Amber hit the nail on the head, young people don’t know music could sound so good. We were lucky because our parents made us listen to their music, even as babies and toddlers, so good music was instantly introduced to us. Then we found our own grove, but never forgot the past and how great it was. Kids now go from Nick Jr. to the bland flavor of the month.
You told nothing but the truth my friend! I totally agree. I listened to my parents' music from the 50's and 60's. Then my 80's. Young people today really missed the full rainbow of musical flavors we were so fortunate to enjoy.
In our family, it wasn't just the music of my parents gen but ALL genres, too, so we got everything from country, to rock, to pop, to R&B and everything in between and beyond...Disco, New Wave, Funk, etc. You grow up with an appreciation of everything so you never limit your experiences. As a result, I barely listen to today's music because I know what's really good. Give me anything before the 2000s and I'm a happy woman, especially if it's the 80s, lol.
This Era of Chicago was probably their best selling Era. With Peter Cetera on vocals, they became the quintessential romantic power ballad band! Some of the mist iconic ballads of the 80s were sung by Cetera. There is just a something so special with his tone. No one else, not then and not ever after, has ever sounded even close to him. His voice is just unmistakable! And it's just sublime! If you just react to all the ballads Chicago did during the mid 80s, you will realize how special they were and how Peter Cetera became an intricate part of every teenager's life during those days!!!
Could be their best selling era and they produced a lot of nice songs but IMO not their best work. Chicago was originally made up of 7 world class musicians and this era rarely showcased their amazing musicianship. David Foster even brought in outside writers and musicians and turned them into a power ballad band. So basically they were no longer unique and were doing what so many other groups were doing at the time.
@@pjg58x I know it's not their best work if by best work you mean great musicianship and just mind blowing orchestration. While their earlier work just showcased how talented they were as musicians and how great their "big band" sound was, they really became a household name during this run. Some may call it selling out, but for everyone who was a teenager during that time, Chicago became almost a part of our lives. Everyone during that time dedicated at least one of their songs to whatever girl they were in love with at the time! Peter Cetera's voice is embedded in all of our brains forever!
This was the last album Peter Cetera was on. I saw them live in 1984 when this album was out. Chicago’s sound totally changed after Terry Kath died. The 80’s were the David Foster years where he wrote and produced for them. The sound was totally different than the past.
David Foster, the genius behind this song. Love the interplay between Peter and Bill. Peter Cetera is one of the GOAT's for vocal talent and the uniqueness of his voice.
@@proudmoon3 Bill is an incredibly underrated singer and musician in general. Peter Cetera is one of the GOAT's for vocal talent and the uniqueness of his voice.
I was so lucky to be a teen in the 80s and growing up on such amazing music. So much variety but great songwriting and singing without autotune. Just pure talent and style. And bands with actual instruments...lol
One of the most passionate songs of the 80s, I love this song. And you're not wrong, there WERE 2 Chicagoes...their sound DID evolve from the 70s to the 80s!
Jay & Amber, I love Chicago! Horns. Without horns. They’re amazing. I’d love for you to take in their early 1974 hit I’ve Been Searching So Long. It’s spectacular.
"Along Comes A Woman" and "Stay The Night" - both off that epic Chicago 17 album, both overflowing with that distinctly Chicago sound as only Chicago can make. Well worth the time and effort to check them out.
The other member singing this song with Peter Cetera is Bill Champlin. He also has a great voice as well and did a solo album back in the early 1980's. Hope you check out some of his songs. I believe the album was titled "Runaway". I absolutely love ""Sara", "Tonight, Tonight" and "Got To Get Back To Love".
I know there's a lot of Ealry Chicago loyalists out there, but I really appreciate some of their 80s output. You still get the Chicago.sound, the band, the horns, the vocals with a more.contemporary sound.Bill Champlin was a great addition to the band. They really had some bangers during this time.
Yes, but first they tried to scare Peter into staying with the band when his heart wasn't into it anymore, then David Foster convinced them to drop the horns. They became SO repetitive that I couldn"t stand them anymore, and I think the public agreed, they had only a clutch of hits before their stuff became more and more generic.
To me there is three different eras of Chicago earlier songs featured lead vocalist Terry Kath and when he passed away Peter took over lead vocals which change the sound of the earlier songs. After Peter left they brought in a much younger guy to sing lead.. I finally got to see them live at the great New York State Fair in Syracuse they were really great and I had just broken up with somebody 😢so I was crying half the time the songs like this and You're the inspiration but check out some of the songs other people have suggested for you they are outstanding!😊
If you're speaking in terms of radio play, Kath had only three lead vocals on Chicago's hit, ie. Make Me Smile and Colour My World (both from the same larger suite of music called Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon) and Wishing You Were Here. WYWH was actually a Cetera-penned song that the band recorded in a lower key so Cetera was not able to sing the main verses and could only sing on the bridge. Robert Lamm and Peter were really the two main lead singers of Chicago in terms of radio hits. And Robert's lead vocal peak on radio ended pretty early in Chicago's run. He had no major lead vocal hits after Saturday in the Park in 1972. By the release of Chicago VI in 1973, most radio stations and pop music's audience in general leaned towards songs with Cetera on lead vocals, no matter who wrote the songs. But that's why it was so cool to listen to Chicago's albums in full. You heard all three voices consistently. Once the likes of Pankow and Loughnane started being allowed to have lead vocals, the inmates started to run the asylum.
