First Time Hearing Chicago "Poem 58" (Reaction!)

[@jdog560]

Best album I’ve ever heard in my life

[@Kerz300]

Early Chicago (CTA) was 🔥. You should check out “Introduction”. First song on their 1st album. A nice “Introduction” of this extremely talented band to the masses.

[@rodjohnson2632]

My favorite song from this band, a lot of people don't even know about it.

[@emilymartinez6961]

More suggestions for you ; "Southern California Purple ", "Introduction ", "Listen " and " l'm a man", just a few to start.

[@rubroken]

Not offended because you think they're brotha's. It's really a compliment, but I've heard that enough, anyone can have soul.....and you're right, these guys DO

[@onemerlin]

Chicago was great. Arguably the pinnacle of the blend of music just before the great split, when the Pop and Soul charts became two separate things and the genreization of modern music began. So much soul, rocks so hard. If you're looking for more, almost anything off the first 4-5 albums is great. In particular, look for the live concert at Tanglewood versions - "25 or 6 to 4" is an amazing standout, but so are Beginnings, "I'm a Man", and "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is".

[@craigw1911]

In their years with Terry Kath on guitar (1967-1978), they had more funk, R&B, and jazz influences you could hear in their music. Terry Kath was the heart and soul of that. His deep baritone voice was so beautiful he was described by bandmates as "the white Ray Charles". Chicago was very politically left leaning especially in their music during those years. On their second album, the same one with "25 Or 6 To 4", is a four movement suite titled "It Better End Soon". Written and sung by Terry Kath, it was a protest against the Vietnam War. It is HEAVY on the R&B and funk feel, well worth a listen. sax & Woodwind player Walt Parazaider belts it out on flute. Also on the second album is a seven movement, thirteen minute long suite "Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon", from which the hits "Make Me Smile" and "Colour My World" were extracted and released as singles. Terry sang both of those too. When Kath died of an accidental gunshot to the head on January 23, 1978, Chicago lost their leader, their soul. They morphed into a soft sappy ballad band under the leadership of bass player Peter Cetera and new manager David Foster. Two distinct and opposite eras of Chicago - one rock, jazz, and blues, and one pop ballads. I'm solidly in the Terry Kath camp.

[@jimp4666]

Don't underestimate the killer bass lines underneath it all! Some of the best.

[@daveburns3886]

Loved your reaction to this , one of the most uniquely talented and original rock bands ever - their debut CTA album (a double like their first 3!) is fantastic especially showcasing Terrys playing.. check out ‘introduction’ my fave single is ‘make me smile’ from Chicago II, but on album it’s part of a fantastic composition called ‘suite for girl from buchanon ‘ or something like that.. the horn / wind trio were all classically trained at DePaul university , Terry was self taught and didn’t read music,, jimi saw them in LA and said Terry was better , and invited to them all to open for him on next tour..

[@rodneyvoshell9296]

The absolute best. Great fusion music as they had a large accompanying instruments that blended together

[@stephenreiner1523]

Chicago Transit Authority as they were known in 1969 was a song that showed power and authority, a likely song for this radical era. Great reaction by the way.

[@OliverPeabody]

My absolute favorite from Chicago. Underrated, under known, under appreciated.

[@rodneyvoshell9296]

You sure won’t see talent like that today in my opinion

[@craigw1911]

Chicago Transit Authority (their name before shortening it to Chicago) was playing at The Whiskey A Go Go in LA and Jimi Hendrix was in the audience. He went to their dressing room as they were coming out to do their second set and told them, 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?" The guys said YEAH! And that's how they went out on tour as Hendrix's opening act. Guitarist Terry Kath was mostly SELF TAUGHT.

[@duece5976]

Dude the fact that you thought they were brothers was a compliment. You can check out anything on the Chicago Transit Authority album. Just play it straight through and pick out your favorite.

[@andrewwentz4459]

i know kath is killing it here but listen to Cetera on bass, insane, highly highly under rated b player

[@hurricane1951]

Every time a discussion (argument?) is about the greatest rock guitarists breaks out, I want to ask if any of those arguing heard this song. Very underappreciated guitarist, but guitarists know him. He's a founding member of the band and also one of the singers.

[@brianbrown2266]

One of the 3 better than the rest!! Jimmi,SRV and Terry the rest have to get behind them sorry Prince fans!!