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Thread: Chicago II

  1. #26
    Member Since: 3/27/2002 MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER's Avatar
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    One of the best albums of the early Prog era in America. Chicago were uber-progressive in the late 60s-early 70s
    Why is it whenever someone mentions an artist that was clearly progressive (yet not the Symph weenie definition of Prog) do certain people feel compelled to snort "thats not Prog" like a whiny 5th grader?

  2. #27
    Quote Originally Posted by Sean View Post
    It's one of their very best. The recording quality sounds like ass though, probably their worst engineered album, unfortunately.

    The Ballet is their greatest accomplishment. I suspect many have no idea it even exists and think Colour My World and Make Me Smile are stand alone tunes. Not so. They are part of a greater, side long work. It's the pieces in between them that really make it fantastic. The "Anxiety's Moment" section sounds very Zappa/Uncle Meat inspired. Brilliant stuff!
    Yeah, I agree with both of these comments. Sound quality is about the only thing that lacks on this one and the Ballet is my favorite piece of music by this band and while II is great, the Ballet alone elevates this to their best. I've also felt that moments in the Ballet were Zappa inspired. I wish they would have done other pieces that had that level of complexity with the horns. But they never did anything like that again.

  3. #28
    I agree that the only thing I don't like about this record is the sound quality of the recording. It's muddy and distant.
    Mongrel dog soils actor's feet

  4. #29
    Granted the "Ballet" is a masterpiece (as are the two suites on III), the piece that turned my 13-year-old head upside-down was "Wake Up Sunshine," one of the best "sunshine pop" songs ever written.
    Cobra handling and cocaine use are a bad mix.

  5. #30
    One of the first albums I bought; lived and breathed every one of their albums during the 70's. I was in bands through high school and college that played nearly everything from the first 8 albums. Good times.
    You say Mega Ultra Deluxe Special Limited Edition Extended Autographed 5-LP, 3-CD, 4-DVD, 2-BlueRay, 4-Cassette, five 8-Track, MP4 Download plus Demos, Outtakes, Booklet, T-Shirt and Guitar Pick Gold-Leafed Box Set Version like it's a bad thing...

  6. #31
    Member Jay.Dee's Avatar
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    It is quite interesting that a band of such a huge popularity and undeniable quality in their heyday seems almost neglected among classic rock fans today. Last year I ran a poll on another forum and Chicago's live performance got the least amount of votes, even though the voters are predominantly US-based and classic rock-oriented.

    I wonder whether such a fall from grace is not somehow related to their later successful career in mainstream pop. That could also explain the second worst result of Santana, once a classic rock favourite, then a supernatural hit maker.

    Or maybe these are just Carnegie Hall '71 performances that kept the band at the bottom. I have never understood why this release is so maligned, as it boasts most of their top-notch material performed in a upbeat but loose fashion in a really not-so-bad-as-they-want-to-make-it sound quality.
    Last edited by Jay.Dee; 01-20-2016 at 06:55 AM.

  7. #32
    Moderator Sean's Avatar
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    I think it's more likely that the jazz influence made their music harder to get into than typical classic rock. They are one of the very few classic rock bands with a jazz influence. That stuff takes more to appreciate than many Bic waving, knuckle dragging, classic rock loving fans can muster. So that may be why they ranked so low. Just a guess.
    Last edited by Sean; 01-12-2016 at 12:21 PM.

  8. #33
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    Quote Originally Posted by winkersnufs View Post
    Hello to All!

    Is Chicago 2 a fine, fine release...or what?

    I played it tonight for the first time in quite a while!

    - YA!.....Man

    Carry On
    Chris Buckley
    It is my favorite Chicago album. BTW, are you WFB's son?

  9. #34
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    Probably the same as many here but you can't go wrong with CTA thru IV. V is also excellent but VII is my fav with these two probably being underrated by many. All IMHO of course

  10. #35
    Member Vic2012's Avatar
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    NP: Free Form Guitar

  11. #36
    Quote Originally Posted by Vic2012 View Post
    NP: Free Form Guitar
    A bit to free form to me. It sounds just like a bunch of noise.

  12. #37
    Member Vic2012's Avatar
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    Yeah it's noise. It was their "Revolution 9." I played the album last night and was reminded how heavy CTA is. Terry Kath just dominates on that album. I know on FFG he's playing a Stratocaster but I think he's playing a Gibson SG on other songs. You guitar pros should know. To me it's Chicago's best album. Never equaled. I heard they're playing at a casino in Miami soon. Not bothering with it. I've never liked the idea of a Chicago without Terry in the band.

  13. #38
    Moderator Sean's Avatar
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    III, V and VII. All essential.

    IV is live at Carnegie Hall.

    VI is their first more pop record with nothing particularly jamming or ambitious on it, save for a track or two, but even then, not really....

    VIII through XI are more of the same VI offers.

    After XI it's more pop, but with an added 80s plastic veneer. Makes the pop prior to it look pretty darn good in comparison, though the hooks were bigger in the 80s.
    Last edited by Sean; 01-20-2016 at 12:15 PM.

  14. #39
    Member Vic2012's Avatar
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    I agree, 3, 5, 7 are good albums but 3 and 5 are essential.

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  16. #41
    Member Since: 3/27/2002 MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER's Avatar
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    stick with the odd numbers but stop after VII
    Why is it whenever someone mentions an artist that was clearly progressive (yet not the Symph weenie definition of Prog) do certain people feel compelled to snort "thats not Prog" like a whiny 5th grader?

  17. #42
    Moderator Sean's Avatar
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    Live in Japan is quite good. It's recorded much better that IV (Live at Carnegie Hall).

  18. #43
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    Thanks to all.

  19. #44
    Estimated Prophet notallwhowander's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scrotum Scissor View Post
    I prefer the debut, but this one is great as well.
    I'm right there with ya.
    Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world.

  20. #45
    That's Mr. to you, Sir!! Trane's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER View Post
    stick with the odd numbers but stop after VII
    You're kind of right , but II and IV are definitely worthy

    Quote Originally Posted by Sean View Post
    Live in Japan is quite good. It's recorded much better that IV (Live at Carnegie Hall).
    Didn't know that... I guess I'll have to check it out someday.
    Thanks.
    my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.

  21. #46
    Quote Originally Posted by Sean View Post
    Live in Japan is quite good. It's recorded much better that IV (Live at Carnegie Hall).
    IV is one I still miss.

  22. #47
    Quote Originally Posted by Sean View Post
    Live in Japan is quite good. It's recorded much better that IV (Live at Carnegie Hall).
    While this is true, it isn't as much of an on-fire performance. That said, it still rawks.
    Cobra handling and cocaine use are a bad mix.

  23. #48
    That's Mr. to you, Sir!! Trane's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sean View Post
    Live in Japan is quite good. It's recorded much better that IV (Live at Carnegie Hall).
    Quote Originally Posted by Sturgeon's Lawyer View Post
    While this is true, it isn't as much of an on-fire performance. That said, it still rawks.
    So it's kind of a trade-off

    Recoding quality versus fire??

    I saw the sets were somewhat similar, though the Japan thing is probably having post-Chi3 stuff.
    my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.

  24. #49
    Yeah, Japan is the Osaka stop of their tour for the fifth album and contains several of the better songs from that album. On the other hand, the third album (which had no real "hits") has been almost entirely deleted from the setlist. There is also a performance of "Mississippi Delta City Blues," a Kath feature that would not appear on a studio album for several years.
    Cobra handling and cocaine use are a bad mix.

  25. #50
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    I still regularly listen to everything through XI. Too bad there aren't better sounding live albums from the period though.

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