Rhino -- Chicago Plays Rhino

There are a lot of guys in Chicago. Not just the city -- the band. Coupling a horn section with a full rock group requires the talents of a lot of musicians. But we had no idea how many boxes came with Chicago until the legendary collective came to Rhino to play for the employees.

The near-hour-long performance celebrated Rhino's recent acquisition of the Chicago catalog. What was originally planned as an intimate gig in the label's Open Forum area was quickly moved to the building lobby to accommodate all the gear -- and workers from throughout the complex eager to hear one of the most successful acts in pop music history live in concert.

There's no way a band with as many hits as Chicago could get to them all before we had to go back to work, but they did cover many highlights of their 35-year career, including "Hard Habit To Break" (with sensational dual lead vocals from organist Bill Champlin and bassist Jason Scheff), "Saturday In The Park," "Feelin' Stronger Every Day," and "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?"

With a few overlooked gems thrown into the mix, the set gave all the members a chance to shine: "Colour My World" showed that Walter Parazaider was as skilled a flautist as he was a saxophonist, Robert Lamm set aside his keyboard to sing and play acoustic guitar on "Beginnings," and trombonist James Pankow traded his horn for percussion to help set a Latin rhythm on another number. Trumpeter Lee Loughnane and electric guitarist Keith Howland (who, having only been in the band for 10 years or so, was referred to as "the new guy") also proved skilled soloists. Even drummer Tris Imboden got time to strut his stuff as the rest of the group prepared for the encore.

In short, these guys can PLAY. And sing -- all to the exacting standards of their records (which will begin appearing in stores under the Rhino imprint beginning in July). By the time they finally wrapped things up with a bravura version of "25 Or 6 To 4," Chicago had turned another hundred or so spectators into fans. They even hung around to chat and sign autographs before treating the staff to a catered lunch.

After 120 million records sold, a Grammy award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, a gig at the Rhino offices may not have seemed like a big deal to Chicago. But we were blown away! On one Friday morning in May, Rhinos got a reminder that in the music business, the music part comes first.

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Comments:

It make me feel very happy to know that they are still there, with their music, even if I don't listen to Chicago further than album V...I've been a fan of this band from 1971 when I was just 11 years old, their music arise such a good memories to me as I often listen to the amazing and pure feeling of Terry Kath's guitar, think he was...Probably the best guitar player, The Top Electric Guitar Player in the whole world...and the only one mencioned for Hendrix as if favourite musician ever. Still there is something about the old band I like even more than the winds section work or these stunning guitar sounds,that's the exciting drunken and rough voice of Terry Kath, to me the trade mark of the sixties, and the real feeling of Chicago.

I've been a fan since my older cousin sat me down and we listened to "...Transit Authority", II, & III. Being an adolescent musician (drummer) back in '71, I was blown away at the horn arrangements, and Danny's drumming skills! I saw them in Greensboro, NC at the coliseum, Aug. 5, '72. Not ashamed to say I recorded the show on a portable cassette recorder (legal I guess at that time), which I used to do regularly ( Jackson Five, Al Green, Chi-Lites, and others), was so blown away I immediately bought the "Carnegie Hall" masterpiece! So did a friend of mine - we loved this album, and I consider it my all-time favorite album of EVERYTHING I've ever owned! I waited years for the CD version and finally found it at Circuit City this past summer - thank God!
I miss Pete, Danny, and especially Terry. I was fortunate enough to see them with EWF (my favorite R&B band) this summer at Raleigh's Hardee's Pavillion. I even had my 2 teenage son's go with me to see my all-time favorite band(s). I think they thought I was nuts, 'cause I didn't sit down the entire show, except for intermission! (a 33-year span is a long time between concerts!) The new guys are good musician's, but they just can't take Terry, Peter, and Danny's place - it was all I could stand just hearing their voices and playing inside my head! It was almost spiritual. Bobby also seemed kind of tired. His place is really on the Steinway and the B-3! That's his domain, not Bill's. