. I’m 64 years old and my brother brought home their first album when released in 1969. I was 10 years old and was a fan from the start. So, my recommendation is that you listen to the entire first album which is called Chicago Transit Authority, their original band name. The only thing you might not like is Free Form Guitar. Mostly everything else is just stellar music. I still listen to their first five albums all the time but the first one is one of my favorite albums of all time. Enjoy!

[@RalphSpoiledsport]

Psychedelic, if you get my drift.

[@rubentullenaar2934]

You are missing out, you should have done the live version from Tanglewood 1970.

[@DarrellW_UK]

And follow up with I’m a man from the same gig!

[@markmurphy558]

I disagree. The sound quality is so bad you can't even hear the guitar riffs.

[@DarrellW_UK]

@@markmurphy558 oh here we go, another who makes dumb remarks on other folks’s comments but doesn’t make their own, makes me 🤢

[@markmurphy558]

@@DarrellW_UK is English your first language? My point is that studio versions are the sound that the bands want you to hear. So, while live versions are often fun in their own right, studio versions are a closer approximation to the artist's vision.

[@DarrellW_UK]

@@markmurphy558 the problem with doing that is that you don’t hear what the band will sound like at a gig; the live version should be a professional recording of the live gig not smartphone ones by fans! If the band can’t be bothered to do that then it points at them being not good live. There are too many bands out there that just don’t sound very good live, in the studio it’s easy to make up for their deficiencies - eg Autotune, layering, and the rest of the stuff they can use in post production. I know from experience and have wasted quite a bit of money in the past watching bands that are great in the studio but rubbish live!

[@toddhutchins2492]

Interesting tidbit, when Peter Cetera recorded the vocal, his mouth was wired shut because he had broken his jaw.

[@malkamusik]

I've seen many, many reactions to this song. You're the first one I've seen nail the meaning behind the song. Great reaction!

[@avlanche7777]

I so envy you if this is your first listen! Yeah . I’m 60!👍✌️

[@skiptrace1888]

So happy you enjoyed my #2 fav band (Beatles #1of course) of all time. Their first 3 albums are their best. All 3 platinum many times over.. after that, they were just chasing money and not doing anything musically interesting anymore. 😢 You might want to check out Blood, Sweat, & Tears, which was another horn heavy, rock band.! Love your responses! ❤😊❤😊

[@edb6690]

The real Chicago died with Terry Kath in 1977. They became a lounge lizard ballad band after that.

[@osovagabundo1]

Enjoy your new discovery, so much ahead for you. These guys and WAR were the sound of summer for the entire 70s

[@tonydavis7666]

This song was written in the early, early morning when they needed something to fill out the rest of the album they were working on, and one of them asked what time it was, and the answer was 25 or 6 to 4am, and the song was born. A true masterpiece!

[@markmurphy558]

LSD

[@fturla___156]

Love Chicago. I had their first audio tapes back in the 1970s when they were still the Chicago Transit Authority band. The song 25 or 6 to 4 has at least two versions, because in the 1980s, the band released a more modern version of the song and released it on the MTv channel.

[@riseoflibertarianism]

I think you should definitely dive into a few more of the songs from the first album. Their first release was Chicago Transit Authority, which was also the name of the band. There are some great tracks on this first album that also feature Terry Kath and Robert Lamm on lead vocals. Check out I'm A Man, South California Purples, Poem 58, Liberation and Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is. Not only does Terry Kath have an amazing soulful voice, his guitar playing was absolutely fantastic. I think you'll love this entire double album from start to finish.

[@craigw1911]

Poem 58 is a MUST, listening to Terry Kath shredding is incredible, Jimi Hendrix told the band that Terry was better than Jimi.

[@eraycer6860]

Great reaction! Can't wait to see and hear your next Chicago reaction. I'd like to suggest one of my favorites, "Colour my world "

[@manny3655]

Love it... Great job. Okay, I'd like to change your whole world. Ya Ready? You need to dip your toes, then do a deep dive into Radiohead. I really hesitate suggesting which track for you to listen to first, but try "Creep", "Reckoner", "How To Disappear Completely", "Lucky, "Pyramid Song", "Exit Music (for a song)", "Let Down" and "Sail to The Moon." That'll get ya off to a good start. You'll never be the same

[@frugalseverin2282]

To me the lyrics indicate the writer was also on something, "Should I try to do some more? Wondering how much I can take." This is the lead-in track to their 1st Greatest Hits volume, 11 songs in all. They had a lot of hits back in the '70s. 'Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?', 'Colour My World', 'Just You and Me', 'Feelin' Stronger Every Day', 'Make Me Smile', 'Wishing You Were Here', 'Beginnings', etc.

[@colibri1]

You figured out the meaning of the song title and the lyrics really fast! I grew up with this song in the seventies and never figured the title or lyrics out, always thought it was about a drug trip, given the times.

[@ericwilson5453]

High school pep band in the early 90s.. this was on regular rotation for us to play (i was lead trumpet, so basically played singers' line) and this song STILL raises goosebumps on me. Great times.

[@Grynslvr2]

HS band 1970-74 ,1st chair trumpet, second best of four bands in that HS (3,500 students in school, we marched as one 315 strong band). Played an arrangement of this song for 4 years on field and in parades. Fun times. Great song for marching as it is 4/4 or common time (four beats to the bar, quarter note gets the beat), but not really great for dancing.

[@daveg.6820]

My era. There is a whole Universe of stunning music from Chicago and their peers. You stepped into it and it will keep surprising you. . . . Cheers.

[@andrewmadeloni7173]

"Introduction" the 1st cut from the 1st album is awesome...!!!

[@mikebunner3498]

When they first came out they were the Chicago Transit Authority. That name is trademarked so after the city contacted them they shortened it to Chicago. As I recall all of the band geeks at school loved this group!!!! They are darn good!!! I along with others wondered if this was about dope????? The band says it is NOT!!!!! They do have the wha-wha pedal going during that guitar solo!!!! Peter Cetera I think is the bassist and singer on this one. Plus he was one of the groups lead song writers........ This song was BIG for the band! As it should be. It has real drive to it!!!! I thought of another one for you lady by Chicago --- Saturday in the Park. I love the feel to that one!!!!!!! This was some of the music from my youth. I graduated high school in '73. We had wonderful vehicles and the best music!!!!! The pleasure was all ours.................... LATER

[@floorticket]

My first rock concert was Chicago at the Oakland Coliseum Arena on either Nov 30th, or Dec 1st 1977. I was eleven/sixth grade. Sadly dad didn't save the stubs. It wasn't until decades later that I found out we saw either Terry Kath's penultimate or final concert before his passing less than two months later.

[@RandallMorris222]

When I was a young teenager in the late 60s, Chicago was pretty controversial among my peers. We liked the sound, obviously, but...they had horns! Rock bands didn't have horns! We felt like we shouldn't like them but we did. Kids!

[@NickWoolfolk-n1m]

I read this from one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Jimi Hendrix cited Terry Kath (Chicago’s guitarist player) as one of his favorite guitarists, and considered Kath to be "the best guitarist in the universe". You would love this song as well. “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” Song by Chicago

[@kentturley6006]

Congrats you are the first reactor that got the song title correct. The song is about Robert writing the song early in the morning. Please check out the live version at Tanglewood.Then you can experience the classic solo of Terry.

[@chrislewis-n3v]

i never thought heavy rock and brass went well together but i will make an exception for this absolute classic

[@fredkrissman6527]

I saw Chicago live in 1968 at age 13 when they opened for Jimi'sTheExperience... What a fantastic 1st rock concert!!! Nice react Koality, with good focus on lyrics, which are too often neglected!!!

[@robertspino521]

i met them. im friends with the road manager. and got backstage to meet them.

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

I would wager you have heard of tunes later in the band career than these earlier ones. Hope you enjoy investigating this band there is a lot of great music.

[@lextownes1042]

You nailed the meaning of the song. It’s about songwriting. You’re right, the title is the time! I love Chicagos cover of I’m a Man. Great mix and Terry Cath kills the vocals😎

[@thomasschmidt1836]

It was a song written about writing a song in the wee hours. Check out Earth, Wind and Fire as they were an R&B/Soul group that crossed over onto the pop charts and also incorporated a horn section

[@Jeff_Lichtman]

More songs by Chicago: Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? Saturday in the Park Feelin' Stronger Every Day Just You 'n' Me Other horn-based bands and their songs: Tower of Power So Very Hard to Go You're Still a Young Man What Is Hip? Down to the Nightclub Don't Change Horses (In the Middle of a Stream) Earth, Wind & Fire Shining Star Getaway September Sing a Song Ohio Players Fire Love Rollercoaster The Ides of March Vehicle Blood, Sweat & Tears You've Made Me So Very Happy Spinning Wheel And When I Die

[@KoalityReactions]

Thank you for all these suggestions!! (And When I Die is one of my fav songs. Love Blood, Sweat & Tears!)

[@samuelmregister]

great choice, and one can only hope you've found a rabbit hole to explore- one of the greatest sequences of music from the 20th century is also from this album: "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon"- here's hoping😉

[@Bobby-vf7fv]

Live at Tanglewood. Only The Beginning or Make Me Smile 😊. 1970. I was 9. Definitely agree ahead of their time.

[@jlocke78759]

You've got it right. The song is about the song writer struggling to write a song early in the morning. The band is still touring with 3 of the original members. I think they're doing a residency at the Venetian in Las Vegas soon.

[@jasonremy1627]

Members of the band: Lead guitar: Terry Kath Keys: Robert Lamm Bass guitar: Peter Cetera Drums: Danny Seraphine Trumpet: Lee Loughnane Trombone: Jimmy Pankow Saxophone: Walter Parazaider The lead vocals on this song is Peter, though Robert and Terry each sing lead on many songs too.

[@charleskramer1120]

Peter's brother Et played tambourine (uncredited)

[@jasonremy1627]

@@charleskramer1120 😆😆😆

[@jumpbackgeno]

They have so many hits that make you happy and feel emotions

[@patricksmith9232]

The guitarist, Terry Kath, used to open for Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix later said he wished he was as good as Kath.

[@pugowner1347]

Caught them at Sunday Break 2 on the Steiner Ranch outside of Austin Texas in the fall of 1976. My girlfriend and I, both 16 hitch-hiked from Killen, about 70 miles. You could do that back then. The line-up was Firefall, England Dan & John Coley, The Band, Steve Miller, Chicago and Fleetwood Mac.

[@judgildea]

It's always so awesome for people to hear music that appreciate music but also have no experience actually hearing music and feeling it without analyzing it. Love it. I wondered for 20 yrs what the title meant but I actually..who cares..lol

[@timconway7962]

It's the ultimate song about writing a song at 3:35 or 3:34 am.

[@Johnny67557]

Your Dad def heard this. Welcome to my childhood. Seeing younger peeps like you hear it for the first time is very entertaining. Older music is the best.

[@timcotton1782]

The late great Terry Kath on Stratocaster for this song delivers one of the greatest guitar solos ever recorded. In the Tanglewood live version, the guitar solo is much, much longer, and even more intense, and you get to see how easy he makes it look while he's absolutely jamming to the beat. The singer is bassist Peter Cetera for this track, though he, Terry Kath, and Robert Lamm (keyboards) share lead vocal duties on various Chicago tracks. Cetera is considered the primary lead singer, and is an excellent bassist, though his bass-line on 25 or 6 to 4 is mostly the stable descending beat-hits. There are dozens of great Chicago songs to choose from, but a really good thing to do is just listen to albums 1-13 in album order.

[@KawaTony1964]

Terry Kath, the massively talented guitarist, is also a great singer. You heard Peter Cetera, who is also the bassist, singing on this song. Both Terry and Peter share the title of "lead singer" for this band, having approximately equal hit songs they sing. Check out the live "Tanglewood" concert videos. They do all this live, including the horns, and they do it well.

[@rhm5158]

You left out Robert Lamm who also sang lead on many of their hits

[@gordo0449]

Like someone else suggested listen to Tanglewood, I think it was 1970, you seemed to really like the Terry Kath guitar solo you will be blown away watching this version, to me one of the greatest guitar solos you will ever hear, even the other band members were stunned listening to Terry absolutely kill it!

[@specialed36ify]

I don't think you appreciate what lyrical savant you are. There were literally decades (mostly pre-internet) of debate about these lyrics. Mostly drug related: 25 or 6 or ounces of cocaine? "6 to 4" as a nickname for LSD? Because if you dropped acid at 6 p.m., the effects of the drug would wear off by 4 a.m? And many others. Yet, after a single listen, you nonchalantly offer up your own theory, which happens to be spot on. Ultra respect. Thank you for this fun, and insightful, listen

[@mgreenwa]

You have SO MUCH fabulous music in front of you. I'm almost jealous.

[@Telephonebill51]

"Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago" is(was, apparently) a DVD history of the band Chicago. VERY entertaining, lots of home movies, etc. available on Amazon streaming.

[@georgethomas8329]

Another great band that incorporates horns is Blood Sweat & Tears. Check them out when you get a chance.

[@glennelfmann3143]

Also Tower Of Power