Between 70-77 I saw them 22 times !!! Unfortunately not Carnegie Hall. The Terry Kath years are just unbelievable, rest in Peace TK we'll never forget you !!
This is, by far, the best live version of Ballet For A Girl In Buchanan and one of my favorite pieces by Chicago. James Pankow has written some of Chicago's finest songs. However, I miss Terry Kath's influence badly. What a stellar bunch of musicians!
I waited on Jimmy Pankow one night at a place called the 'Excalibur' in Southfield, Michigan. He was alone, so we talked. Then he asked where to go for some night life. We met at 'Oscar's' down the street when I got off work. I sat down next to him and he bought me a drink. I asked him what he did. He said, "I am in a band". I said what is the name of your band and he said, "Chicago". I tried not to get too excited, but Chicago was one of my favorite bands. To make a long story short, we closed that bar and went to the 'Waffle House' for breakfast and a lot of coffee. We stayed there long after the sun came up. He said he would come back to the 'Excalibur' that afternoon with his grandmother. He came to town to visit her. Unfortunately, he didn't. I will never forget that wonderful night. He was such a gentleman and a very deep thinker. Thanks Jimmy!
A buddy and I drove from Stuttgart to Munich one afternoon...about 250 km or so...in June of 1971, to try to hear them play. We crashed the show through a back door to the venue. The stage was about 3+1/2 feet high, so we plopped our tails right down on the edge of the stage and listened to them play "Ballet," "Questions 67+68," "Beginnings," "25 or 6 to 4," and a plethora of other GREAT tunes, and with a few personnel changes, Chicago + their music has stood the test of time...47 years now.
What an excellent recollection of a story from so long ago. . . thanks for sharing that with us, Russell Smith. Some of my favourite Chicago videos are from the Essen show in 1977.
Hey, for me, as a die-hard Chicago fan, I do not give a care about how they sounded with the horn section, sounding weak or whatever some of ya'll are saying, I freaking love all of the Original Band playing Live @ Carnegie Hall, all of the tunes, I still remember, words, everything, and by the way, does anybody know how really hard it is to sing, and blow horns, Live, and everyone being in sync????? I give them all the props, and thank you for posting this for a Chicago Transit Authority Fan!!
Horns were not weak! This box set is epic, and I remember buying it when it first came out. Sadly this was the last good album Chicago made as they decided to go into bubblegum pop music like Saturday In the Park and other nonsense. Yeah, they probably made more money, just like Genesis did in their later years (1977+).
@@dannylgriffin Yes but the rest of th fifth album is good Chcago 6 is good too and 7 is great and I think the N°8 album was the last good album they recorded.
Agree. Jimmy Pankow admitted that the horns sounded like kazoos on this album. But they were kick ass, and with Danny, Peter, Robert and Terry, the rhythm section was the best, tightest in the WORLD at this time. Playing Live.
@@dannylgriffinnow listen… I agree that this was a kick-asser. Beyond belief what Danny was doing here. But Chicago V had some great…GREAT cuts that were not bubblegum. And they were exciting in their cutting-edge originality. A Hit by Varese. Goodbye. The amalgam of rock and semi-jazz Fused here. Danny, Robert and Peter just grooved so well. And State of the Union- one of their best shuffles ever. Live, at that!
Saw Chicago 6 times, but only starting in 1997. How I wish I could have seen them in the early years, with the fantabulous Terry Kath playing his axe, as on this "Ballet ..." - one of the best, if not the very best movements in rock music.
You have NO idea what you missed. I could describe it for you...but...you HAD to be there! Powerful is the one word that dominates. They would lay you back in your chair without you realizing it until they hit the last note of the song, and you would find yourself pasted to the back of the chair...like in the commercials. The records were mixed with the horns pretty much in back of the mix. Live the horns were ripping your head off. They were front and center and you could feel them. The energy coming off the stage was insane. I saw them every chance I got and the quality of each performance was outstanding. I could go on and on but the best way I can put it...YOU HAD TO BE THERE!!
