Listening to The Chicago Transit Authority: The Chicago Transit Authority, Part 1

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First listen to the the album The Chicago Transit Authority
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[@donalddixon6541]

.........And Another Chicago Lover Is Born.......Imagine having this very music available to you for over 50 years, well I don't have to............Welcome to real music!

[@michaelhowell7275]

Best guitarist ever. Plus his voice.

[@patricknicolucci5073]

That' s what Jimi Hendrix said of him.

[@daveburns3886]

Terry had a great soulful voice but Peter and Robert could sing very well too - each different styles

[@shyshift]

Masterpiece debut. Changed my life. Music teacher played it for us from start to finish instead of playing our instruments in 1969.

[@JimNewstead]

Amazing! It’s great when you get a teacher that’s inspirational like that.

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@JimNewstead Absolutely!😎

[@claywalnum3143]

Chicago's first three albums are among my favorite albums of all time. I never get tired of hearing them. My first concert ever was Chicago, right after the release of Chicago Transit Authority. After Terry Kath died, the band went into full schlock mode and became almost a joke.

[@JimNewstead]

I think the version that you’re talking about is the Chicago that I expected.

[@patricknicolucci5073]

Chicago created a hit machine with Cetera's voice I personally enjoy certain songs from that era.

[@mackeymintle66]

There were some BIG personalities and talents littering this band’s lineup through the years. I’m never expecting these early records to surprise me, but they seem to every time!

[@thomasrudy6132]

ALMOST?!?

[@btannereagle]

Did you see the documentary? The new manager and Peter Cetera took over and strayed from their roots. Mainstream liked the sappy power ballads.

[@amjrpain919]

Chicago Transit Authority was the glorious exaltation of Music! And it was truly glorious!

[@TheAcgtrs]

I think the song ‘Introduction’ is one of the greatest first songs on any bands debut albums, EVER… It does an amazing job of telling the listener exactly who the band is, and will be for years to come.

[@stratcat3216]

Transit Authority: the BEST version of Chicago.

[@daveburns3886]

Agreed .. the first 3 are fantastic- all doubles - they insisted - had to take reduced royalties!!!

[@davidmay8104]

Peter Cetera just kills it on bass guitar. Very underrated as a bassist.

[@submandave1125]

To people who only think of Pete Cetera as pretty-boy love song crooner, I've often recommended they listen to Poem 58 from this album to get a taste of what a Terry/Pete/Danny power trio would have sounded like.

[@bdcosmo]

Jim you must check out their set at Tanglewood in 70. Its on KZbin. This is one of those bands that could play their songs better live than the studio recorded versions.

[@JimNewstead]

I’ll try!

[@rollomaughfling380]

@@JimNewstead Here to upvote this. Royce is absolutely correct. Terry Kath's guitar solo on a classic from their 2nd album (25 or 6 to 4) that night is just an absolute face-melter. Top-tier musicianship all around with those guys, though. And since no one's mentioned it yet, re: Terry, and co's capability, here's a paragraph from their box set's liner notes where Walt Parazaider (saxophone) describes their early days, and a run-in with Jimi Hendrix: "The group's exposure was aided by some of the biggest acts in rock, who invited CTA to open their shows. 'We toured with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin,' Parazaider notes. 'Jimi happened to come to the Whisky A-Go-Go when we were headlining there (probably in September, 1968) and he tapped me on the shoulder and he says, "Jeez, your horn players are like one set of lungs and your guitar player is better than me." He says, "I've just gotta take you out. If you'd like to be my opening act, I'd love it, and I'd love to use the horns on a record." Here's Jimi Hendrix at the height, the apex of his popularity, he taps me on the shoulder, I look right into his eyes, I figure he's gonna turn me into a pillar of shit. But he was very normal and just really, genuinely enjoyed the band. The same thing with Janis when we ran into her. They were really a big break for us.'"

[@6lillium]

You , know , since this reaction ,I've probably listened to this album 5 or 6 times through. Tracks 2 ,3 and 9 were in regular rotation on rock stations into the mid 80s( Beginnings in particular is a special favorite of mine). Their early career was brilliant. They went full pop in the 80s, and I lost interest at that time. But I still love these older albums.