I'm old. After Terry Kath passed, whenever I heard new Chicago songs, I kept finding myself listening for his voice and distinctive guitar playing, and they're not there. RIP. 🎶✌️👉🇨🇦
So great to hear this one! It’s from 17 with David Foster and their big break into the mainstream. The more gravelly voice in this one is Bill Champlin. He came in and really stepped up once Peter went solo. He was a huge asset, a great songwriter, and was with the band for a long time. He sang some of their biggest hits and their only number one. They did him dirty in the end and he left. Another band like Styx and Journey who let their egos and need for control take over, and totally destroyed what made them so good in the first place!
Bill C had a big ego as well. It's a band .... Bill was a great musician and vocalist I agree but IMHO thought he was bigger than the band. He wanted to do solo projects so they let him.
To clarify, Peter Cetera sang on the first #1 Chicago song "If You Leave Me Now" in 1976 and Bill Champlin sang on the other two "Hard Habit To Break" and " Look Away" in the 80's.
This is my favorite Chicago song. I was a kid during the MTV years, and this song came out in 1984 and was on huge rotation on MTV. The lyrics are brilliant, as it's a breakup song that really hits hard. The lyrics "After all of these years, I'm still tryin' to shake it, Doin' much better (they say that it just takes time), But deep in the night, it's an endless flight, I can't get you out of my mind" hit so hard, its speaks volumes. Having Peter and Bill sing together on this song was brilliant. I can't say enough about this song. Thank you all for the reaction to this classic
This song was on the radio all day no matter what time of day! It was very popular and Chicago had many hits during this period. I actually love it, particularly the build at the end. Losing Terry Kath was terribly tragic -and then it was the end of an era when Peter Cetera left. He did well on his own, and the band changed their sound and had many top hits without him. Chicago was one of my favorites growing up. Since you like their earlier and big band sound, here are several for the list: I’ve Been Searching So Long - you can close your eyes for most of it Just You and Me - will make you smile Wishing You Were Here - beautiful vocals with The Beach Boys Call on Me - jazzy / big band Old Days - will make you smile Beginnings - you can close your eyes Colour My World - short, beautiful and piano highlighted Street Player - will make you dance Questions 67 and 68 - beautiful / big band song Dialogue - Peter Cetera and Terry Kath share the lead Feeling Stronger Everyday - a good mix of soft and soulful
There ARE TWO Chicagos: The original lineup known as a "rock and roll band with horns" (The group you love most) from 1967-1978. The "other" Chicago you listened to today. They, the 1980s Chicago, was produced by David Foster. These songs were mostly ballads co-written by Foster & Peter Cetera where they intentionally left the horn section out. If you want to get back to the BIG BAND SOUND you love, you need to go back before 1976. Try "Just You 'N Me, " "Call on Me," "Beginnings," "Questions 67 and 68," "Movin' in," "What's This World Coming to," and "Dialogue (Part 1 & 2)."
Anything Chicago are great songs in all the many different band members throughout the decades. Peter Cetera is still my favorite lead vocalist. And the duet with Amy Grant was one of my all time favorite songs since i'm a huge fan of them both. Thanks for playing more Chicago!! Much love to you both!! 🎶❤️🎶
The music of my teen years right here!! I was 14 when this album (Chicago 17) came out. Stay the Night, Along Came A Woman and You're the Inspiration (which you've already reacted to) are on this album as well.
I just love the blend between Peter and Bill’s voices. Peter has such a clear tone and then Bill brings in a little grit to make it even better. I think you guys would really love Old Days. It’s such a good song.
I Don’t Want To Live Without Your Love- Chicago. J/A another great top 10 charting smash hit from 1989. Off the same album as Look Away. Love to see you react to it!
This is off of the album CHICAGO 17, which was probably their most successful album due to now having MTV showcase them and with Peter at the helm of most of the bands lead singing responsibilities. This album contained this song, "Stay the Night", "Your the Inspiration" as big hits for them but sadly this album would also be their last with the silk voice of Peter Cetera, who would go on to a huge solo career. But a new generation found Chicago with this album and MTV, as did many artists that utilized the platform to sell music. Good stuff!
Honestly Chicago doesn't do anything wrong. Everything they put out will always be amazing. Does anyone know what time it is?, Stay the night, Color my world, You're the inspiration, I don't want to live without you, 24 or 6 to 4, and a lot more, as a teenager of the 80s, all of these songs take me back.
My wife and I got to see Peter Cetera in concert at the Nashville Symphony in 2019. He said he was 71 then, and he still sounded EXACTLY the same. He's always been one of my favorites, such an amazing vocalist!
You guys freaked me out again. I just heard this yesterday on my 80's Sirus station - and was HOPING that you would discover it one day. It's absolutely one of their best.
One of my favorite bands I saw them when they use to have concerts on the Boston Common and Amber listening to Saturday in the Park on a blanket amongst the trees is a great memory
Y’all hit the jackpot with this one this my favorite Chicago song of all time I love hove Peter and bill play off each other This song is a masterpiece
There were 2 eras of Chicago's music. The 1970's was more rock-oriented with emphasis on the instrumentals. The 1980's was more adult contemporary with emphasis on vocals. I enjoy both eras.