Mike Gonzalez i saw them in Jan 1977 at the Hammersmith odeon they were awesome ...don't mean to rub it in but there are some benefits to being an old git like me ..I got to see all the best bands when they had their original members The Who. Patto ...Pink Floyd ...the Crusaders etc
Saw Chicago twice. First time third row center at Saratoga Performing Arts Center with original line-up. Second time in San Diego with many replacements, when it was almost a Pete Cetera concert. Terry, we still miss you.
+unwanted angel I have a picture of me sitting behind a set of drums and this album sitting on the floor. I was all of 6 years old. '72 ish. Wore that copy out, another one on vinyl and two more CD sets.
Great stuff Mike. Why Chicago didnt have the cameras rolling on this entire week at Carnegie Hall is still a mystery to me. How great would that have been!
I found the poster from my vinyl copy (still have it).. It was in a box I found, terribly moldy, totally ripped at the seams where it was folded up when I first got the album... Unsalvageable in any way. I had to let it go....
Your mention 'Bring back Danny Seraphine' prompts me to let you know that Danny and his band CTA (California Transit Authority) have released a new album (their second) titled 'Sacred Ground', and from what I've heard it sounds really good. Larry Braggs, the tremendous singer from Tower of Power is on some cuts. Bill Champlin (ex-Chicago) is on others. And there's also guitar hotshot Marc Bonilla. The website is ctatheband plus the usual dot com stuff (YT comments will not accept web addresses).
+tonyde52 That's what I've been trying to find out forever too. The strongest lead I have is that it's Walt and Jimmy shouting it, and it's some sort of Eastern European nursery rhyme referring to pancakes and sausages. It's in Polish, or Hungarian, or Serbian and shouted like a football cheer. Jimmy and Walt both studied at DePaul University, and both have Eastern European ancestry. I'll let you know if I find out anything more!
I think you are over thinking this. Scott Nealy is one of the people in charge of the show. ("Push Scotty Push Scotty yeah yeah yeah.") They may be mocking Scott. The first line sounds like "You can ? me anytime" "Just so...?" "push Scotty...etc."
I always assumed it was a fight song or cheer for the school in Buckhannon where the subject of the suite attended, which is West Virginia Wesleyan College. Alas, I can't find one for them and see that their marching band only formed (or re-formed?) a few years ago. (Thought: That band just has to play this suite some day!) In some versions, including the original recording, the bridge is a solo drum beat; others a guitar interlude or other instrumentation. Next interview with Pankow has to ask him about this.
Too bad the group couldn't keep the fingerprints of CHICAGO/CTA as the years passed. Yea I know who died, who had troubles within and left, its just too bad, just saying because they were so so fucking special.
Chicago,the original lineup was spectacular in my opinion. No telling how far Terry Kath would have gone in his career...VERY underrated!!...thanks for listening and commenting!!
I saw this lineup of Chicago twice in the early 70's. I always felt that they were tight and maybe a little too "scripted". Just the opposite of the comments I see here. Just my opinion of course, but thanks so much for the comments and views!
Chicago came to SUNY Geneseo in the fall of 1970. Geneseo was a very conservative campus, they signed a deal with SUNY New York to play about 7 dates. The concert was pretty short (45 minutes) but it was enough for me. Great Band. My favorite band , with Cream right behind.
At the time this album did not get great reviews, citing the band as 'loose' and 'messy'. I didn't feel things were THAT bad, but at this point some of the music was getting extended beyond its shelf life. It was typical with so many bands; take a 2 min. and 40 second single and stretch it to 10 minutes. Also, there were 4 albums! Cut out the fat and it would have been a great double or triple set. That said, this was a great line-up; strong and passionate players with some really great tunes.
Wasn't that put out within a year of the.kaths demise.id say they were still reeling from the totality of losing the mainspring of the band, I'm I not Right
Jim5150jvc commented on this 10 yrs ago, his comment is located about 7 comments above yours. Some people relied to him with some good answers, but still no one really knows.
