Let’s establish the ground rules: in judging the three best songs by Chicago, we’re not talking at all about the intensely muscular, beautifully wrought experimental pieces that filled the better part of their first three albums (which were great). Nor are we talking about anything that came after the”chocolate bar” album because most of that generally sucked. Here, we are focused on albums I through X and on the better known hits, when the band was at their creative and commercial peak.
Beginnings was not the first song I remember hearing from Chicago. That honorific goes the 25 or 6 to 4. But, for me Beginnings was the song the defined their early Chicago sound. Bobby Lamm’s soulful vocals, Danny Seraphine’s drums that go from sedate the simply incredible, the trombone solo and the extended percussion jam at the end were all indicative what Chicago was saying in the early seventies.
I still have my original copy of Chicago VI, which featured the imitation money imprint engraved on the cover. Thought I listened to that record until it was so warn you could see through the vinyl, it was the two hits — Just You N’ Me and Feelin’ Stronger Every Day — that were my favorites. Here, Feelin’ Stronger wins because it starts so funky and closes with such drive. It is still one of my all-time favorites.
Those who disagree somewhat enthusiastically to my first two choices will cringe and complain about my third: If You Leave Me Now. Saccharine though it might be, and a long distance from the early years (though they did sing Colour My World), If You Leave Me Now is still one of the prettiest ballads ever written. And real men can like ballads…and admit it!
These are the three best songs by Chicago:
Chicago – Beginnings
Chicago – Feelin’ Stronger Every Day
Chicago – If You Leave Me Now
Entries (RSS)