Chicago - The Best Of Chicago 40th Anniversary
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Free Music Notes for The Best Of Chicago 40th Anniversary
Free Music Review: The Best of Chicago 40th Anniversary
Hit: 5 Stars
I GREW UP LISTENING TO CHICAGO AND THIS CD IS FULL OF ALL THE BEST. THEY ARE GREAT!Free Music Review: Good stuff
Hit: 5 Stars
When I bought this album, I only recognized 6 or 7 of the songs. As I listened to it, I realized that I knew at least 16 of them! I am very happy with this album. I was expecting to be skipping through songs as I listened , but now I don't have to.Free Music Review: chicago hits
Hit: 1 Stars
I was not satisfied at all with this c.d. A lot of these songs started
in what sounded like the middle of the song, as well as ending way too early. I expected to hear the exact songs on this c.d. that I hear on the radio. If I had known they were this way I certainly would not have ordered it. I think the companies who put out such short songs in duration and that vary from what comes out on the airwaves should specify that these are "The Readers' Digest Condensed Versions."
Free Music Review: Beware compilations that do not list running times
Hit: 1 Stars
I only got three tracks into this two disc compilation when I angrily popped the CD out of my player and took it back to the store. Half the tracks on the first CD are the radio edits of the songs. "25 or 6 to 4," "Does Anyone Really Know What Time it Is" and several others are eviscerated ("25" has the entire second verse AND the famous guitar solo cut out!!!!).
Of all the songs they could have cut to fit on the collection, why did they pick Chicago's classic, timeless stuff? Why couldn't they have cut some of the corporate swill from the second half of CD 2? On top of that, this is not a "Greatest Hits" compilation, which one could rationalize that the songs became hits due to their radio versions. This is a "Best of" album, which means the song should be included in their entirety.
Skip this bargain basement collection unless you are an extremely casual fan.
Free Music Review: A tale of two Chicagos
Hit: 3 Stars
This two CD set really illustrates the two different bands that Chicago was:
Disc One: The original sound is represented here. Horns and harmonies, with songs that spoke clearly to the joy of living, like on "Saturday in The Park," or on the complexities of a relationships, ("Just You `N Me," "Call On Me") presented in a musical setting that sets it apart from the norm. (OK, I probably didn't need the bongos on "Call" but you get what I mean.) This was a band that wasn't afraid of experimentation and the music benefited by this approach. Not everything worked, ("Colour My World" is only 3 minutes long? It definitely feels longer.) but this was a band that took chances and created a sound that was very different, while never forgetting that music should be entertaining as well.
Disc Two is Chicago as the easy listening love song band. Innocuous songs of love carried by nice radio friendly medleys and the Cetera/Foster collaborations that fans of the older material look at with some scorn or at least distaste. While not unlistenable, the songs in the section are as group forgettable, as they have a tendency to blend together into a stew of "supermarket music." Even after Cetera's departure, the band continues along the same MOR path with even less success. I admire the honesty of the liner notes, where the comments basically go along with the idea that it is hard to argue with success, even though the band had transformed from its roots.
There you have it, a good collection representing a storied band with many great songs. Each disc will have its supporters; I think you can see which version of the band I prefer. Couple that with some great liner notes from band members (Did you know the band is not particularly fond of "Old Days?") and you have a nice addition to the collection of for the casual fan. I'll even forgive them for leaving off "Harry Truman."