What Makes This Song Great? Ep.108 CHICAGO “Make Me Smile”
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
- In this episode of "What Makes This Song Great?" I breakdown Chicago's "Make Me Smile".
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Terry's isolated vocals give me the chills. So soulful.
So underrated vocally
Only person who could - maybe - do it better would be Ray Charles.
Same here...a chill went through me when I heard that isolated vocal. One of the many greats who left us far too soon.
@@oligoprimerI was envisioning the same thing.
White Ray Charles.........
The Kath era Chicago is one of the greatest and perhaps under appreciated Rock bands of all time.
Chicago is one of those bands that make you grateful that you grew up in the age we did.
Amen!
❤️
And I was gonna say (echo).....AMEN! CTA=LIFE CHANGING ! Then, Make me smile...maybe my VERY favorite. Kath's so SO soulful..even if he wasn't one of THE great guitarists. Just you & me; Searchin', Beginnings; Feelin' Stronger; Purples; THEIR I'm a man...Colour my world was at EVERYBODY'S wedding. WHAT A BAND! I feel sorry for those who did not grow up w/ them, The Dan, Allmans, EW&F....so, SO blessed, man. GREAT episode. Thank you. My son's (trumpet/guitar/vocals) high school jazz band (Currently he's a school band director himself) played LOTS of Chicago years ago...& THAT ALWAYS "made me smile" (sorry).
1980s is better
thanks.
I didn’t grow up then my dad did he grew up on Chicago, I love the band too. They have such a great feel to their songs. Everyone in the band were great musicians and man so many great singers in the band! It’s not very common to have so many great musicians in one band usually it’s one or 2 really good musicians in a band.
I saw them at a concert in late ‘77. Terry Kath put 110% into every single word of every song he sang and 110% into every note he played.
The amazing thing about Chicago is how there was no weak member of the band - everyone was phenomenal. Three lead singers with very different sounds who could also blend for harmonies, a incredibly tight horn section, one of the greatest guitarists ever, one of the most underrated bassist (Cetera), a drummer with chops galore, and like 6 songwriters (composers really) who could write and arrange for each player’s instruments better than anyone. I can’t imagine a more talented band. 🤯
One could say Lamm was a dime-a-dozen keyboardist, but his vocals and composing skills easily made up for it.
Gotta disagree. I saw Loughnane as not in the league with the other 6.
Yes! Not a single slacker in the bunch. Every one a master of his craft. Simply brilliant, a force of nature.
All musicians were carefully selected. There is no luck or chance in the confluence of such excellence. Same process as when you assemble a financially well-funded, top symphonic orchestra. Similar steps were taken to put together Earth, Wind and Fire. Even some "esoteric" traits that would warrant collaboration, creativity, great compatibility, etc. among band members.
I'm so happy that Rick pointed out Danny Seraphine's incredible drumming in this song. Danny doesn't get the recognition he deserves. He's also a great guy.
Danny was a beast on the drums.
As he was praising Danny I kept thinking about how they dumped him. What a loss. Danny had great soul. I hated Imboden. Didn’t have the pocket Seraphine did…
Seraphine was such a talented drummer, he often gets overlooked from all the talent in this legendary band. Every musician was a master with their instruments in this band, spectacular they were.
STILL IS.
When Buddy Rich was asked if he liked any of the new drummers back in the early 70s Danny Seraphine and Bobby Colomby (Blood, Sweat and Tears) were the only two he mentioned.
@@waltertodenhoft3903I could see that. Those guys had (have) some outstanding chops, undoubtedly inspired to some degree by Buddy. They are sophisticated players playing sophisticated music. Spinning Wheel is a masterpiece of groove and feel in concert with the intricacy and virtuosity of jazz. Same goes for Beginnings. It’s fusion music. Both of those bands were pioneering endeavors.
Seraphine has kicked my butt for decades now. I’ve been playing for nigh on forty years and Danny still gets me fired up. I’ve had many occasions to cover his parts on 25 Or 6To 4 and Beginnings. They make you elevate your game every time, providing you can pull it off at all. Danny was, and remains, a benchmark of feel and fire. If any drummer even comes close they can hold their head up. I know I feel twelve feet tall when all the cylinders are firing and I know I’m hitting Danny’s zone, for a tune or two, after decades of trying, and mostly failing, haha…👍
Terry Kath was undoubtedly the heart and soul of Chicago. THIS PROVES IT!!!
Amen brother!!
Devestated when I heard the news and cause of his death.
Terry Kath is one of the most talented people to ever put his talents on vinyl. He could sing as well as Ray Charles and play as well as Jimi Hendrix. His guitar playing is mindblowing.
Even Hendrix raved about Terry's guitar playing.
One of my biggest influences to this day, just when I think I am so clever I realize I got it from Terry Kath!!! Great singer love his voice, however his guitar playing is what I took from him!!! Thank God for him, I can’t get enough of his playing
I have to add my 1st comment to a Rick video, even though no one will ever read it.
I've been waiting for a Chicago WMTSG video since I discovered the channel about a year & a half ago. I was in middle school when I first became aware of Chicago and a junior in HS when Terry Kath died. They've been my "longest" favorite band and I've seen them live a bunch of times; never Terry, though. Early in HS I found an anthology of the sheet music for their first 3 albums -- this was labeled "sketch scores," which meant it had all the horn parts, harmonies, strings, etc. written out. It wasn't just the piano score with the guitar chords above it. That book is barely held together, I've listened along with it so much. I later found a 2nd anthology that had V, VI, and VII and then a single book for VIII, which was actually white notes on black paper -- very cool. Suffice it to say I know every note of every song on those pre-Greatest Hits albums.