[@philsmith2444]

I remember hearing Questions 67 & 68 on a local station around 1980, I would have been 11-12 at the time and I didn’t know anything about music. I knew I was hearing something special, though, and was captivated. 40+ years later I know a little more about music and the song still captivates me.

[@TheProgCorner]

The first seven Chicago albums were awesome!!! Just awesome. Very progressive!!!

[@btannereagle]

I agree!!

[@JimNewstead]

Thanks Scot, I appreciate the comment!

[@submandave1125]

Late comment, but should you choose to return to Chicago, I'd recommend you pull Chicago VII off the shelf. This was the first double album they released after their epic four disk Live at Carnegie Hall, and the last double for them. In a way, it's a return to their jazz fusion background, with the entire first record almost entirely instrumental.

[@daveburns3886]

The intro to ‘ does anybody know.. wasn’t on single/ radio.. similar to the shortened version of ‘ make me smile’ - my personal fave, part of a much longer suite from Chicago II- you’d love it..

[@hermangahn6353]

Terry Kath one of the most beautiful underrated guitarists of all time. Plus he sang like Ray Charles.

[@stephenbloom8107]

1970, Asbury Park NJ, a friend and I after already wearing out this album, attended a concert where CTA was was the opening act to, I don’t even remember. They came on stage and someone yelled out, “who’s this, Benny Goodman?” They opened with “Introduction”, and blew the crowd away. And as they say, the rest is history.

[@c11p]

Few albums can touch the first three from Chicago as debut trifectas go. Doesn't stop there, either. Stunning work throughout their first decade. Put simply, this is music that makes you smile. Darn good copy of quiet vinyl, too, Jim.

[@JimNewstead]

I thought it was actually too noisy. Fantastic music.

[@jameshannagan4256]

When of the greatest Sunday morning albums ever recorded, right up there with Close To the Edge for me.

[@stony2494]

The birth of true JazzRock 😎🙏👍❤️ Such an outstanding band and achievement of the times

[@giltalbot4829]

Ohhhh, that drumming, so sweet Grounbreaking music

[@borgduck]

Chicago start with a Jazz-Rock bang! Their lost version of "I'm A Man" was played on 60's-set, UK show Heartbeat just the other day.💎

[@scottwallace3450]

My first concert was Chicago, October 2, 1970, their third album finished and not yet released. No support act. Three hours of amazing music from seven gifted individuals. I had been a fan for over a year, "Make Me Smile" from their second album had changed my musical life. It was the horns and the jazz-rock fusion that grabbed me and held me to this day, more than a half century later. "Introduction" was, of course, the song with which they opened those early shows and, yes, I felt moved. Terry Kath's booming bass and amazing skill on guitar (he was the only guitarist in the band--he would play lead and rhythm guitar on each song--even live!--provided the base for an amazing song featuring each member of the band. I love how you reacted to the trombone--it was the same for me! Jimmy Pankow could play that thing like no other, but his real gift was composition and arrangement. Terry and Bobby Lamm may have written the three songs on this side, but Jimmy was the arranger of the horns and background vocals. On "Does Anybody Know" and "Beginnings," Terry sat and let Bobby's gentle baritone take over the vocals. But just wait until side 2, when you will be blown away by Pete Cetera's both lilting and forceful counter-tenor on "Questions 67 and 68'! CTA, later Chicago, was a band that could AND DID do it all! Loved watching your reaction!

[@SeamusKeleher]

They were my favorite bands when I started buying records back in the late '60's. Great music, Terry Kath was amazing, they never recovered from his loss.

[@jameshannagan4256]

I think this drummer is one of the most underrated in rock history and their downward spiral began when he left the band.

[@Tarkus7]

Introduction was the perfect lead in song to show you what they were capable of. Leonid and Friends have brought back the excitement of the original lineup.

[@IllumeEltanin]

I'm with you there. Sadly, like the Steve Howe led current line up of Yes, I feel the current line up of Chicago is more a tribute band of themselves. Whereas Russian based with a single Ukrainian member Leonid and Friends is a tribute band currently better than the current incarnation of Chicago, in my opinion. Prayers still heading towards Leonid and Friends Ukrainian member Serge Tiagnyriadno way in Kyiv... 💖

[@PintoSeminars]

@@IllumeEltanin and like Chicago, Leonid and Friends have had massive lineup changes since they debuted their first You Tube of Make Me Smile. On 3 originals remain. Yet, they are still a very talented group of musicians, just like Chicago and the current lineup they have. Incredible musicians and singers.

