Those early Chicago albums are so special

I have an original pressing of this album. My sister bought this in 71. Great album. I highly recommend everything they did until 1978. When Terry Kath died, they went in a completely different direction.

There is genuine music and then there's CHICAGO. The music has soul.

Old Chicago with Terry Kath👍

This is one of the most underrated songs of all time. It’s beautiful and brings us to “what about 69?” Well played by Chicago!

From Chicago III, Lowdown, is the "happiest" song ever about being depressed...🥲

This album was released in April 1969, my Jr. year in High School. I was in the High School band and this album just blew us away. No one had ever heard anything like this. Still an amazing album lo these many years later.

Definitely one of Cetera's best vocals and one of the best horn arrangements of their many great ones. It really lifts you.

What a high quality group of musicians.

This is when Peter Cetera played with Soul. Another spot-on reaction, guys.

I can't wait until you both react to "I'm a Man" by Chicago. It's from the same debut album which includes great songs like "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is" and "Beginnings".

Masterpieces were the Rule - rather than the Exception - for these Maestros while Guitarist Terry Kath was still with us . Particularly Albums 1-7 . Thanks much , gentlemen .

Early Chicago is my favorite, saw them 7 times back in the 70's, so if you can play some more of their early stuff, that would be lovely 👍🏻🎵

The story on this song is that the songwriter, the keyboard player Robert Lamm, wrote this song about a girl he was dating in the years 1967 and 1968. You REALLY NEED to play the song "POEM 58" from that debut album. Nine minutes of PURE FUNK led by Terry Kath on guitar, Danny Seraphine on drums, and Peter Cetera on bass. Terry's rhythm and lead playing will blow you away! Jimi Hendrix saw them playing at the Whiskey in LA and told them, "You guys have a horn section that sounds like one set of lungs, and a guitar player that's better than me!"

Man Chicago w/ out Terry is so fucking different! They achieved greatness after Terry’s passing but totally different group. Rip great Terry, one of the goats!!!

I love Chicago's early songs the best. But they have some oddball song titles. ❤❤😅😅

When I listen to what we had brings tears of joy.

This song doesn't get enough love in comparison to their other early material. Cetera's voice is so good here.

Nothing like them before or since. The living definition of one of a kind.

Majestic is a great descriptive, I also like elation and Peter Cetera emotes so effectively. How about that bassline? TGIF fellas!

This one was lead sung by the bassist Peter Cetera, one of the best bassist/vocalists in all of rock.

I forgot to mention, did you notice the beautiful, dry sound of Danny Seraphine's toms? I love his fills and I love the way they miked his drums.

One of my favorite Chicago songs. Still have the album from back in the day.

Right out of the gate! Another masterpiece from their debut album. Great bass playing by Cetera.

One of their best. Dialogue is along the same lines. So good. Nobody sounds like Cetera.

Top notch band w an incredible sound.

Wow, the horn works on that song was incredible.

Chicago is timeless.

Amazing debut album…and doubly amazing to have the balls to release a double album for your debut…and back it up with all killer and no filler! And they released 2 more double albums for their 2nd and 3rd efforts! Incredible, the amount of material for a young band at the time. I am still most partial to this one of the 3, although they are all great, the others containing many suites sprinkled with some radio friendly hits etc. A deep track not to be missed on this debut that gets overlooked a lot is South California Purples. One of my favorites on the album.

Majestic is a great word to describe this! Make Me Smile is one of the best Chicago songs...Terry Kath on lead vocals and guitar. So much soul.

Chicago became an easy listening band after Terry Kath died. This is Terry Kath Chicago and it is fabulous.

One of the songs in my youth that made me fall in love with Chicago ❤ nice job guy’s 👍🏻

Nice!! One of my favorite Chicago tunes right from the get go. Great horns by Pankow and the boys.Cetera and Lamm vocals. Thanks for reacting to this gem. Think of 70s Chicago as the "big band" version of Steely Dan! 😉 When I've played this for people only familiar with Chicago's David Foster 80s easy listening period, they are blown away by the power of those horns! Its like the cloak of schmaltz that they heard on the radio all those years is lifted to reveal the true essence of Chicago!! I don't think you've done Beginnings or Does Anybody Really Know What Time It is?, their 2 big hits sung by Robert Lamm from the CTA album. Also, their cover of I'm a Man is must listen,features all 3 vocalists trading verses. "Listen" is an overlooked tune, and if you want funkier and more out there, Poem 58 and Southern California Purples will give you more Terry Kath. All from the debut CTA album!!

