Chicago - The Best Of Chicago 40th Anniversary
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Free Music Notes for The Best Of Chicago 40th Anniversary
Free Music Review: A great Chicago collection, but not the best
Hit: 3 Stars
The Good
How does one chronicle a 40 year career on just two CDs? Rhino and Chicago have done their very best to showcase one of the Windy City's most successful bands. If you followed the band from the very early days, then disc one is for you. It chronicles the group's Chicago Transit Authority days, as well as the more popular classic radio hits; "Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?," "Saturday in the Park," and "If You Leave Me Now." I didn't even know this was Chicago. The sound is so different from their sound of the eighties (when I was introduced to them).
Disc two cover the current and most successful Chicago years. Chicago rode pretty high with the ballads "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," "Hard Habit to Break," "You're the Inspiration," and "Will You Still Love Me." It wasn't just the Peter Cetera years that were good to Chicago. They continued a string of hits after his departure with tracks like "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love," "Look Away," and "You're Not Alone."
Yes, Chicago & Rhino did release a hits package similar to this five years back. However, this collection adds two tracks from their phenomenal last studio album XXX ("Feel" & "Love Will Come Back). Plus, they add "Hear in My Heart from a previous best of collection. If you haven't heard the new material, you are really missing out. Another great bonus with this package is track by track liner notes by the group.
The Bad
Not included with this collection that was on the last; "I'm a Man," "Free," "Lowdown," "Dialogues Part 1 & 2," "Wishing You Were Here," "Happy Man," "Take Me Back to Chicago," "Alive Again," "Stay the Night," "Along Comes a Woman," "We Can Last Forever," "Chasing the Wind," and "Sing, Sing, Sing." If you ask me, those are some key omissions. They managed to fit 39 songs into the last hits package, but only 30 on this one?
The Verdict
A great Chicago collection, but not the best. My advice, pick up The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning and XXX and you'll have all the greatest Chicago material that you'll ever need.
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."
Free Music Review: Good...with one exception
Hit: 3 Stars
Overall this is a good compilation if you're a fan of Chicago. However, I felt compelled to right this review to warn potential buyers of one serious problem with it. The included version of '25 or 6 to 4' is the radio edit/shortened version of the song. Yes, on the Best of Chicago 40th Anniversary album, their greatest song (in my opinion) has been butchered. I almost threw the CD case across the room when I found this out. What were they thinking? "Oh lets just cut up one of their biggest hits. Don't worry about ripping out some great guitar soloing; nobody cares about that." I care. And that's why I'm warning people. In case anybody else cares.Free Music Review: BEWARE!!! THESE ARE THE RADIO SINGLE VERSIONS!!!
Hit: 3 Stars
Get me wrong I love Chicago,but to release another best of 2 cd collection is a bit overkill!!! Heck, Rhinos 2002 2 cd Only The Beginning collection was heck a lot better with fuller versions of the songs,the ones here are the butchered single versions,Robert Lamm's got affected the worst!!! Who wants' to hear Beginnings(it really was only the Beginning in that case) with a running time less than 3 minutes long,kinda reminds me of what the did with Iron Butterflys In A Gadda...!!! If you like single versions,than you might like this,for my money I'll still with 2002's Only The Beginning 2 cd set or the out of print Group Portrait 4 Cd set!!! Over and outFree Music Review: Not Bad, Could Be Better....
Hit: 3 Stars
The song lineup on this cd set and the price for this release makes you feel like you're getting a bargain and you are, if single edits are your thing. All the songs in this collection are the single edit versions unfortunately but the mastering kind of makes up for the slices. Each disc clocks in just under one hour and with 15 songs per disc and room to spare I would have preferred the full length versions but they are available on the "The Heart Of Chicago" cd's and some full-length cuts on "Only The Beginning." Overall this set is a great introduction to Chicago and to listeners with ADD.