[@hypno59]

One of the great drummers in any idiom.Great to see your surprise and delight at each step of the way.

[@daneng3641]

Beginnings! Probably my favorite Chicago song. It was always delight when you got the full version on the radio. This is certainly the best era, but i do have a soft spot for their 80s stuff despite all its blandness. Chicago 16 was one of my first CDs. Even saw them in concert in '85.

[@3794GQTJ]

My favorite band growing up as a teen in the 70's. I still have their albums 1 through 15. They were all talented musicians and had three lead singers!

[@stephenscicluna5216]

So talented and creative - 1st three albums are all double albums, fourth album is a 4 lp live album, they have 3 different and multitalented lead singers. IMO the first 7 albums are just perfect.

[@JimNewstead]

Wow! Lots to hear then! 👍🏼

[@patricknicolucci5073]

I agree but I also like #8.

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@JimNewstead Lost count of all their album releases. Probably in the 30's.😎

[@stephenscicluna5216]

I actually like many of their albums, even though by the 1980s they became too mainstream for me.

[@saraturner8657]

Love the channel. Danny's drums are a small set, well, he is a little guy, but man he can still kick it. He has a band he plays with. CTA, except its CALIFORNIA TRANSIT AUTHORITY. They are all over the place playing.

[@davidbarker77]

Saw them three times in concert in the 70s. Always put on a great show. They were kind of in a category of their own, Lighthouse and Blood Sweat and Tears perhaps being considered similar. They were a great listen through the first number of albums, then went pop in the 80s when David Foster took over as producer.

[@davidwright9318]

I saw them in 1969 twice at Toronto Pop Festival and again at the Toronto Rock n Roll Revival. Memorably amazing…I’ve been listening to it in the car lately at max vol. and at 72 I’m like a teen again.

[@user-fb3vd8yn5i]

Groundbreaking. Nothing was the same after that album.

[@akaFrits1]

‘Introduction’ was the actual song that got me interested in more complex musical structures than the usual pop song at the time. It was a different lp: a purple sampler called ‘the sound of the seventies’

[@IllumeEltanin]

Like others, Chicago with Terry Kath was my first concert. I had just gotten my driver's license at 16 in '76, and drove myself out to the boonies to the show at the metal box known as The Hollywood Sportatorium in Hollywood, FL. What a show to begin my concert attending journey.

[@JimNewstead]

Wow! What a show indeed!

[@dolfinpt]

Woot! Another one of my all time fav albums!!! I remember listening to this album at a very young age -with lights off, headphones on! Made such a huge impression on me! I was around 13-14! ❤

[@tanis7050]

After this listen to Chicago 2 it's a masterpiece and it's very prog and the Steven Wilson's remixes of Chicago 2 are fantastic.

[@JimNewstead]

Oooo! That sounds like it could be fun!

[@jamesgabbert9375]

I absolutely love this album. Danny Seraphibe on drums. Pete Cetera on bass. Both overlooked, but damn can they play!

[@davidwright9318]

Danny Seraphine is one of the best drummers ever….I love this mix too..you can hear everything!

[@philsmith2444]

Peter Cetera is a one-per center in my book for being able to keep up with Danny.

[@manco828]

CTA is truly an album experience and this is the best way to experience it as whole album sides.

[@realbser1956]

I say it all the time Jim when someone like yourself gets to hear this milestone music for the first time in their lives….I’m sooo jealous. Enjoy the rest, see you on side 2. 😃🎺🎸

[@chrisblower8868]

Such a wonderful album Jim. Enjoy the ride. Their second 'double' Chicago is also fab.

[@JimNewstead]

Looking forward to hearing more from them!

[@patricknicolucci5073]

Danny's Drumming on Chicago 2 fancy colors and terry's riff is amazing for 1970

[@unstrung65]

You should try The Byrds first album -- Mr Tambourine Man -- you will be amazed at how good it sounds for 1965 .