Chicago "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is"...Classic.

As others have said, Blood, Sweat And Tears has a similar feel to it. When I was 10 or 11 I bought this album for my older brothers birthday in about 1970 or '71. As it was a double album I had to collect a lot of empty pop bottles to come up with the money to buy it! It's was also one of the first albums to be recorded in "Quadraphonic Sound", for those who had invested in the new, 4-channel quadraphonic sound system. I believe my uncle had a Concord brand Quad receiver but I wasn't yet interested in such things. Baseball cards and girls in hot-pants occupied most of my time!

JAZZ-rock! Man, this is a great channel if you want to hear Chicago as it was originally conceived. "Questions..." gets reacted to extremely rarely. Really enjoyed!!! :)

I was born in 1971 and have heard this song a million times on the radio. Never knew the name of it... Now I do 👍

I have all the original pressed records these guys listen to been collecting since early 70s....I DJed in the early 80s to early 90s...sitting in my closet in orange crates 👍👍👍🤟👈💯%

Guys please…the entire Ballet for a Girl in Buchanan off the 2nd album and Dialogue Pt1&2 off the same album as Saturday in the Park…please!

horns melodies written by James Pankw - the trombonist; lyrics and other musical arrangements written by Robert Lamm - the pianist/keyboards; main vocals from Peter Cetera - bass guitar. Backing vocals from Robert Lamm and Terry Kath. How'd you like those 3 tempo changes - with everyone in sync. Next up: try Dialogue Parts I & II.

JAZZ ROCK pure and simple !!! With just a touch of the BLUES . WHO DEY 🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🎸🤟😎✌️

I was 8yrs old when this came out and I played this over & over & over! Love it! You guys are awesome.

Big robust confident sound... That's Chicago. It's like, step aside fellas we got something different to show you. And they did!

Their first album, it has no equal in the history of rock. You need to do the whole album start to finish.😎✌️

The music genre is called JAZZ ROCK. BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS, ALSO LIGHTHOUSE, and others played this type of music. Vocalists were PETER CATERRA (BASS), TERRY KATH (one of the most ubderated guitarists) ROBERT LAMM (keyboards). Their first 3 albums were the best. Terry Kath died, they fired their original drummer, and the group decided to make pop music from then on. Peter Caterra became the voice of Chicago, then they fired him also. They had lots of hits, but nothing like their original material.

“Beginnings” is super impressive… try that one!

Call it, or label it what ever you want. These guys are special, and forever thankful for their contribution to music. Seen them in the 90’s. Phenomenal!

Early Chicago, when they were called Chicago Transit Authority, was unique. A true ensemble of musicians, a great singer and wonderful arrangements. And you’re right - they crossed genres. Quick aside: their songs got a lot of radio play despite being different. So much creativity in music - led to many new radio stations. And by necessity the stations really deferred to their individual DJs to listen to demos, go to shows, and keep current with new groups. A great time to be a musical lover growing up. So much variety and great music!

So much complexity in this song...all the change-ups. I kept hearing that drummer going crazy. So much happening at once but somehow it worked. Peter Cetera is a great singer!

Have grown to appreciate the musicianship of them; hoping it’d make up for my indifference to them back in the day, I was a hard rock guy!

Thank you for your reactions to Chicago songs. I hope you would react to their "Make Me Smile" song. That one, Terry Kath doesn't only do his guitar stuff, but he also does the lead singing. Terry Kath was a Ray Charles fan - and in that "Make Me Smile" song - one might be able to hear that Ray Charles sound from Terry's voice. Thank you again. I really appreciate you guys.

The next two songs after this on the Chicago TA album are absolute Terry Kath monster tracks. He didn't write them but his guitar chops are well on display. Songs are "Listen" and "Poem 58."

Glad you’re exploring Chicago…the horns, Terry Kath on guitar, the vocals and rhythm…they jazzy rocked…must put “Make Me Smile” on the list to listen.