This was huge when I was in High School. I first learned of Chicago through their love songs, like this one, and later learned to love the rambunctious horn heavy songs. They're all great.
This Beautiful Song Is On Their 1984 Chicago 17 Album, Wherein I Still Have Their Laser Disc Version Of This Album, Which Has All Of Their Videos For Their Hit Songs . . . I Saw Them At The Berkley California Greek Theatre Back In 1984, And They Really Rocked, And Sounded Great That Night, Which Was Right Before Peter Cetera Left Chicago For His Amazing Solo Career, And Chicago Brought In Bass Player, And Singer Jason Scheff . . .
Another Chicago song I think you'll really enjoy is Old Days. It's kind of a blend between the two Chicagos that Amber mentioned. You've got Peter's lead vocals, but you still have the big sound of the horns.
The one thing you have to understand about early 80's Chicago is that David Foster produced their two most successful albums. Many of the group's greatest hits came from Chicago 16 and 17 albums and were written by Peter Cetera and David Foster.
I am so happy you highlighted this beautiful song. It's my favorite record from Chicago, hands down. With Cetera's and Bill Champlin's shared vocals, combined with David Foster's masterful arrangement and production, HHTB is the best ballad Chicago had in the 80s. A little pocket symphony that is so musical, with Jeremy Lubbock's string arrangements. This song was released right around the time my Dad passed away from cancer and it hit me really hard. You two make mention of there being two Chicago's and overall I agree. The band started out as a very progressive, organic sounding horn-based rock band. And Robert Lamm's songwriting carried the band for the first few years. Everyone noticed Cetera's unique vocals right from the start, but it took awhile for his songwriting to catch hold. But by the time Chicago VI came out in 1973, his songs started becoming the more requested tunes from radio and the mass audience. So by the time the 1980s came around, when other band members were still heavily involved in drugs or in detox treatment, Cetera and new producer David Foster took the reigns to write some beautiful music. No one else in the band at that time was up to writing massive hits like years past. When band members (not including Cetera) submitted songs for the band to record for Chicago 16 in 1982, Foster turned them all down, saying all those songs sucked. Foster brought Cetera's voice and melodic songwriting to the forefront and gave it pristine production values to make his songs famous! It's really what led to Cetera leaving Chicago in 1985. Cool story on Hard Habit to Break: It's one of the few big Chicago hits during the time Cetera was with the band that wasn't written by an band member. It was written and submitted to the band to record by outside writers. Right before Chicago planned to go into the studio with it, the band realized the song still needed one more verse after "Two people together, but living alone. I was spreading my love too thin." So Foster called up one of the songwriters while he was in Vermont during winter to ask if he could come up with one more verse. The guy had to drive through a blizzard to get to the nearest payphone (a 7-Eleven) so that he could transcribe the verse back to Foster over the phone. The ONLY negative thing I will say about the song is that it is so well produced (some say overproduced) that it's not a song that the band ever performed well live, especially vocally. Live versions are not even worth looking up. It really is the perfect studio record.
I know this will get buried but, My father had massive record collection. I'm talking about well over 400 albums. He didn't have a shelf for them so he kept the beside the living room couch in the corner. The albums were not stacked on top of each other. They were placed standing up against the wall until it reached the front of the couch and then he would start another row. 4 rows in total. He had so many different genres Rock, Motown, R&B, and Pop to name a few. He had about 80-85% of all the songs both of you react to. Your reactions ARE my early teenage years. We loved playing as many of those records as my father would allow. I got so many strange looks from my friends when they would hear me sing some of the lyrics to Journey and then Bill Withers and then Cultuer Club and then Prince while I was listening to my walkman. The reason for the strange looks were because my father is a black man from Chicago and my mother is Puerto Rican. My friends would make fun of me and say that I was only supposed to listen to Salsa music (which my father had plenty of). Those were the days.
When I think of the greatest male vocalist ever immediately Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley, and Steve Perry come to mind ! Followed closely by Roy Orbison and Peter Cetera ! Absolutely incredible voice
I was one of Terry Kath's classmates in the Class of 1964 at Taft High in Chicago. He sat at our lunchroom table but often took off on his cycle with one of the girls and ditched lunchroom. Another classmate from three years earlier, Jim Jacobs, wrote the musical 'Grease" about those times at Taft (Bobby Rydell High School, in the musical). About Terry. He liked to challenge the rules, sometimes. If drinking and driving is a bad mix, drinking and guns is even worse. RIP, Terry. You listened to the horns in Mr. Stamm's band class and put brass into your rock, so some rules are worth breaking...
Now THIS is music!! Melodies, amazing singing, arrangements, a horn section - a text that is relateable... 😍 Today we get songs with one loop, over and over and text that refers to body parts.
This is the ballad that launched Chicago into the '80s. Another great Chicago number to review is their last big hit of the '70s, "No Tell Lover". Solid jazzy / brassy performance, sweet harmonies, high-level musicianship.
11 number one singles I believe there was 10 number one albums ! I actually seen them live in a free concert in Coney Island ! Behind me, was the Atlantic ocean in front of me was a sea of people !! And I got there at eight hours before the concert started !! what an incredible performance by these guys they are unbelievable
Terry Kath was the heart of Chicago. Peter was the voice, but Terry did vocals too and sang Lead on "Make me Smile", "Colour my world", and "Feeling stronger everyday" he also was the Guitar which is a very important part to the overall sound and in Terry's case a very hard habit to break.