[@worldfamouslanglois4805]

mostly i'm silent .. my old man used to spin this on the ol turn table when I was a kid .. such a great album .. the horns.. the drums.. terry Kath thanks for doing this one .. i should be going to bed but i'm gonna go all the way cheers mate.. and cheers for doing the actual record

[@JimNewstead]

I hope you got to bed eventually! Thanks for watching 👍🏼

[@92scamps]

What a great show you have!! Saw CTA back in late 68 when they were second billing with Hendrix. They blew us away. No one had heard of them mainly because their first LP was still months away from release. Unheard of touring before you release an album. And the rest is history!

[@JimNewstead]

Thank you, glad you stopped by and are enjoying the video!

[@jimireynoldsmusic]

Happened to listen to this album for the first time a few weeks ago and I have been constantly playing it since. It blew my mind when I found out Hendrix told a band member of Chicago Transit Authority 'Your guitarist is better than me' but turns out Terry Kath is an absolute beast - I only really knew Chicago for their post-Kath songs before and wasn't that interested in their content until now

[@daveburns3886]

They had so much other talents.. each instrument was played at the highest level, but have 3 lead caliber vocalists so when they harmonized it was fantastic and under appreciated..

[@PJprog]

Love this... I'm relatively new to this band , this LP is top notch , as is the Chicago 2 album. 😍🎵🎵🤘

[@manco828]

Original Chicago had the talent of several rock groups.

[@samuelmregister]

1969- some of the earliest rock-jazz fusion ever recorded, when most was based in blues or pop. this "part 1" remains untouched in the genre, imo.

[@Wilgelgar]

You mentioned Boston. Have you had the pleasure of listening to their first two albums? The first self titled album (from 1976) top of bottom is as good as it gets. If you haven't placed it into your queue I'd recommend doing so! Tom Sholtz is one of great music engineers of all time.

[@JimNewstead]

Nope! But I expect that I’ll end up listening to them in due course! Thanks 👍🏼

[@Whizzer]

First album is all I want to hear from Boston. Can't think of any other band that became a parody of itself that quickly. Didn't do anything interesting ever again.

[@Lightmane]

YES. Can't wait to listen to this album again. It's been a while.

[@wicky4473]

This is actually my fave Chicago album. Loved also up to No3 then they started to wane for me.

[@johnnyprentiss4803]

They never fail to put a smile on a face!

[@jhnstn1]

For the first 11 LP's anyway. :D

[@hypno59]

So glad to witness the immediate appeal and attraction to this music as it was for me in my teens. In fact, it set the tone and standard for me as a professional musician for the next 50 years. Chicago had it all, jazz rock soul funk harmonies vicious guitar and sublime orchestrations. They deserve their place in music history. Remember they were in their twenties here. Such sophistication.And the energy and exuberance of youth.And not to forget the bass playing of Peter Cetera which, along with JP Jones, inspired me to a life of music. Wow.

[@JimNewstead]

It amazes me how young ALL these bands are/were when they hit their stride!

[@michaeltobias3524]

The same for me. I loved playing these songs in a cover band in the late 60s early seventies. Very challenging trumpet music, but so rewarding.

[@joelok48]

Unique.....an overused term. But after all these years I realize that at the time although I loved the band , I certainly did not understand how revolutionary there sound was. They were a category killer, a dynamic powerful force of nature. Still fresh and relevant all these years later. UNIQUE!!!

[@daveburns3886]

Glad to see it wasn’t what you were expecting!

[@actorJSB]

A favourite album and band for me since childhood, but haven't heard this 'on vinyl' for decades, so this was very nostalgic. Not sure I can bear to sit through Free Form Guitar when you get to side 3, even to see your reaction to it, but otherwise I'll be with you the whole way!

[@JimNewstead]

Just skip it! I wish I had!!!!

[@actorJSB]

@@JimNewstead I compromised and watched it at double speed! Still too long, but all masterpieces have to be flawed in some way, right?!

[@IllumeEltanin]

@@JimNewstead hmm... Spoiler for side 3?

[@danlarrimer7380]

I highly recommend giving early Kansas a listen. Their albums Song for America and Masque are heavily influenced by English prog but have a distinct American twist (a fiddle)

[@davidcandelaria4411]

I love you channel. This was one of the first albums I ever bought as a kid. And your review of PFM.....another under the radar band.

[@JimNewstead]

Thanks David!

[@drjsac57]

I bought this album on its release and played it quite a bit till someone in my college dorm permanently “borrowed it” Good memories! Another great brass oriented band is Blood Sweat and Tears.

