Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority (Remastered) (CD)
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User Reviews: Chicago Transit Authority (Remastered)
The Birth Of Chicago Transit Authority
Pros: Amazing Musicianship,Musical Experimentation PLUS Commercial Savvy
Cons: Probably Not For Fans Of More Recent Chicago Music
It's 1969 and this is the debut of the Chicago Transit Authority.Blood,Sweat & Tears proved that rock bands could work with a full horn section but simply did not have the ability to craft such wonderful pop tunes as Chicago.After the incredible jazzy 'Introduction' the first five songs read like the beginning of a Chicago Greatest Hits album-"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is","Begginings
","Questions 67 And 68","Listen&quo
t; and "Poem 58"-each following the other in the FULL LENGH versions with complete musical interludes.These are also Chicago's most eclectic and exciting hits-kind of a keleidoscope of light pop,pychedelic jazz fusion and R&B-ish horn rock.The most interesting is the 6 minute plus "Free Form Guitar" which is nothing but Terry Kath on a loud,Hendrix-like psychedelic guitar solo.We are also invited to hear the band's explosive version of Steve Winwood's "I'm A Man".The closing fusion jam of "Liberation" set things off very well.Not only do bands like this,Blood,Sweat & Tears,Electric Flag or early Earth Wind & Fire not exist anymore (at least not in this form) but were in rare supply then.I recommend this to anyone who wants to hear non-indulgent,innovative pop music performed by a band that themselves are'nt even quite at the same level of ability.Was this review helpful? Yes - NoChicago - CTA (1969)
Pros: Very very experimental and it works in most places...
Cons: Some songs are quite long...
And....here's Chicago! Well not "Chicago" but "Chicago Transit Authority"...the debut by the 7 guys save 1 from Chicago..and here it is the debut, and its a double album!( I hear a cut was made in royalities for that to happen). Kinda a first for that in that era, and that type of music save 'Blood Sweat and Tears', that made this kind of music work...Chicago were really the fathers of it. I think known now as "Ska". A rock n roll band with horns. Most of the songs really shine on the set...there's some extended instrumental pieces and some great radio tunes we all know and love today.
The first part of the set takes off pretty fast and stays afloat. Kicking off with the most underrated guitar player ever, Terry Kath, who even Hendrix said was better than him in a complimenting way, song "Introduction" where all the players shine throughout...kinda a hello song...Hey were here....Chicago. Of course the most longest song title ever "Does anybody really know what time it is" written by main player Robert Lamm about him asking the same question to someone and getting that actual response and making a song outta it. "Beginnings" the extended song with the long chanting fade out that the Clinton campaign used in the election back in circa 1992...Peter Cetera shines on the Lamm written ditty "Questions 67 % 68" which Kath said was their "first hit bound single that never was a first hit bound single"..."List
en" is a tight little short rocker..."Poem 58" another extended free for all.
The second part of the set opens with Terry Kath experimenting as a wild man on "Free form Guitar"...the engineer just flipped the record button on and viola! Kath ruled the world with the guitar, too bad he's not as known for it...which is really sad. I know he wanted Chicago to be looked at as an equal band and not 1 or 2 stars only...or something in that vein. Another classic "I'm a Man" is covered and a 14 minute plus jam "Liberation" closes the album.
Summing it up...Pretty cool debut from Chicago, not what was to be after a few albums down the road as they got softer and mainstream...but its a pretty decent debut, and double at that. RRWas this review helpful? Yes - NoEXCELLENT
I have both versions, the original and the digitally remastered Sony version, of the Chicago Transit Authority. Sony did a great job with what the call the Sony Super bit-mapping technology. You can actually tell a difference between the sound quality of the original and the "gold disc". Anyone who is a Chicago fan, I would highly recommend it for their collection. Aleta Childress
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