They put out 3 double albums. I CTA, II and III. Then they recorded (badly) in a tinny terrible way a 4th live quad album of all their same material. When it came out it sounded like crap. The band knew and admits it. And many fans knew. It's great that it has been remastered and brought up to standards. Still can't get rid of all the horn blaarts and bad notes however. Had some great posters though.
The value of Carnegie hall is in the band’s passion and the crowd’s reaction It’s about $150 minimum to see the current lineup in - wait for it - Staten Island What would you pay to see the original 7 in their mid 20s, mistakes and all, in Carnegie Hall?
![Chicago - Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon ["Make Me Smile Medley"] (2020 Quad-to-Stereo Mix)](/img/1.gif)
Between 70-77 I saw them 22 times !!! Unfortunately not Carnegie Hall. The Terry Kath years are just unbelievable, rest in Peace TK we'll never forget you !!
This is, by far, the best live version of Ballet For A Girl In Buchanan and one of my favorite pieces by Chicago. James Pankow has written some of Chicago's finest songs. However, I miss Terry Kath's influence badly. What a stellar bunch of musicians!
Danny Seraphine is an unbelievable drummer... simply amazing.... and Terry vocals and guitar prowess is spectacular
Danny was so intuitive in creative and his chops were just otherworldly.... simply amazing
Terry Kath. What a voice. Too soon gone.
I waited on Jimmy Pankow one night at a place called the 'Excalibur' in Southfield, Michigan. He was alone, so we talked. Then he asked where to go for some night life. We met at 'Oscar's' down the street when I got off work. I sat down next to him and he bought me a drink. I asked him what he did. He said, "I am in a band". I said what is the name of your band and he said, "Chicago". I tried not to get too excited, but Chicago was one of my favorite bands. To make a long story short, we closed that bar and went to the 'Waffle House' for breakfast and a lot of coffee. We stayed there long after the sun came up. He said he would come back to the 'Excalibur' that afternoon with his grandmother. He came to town to visit her. Unfortunately, he didn't. I will never forget that wonderful night. He was such a gentleman and a very deep thinker. Thanks Jimmy!
Waffle House FTW... great story...
Outstanding, Jimmy wrote a truckload of great songs for them.
Jimmy wrote this one.
Cool story! Wish you'd share more - even a detail about a song. Bill Hicks played at "Oscars".
This was before he was married?
A buddy and I drove from Stuttgart to Munich one afternoon...about 250 km or so...in June of 1971, to try to hear them play. We crashed the show through a back door to the venue. The stage was about 3+1/2 feet high, so we plopped our tails right down on the edge of the stage and listened to them play "Ballet," "Questions 67+68," "Beginnings," "25 or 6 to 4," and a plethora of other GREAT tunes, and with a few personnel changes, Chicago + their music has stood the test of time...47 years now.
Most Excellent.
What an excellent recollection of a story from so long ago. . . thanks for sharing that with us, Russell Smith. Some of my favourite Chicago videos are from the Essen show in 1977.
Terry was great guitarist
but also had heartful voice.
Nice and thanks...
Hey, for me, as a die-hard Chicago fan, I do not give a care about how they sounded with the horn section, sounding weak or whatever some of ya'll are saying, I freaking love all of the Original Band playing Live @ Carnegie Hall, all of the tunes, I still remember, words, everything, and by the way, does anybody know how really hard it is to sing, and blow horns, Live, and everyone being in sync????? I give them all the props, and thank you for posting this for a Chicago Transit Authority Fan!!
Horns were not weak! This box set is epic, and I remember buying it when it first came out. Sadly this was the last good album Chicago made as they decided to go into bubblegum pop music like Saturday In the Park and other nonsense. Yeah, they probably made more money, just like Genesis did in their later years (1977+).
@@dannylgriffin Yes but the rest of th fifth album is good Chcago 6 is good too and 7 is great and I think the N°8 album was the last good album they recorded.
Agree. Jimmy Pankow admitted that the horns sounded like kazoos on this album. But they were kick ass, and with Danny, Peter, Robert and Terry, the rhythm section was the best, tightest in the WORLD at this time. Playing Live.