I'm not going to lie, as excited as I was to hear Rick do "Make Me Smile," I'm still bummed it's the radio version. I hope he follows through and does the guitar solo and the amazing horn runs at the end of Now More Than Ever.
But listening to their first 8 albums (minus Carnegie Hall), and following along with the sketch scores, taught me more about music theory and music notation than any teacher could have done. And it gave me such an appreciation for each band member as an incredible individual musician.
Oh, and just like Rick, I'm forever stabbing my fingers in the air to punctuate horn fills, and stairstepping them up or down with the ascending/descending lines. It never get old.
Rick, finding your channel has been one of the only positives about the covid era. You'll never know how much pure joy I get from your videos; especially the WMTSG series.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Hey look I read your comment! I also had the Sketch score books and my first band(in Jr High) was a Chicago cover band!
Amen, brother.
Jeff I couldn’t agree with you more. Finding Ricks channel has been amazing and finally seeing a Chicago WMTSG video even better. I too look forward to the analysis of Terry’s guitar work which is ridiculously underrated by the public but not musicians.
Very well stated. Where there are more people who will read your comments than you could imagine. This is an amazing community.
I read it! I too was a Band Fairy as we used to be called in the 70s. Loved this band in this era and loved this song. Beginnings also on my all time top 10. Love to watch WMTSG vids even though 50% is lost on me. This sort of thing is what makes the Internet great.
I know Rick says that most people would recognize Chicago from Peter Cetera's lead vocals in the 1980s, but their catalog from the 1970s is far superior.
Absolutely-the Cetera ‘80s stuff basically sucked-didn’t sound even remotely like the same band. You say you liked Chicago and most people think you like “elevator music”🙄🙄 that’s what Cetera did.
I like to think it is wonderful that 2 totally different approaches to music (70's era and the 80's) era came from the same band. I enjoy each era but for different reasons. I never compare Terry Kath to the later singers, it isnt fair but I enjoy it all.
I never would say I HATE the songs that Cetera wrote, they're just not for me. I saw an interview once where he discussed his songwriting method and he basically said that he thinks that "melody is everything". I think that's reflected on all of the songs he wrote, from Chicago's first #1 hit (If You Leave Me Now) onward. I also think that the volume of the discussion of his songwriting does tend to drown out the fact that he was both a terrific bass player and sang lead on some of Chicago's greatest songs (that just happened to be written by other band members).
I concur. Discovered Chicago 7 double as a young teenager . Call on me written by Lee/trumpet was so catchy. I’ve been searching so long 2 . Saw in concert twice . Then worked my way backwards enjoying the adventure right to CTA . What a trip but after Chicago 8 I was done. David foster deletes horns, dresses Cetera and together they enter silly love songs era. Detested those songs. Couldn’t believe it was same band? Grrrr
@@snowdenwyatt6276 explains a lot. I’m not interested much in melody, I’m all about the harmony, ‘70s ruled. ‘80s sucked. And not just Chicago. I just didn’t like the whole decade very much (with exceptions of course). The baroque Italians believed as I do that the keys and harmonies control emotions. The Spaniards disagreed, thinking it was all about rhythm. I liked the Spanish approach as well.
Melody? Feh.
I was a junior high trombonist when this came out and I realized there was a place for a brass player in rock n roll.
There will NEVER be anyone who plays AND sings like Terry Kath.
This episode helped me understand that Chicago is the definition of a quintessential "band" not just a few guys who got together to play some music but a real technical sophisticated display of artistry working together to produce their music.
Some nice videos on YT about how they got started: Jim Pankow's interview for the Musician's Hall of Fame and Danny Seraphine's interview are both really interesting.
" A real technical sophisticated display of artistry"... I couldn't have said it better.
Terry Kath was so underrated as both a singer and guitarist he was special
Hendrix thought so too.
His death was a big blow to me growing up. Not to discount any of the greats that preceded him. Elvis, Hendrix, Morrison or Joplin were a few years before my exposure to rock/pop music. But I was a big fan of Chicago and they were never the same without him.
In what possible way was he underrated as a guitarist?
@@philip6502 Agree. I think he played in a band noted for using horns and his guitar prowess was sometimes overlooked mostly by the general public/music fans.
@@philip6502 in a way I get what you're asking. People make that comment on just about every music video on RUclips and there's probably even people who comment on Eddie Van Halen videos and say he's underrated FFS! But Terry Kath might be that guy that actually was underrated or at least, unmentioned. Not typically named in the top whatever lists. I'm a guitar player myself and never actually noticed the guitar in 25 or 6 to 4 until I saw Leonid and Friends cover it. NOBODY was playing guitar like that in 1970. I always associated Chicago with being a "horn" band.
Former sax/flute/clarinet player here. Chicago's use of dynamics was unparalleled. They played music; not the noise that gets called music now.
Hearing Terry’s voice always get a little teary 😢he was gone too soon. What a talent he had!
No one sounded like Chicago in this era. No one. Even Blood, Sweat, and Tears never quite had the same edge or energy as Chicago did. Just so good. Glad you're giving them some love on your channel, Rick!
Yes! First dozen Chicago albums are so deserving of deep respect. They were music majors in college, unlike most rockers then. Those guys could PLAY.
Back in the day Blood, Sweat and Tears was my favorite til I heard Chicago. After that, Forget about it.
If you look into the history B S & T was actually formed as a direct copy of what Chicago were doing before the first Chicago record was released.
Blood Sweat & Tears predate Chicago with the 'rock band with horns'-idea, but they were nowhere near as hard-hitting and influential.
I hear what you're saying. Chicago was a different flavor from Blood, Sweat and Tears. I like both a lot and nonetheless give the edge to BST. They were better jazz players. Listen to "Alone" for some of the most seventies jazz rock fusion you'll ever hear
Rick, you never disappoint, but hearing Terry's isolated vocal was a spiritual experience.