So there's 70s Chicago (25 or 6 to 4, Saturday In The Park, etc...). Brass and guitar. This is the version that made it to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. Then there's 80s Chicago, which are power ballads many featuring Peter Cetera (before he went solo). Hard Habit To Break is 80s Chicago. Another classic from the 80s, which has the best Cetera vocals is You're The Inspiration.
Amber, since you watched the full video, did you notice that the ladies in the video who were the "hard habits", were also showing their hard habits to break, too? There was drinking, smoking, drumming of the fingers.... things that people do as a habit, and often when upset. A broken relationship can cause people to do these things. This song is one of my favorites and I love Peter's voice.
This was one of my most favorite bands back in the 80’s. Absolutely loved Peter Cetera! You’re the Inspiration and Hard Habit to Break were the first songs I ever heard from Chicago and I played them to death. When he left Chicago, it was sad, and they weren’t the same. I did continue listening to them though and I bought at least their next 2 albums. As to Peter Cetera, I bought his albums and continued listening to everything he put out. He definitely had some great songs (which you’ve already covered and/or mentioned at this point). Oh the nostalgia! The 80’s has the best music!
This is a great song with the voice of Peter Cetera…If you leave me now is the one that I remember and think it was at the top spot for weeks in the uk in 1976
Amber hit the nail on the head, young people don’t know music could sound so good. We were lucky because our parents made us listen to their music, even as babies and toddlers, so good music was instantly introduced to us. Then we found our own grove, but never forgot the past and how great it was. Kids now go from Nick Jr. to the bland flavor of the month.
You told nothing but the truth my friend! I totally agree. I listened to my parents' music from the 50's and 60's. Then my 80's. Young people today really missed the full rainbow of musical flavors we were so fortunate to enjoy.
Exactly!! 💯! 🎶❤🎶
In our family, it wasn't just the music of my parents gen but ALL genres, too, so we got everything from country, to rock, to pop, to R&B and everything in between and beyond...Disco, New Wave, Funk, etc. You grow up with an appreciation of everything so you never limit your experiences. As a result, I barely listen to today's music because I know what's really good. Give me anything before the 2000s and I'm a happy woman, especially if it's the 80s, lol.
I agree, my mom loved Chicago and Motown, so of course I do as well.
-definetly !-
“You’re the Inspiration” is my favorite. But they have so many really good ones you can’t go wrong with any.
2 years ago.
Our wedding song
This Era of Chicago was probably their best selling Era. With Peter Cetera on vocals, they became the quintessential romantic power ballad band! Some of the mist iconic ballads of the 80s were sung by Cetera. There is just a something so special with his tone. No one else, not then and not ever after, has ever sounded even close to him. His voice is just unmistakable! And it's just sublime! If you just react to all the ballads Chicago did during the mid 80s, you will realize how special they were and how Peter Cetera became an intricate part of every teenager's life during those days!!!
Could be their best selling era and they produced a lot of nice songs but IMO not their best work. Chicago was originally made up of 7 world class musicians and this era rarely showcased their amazing musicianship. David Foster even brought in outside writers and musicians and turned them into a power ballad band. So basically they were no longer unique and were doing what so many other groups were doing at the time.
Exactly. Jay and Amber don't realise that this was their most successful era
@@pjg58x I know it's not their best work if by best work you mean great musicianship and just mind blowing orchestration. While their earlier work just showcased how talented they were as musicians and how great their "big band" sound was, they really became a household name during this run. Some may call it selling out, but for everyone who was a teenager during that time, Chicago became almost a part of our lives. Everyone during that time dedicated at least one of their songs to whatever girl they were in love with at the time! Peter Cetera's voice is embedded in all of our brains forever!
“If You Leave Me Now” another great recording by Chicago!
Yes, that's my absolute favorite!!!
The best one!!!
My favorite memories, riding around with my father in our car listening that song. How I miss those days with my old!!!
8 months ago.
They've reacted to this one. It's my all-time favorite.
One of the BEST!!!
I can't wait for them to hear Questions 67 and 68! To me it's Chicago at their finest!😊
And dialogue
And Dialogue
Peter did duets with Cher & Amy Grant that were incredible ❤
Next time I fall with Amy Grant is awesome!
Duet with Cher "Chances are" is beautiful! Sorry I got it wrong it's After All is name of song.
And of course Crystal Bernard
And Agnetha from ABBA! Don’t remember ever hearing it back in the day - found out about it from RUclips a couple months ago
@@heidichristensen7919I Wasn't The One (Who Said Goodbye)😊
There’s so much great Chicago to discover. Beginnings, Call On Me, Wishing You Were Here, Colour My World. ✨
That was their best period, in my opinion.
Wishing you were here is underrated with the Beach Boys providing background vocals!
@@magneto7930I agree, the original lineup with Terry Kath will always be the best even though this song got lots of airplay
@@myownchannel247 The Kath years are my favorite. I wish they had seen the live version of 25 or 6 to 4 from Tanglewood!
I shouldn't say because they had so many great songs, but for me I think Beginnings is the best Chicago song ever.
Their hit, “Colour My World” quickly became “our song” when we began dating over 46 years ago. And it still is!
My sister and brother in -law's wedding song!