[@jimmycake1]

I was 18, & already playing in bands when this incredible piece of music came out. By far one of my all-time favorites. The perfect title cut on this album as it "INTRODUCES" the listener to EXACTLY who & what Chicago Transit Authority is all about.

[@williamburych2136]

Chicago is still making albums today !

[@howardtennenhouse7849]

“Not expecting the brass section”. Did you not know who this band was? Their first 5 albums changed the world and helped me develop a more sophisticated appreciation of complex interesting and original music.

[@JimNewstead]

Haha! Nope! That’s kinda the point in a reaction video 😁👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@theheepster]

An absolute Masterpiece which such great musicianship, awesome. Their second Album is also great.

[@tracygosell9199]

You have tapped into something very special. Chicago had a great sound and horns like no other. Love 'em!

[@mackeymintle66]

“We made it” got a good lol out of me. 😂

[@JimNewstead]

Well, we did!

[@IllumeEltanin]

Oh, I'm looking forward to sharing this with you. I'm prt busy the next few days, so I may not get to this until Friday. But I'll have all four sides to look forward to experiencing with you.

[@JimNewstead]

Coolio! Catch you later in the week 👍🏼

[@IllumeEltanin]

@@JimNewstead ...and finally settling in to listen. I'm seriously hoping you enjoyed this.

[@JimNewstead]

@@IllumeEltanin no spoilers!

[@cohalensadventures5331]

Danny Seraphine was the original drummer through over a decade with the band. (Until his departure in 1990 to be replaced by Tris Imboden - another drummer worth a deep dive - Honk, Kenny Loggins, Firefall....) He's still playing a a version of this called CTA (California Transit Authority) the features some amazing players - Marc Bonilla - Guitars; Travis Davis - Bass & Vocals; Ed Roth - Keyboards.

[@rupbhatt]

Glad to see this. I listened to this album for first time only last week.

[@alanthorne3921]

I steered away from Chicago for many years because my first exposure to them was the sappy ballad If You Leave Me Now and didn’t really go much on brass.However I use to hear a song on the radio when I was a kid with a driving riff and I was later shocked it was Chicago.(25 or 6 to 4)About 15 years ago I picked up the first five albums including the four disc live at Carnegie Hall and I was hooked.Dont go much on the later stuff .Too slick and schmaltzy.

[@Chicago_Podcast_Authority]

Chicago VII is definitely worth your time

[@DWHarper62]

"Was not expecting the big brass section" ... Definitely a first listen of Chicago...

[@JimNewstead]

That’s kind of thethe point! Thanks for watching 👍🏼

[@LetsDoEntertainment]

Love me some Chicago. One of my go-to bands at Karaoke night. :/

[@fieldysgrl98]

Best band

[@markdrechsler5660]

Any Chicago album from the Terry Kath era is worth listening to. I think he died about 1978? After that it’s largely soft rock radio pablum, albeit well crafted. I grew up hearing the awful 80’s stuff, and resisted listening to the early stuff until much later in life. Glad I finally found it. Enjoy the journey!

[@davidwright9318]

In 1975 I saw Reo Speedwagon and Journey open for the Strawbs..I went to see The Strawbs and I would still see The Strawbs today but not Journey or Reo Speedwagon which btw.is a terrible name.

[@MaraxisArcanist]

All those bands you mentioned in the intro are part of the music I grew up with. I know Chicago as well, of course. Never listened to them in this incarnation, though the music feels familiar.

[@tinicum54]

Bought this double album on a whim when it was released, $3.59. I had no idea who they were.

[@JimNewstead]

Did you enjoy it?

[@tinicum54]

@@JimNewstead Immensely.

[@alpetrocelli4465]

Terry Kath made them an awesome rock band. After his death, they became a pop ballad machine. Take the advice of many here & check out their performance at Tanglewood. Your reactions are great!✌️🎶❤️

[@SeamusKeleher]

Radio stations cut off that discordant keyboard intro to "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is".

[@rollomaughfling380]

Nah, it wasn't radio stations. The band/Columbia did that, releasing a shorter edit for the 7" single, minus the intro, which was very common in those days. RCA Victor had won the vinyl format war re: pop radio decades prior.

