When Chicago Ruled the World

I recently ran across a 1973 video of Al Green walking into a studio where Chicago was rehearsing (it was being filmed for a TV special on the band). He suggested a jam to his hit “Tired Of Being Alone” – and it was absolutely (in the parlance of the times) righteous.  Observe the faces of the Chicago members getting in the groove with (the future Reverend) Al.

Those cats could play.

I miss that version of Chicago. I miss those albums, sporting one of the most distinctive logos in rock. I miss their ferocious combo of Terry Kath’s guitar and in-your-face brass. From 1969 through the 70s, they released stellar albums every year, sold out Carnegie Hall for an entire week, and had some of the most innovative rock tracks of the decade outside of Prog Rock.

And then…they went sappy.

I’ve tried to pinpoint just when it happened and have determined that it was around the time of “If You Leave Me Now” in ’76, a far cry from the beautifully simple “Color My World” (1970). While it was their first #1 hit and got them their first Grammy, it was distinctively squishier. It was becoming obvious that the presence of the horns was slowly being reduced (some claim that was pushed by bassist/singer Peter Cetera).

Then in 1978, Terry Kath, of the growling voice and unleashed guitar licks (Hendrix said Kath was the better player), suddenly died. Something also died in the band. Unsurprisingly, the guys came close to calling it quits; it was Tonight Show bandleader Doc Severinsen who encouraged them to keep going. A jazz trumpeter 30 years their senior, he knew talent when he heard it.

And so, Chicago persisted. Yet the inventive mix of band geeks and serious rock players got more commercial. A LOT more commercial. We heard fewer edgy tracks like “Dialogue Parts 1& 2” or “25 or 6 to 4” and more like “Hard to Say I’m Sorry.” In 1978, they released their twelfth album, Hot Streets.  It was their first with an actual title instead of the iconic Roman numerals, and it signaled a shift into something a very long way away from “Make Me Smile.”

In 1985, Peter Cetera left the band to pursue his solo career. Songs like “The Glory of Love” from The Karate Kid 2 soundtrack were big hits but lacked the punch of his work with Chicago. Did he care? Not so much – he wound up with a huge string of hits, some duets with Amy Grant, Cher, and Chaka Khan.

His split from the band wasn’t pleasant; he’d wanted an arrangement much like what Phil Collins had with Genesis, dipping in and out when he pleased. His colleagues were not on board.  Years later, Cetera refused to appear at their 2016 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Despite these setbacks, Chicago has persisted, most recently touring with Earth Wind and Fire. Since their start as a local cover band in 1967, members have left, other players have rotated in, and they’ve carried on. Currently, only three of the original seven members are still active: Robert Lamm (keyboards), trombonist James Pankow, and trumpet player Lee Loughnane. Sadly, sax player Walt Parazaider was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a few years ago; drummer Danny Seraphine was let go in 1990, and Cetera is officially retired.

But there was a time when a group of young musicians came together, created something altogether fresh, and ruled the rock world. Long live Band Nerds.

-Cindy Grogan

Photo: Getty Images