"Colour My World" was our Sr Prom theme song! One of their absolute best!!
As time goes on,I realize just what you mean to me ……… Colour my World with hopes of loving you 🤠😍🥰
My parents song when it came out, they are 71 now
That was my wedding song 🎶
This was the last album Peter Cetera was on. I saw them live in 1984 when this album was out. Chicago’s sound totally changed after Terry Kath died. The 80’s were the David Foster years where he wrote and produced for them. The sound was totally different than the past.
David Foster, the genius behind this song. Love the interplay between Peter and Bill. Peter Cetera is one of the GOAT's for vocal talent and the uniqueness of his voice.
Their voices blended so perfectly here. And Bill really shines on this one!
Exactly
@@proudmoon3 Bill is an incredibly underrated singer and musician in general. Peter Cetera is one of the GOAT's for vocal talent and the uniqueness of his voice.
And his awesome bass playing
David Foster destroyed Chicago. They became bland top 40 band after he took over creative control of the band.
"Stay the night" , "Along comes a woman" and "Explained to my heart" are great song by them too.
I love Stay The Night. ❤️
Stay the Night was great!!
Yes “Explain It To My Heart” was a powerful song sung by Jason & Bill
Peter Cetera with Cher. Those two iconic voices together on "After All" were stunning.
Yes Yes and "The Next Time I Fall": with Amy Grant
Jay keeps closing his eyes on Bill Champlin's parts so he thinks Peter Cetera is the only one singing. lol
That's what I exactly thought, there are two singers right there!
💯👍
I noticed that too
80s heartbreak; Peter Cetera sang it so well!✌️❤️
Man i Miss the 70s
I was so lucky to be a teen in the 80s and growing up on such amazing music. So much variety but great songwriting and singing without autotune. Just pure talent and style. And bands with actual instruments...lol
I loved being a teen from 1987 to 1992
Bill Champlin's vocals are the perfect compliment to Peter's here!
Great harmonies between Cetera and Bill Champlain, I believe this was on Chicago 17, Cetera’s last album with Chicago sadly.
I love watching you two enjoy the music from my high school years!!!
Along Comes A Woman - Chicago. Another great upbeat song from the mid 80s. Love to see you react to it!
Some people hate the David Foster albums. But he was just what the band needed at that time. Chicago 16 was huge!
David Foster turned these type of songs into Whitney Houston's hits
One of the most passionate songs of the 80s, I love this song. And you're not wrong, there WERE 2 Chicagoes...their sound DID evolve from the 70s to the 80s!
Jay & Amber, I love Chicago! Horns. Without horns. They’re amazing. I’d love for you to take in their early 1974 hit I’ve Been Searching So Long. It’s spectacular.
"Along Comes A Woman" and "Stay The Night" - both off that epic Chicago 17 album, both overflowing with that distinctly Chicago sound as only Chicago can make. Well worth the time and effort to check them out.
The other member singing this song with Peter Cetera is Bill Champlin. He also has a great voice as well and did a solo album back in the early 1980's. Hope you check out some of his songs. I believe the album was titled "Runaway". I absolutely love ""Sara", "Tonight, Tonight" and "Got To Get Back To Love".
I am 62 years old. I listened to them when I was a small child.
Ah! You only have me by 7 years. We lived during the greatest of musical eras. Don't know what this crap is today!
Same age and ditto 👍
I know there's a lot of Ealry Chicago loyalists out there, but I really appreciate some of their 80s output. You still get the Chicago.sound, the band, the horns, the vocals with a more.contemporary sound.Bill Champlin was a great addition to the band. They really had some bangers during this time.
Yes, but first they tried to scare Peter into staying with the band when his heart wasn't into it anymore, then David Foster convinced them to drop the horns. They became SO repetitive that I couldn"t stand them anymore, and I think the public agreed, they had only a clutch of hits before their stuff became more and more generic.
One of their greatest songs
To me there is three different eras of Chicago earlier songs featured lead vocalist Terry Kath and when he passed away Peter took over lead vocals which change the sound of the earlier songs. After Peter left they brought in a much younger guy to sing lead.. I finally got to see them live at the great New York State Fair in Syracuse they were really great and I had just broken up with somebody 😢so I was crying half the time the songs like this and You're the inspiration but check out some of the songs other people have suggested for you they are outstanding!😊
Terry Kath shared lead vocals with Peter Cetera and Robert Lamm.
If you're speaking in terms of radio play, Kath had only three lead vocals on Chicago's hit, ie. Make Me Smile and Colour My World (both from the same larger suite of music called Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon) and Wishing You Were Here. WYWH was actually a Cetera-penned song that the band recorded in a lower key so Cetera was not able to sing the main verses and could only sing on the bridge. Robert Lamm and Peter were really the two main lead singers of Chicago in terms of radio hits. And Robert's lead vocal peak on radio ended pretty early in Chicago's run. He had no major lead vocal hits after Saturday in the Park in 1972. By the release of Chicago VI in 1973, most radio stations and pop music's audience in general leaned towards songs with Cetera on lead vocals, no matter who wrote the songs. But that's why it was so cool to listen to Chicago's albums in full. You heard all three voices consistently. Once the likes of Pankow and Loughnane started being allowed to have lead vocals, the inmates started to run the asylum.
In the 80s, Chicago were regarded as the kings of the POWER BALLAD.