Amen!
Goosebumps.
this is a really stupid question, but how does Rick isolate the various tracks?
@@crankycanuck2066 The best 'stupid' question I've seen in a long time! Please Rick, enlighten us!
@@amazingace12 my guess is that he has the inside track to the studios and has access to the session files!
Only in America. They grew out of the stagnant club underworld of covers, club owners, and cocktails---no growth! That handshake in Parazaider's basement changed American pop music forever. RIP Terry.
What a timeless song! The lead vocal is insane when you isolated it. Does it get more soulful than that vocal? Brilliant songwriting. Thank you Rick for breaking down that masterpiece.
Way back in Jr. High, (1975) our concert band was rehearsing for our spring concert and one of the songs we played was a Chicago medley. I was in 7th grade and the drummer who was playing set was an 8th grader. They were rehearsing the chorus section of "Make Me Smile" and the drummer just wasn't getting the feel right. He wasn't able to make it swing and he missed many of the punches. The director was getting frustrated and the whole band was starting to stir because they had to keep replaying this chorus over and over so the drummer could get it right.
The director looked at me....I looked at him. Repeat....and like a baseball manager who knows his starting pitcher was done....looked at me again and he did it. He effectively walked out to the mound to change pitchers. He said, "Peter... (me) you know this don't you?" to which I shook my head in the positive. "Why don't you go play it please." Deep silence and a death stare from the older drummer as I grabbed my sticks and kicked the living crap out of it! Note for note just like the original recording. The band erupts in cheers while the "looks that kill" from the other drummer turned into..a silent acknowledgement that I had in fact crushed it.
So....the thing was the director KNEW I could play it because he allowed me to use his office every day during my lunch period so I could use his record player and listen to music. Well I spent nearly half of that year listening to nothing but Chicago. Especially Chicago IV "Live at Carnegie Hall" and he knew I had spent hours and hours playing along to Chicago records!! The other drummer was asked to play because he was graduating and he wanted to respect that. But he just didn't have the experience with that music so I played it for the Spring Concert.
I told Danny Seraphine many, many years later that I learned more playing along to the first eight Chicago albums than I did listening and play to any other drummer. Including my heroes Ian Paice, Ginger Baker, Mitch Mitchell, Buddy Rich, Joe Morello and others. I learned to swing, groove, play in odd tempos, set up horn punches, support a singer, play with a soloist, fills and extended solos. Simply one of the most important bands of my entire musical journey.
Great story. Well told.
Weird but reminded me of when Jesse Pinkman cooked up better meth than the old Mexican man.
Great story. Thank you for sharing!
Eff that loser drummer. Good for you.
Cool story. Every drummer's (pitcher, quarterback, goalie,... fill in the bank) dream. "Gimmie the ball, coach." That's confidence - that your hard work has given you what it takes. Right on, man.
I love it when you play the isolated vocals and we see who can really sing.
When I first started buying DVD Audio and multi-channel music I was a little dismayed at how bad some vocals sounded on their own when isolated in the front speaker. But bringing the music back in fixed that problem and I never did it again.
It's amazing that you can get the distinct tracks that enable you to do this for us!
Kath could sing, no doubt about that.
@@stevejohnson1685 And so can you actually - a lot of times it's extractions from Rochband/Guitar Hero or things like that. It makes listening to a lot of bands a whole new experience.
I'm not sure if you're familiar with Christian James Hand but he had a radio show on KLOS where he broke down songs this way - and does still do it on the Heidi, Frosty and Frank show - which can be found on Soundcloud.
@@stevejohnson1685 not sure how Rick does it but there's good software that can isolate various elements. Vocals also go in a fairly narrow frequency band.
Terry Kath made it great. Unbelievable talent. I'm a professional guitarist... and I've tried to copy what he did, and sing it at the same time. Impossible to copy. Kath is one of the truly great guitarists of all-time. His lead playing is phenomenal and his rhythm playing created a whole new style.
My son who's a pretty good guitarist said the same thing!
Danny Seraphin was the secret to Chicago’s sound. One of the most underrated drummers of all time.
Danny was a beast! Insane chops!
Nice...coming from a drummer, of course.
When the band held auditions to replace Terry, I took the leap. Bittersweet in many ways, to be sure. But they were the nicest guys, Peter in particular. I was set up next to him and he was very encouraging. What an experience.
Would love to hear more. Wow
That would be a cool story! Go on!
Cmon Daniel, write that story down on a blog somewhere and post the URL. Would love to hear it! :-)
I agree with some of the other posters-give us the whole story, I'd love to read it.
Nice! When I heard Dawayne Bailey was on the outs, I scrambled to find any contacts that could put me in touch with the band to see if I could audition myself. But by the time I made any headway Keith Howland had already gotten the gig.
Terry’s isolated vocals floored me. Now you have to ask yourself, “was he more underrated as a guitarist or a signer?” Astonishing talent!
how does he isolate vocals and instruments so well on these songs he studies?
@@michaelxz1305 I think he somehow has an “in” to get his hands on copies of the masters and the software to isolate the microphones.
Hendrix gave him props if that answers your question.
@@surfallday6583 In fact, Hendrix said Kath was a better guitarist than he. If memory serves, it was at Whiskey-A-Go-Go where Hendrix first saw him.
Yes
Their original drummer was a BEAST. He was as good as any rock drummer at that time. And Chicago played such a wide variety of music for their first 3 albums that it wasn't such an easy thing to be a drummer for.
Seraphine oddly is missing from any "Top 100-50-25-10 Rock Drummers" of all time list.
I have never seen his name mentioned. EVER. I find this bizarre.