Early CTA was great. Thanks fellas. Great reaction as always. Much appreciated 🙏 ❤

Dialogue 1&2 is a must!! Love old Chicago ❤

Chicago's First album. The whole album is a Must 🌄🐴

Peter Cetera is a great singer, but he doesn't get love for his bass playing. His crazy bass lines over his vocals are Geddy Lee like.

My two older brothers saw them at The New Orleans Pop Festival a few weeks after Woodstock. Before they called it air guitar I played Moms kitchen broom to Liberation & Poem 58. I've been searching for better guitar solo's since. Still searching.

For me, they were never hard to categorize. A rock band to the core with horns to take it to the next level. At least for the first 7 albums. Albums 1-3 are just phenomenal. Another nice reaction La & Che. Keep Chicago coming. 😀

The cut on this album that really got me was Free Form Guitar, when i heard that i couldn't believe nobody was talking about this guitar player, everybody knew Clapton and Hendrix but i could tell this Terry Kath was the real deal. I was already playing sax by then and it was easy to see how good this guy was!

Hard to pick a fave from these guy's, but I think this is as close to their best as it gets! Nice pick! Nice reaction guy's! 👍👍👍👍

Another incredible song written by Robert Lamm!

Jazz/Rock fusion

The horn pattern change up at about the 3:53 mark is reminiscent and probably a bit of a nod to Up, Up and Away (In My Beautiful Balloon) which was a huge hit by the 5th Dimension a few years earlier. They did that with a few songs. Another that comes to mind on this album is South California Purples which has a few chords of I Am the Walrus by the Beatles in it.

Dialogue has always been my favorite, since it came out when I was a kid. Please listen! ☮️❤️

I cannot wait for you guys to respond to. Make me smile from live at Tanglewood 1970.

You guys are getting into some great albums. CTA is fire. Where is my satin shirt, and bell bottom jeans when I need them?

Great music 😮

Those early albums! Fantastic music.

Gents Need to listen to Blood,Sweat and Tears’ version of God Bless the Child.

Like your love of music and love your like of the Expos, re: the lid!

Peter Cetera's signature sound: "OoooooooOOooooo."

Very uplifting music.

That's such a great and interesting album. One song would be silky smooth, with the horns etc, and then another song would be raw and raunchy.

Terry Kath is one of the greatest guitarists who’s not mentioned enough. Even Jimi Hendrix said he was one of best. Early Chicago produced some great music

HAPPY 'CAUSE I'M GOING HOME Live, they have a 4 album/cd, LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL.

The arrangements, horn charts, guitar solos, back beat, nothing like early Chicago.

Management told them that they would go nowhere until they dropped the horn section. Boy were they wrong.

Was Chicago a great horn section wth a guitarist or was Chicago a great guitarist with a horn section. Yes and Yes

Colour My World by Chicago. Short but sweet ❤

James Panko horn arrangements!! So good

Brilliance!

Listening again to early Chicago is to marvel once more at the musical complexity of the songs and the arrangements. Those guys could really play.

Panic at the Disco! sampled this in their recording of "Hallelujah".

Any of these guys could have been music teachers

Rock, Blues, Jazz, Be Bop…

The mystery of this title is that Mr. Lambs relationship was either in 1967 or maybe 1968... great song tho' right? and thumbs up for another great reaction guys!

That CTA album was a Fuckin Masterpiece ; unlike anything else coming out at that time!!

You guys gotta do Poem 58. Trust me on this!:)

Can't wait for you guys to do "Poem 58*.

On your personal time id recommend listening to Chicago live at carnegie hall. Insane concert that sold the place out multiple days. Truly amazing

You should do "Make Me Smile". ...its all Terry singing.

All I can say is hell to the yeah thank you guys ❤

Main vocal Pete Cetera, but answer vocal by Robert Lamm.

Loving the KC gear!

Tommy Bolin Private Eyes album. Incredible stuff. Rolling stones Some Girls album. These two are really good albums and my 65 mustang fastback had these tapes on a rotation back in the day

I never knew the name of this song. Now I do.

As soon as I see you guys (LA & CHI) (if I’ve misspelled sorry) do something I think is great, I stop it in the beginning and let you know. This is one of those, this is a pre- response and will respond throughout in real time bcuz I’m reacting with you as I’m watching you guys do it and I thoroughly enjoy it! Let’s go!

I've always called the genre, Fusion Rock/Jazz, but, that's just me... Hell Yeah!!!

Terry Kath shredding!!