Actually, Chicago did not want to be known as a power ballad band, but as a rock band. Peter was the ballad singer, which pressured him to leave.
Composition geniuses, beautiful harmonies! Yikes how beautiful!?!
I'm old. After Terry Kath passed, whenever I heard new Chicago songs, I kept finding myself listening for his voice and distinctive guitar playing, and they're not there. RIP. 🎶✌️👉🇨🇦
i totally agree, a part of Chicago died with Terry. He truly is the heart of soul of this iconic band.
Chicago 17. Great album. Every song was great. Only you. Spend the night. I’m so glad I grew up in the seventies and eighties
Stay the night
Peter Cetera's voice is liquid gold. ❤
What a great voice and great singer ,Peter is so versatile,Chicago is legendary .Great reaction as always.Love ,light ,and smiles.🙏❤️❤️🙏🤗😊
Hit #3 in the summer of 84
Indeed. No. 8 in the UK.
So great to hear this one! It’s from 17 with David Foster and their big break into the mainstream. The more gravelly voice in this one is Bill Champlin. He came in and really stepped up once Peter went solo. He was a huge asset, a great songwriter, and was with the band for a long time. He sang some of their biggest hits and their only number one. They did him dirty in the end and he left. Another band like Styx and Journey who let their egos and need for control take over, and totally destroyed what made them so good in the first place!
Bill C had a big ego as well. It's a band .... Bill was a great musician and vocalist I agree but IMHO thought he was bigger than the band. He wanted to do solo projects so they let him.
To clarify, Peter Cetera sang on the first #1 Chicago song "If You Leave Me Now" in 1976 and Bill Champlin sang on the other two "Hard Habit To Break" and " Look Away" in the 80's.
The horns were prominent in Along Comes A Woman...
This is my favorite Chicago song. I was a kid during the MTV years, and this song came out in 1984 and was on huge rotation on MTV. The lyrics are brilliant, as it's a breakup song that really hits hard. The lyrics "After all of these years, I'm still tryin' to shake it, Doin' much better (they say that it just takes time), But deep in the night, it's an endless flight, I can't get you out of my mind" hit so hard, its speaks volumes. Having Peter and Bill sing together on this song was brilliant. I can't say enough about this song. Thank you all for the reaction to this classic
This song was on the radio all day no matter what time of day! It was very popular and Chicago had many hits during this period. I actually love it, particularly the build at the end.
Losing Terry Kath was terribly tragic -and then it was the end of an era when Peter Cetera left. He did well on his own, and the band changed their sound and had many top hits without him.
Chicago was one of my favorites growing up. Since you like their earlier and big band sound, here are several for the list:
I’ve Been Searching So Long - you can close your eyes for most of it
Just You and Me - will make you smile
Wishing You Were Here - beautiful vocals with The Beach Boys
Call on Me - jazzy / big band
Old Days - will make you smile
Beginnings - you can close your eyes
Colour My World - short, beautiful and piano highlighted
Street Player - will make you dance
Questions 67 and 68 - beautiful / big band song
Dialogue - Peter Cetera and Terry Kath share the lead
Feeling Stronger Everyday - a good mix of soft and soulful
There ARE TWO Chicagos: The original lineup known as a "rock and roll band with horns" (The group you love most) from 1967-1978. The "other" Chicago you listened to today. They, the 1980s Chicago, was produced by David Foster. These songs were mostly ballads co-written by Foster & Peter Cetera where they intentionally left the horn section out.
If you want to get back to the BIG BAND SOUND you love, you need to go back before 1976. Try "Just You 'N Me, " "Call on Me," "Beginnings," "Questions 67 and 68," "Movin' in," "What's This World Coming to," and "Dialogue (Part 1 & 2)."
Yes!
This is probably my least favorite era of Chicago
Still plenty of horn arrangements off this album. Along Comes A Woman has a whole section of the song with nothing but horns playing.
Their album Night and Day brings the horns back in full force. It’s an album of big band standards but Chicagofied. It’s a great album!
I suspect you didn’t really listen to much Chicago of this era 😂
I've cried a lot on this song . That happens when you're in love and they don't feel the same.
Jay/Amber, you'll LOVE their "Beginnings" and "Just You n' Me"!!!!
edit - Bill Champlin - co-lead and backing vocals, keyboards on todays song.
Just You and Me is the BEST Chicago song
@@stevebrien1041 Yes! My favourite. I hope they hit it, no one seems to react to it.
CHICAGO =
“Just You And Me”
horns , beautiful love song!!!
Peter singing lead !!
Anything Chicago are great songs in all the many different band members throughout the decades.
Peter Cetera is still my favorite lead vocalist. And the duet with Amy Grant was one of my all time favorite songs since i'm a huge fan of them both. Thanks for playing more Chicago!!
Much love to you both!! 🎶❤️🎶
Chicago...Peter...huge and well-deserved. Try Along Comes a Woman and Stay the Night.
This entire album (Chicago 17) was Awesome! I love this song so VERY much!!!
They have so many good songs! Searchin' So Long has become my favorite!
I had the pleasure of seeing Peter with David Foster and Friends in Kuala Lumpur, still outstanding!
The music of my teen years right here!! I was 14 when this album (Chicago 17) came out. Stay the Night, Along Came A Woman and You're the Inspiration (which you've already reacted to) are on this album as well.