@@dannylgriffinnow listen… I agree that this was a kick-asser. Beyond belief what Danny was doing here. But Chicago V had some great…GREAT cuts that were not bubblegum. And they were exciting in their cutting-edge originality. A Hit by Varese. Goodbye. The amalgam of rock and semi-jazz Fused here. Danny, Robert and Peter just grooved so well. And State of the Union- one of their best shuffles ever. Live, at that!
wow....what a great way too go cook dinner with this in the backgrownd music....good job original author
Saw Chicago 6 times, but only starting in 1997. How I wish I could have seen them in the early years, with the fantabulous Terry Kath playing his axe, as on this "Ballet ..." - one of the best, if not the very best movements in rock music.
You have NO idea what you missed. I could describe it for you...but...you HAD to be there! Powerful is the one word that dominates. They would lay you back in your chair without you realizing it until they hit the last note of the song, and you would find yourself pasted to the back of the chair...like in the commercials. The records were mixed with the horns pretty much in back of the mix. Live the horns were ripping your head off. They were front and center and you could feel them. The energy coming off the stage was insane. I saw them every chance I got and the quality of each performance was outstanding. I could go on and on but the best way I can put it...YOU HAD TO BE THERE!!
Mike Gonzalez i saw them in Jan 1977 at the Hammersmith odeon they were awesome ...don't mean to rub it in but there are some benefits to being an old git like me ..I got to see all the best bands when they had their original members
The Who. Patto ...Pink Floyd ...the Crusaders etc
Had this on vinyl back in the 70's. Thanx.
I wore my copy out.
Epic album. Bought this album when it came out. Monumental achievement in music.
Me too, Chicago was our fav band in high school jazz band!!
Their peak year and performance. The boys were cutting it on every edge then. 1971-1972-1973
Thanks for posting this! This is the best version of the Ballet I’ve heard yet!
Saw Chicago twice. First time third row center at Saratoga Performing Arts Center with original line-up. Second time in San Diego with many replacements, when it was almost a Pete Cetera concert.
Terry, we still miss you.
Missing element.
Terry KATH!!
Saw the Original Group three times @ The San Diego Sports Arena
My all-time favorite band, saw this line-up 2-3x, thanks for the post Mike D.
SINCE WHEN WAS SATURDAY IN THE PARK CONSIIDERED BUBBLE GUM ? ITS MY 😍 FAVORITE 🎵 🎶 SONG I RESENT THAT VERY MUCH!!
Excellent concert! Would have loved to have been there! Thanks for posting 😎
Haven't heard this version since my then-girlfriend took the album back when we broke up in 1975. Thank you.
Yeah, my ex gave mine back too, only all sides were scratched! Why couldn't she have marked up Yoko Ono's Greatest hits instead? Bummer, dude!
@@kahunastev Damn. People shouldn't fuck with music.
So much give, so much say, melhor música.
I have this on vinyl,8 track and cassette.
+unwanted angel a true classic...glad you liked it!!!
+unwanted angel I have a picture of me sitting behind a set of drums and this album sitting on the floor. I was all of 6 years old. '72 ish. Wore that copy out, another one on vinyl and two more CD sets.
Great stuff Mike. Why Chicago didnt have the cameras rolling on this entire week at Carnegie Hall is still a mystery to me. How great would that have been!
I had the giant poster from this album on the wall of my dorm room.
I found the poster from my vinyl copy (still have it).. It was in a box I found, terribly moldy, totally ripped at the seams where it was folded up when I first got the album... Unsalvageable in any way. I had to let it go....
Bravo!
I only wish we could see them performing
Your mention 'Bring back Danny Seraphine' prompts me to let you know that Danny and his band CTA (California Transit Authority) have released a new album (their second) titled 'Sacred Ground', and from what I've heard it sounds really good. Larry Braggs, the tremendous singer from Tower of Power is on some cuts. Bill Champlin (ex-Chicago) is on others. And there's also guitar hotshot Marc Bonilla. The website is ctatheband plus the usual dot com stuff (YT comments will not accept web addresses).
