Chicago - Classic or Dud?

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According to Billboard chart statistics, Chicago is second only to the Beach Boys as the most successful American rock band of all time, in terms of both albums and singles. Judged by album sales, as certified by the R.I.A.A., the band does not rank quite so high, but it is still among the Top Ten best-selling U.S. groups ever. If such statements of fact surprise, that's because Chicago has been singularly underrated since the beginning of its long career, both because of its musical ambitions (to the musicians, rock is only one of several styles of music to be used and blended, along with classical, jazz, R&B, and pop) and because of its refusal to emphasize celebrity over the music. The result has been that fundamentalist rock critics have consistently failed to appreciate its music and that its media profile has always been low.
--ALLMUSIC GUIDE

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Friday, 30 May 2003 21:43 (twenty-two years ago)

"free form guitar" = classic.

― your null fame (yournullfame), Friday, 30 May 2003 21:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Terry Kath accidentally shooting himself in the head screwing around with a gun = dud.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Friday, 30 May 2003 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

"Street Play"=better than anything done by anyone ever discussed on ILM.

PS. Paul Cox to thread!

― Vic Funk, Friday, 30 May 2003 22:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Terry Kath shot himself trying to prove that the gun was unloaded. I think he was drunk though.

― King Kobra (King Kobra), Friday, 30 May 2003 23:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Right. Exactly.

And that doesn't count as "screwing around" or something?

"Dialogue Pts. 1 & 2" are my favorite underrated Chicago songs.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Friday, 30 May 2003 23:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I've been playing their first albums a lot, lately. Sad how overlooked they are. Kath was fantastic.

Classic: "Introduction", "Questions 67 & 68", "Beginnings", "Movin' In" (excellent tune), "In the Country", "Make Me Smile".

― Joe (Joe), Saturday, 31 May 2003 01:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Gotta confess to loving "Wishing You Were Here."

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 31 May 2003 01:49 (twenty-two years ago)

ten months pass...

Simply put, Terry Kath is the most underrated rock guitarist of all time. He should at the top of the list with the all-time greats. Listen to his early studio work and also his live recordings. The dimension of his playing along with his ideas are remarkable. And those chops!

John

― John Servello, Monday, 19 April 2004 01:04 (twenty-one years ago)

We dedicate this thread to the people of the revolution...and the revolution in all of its forms

― dave q, Monday, 19 April 2004 11:23 (twenty-one years ago)

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