(02) Chicago - Chicago II (1970)

"Chicago" is the second album by Chicago-based rock band Chicago. It was released in 1970 after the band had shortened its name from The Chicago Transit Authority after releasing their same-titled debut album the previous year.
The Chicago Transit Authority recorded this double-barreled follow-up to their eponymously titled 1969 debut effort. The contents of Chicago II (1970) underscore the solid foundation of complex jazz changes with heavy electric rock & roll that the band so brazenly forged on the first set. The septet also continued its ability to blend the seemingly divergent musical styles into some of the best and most effective pop music of the era. One thing that had changed was the band's name, which was shortened to simply Chicago to avoid any potential litigious situations from the city of Chicago's transportation department -- which claimed the name as proprietary property. Musically, James Pankow (trombone) was about to further cross-pollinate the band's sound with the multifaceted six-song "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon." The classically inspired suite also garnered the band two of its most beloved hits -- the upbeat pop opener "Make Me Smile" as well as the achingly poignant "Color My World" -- both of which remained at the center of the group's live sets. Chicago had certainly not abandoned its active pursuit of blending high-octane electric rockers such as "25 or 6 to 4" to the progressive jazz inflections heard in the breezy syncopation of "The Road." Adding further depth of field is the darker "Poem for the People" as well as the politically charged five-song set titled "It Better End Soon." These selections feature the band driving home its formidable musicality and uncanny ability to coalesce styles telepathically and at a moment's notice. The contributions of Terry Kath (guitar/vocals) stand out as he unleashes some of his most pungent and sinuous leads, which contrast with the tight brass and woodwind trio of Lee Loughnane (trumpet/vocals), Walter Parazaider (woodwinds/vocals), and the aforementioned Pankow. Peter Cetera (bass/vocals) also marks his songwriting debut on the final cut of both the suite and the album with "Where Do We Go from Here."

Tracklist

01.  Movin' In  (Pankow, Kath)  - 4:06
02.  The Road  (Kath, Cetera)  - 3:10
03.  Poem for the People  (Lamm)  - 5:31
04.  In the Country  (Kath, Cetera)  - 6:34
05.  Wake Up Sunshine  (Lamm, Cetera)  - 2:29
06.  Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon  (Pankow, Kath, Lamm)  - 12:55
       a. Make Me Smile
       b. So Much to Say, So Much to Give
       c. Anxiety's Moment
       d. West Virginia Fantasies
       e. Colour My World
       f. To Be Free
       g. Now More Than Ever
07.  Fancy Colours  (Lamm, Cetera)  - 5:10
08.  25 or 6 to 4  (Lamm, Cetera)  - 4:50
09.  Memories of Love  (Kath, Matz)  - 9:12
       a. Prelude
       b. A.M. Mourning
       c. P.M. Mourning
       d. Memories of Love
10.  It Better End Soon  (Lamm, Parazaider, Kath)  - 10:24
       a. 1st Movement
       b. 2nd Movement
       c. 3rd Movement
       d. 4th Movement
11.  Where Do We Go from Here  (Cetera)  - 2:49

Released:  January 26, 1970
Recorded:  August 1969, Columbia Recording Studios, New York and Hollywood
Genre:  Jazz, Fusion, Rock
Length:  67:21
Label:  Columbia
Producer:  James William Guercio

Personnel
Peter Cetera – bass, vocals
Terry Kath – guitar, vocals
Robert Lamm – keyboard, vocals
Lee Loughnane – trumpet, vocals
James Pankow – trombone
Walter Parazaider – woodwinds, vocals
Danny Seraphine – drums