The boys of Chicago always exuded joy in their music making. They make ME smile!
I have never heard Terry’s isolated vocal tracks before. Transcendent!
I hadn't heard any isolated parts before of them! This was great to hear!
How do you isolate the tracks like that? Amazing!
Just a phenomenal talent. A huge loss when he died.
Absolutely!!! Powerful!!!
This is excellent. Also, a little love for James Pankow, who wrote the entire suite as well as those killer horn charts. 😎
Pankow is a genius. The band would have had a completely different sound without him and his arrangements.
I gotta cosign this. I was listening to Ricks breakdown and thinking "wow that lick stinks of Pankow" In the best possible way of course.
@@jgischer All the best and most popular horn solos were written by Pankow.
@@Primus54 Well, except for "25 or 6 to 4" written by Robert Lamm. The song kills, there's no question about it. Of course, I'm sure Pankow wrote the horn parts.
@@jgischer Yeah… I meant the solos, not just the entire song. Cheers! 👍
Shows you how spoiled were we back then to have Chicago, feel so nostalgic hearing this, there will never be another band like this with so many melodic tunes!
plus the went soft with sappy ballads sucking up their playlist.
First rock concert I saw was Chicago in Charleston WV on October 2, 1970. My beloved Mother drove my best friend and me over 2 hours to see the show and waited in the parking lot. We were too young to drive. I still have vivid memories of what a great band they were. Kath was amazing but so was everyone in that band. People don’t realize how hard they rocked. I have seen many many more concerts since that 1st Chicago concert but none of them shines brighter than that Chicago show.
As a 60 yr old non-musician, I just want to thank you for doing this series. After your tutorials, I appreciate these songs so much more. I understand them better, I hear things I always missed before. Even songs I didn't like in the past, I end up loving them. You are bringing alot of joy into our world. Please continue!!
I started playing Keys just before my 60th bday and RB has been a motivator every day.
@@michaelfitzurka5659 Me too, took up music when I retired.
Rick has really helped along the way.
He amazes me how he can easily play along with absolutely anything!
D*Strong, there's no time like the present to pick a guitar and give it a go... I am.
As a 63-year-old musician, I can tell you that we would be… absolutely nowhere…without the support of non-musicians - people who have a love and passion for music. We’re lucky to have your spirit and goodwill. Good on you @D Strong.
Never too old to take up an instrument! I didn’t play trombone for 30 years (since high school) … started up again 10 years ago … now I play in several bands … I subbed as lead trombone in a big band this summer and to my delight we played Make Me Smile - the gig was one of the highlights of my summer!
So sad that Terry left us too soon. He was the heart and soul of Chicago. The original lineup was some of the greatest musical talent ever assembled.
I agree.
Yes, 100% , Their musicianship was top notch , unfortunately after Terry's tragic death Chicago was never quite the same .They lost that rock edge and started doing ballads,not that they weren't good too ,just wasn't the same ... As for individual musicianship , like many of the past generations ,just don't see anyone that could touch them ...
@@Wandering_4ever Excellent post; I couldn't have said it better myself.
Brings tears to my eyes, to this day. What a gift. What a time.
I'm sorry to point this out but, Chicago put Terry on the back burner long before his demise. This once great and dynamic band even in 1974 started slipping into wimpy pop.
And the entire “Ballet for a girl from Buccanon” suite is so freaking amazing…it blows up the ol put down by music sophisticated snobs back in the day who had no clue about the high musical theory knowledge of these amazing musicians in Chicago the Band!
Saw Chicago at Ravinia in the summer of 1972. They had just finished a world tour and this was their homecoming in Chicago. 16 years old and it is the best concert I have ever attended.
Chicago played at my high school in 1969. They were known as 'Chicago Transit Authority' as their second album 'Chicago' was not quite yet released. Their first album is still a favorite of mine over 50 years later. I'll never forget that concert as long as I live.
That's some historic show, man! Awesome!
Still prefer transit authority myself
Rick, your reactions and enthusiasm, picking out the stabs, crescendos, fills and suspensions with such awe and happiness, reminds me every time why I love music so much. It’s like some people just don’t understand how to REALLY listen to music. This is how to listen to music.
Perfectly stated David Hartney, Rick does a great job analyzing and explaining what is actually going on in this masterpiece. Love your Channel and enthusiasm !
Exactly! And you've saved me from writing the same thing about music listening, which usually gets me labeled as a "musical snob."
You nailed it!
EXACTLY! Beato might want to relabel these as lessons: "How to listen to great music".
I love his responses to the drum fills and vocals.
NEVER LOVED ANOTHER BAND MORE THAN CHICAGO!!
Here I am, listening to this again. And this time it has really struck me: what physical strength you have to have to belt out a song like this. Amazing.
Terry Kath’s accident is one of rocks top 5 tragedies of all time. A great guitarist, singer, musician.
I know, imagine what could have been..
At that time, he was so tired of horns that he wanted his own rock n’ roll band (no horns)! What a guitarist and singer he was!
@@lantose - Cetera was of the same mindset, as evidenced in the post-Kath "David Foster" years of the band.
@@kathy2trips I didn’t know that about Peter! I may have seen that documentary maybe 2-3 years ago…..We’re they in the Colorado mountains at a recording studio with other band members?
Lest we forget:
TREAT, NEVER, KEEP, KEEP
I was 16 in 1970. A few friends and I drove all over the Midwest following this incredible band. One of the best periods of my life.
I saw them in Grand Rapids in 1969 while stationed at Great Lakes for my rate school. Awesome concert.
I often don't finish Rick's videos-- because I get so excited by his enthusiasm that I run off to listen to whatever song or group he's talking about. What an absolute legend of the musical culture Rick is!