[@alanfine9825]

They were my first favorite Band at around age 14....50 years later on a great Turn table and Master Recordings I have repurchased their first two original albums. AWESOME both. BTW, the CTA threatened to sue them if they did not change their name....albeit "Chicago" they became. I will always love their their early stuff/grew up in Chicago. No one like them. Also, first 2 Kansas Albums are awesome...like Chicago, I call these two bands American Progressive rock bands fir their first 2 Albums, then more pop like...Like Genesis in the 80's.

[@zappafan-eu4wp]

Epic from start to finish.

[@jeffschielka7845]

Hey Jim! Chicago is my home town. Sweet Home Chicago! CTA was a phenomenal band. Many say the first albums are all masterpieces. Eventually dropping the TA due to legal issues, the band continued on as CHICAGO. Enjoy!😎

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Cool my cousins lived on 115th by Western. George played keyboards and looked like Wakeman. Deep dish baby! Loved Chicago. Blackhawks best team logo in all sports

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@lesblatnyak5947 I lived 8 miles west of Wrigley on Addison. Used to cut school all the time and hop on the CTA and go watch the Cubs lose. Lol.😎

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@lesblatnyak5947 OH yeah, Gino's East Pizza, best in the world! And I agree about Da Hawks logo. 3 cups in 6 years! Too bad they suck this year. Lol!🤣😎

[@lesblatnyak5947]

@@jeffschielka7845 da bears suck .STEELERS BABY!

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@lesblatnyak5947 Steeler nation BLOWS!!!😝😵😎

[@GlenKellawayfromthebasement]

Love that CTA album..so different from all their other albums..although Chicago II is worth a listen..after that, I gave up…great album right👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@JimNewstead]

Amazing Glen! Lots of opinions about how much to listen to. Some say first album, first 2, first 3, first 5, first 7, nothing after 11…..

[@aramacsounds]

As I understand it, they’re widely known as “the rock band with horns”

[@aramacsounds]

Which I don't mean as like a "everyone knows that" comment. I think that's just how folks tend to simplify their genre 😅 One of my favorite albums, and I'm so excited you're listening to it. The quad mixes of their first 8 or so albums are all pretty interesting too, lol.

[@aramacsounds]

I'll uh, try to not keep adding to my lil thread here, lol, but Wikipedia lists the genre for the album as "Jazz rock/Progressive Rock"

[@JimNewstead]

Taylor my friend…. add away as much as you like! It’s all good 👍🏼

[@arthurmol6875]

What a masterpiece ....

[@williamlucas4656]

Considering the timeframe I will call this album Proto Progressive.

[@paulprendergast3184]

Was a subscriber of yours a while ago, but kind of OD'd on your prog preferences. I saw a recommendation to check out your reaction to the Grateful Dead's Terrapin Station and said "now we're talking." Scrolling through your videos to find that one I saw you reacted to Chicago Transit Authority. This is one crazy good record. I loved this band until I didn't. To explain, their first two records are fabulous. Energy, fantastic musicianship, three great vocalists and great songwriting. They put out a live album after Chicago I and II. After this, they had some good songs but became too commercially driven, too pop. By the mid 70's, they were losing my interest. Then their great guitarist and vocalist Terry Kath died tragically. After that they did lots of ballads and syrupy crap that you couldn't pay me to listen to.

[@Ifyoudonttakeitucantfakeit]

I managed 14 minutes before shooting my left foot. Now , ahhh entangled.

[@JimNewstead]

lol!!!

[@BayouMaccabee]

I mean, how many bands start out their career with three double albums back-to-back-to-back, and all three of them are amazing, must-haves in your vinyl collection? I really hope that Jim continues down the Chicago rabbit hole (of only the amazing Terry Kath era though...maybe just up through Chicago VII). After Chicago VII there starts to be too much foreshadowing of the 80s-era cheese tunes mixed in among any good stuff (IMHO).

[@JimNewstead]

Oh I will. I’ve got another lined up, but need to source more records for future videos.

[@manco828]

Chicago up until around VII was golden, then things started to fall apart once Robert Lamm ran out of ideas.

[@patricknicolucci5073]

Jim, they got sued by the Chicago Transit Authority so they had to adjust it to just Chicago. they were my first concert in1975 at MSG in NYC. with the late Great Terry Kath on his telecaster guitar and a few lead vocals with his low soulful voice. . Enjoy! this is a truly great album.