Peter Cetera and Amy Grant, Next Time I Fall in Love
Chicagos one of those bands you could listen to all day and not get tired of 👍, i have all their music ♥️🙏✝️✌️😎
I just love the blend between Peter and Bill’s voices. Peter has such a clear tone and then Bill brings in a little grit to make it even better. I think you guys would really love Old Days. It’s such a good song.
So thankful to be born in the 70s and a teen in the 80s. Absolutely perfect time for music!!
I Don’t Want To Live Without Your Love- Chicago. J/A another great top 10 charting smash hit from 1989. Off the same album as Look Away. Love to see you react to it!
Another of their useless, generic hits that the public oddly went for. This was when I knew they were done.
This is off of the album CHICAGO 17, which was probably their most successful album due to now having MTV showcase them and with Peter at the helm of most of the bands lead singing responsibilities. This album contained this song, "Stay the Night", "Your the Inspiration" as big hits for them but sadly this album would also be their last with the silk voice of Peter Cetera, who would go on to a huge solo career. But a new generation found Chicago with this album and MTV, as did many artists that utilized the platform to sell music. Good stuff!
" your the inspiration" is another song that features Peter Ceteras voice.
No tell Lover is a must listen also.
Honestly Chicago doesn't do anything wrong. Everything they put out will always be amazing. Does anyone know what time it is?, Stay the night, Color my world, You're the inspiration, I don't want to live without you, 24 or 6 to 4, and a lot more, as a teenager of the 80s, all of these songs take me back.
My wife and I got to see Peter Cetera in concert at the Nashville Symphony in 2019. He said he was 71 then, and he still sounded EXACTLY the same. He's always been one of my favorites, such an amazing vocalist!
Finally! I love this song! One of my favorite Chicago songs ever. ❤
I saw Chicago in the early 90's. They opened for Crosby, Stills and Nash. What a show!!!!
You guys freaked me out again. I just heard this yesterday on my 80's Sirus station - and was HOPING that you would discover it one day. It's absolutely one of their best.
One of my favorite bands I saw them when they use to have concerts on the Boston Common and Amber listening to Saturday in the Park on a blanket amongst the trees is a great memory
“Dialogue (part 1 & 2)” is an old school Chicago hit that is definitely worth reacting to....... 💯🔥🤙🏽😎
Y’all hit the jackpot with this one this my favorite Chicago song of all time I love hove Peter and bill play off each other This song is a masterpiece
We used to slow dance to this in 6th grade. I wish today's generation would get new songs as good as the ones we had.
There were 2 eras of Chicago's music. The 1970's was more rock-oriented with emphasis on the instrumentals. The 1980's was more adult contemporary with emphasis on vocals. I enjoy both eras.
I love Chicago! All over the radio when I was growing up. This song gives me chills with the incredible vocals & whole arrangement, so talented.
"No Tell Lover" is another great Peter Cetera sung Chicago hit.
You guys have barely scratched the surface of country music.
This was huge when I was in High School. I first learned of Chicago through their love songs, like this one, and later learned to love the rambunctious horn heavy songs. They're all great.
This Beautiful Song Is On Their 1984 Chicago 17 Album, Wherein I Still Have Their Laser Disc Version Of This Album, Which Has All Of Their Videos For Their Hit Songs . . .
I Saw Them At The Berkley California Greek Theatre Back In 1984, And They Really Rocked, And Sounded Great That Night, Which Was Right Before Peter Cetera Left Chicago For His Amazing Solo Career, And Chicago Brought In Bass Player, And Singer Jason Scheff . . .
Another Chicago song I think you'll really enjoy is Old Days. It's kind of a blend between the two Chicagos that Amber mentioned. You've got Peter's lead vocals, but you still have the big sound of the horns.
I can't tell you how many times I have seen them in concert! Fantastic band
The one thing you have to understand about early 80's Chicago is that David Foster produced their two most successful albums. Many of the group's greatest hits came from Chicago 16 and 17 albums and were written by Peter Cetera and David Foster.
Tons of great songs from this legendary band. Stay the Night & Along Comes a Woman are personal favorites from the 80’s.
A lost song off of that album 17 is Remember The Feeling. Such an underrated song.
I am so happy you highlighted this beautiful song. It's my favorite record from Chicago, hands down. With Cetera's and Bill Champlin's shared vocals, combined with David Foster's masterful arrangement and production, HHTB is the best ballad Chicago had in the 80s. A little pocket symphony that is so musical, with Jeremy Lubbock's string arrangements. This song was released right around the time my Dad passed away from cancer and it hit me really hard.
You two make mention of there being two Chicago's and overall I agree. The band started out as a very progressive, organic sounding horn-based rock band. And Robert Lamm's songwriting carried the band for the first few years. Everyone noticed Cetera's unique vocals right from the start, but it took awhile for his songwriting to catch hold. But by the time Chicago VI came out in 1973, his songs started becoming the more requested tunes from radio and the mass audience. So by the time the 1980s came around, when other band members were still heavily involved in drugs or in detox treatment, Cetera and new producer David Foster took the reigns to write some beautiful music. No one else in the band at that time was up to writing massive hits like years past. When band members (not including Cetera) submitted songs for the band to record for Chicago 16 in 1982, Foster turned them all down, saying all those songs sucked. Foster brought Cetera's voice and melodic songwriting to the forefront and gave it pristine production values to make his songs famous! It's really what led to Cetera leaving Chicago in 1985.