I was in a 7 piece horn band in the 70s, and we did much of the Chicago songbook.
I played both the trombone, and trumpet parts on all of those songs at different times. Back then we used to pick riffs off the vinyl records by playing the LPs at 16 1/2 RPMs which made it half the speed, and almost exactly an octave lower. We put so much work, and heart, and soul into this stuff, I can't listen to any of it without getting tears in my eyes.
Ironically, listening to Rick's breakdown I realized after all these years we played one of those horn riffs wrong. I'm old, but still learning. I guess that's proof I'm still alive.
p.s. Pankow was a genius.
LOVED hearing Terry Kath's voice soloed!
I had tears in my eyes when you played Terry's isolated vocal. This has been one of the most emotional episodes you have made, not only because it is my favorite but to hear the tracks and understand the genesis of this song makes it more than great. What an experience! Thank you Rick!
Kath was the whole package. The doc about him is great.
@@ferox965 Yep, "The Terry Kath Experience" was well worth seeing.
It was such a loving tribute from his daughter, too.
Agree. What a dumb loss that was. I can only imagine what he would have been. I like to imagine that he would have left Chicago during the Cetera fetish years and had a wonder blues career. Such a great voice and guitar talent
Talk about singing from the heart!
@@jameshicks2231 Yes I think he would have probably quit, but the question is whether he could have overcome his drugs/alcohol problem. TK in a power trio a la Hendrix/StevieRayVaughn would have been AWESOME.
My band director in the 80s held Chicago in high esteem and brought in arrangements of their songs for the symphony, the only contemporary music we played.
So much talent in one group. CHICAGO’s music will last forever.
Favorite Chicago song. Balls out from beginning to end. Sustained energy without screaming, auto-tune, drum triggers, or computer-enhanced effects, played and sung by real musicians. You can't hide from isolation and they killed it in every way.
Any band from that era that plays their own instruments and doesn't rely on distortion or other gimmicks is always going to sound better than just someone singing while all the instruments are computerized effects added in studio.
@@jeffburnham6611 truly agree, it is as if the instruments are Merely a guide to keep the singer in time in whatever song they are singing. As apposed to classic rock bands where the instruments are as much a part of the song as vocals, as well as giving the song complexity and depth and life. You don't get the chord progressions and complex layers in the songs in Today's songs.
@@williamstefens wow! You took the words out of my mouth that I've always wanted to say as to describing the difference between old school vs modern music
Really eh and at such a talented level for their young years.
Couldn't have said it better.
Terry Kath was the MAN. Please do a video on him. 25 or 6 to 4 at Tanglewood is possibly the greatest rock guitar solo ever
I recently heard the version on the remaster of the Live at Carnegie Hall album from 2005, and I have to say it's pretty fantastic, and maybe better!
I agree one of the best and greatest solos. It's amazing how it all went together pure genius.
I think he played a lot of monster solos to 25 or 6 to 4 but Tanglewood happened to be captured in a great recording. Not saying it isn't great!
He never played it the same twice.
What makes me smile? Watching Rick showcase this amazing band and song. Terry Kath played like Hendrix and sang like Ray Charles. Chicago was the first concert in the mid-70s and have loved them forever.
the Terry Kath years of Chicago were outstanding, they were always one of my favorites growing up. everyone was listening to Kiss and I was rocking to 25 or 6 to 4
Terry is a legend. I always forget how big Kiss were .... no comment.
Such wonderful times while he was alive & in the band. As a young teenage boy, I rocked to Chicago on my parents record player. I remember the horrible news on his oh too soon departure from Earth. The band almost broke up over it. Luckily the did not…. But an accidental death at 32 is way too young for such a great talent. Just think of all we missed out on
Well? Which one were you rocking to? 25, or 6 to 4?
@@bairstoww Terry Kath was only 23 in 1970 when this was recorded. His voice was so unique and powerful, it will never be duplicated.
Know just what you mean. And you win!
My father raised me listening to this band and their early records. "Chicago II" is an absolute immortal masterpiece and watch this video literally moved me 'cause this music influenced my whole life as a musician and as a human being.
Terry was unique and musicians like him are missing very much today.
Thank you, Rick.
Love from Italy.
I remember when this first came out, some guy (I didn't even know) was carrying the album, walking down the street and he grabbed me and said, "You gotta hear this!" Well the next thing I knew we were headed to the closest library and checking out headphones. We went into one of the sound rooms and put the album on a turntable. We listen to both albums, front to back and for the next over an hour, I had THE greatest musical experience, I can ever remember. Later I hooked a tape player to my bicycle and went to the park. I choreographed a bicycle ride to "I'm a Man", which drew some attention. I will say Chicago (CTA) gave me an energy standard which I held all rock 'n' roll bands to, after that day in 1969. I never did find out who that guy was, but I want to thank him!
Great story, Robert.
I love that story! Well done!
Cool story.
me too. i was amazed by this song from day one
You could do that in 1969; above the chaos, there was hope, and love still around.
I've written transcriptions of the horn and some of the rhythm parts of the entire "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" and as I wrote down what I heard, I was amazed at what Pankow did with some of the harmonies in that thing. It's amazing that guys that young could come up with such an amazing piece of art at such a young age. And today, we get people making a gazillion dollars putting vulgar and offensive words of hate to rhythm and calling it "art."
Yup some amazing sequences in there written by Pankow. I especially like that trombone/bass sequence with the notes going all over the place just before the reprise
How did Ballet for a Girl in Buchanan not ever get recognition for the masterpiece it is?
Terry Kath is underrated MASSIVELY in every sense:
Guitar
Vocal
Composer
One of the most talented guys ever.
Amen to that !
Kath’s voice is absolutely incredible on this song!