[@JimNewstead]

Brilliant record, thanks Patrick!

[@jirikrajnak9047]

You can hear the LSD oozing out of that record.

[@JimNewstead]

Lol

[@davidgale7384]

Think of it Jim.... It's the beginning of progressive music... Why not mix some rock, jazz, blues and throw in a killer brass section just to finish it off. Terry, the guitarist, was Jimmy Hendrix's answer to the question.... Who's the best guitarist? Enjoy your ride with Chicago. Canada had a similar band with the mix of genres and a brass section. Lighthouse .... if you like this groove, try their album One Fine Morning.

[@JimNewstead]

Hmmmm, the name Lighthouse has come up a few times now. I might need to investigate!

[@philipberger621]

It's too bad that Introduction got little to no air play. That's a testament to just how strong this entire album is. I remember the first time I heard Questions 67 and 68 like it was yesterday, watching that red Columbia record label doing laps on the turntable.

[@daveburns3886]

Does anybody really know what time it is told them they could make a top ten ‘pop’ song anytime they wanted to- after Terry died, they lost their true identity and direction and it’s all good and understandable.. but they just devolved into a hit making machine

[@daveburns3886]

TRUTH!

[@SeamusKeleher]

You have to watch Chicago's live performance from Tanglewood, it's amazing, especially the late Terry Kath.

[@NothingLikeVinyl]

"The Chicago Transit Authority" is the epitome of a "perfect" album to me, mainly because of one reason: Double LPs recorded in the studio usually have their fair share of filler because of the amount of material included. To me, CTA is the ONLY studio double LP that is "perfect" from start to finish. Now, many will say for sure that "Free Form Guitar" is the track that ruins the album's "perfection", but I think it doesn't if you appreciate Hendrix-style expressionism. I truly love this album.

[@hm_nn_5633]

Their first 11 albums. The rest don't really matter. Chicago "ceased to exist" after the passing of guitarist Terry Kath in Jan 1978.

[@JimNewstead]

Oh it’ll take me a lifetime to listen to 11 albums by them, there’s so much else to hear as well!

[@hm_nn_5633]

@@JimNewstead - In that case l'll recommend Chicago II, V & VII. Enjoy.

[@zgfit]

Albums 16 & 17 are great too. Totally different sound. Peter Cetera left the band after 17 Chicago is a great band

[@2wayplebney]

I too conflated a lot of US bands like Chicago, Kansas et al. I liked Chicago when they did a single with the Beach Boys on backing vocals. Alas, that seems to be when the rot set in.

[@stephenbaker1362]

Fusion Rock

[@6lillium]

My ex brother-in-law , who played bass in highschool, and loaned me his when I was learning ( a Beatle bass.... Very uncool at the time) was a HUGE Chicago fan, so I had all of this stuff copied on cassette tapes.... haven't heard this in decades!!!!🤣 You should check out Journey at least the stuff BEFORE the Frontiers album ( not that it's bad from there forward.... just much more pop & single oriented).

[@JimNewstead]

Roger that!

[@shyshift]

REO Speedwagon started off as rockers but by the 1980’s they really get more sanitized Pop.

[@JimNewstead]

Yeah, that’s the band I think I had an idea about. Cheese!

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@JimNewstead REO used to rock. 157 Riverside Ave, Golden Country, Riding the Storm Out. All great rockers. Then they fell into the ballad well and just couldn't get up that rope. They still tour and do quite well.😎

[@shyshift]

@@jeffschielka7845 Terry Lutrell was the singer on the self titled debut and he left to form a Prog band that really loved Yes called StarCastle. I love StarCastle especially their first 3 albums.

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@shyshift 😎

[@biglyyuge6012]

You remind me of Simon Peg

[@JimNewstead]

Is that a compliment? You’re not the first person to say that!

[@williamlucas4656]

Well Sonny, you’ve just tapped into one of the greatest bands in rock history, most of whom were classically trained music school grads. Terry Kath their lead guitarist was a contemporary of Jimi Hendrix and both had such respect for each other’s talent, they were afraid to meet. You’re just getting started. Play on!

[@williamlucas4656]

By the way the second album is even better as the third.

[@mackeymintle66]

Man I hope my copy of this is decent… still not unboxed my collection yet. 😜😎👏🏼