Cool story on Hard Habit to Break: It's one of the few big Chicago hits during the time Cetera was with the band that wasn't written by an band member. It was written and submitted to the band to record by outside writers. Right before Chicago planned to go into the studio with it, the band realized the song still needed one more verse after "Two people together, but living alone. I was spreading my love too thin." So Foster called up one of the songwriters while he was in Vermont during winter to ask if he could come up with one more verse. The guy had to drive through a blizzard to get to the nearest payphone (a 7-Eleven) so that he could transcribe the verse back to Foster over the phone.
The ONLY negative thing I will say about the song is that it is so well produced (some say overproduced) that it's not a song that the band ever performed well live, especially vocally. Live versions are not even worth looking up. It really is the perfect studio record.
My favorite Chicago song.
They still haven't made the Chicago connection between Chicago and Earth Wind and Fire, the big brass sound. Those groups are touring together now!
I know this will get buried but, My father had massive record collection. I'm talking about well over 400 albums. He didn't have a shelf for them so he kept the beside the living room couch in the corner. The albums were not stacked on top of each other. They were placed standing up against the wall until it reached the front of the couch and then he would start another row. 4 rows in total. He had so many different genres Rock, Motown, R&B, and Pop to name a few. He had about 80-85% of all the songs both of you react to. Your reactions ARE my early teenage years. We loved playing as many of those records as my father would allow. I got so many strange looks from my friends when they would hear me sing some of the lyrics to Journey and then Bill Withers and then Cultuer Club and then Prince while I was listening to my walkman. The reason for the strange looks were because my father is a black man from Chicago and my mother is Puerto Rican. My friends would make fun of me and say that I was only supposed to listen to Salsa music (which my father had plenty of). Those were the days.
When I think of the greatest male vocalist ever immediately Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley, and Steve Perry come to mind ! Followed closely by Roy Orbison and Peter Cetera ! Absolutely incredible voice
I was one of Terry Kath's classmates in the Class of 1964 at Taft High in Chicago. He sat at our lunchroom table but often took off on his cycle with one of the girls and ditched lunchroom. Another classmate from three years earlier, Jim Jacobs, wrote the musical 'Grease" about those times at Taft (Bobby Rydell High School, in the musical). About Terry. He liked to challenge the rules, sometimes. If drinking and driving is a bad mix, drinking and guns is even worse. RIP, Terry. You listened to the horns in Mr. Stamm's band class and put brass into your rock, so some rules are worth breaking...
I love it that you care enough to even know the names
Now THIS is music!! Melodies, amazing singing, arrangements, a horn section - a text that is relateable... 😍 Today we get songs with one loop, over and over and text that refers to body parts.
Also Robert lamm as a backing vocal all three did great❤
This is the ballad that launched Chicago into the '80s. Another great Chicago number to review is their last big hit of the '70s, "No Tell Lover". Solid jazzy / brassy performance, sweet harmonies, high-level musicianship.
11 number one singles I believe there was 10 number one albums ! I actually seen them live in a free concert in Coney Island ! Behind me, was the Atlantic ocean in front of me was a sea of people !! And I got there at eight hours before the concert started !! what an incredible performance by these guys they are unbelievable
Terry Kath was the heart of Chicago. Peter was the voice, but Terry did vocals too and sang Lead on "Make me Smile", "Colour my world", and "Feeling stronger everyday" he also was the Guitar which is a very important part to the overall sound and in Terry's case a very hard habit to break.
So there's 70s Chicago (25 or 6 to 4, Saturday In The Park, etc...). Brass and guitar. This is the version that made it to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.
Then there's 80s Chicago, which are power ballads many featuring Peter Cetera (before he went solo). Hard Habit To Break is 80s Chicago. Another classic from the 80s, which has the best Cetera vocals is You're The Inspiration.
Gotta love this group and their orchestration - timeless music!
Thank you for spotlighting this song. It’s my all-time favorite Chicago song.
This song and “If You Leave Me Now” are my two favorite Chicago songs.
Amber, since you watched the full video, did you notice that the ladies in the video who were the "hard habits", were also showing their hard habits to break, too? There was drinking, smoking, drumming of the fingers.... things that people do as a habit, and often when upset. A broken relationship can cause people to do these things.
This song is one of my favorites and I love Peter's voice.
Peter did a very good job singing with bill i heard that song on a radio back in the day ❤
This was one of my most favorite bands back in the 80’s. Absolutely loved Peter Cetera! You’re the Inspiration and Hard Habit to Break were the first songs I ever heard from Chicago and I played them to death. When he left Chicago, it was sad, and they weren’t the same. I did continue listening to them though and I bought at least their next 2 albums. As to Peter Cetera, I bought his albums and continued listening to everything he put out. He definitely had some great songs (which you’ve already covered and/or mentioned at this point). Oh the nostalgia! The 80’s has the best music!
Love this because BOTH of the best lead singers of Chicago are on it.
This is a great song with the voice of Peter Cetera…If you leave me now is the one that I remember and think it was at the top spot for weeks in the uk in 1976
This is my number two fave song of all time!
I always loved this song. Great contrast between their voices.
Chicago was one of my Dad’s favorite bands! Hard Habit is one of my favorite songs by them!!!