Hearing the vocals on their own is eye-opening.
No kidding! The guy is working HARD. I can't imagine singing that hard for one song, let alone an entire concert.
Reminds me of Billy Gibbons.
So underrated. Gone too soon.
On this song and Color My World.........
Terry's vocals sends shivers down my spine, he's so amazing.
Came here to say the same thing...
This Album was a staple at my house when I was a child... Hearing Terry's voice isolated like that was sublime.
Kinda wish Terry's vocal was mixed more prominently. Hearing it up front & isolated is a mindblow. But Chicago didn't roll selfishly. Whole sound all the way.
Yep, totally makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck.
me too - CTA is my #1 go to album to put on the turntable
As a writer called him when Terry was still alive, "the white Ray Charles."
I bet reading that *really* made Terry smile.
Can't think of higher praise to give than that.
Honestly, stuff like this just makes me think about how amazing human beings can be.
Thank you, Rick. It's fantastic to hear isolated parts of songs. Nobody does it like you. Hearing those isolated vocals made me really appreciate just how incredible they are!
Rick rocks!!
I always loved Terry Kath's voice on the hits as well as the songs he wrote and don't even get me started on his wild guitar solos. RIP Terry.
TERRY KATH IS THE VOICE OF CHICAGO!!!!
His work on Southern California Purples on Live at Carnegie Hall is brutally good. If the "rock experts" ever actually stopped to listen to Kath, i I wonder if he would be up there with Clapton, Page, Hendricks, Vai, Beck, and Van Halen?
Rick, I’m so glad that you recognized drummer Danny Seraphine in this video. In my opinion, he is one of the most underrated and unappreciated drummers in popular music. Listen to him on the song Questions 67 and 68. As in this song, Danny stands out.
I completely agree with you, in fact I think all of the band members are underrated in their own disciplines and need more recognition. Kath in the guitar (check South California Purples), Lamm in the keyboards (in the Tanglewood concert), Seraphine as you mention, Cetera in bass (Introduction), the winds Pankow Parazaider and Loughnane in Just you N me), one of my top favorite bands of all time.
And yet celebrated producer wanted him fired ,whats with that ?
@@richwatson5308 IIRC, in the 80's when the band was more of a Peter Cetera driven pop band, the producer wanted Danny to play to a click track, and apparently he couldn't do that to the producer's satisfaction.
And of course Danny put the band together.
I particularly appreciate the Drumming on "Old Days"...
Anyone else?
Rewatched this because it's one of my all time favorite Rick Beato videos. I always loved Chicago and this song especially, but Rick helped me understand WHY I like it, all the subtle musical things going on that work so perfectly together. Rick is just fabulous at explaining the musical intricacies without losing the emotional content of a song. Love you, Rick. There's really nobody like you.
So much going on in this song: This era was the height of Chicago: The rest of the guys could never reach that amazing creativity without Terry's presence.
My grandparents owned the local bar in the town I grew up in. They bought a new jukebox in 1975 and they let my father have the old one. It worked perfectly and was a Rowe AMI with the purple/pink/red lighted front and it was 100% electromechanical. You pushed B7 and you could hear the all the gears and levers move to grab the 45 from its slot and place on the platter. This song was D4. When I heard the first drum groove opening I immediately was transported to that jukebox. C1 was CCR Fortunate Son, G7 was Rolling Stones Paint it Black. I still remember all the records and their slots inside for some reason. F5 was broken. We had to skip that slot for some reason. God, what am I rambling about? Lol
Please, mister, please don't play B17.
Ramble on
Fabulous rambling!
This is the power that music has for us! So many old my childhood memories are keyed to music, and hearing a song will trigger them.
This may be your best "What Makes This Song Great" yet. I love every element of this song: Terry, vocal harmonies, horns, drums. It's almost criminal how good this song is, and how much talent and creativity is packed into it. It's like a musical multi-vitamin.
TERRYS ISOLATED VOCAL GOOSEBUMP INDUCING!! I GET CHILLS!!
I played the hell out of this and other Chicago albums as a teenager in the 1970s. Thank you Rick for showing me one of my favorite songs in a new light!
the way rick beato breaks down every segment of this song really MAKES ME SMILE !!!!!!!!!!!
Rick, it’s great to see you getting into some Chicago - one of the most skilled and musically advanced bands of all time. There’s about 15 other Chicago tunes that would also qualify as a What Makes This Song Great episode. Danny Seraphine was really killing on this recording, as was Kath’a vocal, and Pankow’s amazing horn arrangement. More Chicago breakdowns, please.
They were an amazing band...so much talent!!
I'm with 👆 that guy! More Chicago stuff! Just the early stuff though. No 80s Pete led top 40 hits, please.
@@scottjustscott3730 , I’m with you!😉
I agree please more Chicago
@@scottjustscott3730 1st 7 albums I reckon….or at least up until Terry Kath died; it was all down hill from there.
This is one of my all time favourite Chicago songs ever. Terry's voice is absolutely bursting with life and joy. I never heard anyone sing like Terry did on this song. This song is so natural and organic where you can tell there was not any scripting taking place as far as how the song should be.
Terry Kath is so underrated and a singer, hell, as an artist. He was gone way too soon. Make me smile is a definite hidden gem from that rock band with the horns 🤘
It was never hidden. It was released as a single shortly after the album was released and received a lot of radio airplay.
Ah yes, that word "underated". Not the most underrated word on RUclips comments.
No joke, Rick could do a “What makes...” on Row Row Row your boat and i would watch.
Sign me up.
@@dianamatthews2932 me too!
Okay, that made me smile!
I was watching one of my favorite tv shows, saw this was up, and down the Beato rabbit hole. Whooooo!
Hilarious!!!