I've seen CTA a couple of times they're great, also, I went to school with Marc
Well I figured I'd sign up an account...great job on the video and good tune. GBU!
5:06 "In-del-nitz-a-yell-eh-ca, dis-o-doh-bri-doh-gee-ka; burrsh-gud-dy, burrsh-gud-dy, yah-yah-yah!"
+Jim5150jvc What the FUCK does that MEAN? I have NEVER understood what they were saying!
+tonyde52 That's what I've been trying to find out forever too. The strongest lead I have is that it's Walt and Jimmy shouting it, and it's some sort of Eastern European nursery rhyme referring to pancakes and sausages. It's in Polish, or Hungarian, or Serbian and shouted like a football cheer. Jimmy and Walt both studied at DePaul University, and both have Eastern European ancestry. I'll let you know if I find out anything more!
I think you are over thinking this. Scott Nealy is one of the people in charge of the show. ("Push Scotty Push Scotty yeah yeah yeah.") They may be mocking Scott. The first line sounds like "You can ? me anytime" "Just so...?" "push Scotty...etc."
Finally, I'm finding a discussion about something I've wondered about for decades. They are all contenders, but I'd love to find out the winner.
I always assumed it was a fight song or cheer for the school in Buckhannon where the subject of the suite attended, which is West Virginia Wesleyan College. Alas, I can't find one for them and see that their marching band only formed (or re-formed?) a few years ago. (Thought: That band just has to play this suite some day!)
In some versions, including the original recording, the bridge is a solo drum beat; others a guitar interlude or other instrumentation. Next interview with Pankow has to ask him about this.
Too bad the group couldn't keep the fingerprints of CHICAGO/CTA as the years passed. Yea I know who died, who had troubles within and left, its just too bad, just saying because they were so so fucking special.
Chicago,the original lineup was spectacular in my opinion. No telling how far Terry Kath would have gone in his career...VERY underrated!!...thanks for listening and commenting!!
I saw this lineup of Chicago twice in the early 70's. I always felt that they were tight and maybe a little too "scripted". Just the opposite of the comments I see here. Just my opinion of course, but thanks so much for the comments and views!
Chicago came to SUNY Geneseo in the fall of 1970. Geneseo was a very conservative campus, they signed a deal with SUNY New York to play about 7 dates. The concert was pretty short (45 minutes) but it was enough for me. Great Band. My favorite band , with Cream right behind.
my dog ruined my vinyl...some of no the best music ever assembled
At the time this album did not get great reviews, citing the band as 'loose' and 'messy'. I didn't feel things were THAT bad, but at this point some of the music was getting extended beyond its shelf life. It was typical with so many bands; take a 2 min. and 40 second single and stretch it to 10 minutes. Also, there were 4 albums! Cut out the fat and it would have been a great double or triple set. That said, this was a great line-up; strong and passionate players with some really great tunes.
Wasn't that put out within a year of the.kaths demise.id say they were still reeling from the totality of losing the mainspring of the band, I'm I not Right
@@JesusRamos-wm7hg No, not even close. Almost 6 years.
It sure did well for an album that didn't get great reviews -- reached #3, which is pretty dang impressive for a four-record set!
can anyone translate 5:10 ? It's obviously Slavic, probably Serbian, but at least of the guys know it (Walt and someone else)
Jim5150jvc commented on this 10 yrs ago, his comment is located about 7 comments above yours. Some people relied to him with some good answers, but still no one really knows.
They put out 3 double albums. I CTA, II and III. Then they recorded (badly) in a tinny terrible way a 4th live quad album of all their same material. When it came out it sounded like crap. The band knew and admits it. And many fans knew. It's great that it has been remastered and brought up to standards. Still can't get rid of all the horn blaarts and bad notes however. Had some great posters though.
The value of Carnegie hall is in the band’s passion and the crowd’s reaction
It’s about $150 minimum to see the current lineup in - wait for it - Staten Island
What would you pay to see the original 7 in their mid 20s, mistakes and all, in Carnegie Hall?
Ballad not ballet