My earliest memory, literally like at 2 or 3 (71/72), is of my mom driving me to pre-school and on the radio was "Saturday in the Park" and both of us singing along together. My dad was a Pro-Drummer, having just left the Army with the US Army Field band (the OTHER drummer at the time was a very young unknown Steve Gadd). We were living in Denton/Ft Worth TX, while he was teaching at North Texas State and primary drummer with the 1 O'clock band and subbing for Ed Shaughnessey with Doc Severinsen when needed.
His LOVE was that Big Band 15-20 horns thing, and bands like Chicago/Chicago Transit Authority, Blood Sweat and Tears, etc. were as close to modern rock/pop music as he got....LOL. Chicago was very much a part of my childhood....one of the bands that we would play on the stereo/record player for house clean up on the weekend.
I love Rick's sentimental anecdotes of the first time he ever heard a song, this one included. Nothing like a musician appreciating other musicians with such fervent enthusiasm!
This song holds such a place in my memory and heart. Hearing the isolated parts just brings out more to love about this song and Chicago. Musicianship as tight as new Fruit-of-the-Looms!
Make me simile.
Great marching band song played by many thousands of high schoolers.
RIP Terry Kath. Such a great guitarist AND vocalist. Such a tragic loss.
If you watch the documentary by his daughter, it's hard to deny that Terry Kath, just before he tragically died, was planning to leave Chicago and do a serious jazz rock fusion album, no pop, in the vein of his contemporaries, such as John Mclaughlin et al. Man, that would've been something
Terry was the total package.
Senseless loss.
Every time I see a list of amazing guitarists and Terry isn't listed, I make a point to draw people to his playing. He was unreal and the fact that he was such a great singer was just icing on the cake. Truly one of my favorite musicians of all time.
I agree & so did Jimi Hendrix who told their manager he thought Terry was better than him.
@@joemartucci4786 I saw him tell Dick Cavett.
That guitar tone. That voice. Jimi was right.
Shout out to those in the 1972-74 Vestavia Hills Marching Band. We played it at halftime. Still makes me smile.
"Make Me Smile" is what I think is Kath's best vocal performance. Kath had some great vocal performances, particularly "Introduction" from Chicago Transit Authority, "Movin' In" from Chicago II, "Free" from Chicago III, and "Dialogue" from Chicago V, but "Make Me Smile" tops all of them.
I know this song all too well, but that whole thing knocked the wind out of me. Absolutely phenomenal job on this video Rick. In contemplating rock music this complex, you really have to ask yourself how anything like this is even possible. It seems inconceivable to assemble that much talent in one band - so skilled, and so impossibly tight. And this analysis is just about as well prepared as the song was back in its day - it really helped you to fully appreciate just how spectacular it is.
Hearing this song for the first time just now and I feel the exact same way. Even as a non-musician I can feel the special energy that only comes from a group of talented musicians in sync, all serving justice to the song. Rick exploring the nuances of individual contributions adds so much to the experience.
You nailed it perfectly, Al. Well said!!
@@redgoesfasterdotcom Do yourself a favor and listen to, at the very least, Chicago's first three albums (which were all double albums btw). You'll hear a lot of incredible stuff that show how diverse this band was back in the day.
@@redgoesfasterdotcom In that case, you're in for a real treat when you hear "Make Me Smile" in its original musical context. When you do, just remind yourself that this came along when King Crimson, Genesis, and Yes each had only one album out and ELP didn't have any.
@@RoswellJazzFestival You are spot on , sir❗️
"Saturday in the park..." is my fave Chicago song. LOVE IT!
I am not a musician but I remember how badass this song seemed when I was a kid in 1976 maybe. It really is a masterpiece. I enjoyed hearing you break it down from a musicians perspective and appreciate it even more now. Keep up the good work and thank you for your expertise.
In addition to the absolutely phenomenal vocals of Kath, the band had Cetera and Lamm along with background vocals all within one band. The talent gathered in early Chicago is almost beyond comprehension. Add Kath‘a guitar, Seraphine’s drums, Cetera bass Lamm keyboards, Pankow, et al and is off the chain
You hit the nail on the head discussing their vocals, and really highlights a lot of what Rick mentioned in this breakdown. Their harmonies moved from major chords to sus chords and created a totally unique sound when added to the unique brass and percussion that they incorporated. Hence why Chicago is one of the top selling groups of all time... people know good music when they hear it.
Absolutly Cynthia! They had it all back then.
We won't see another band this loaded with monster musicians again - keep your albums close!!!
The Chicago Transit Authority album was the first I ever bought with my own money. I bought every subsequent Chicago album up through their sixth or seventh - they lost me when they basically became a Pete Cetera ballad band. That early run (Make Me Smile is on Chicago II) of albums is among the best of any band in rock history. LOVE THIS!!!
Agreed! Producer Steven Foster commercialized them as a pop band after they lost Terry.
David Foster. I realize their 80s era material isn't everyone's bag, but he gave them a new lease on life. Their career trajectory would've most likely continued on it's downward slope without his influence, and those albums he produced help introduce the band to a new generation.
@@LaneDenson Yep. They weren't much different than a lot of "legacy" acts of the the 60's and 70's at that point in the 80's. Listen to their last few albums before they got dropped by CBS. They were out of gas creatively speaking and couldn't write a hit if their lives depended on it. Like Heart the drugs caught up with them and were really impacting them but both bands careers were saved by outside writers in the 80's.
They're touring now go see them. You won't be sorry. They burned the house down in DC.
I still haven't found anything that matches the vibe of that very first album. so unique to me
Chicago was one of the few bands of my youth that my Dad, who was a drummer in the big band and dance band quarter era, genuinely liked. Not only because of the horns, but also because they generally had a full stop ending to their songs. Dad groused a lot about the very overused fade out ending in pop music of the era. I think he considered it cheating.
Like any McCartney song never really ends...
na na na na na na na na na na na na...............hey jude. zzzzzZZZZZZzzzzzz.
The fade out can be a great ending to a song, but it only really works in a specific situation. It has to be a considerably emotional song. Thing is, it's just as easy to go for the old cope out of the big messy ending with lots of noise and one final punch at the end
It is cheating in a sense. Because composers/arrangers didn't have to put the effort into a satisfying musical conclusion. But all of these were played on radio. And when they ran too long, or the dj had had enough, they just grabbed the slider and faded it out. So the musicians accommodated them with a fade ending. Chicago was the best band of the era, and still really good although my fav was BS&T. Regret not having seen Chicago live.
If your dad was a big band/dance band drummer, he was primarily playing live. Live musicians don't have the luxury of a fade-out. We gotta figure out how to end the damn thing!
One of the greatest pop songs ever. Wonderfully complex with jazz inflections everywhere - but it all works.
What an eye opener when Rick started to isolate each intruments (that's including the vox and the backups) with how awesome the entire band was. I have heard this song since i was a kid in the 70's and since my parents were also musicians I develop this extra appreciation on the band's musicianship (any bands), but that even took it to another level when Rick started to point out everyone in the band's great deliveries. Thank you Rick!
For me, there is no one better at this than Rick. His joy and enthusiasm for music is contagious. Thank you!
i AGREE, RIck is adorable!!
The best part of "What Makes This" is Rick's enthusiasm. Even for some of the songs I never cared for, I love his analysis.
Great comments
AMEN!!
When it's a song as great as this, he just loses it and it makes this series so fun to watch and you appreciate the perfection of the song even more. Half a century after it was released. Amazing.
I have listened to this song hundreds of times since my youth, and still Rick manages to open a new window into it. This is sheer magic. It is a great gift, to give you a renewed light into something you already love. Thank you for that!
Yep
I second that emotion.
It was a gift
Well put and appreciated
Very well put! Rick did an awesome breakdown.
Brilliant band.Growing up with this great music...maybe we took for granted just how GREAT IT was( is)!!
Yes, for sure I did as a teenager.
It's great living in this age where we can go back and listen to and increase our knowledge of production etc from Maestros like Rick breaking it down for us!!! 😃
What did I know. It was always that way until I got older, times change and music went down hill. good bye yellow brick road, oops!
Chicago is the greatest rock band ever. They integrate jazz and rock more organically than anybody else who tried it and the transcendent individual talent of its members, particularly Kath and Seraphine, make this band unique. Their vocals were amazing with harmonies, very distinct voices...just tremendous. I must conclude by saying that , in my opinion , Terry Kath was the greatest rock musician of all time. His guitar work was groundbreaking and that soulful baritone of his...has never been duplicated, much less equaled. The day he died, the greatest rock band ever died.
Your ability to "disect" a song and explain how musicians work together and make a song great is terrific.
I am a fan of CTA and "the old Chicago" of the Terry Kath Era. I saw Chicago in 1976. Great show !
Danny has always cited this tune as the best representation of his playing. Terry had the most soulful voice and such a maturity in his vocals for someone his age. It's tragic he embarked on such a self-destructive course, never appreciating how much his contributions positively affected so many people. I saw Chicago for the first time four months before Terry's passing. I'll never forget how crushed l felt when l heard he died.
Terry's voice was THE most soulful voice I've ever heard from - okay, I'm gonna say it - a white singer. His voice came from inside. His whole body sang.
@@dirkbag22 I love Chicago and Kath but 2 words: Greg Allman. Ok, two more: Steve Winwood.
Same. I first saw Chicago on a bill with Leslie West (!), and always remember Terry and Danny as the twin forces of the band. They were great!
@@michaelpatrick6950 Oh.......that rabbit hole.
Same here. Saw him at the Spectrum that year
Rick, I played guitar in Chicago's Rush Street bar scene during the mid-late 60s in a rock band. I first saw Chicago (then called Chicago Transit Authority) at a bar called Barnaby's which was just off of Rush Street on March 16, 1968, (I remember the date vividly because it was my birthday) after I have been told how good this band was. They were playing in a balcony-type set up. This was before they became big nationally, but even then, they were fantastic. Terry's playing and singing was so above everyone else's playing around Rush Street in those days. And, of course, they were really pioneering horn bands because everyone else was playing Beatles stuff, especially the Sgt Pepper's stuff. All great musicians and really, really rockin' like no others at the time. To me, this was jazz/rock at its finest and still is. Your disection of this song shows just how talented this band was. RIP Terry.
This is my second time watching this video. I must say Danny Seraphine is one badass drummer. He is very underrated but anyone that listens to Stronger Everyday knows he is talented and can hold his own with anybody.
What I loved about Chicago years ago was the horns. But have grown to appreciate the feeling/emotion/honesty in Terry's voice. It's one thing that seems to be missing in most of today's pop music.
"feeling/emotion/honesty" -- that pretty much says it all . . RIP Mr Kath . . you are greatly missed.
Simply the best, better than all the rest! When I 'm fed up of humans I listen to Chicago. Again and again and again.
This is real music with real musicians, creativity in melody and lyrics.
Perfect!
This song break down has tears rolling down my face. What a great composition and performance.
Great drumming. It is really hard to land those snare rolls like that without sounding too loud or unclear. Danny does it with perfect dynamics and crispness. Also, his drum sound is that of a hard bop drummer, so airy and organic! This is top shelf musicianship.
Yeah undoubtedly his playing is phenomenal even if not always recognized..as such. Some just don't recognize good skill and bask their ears in it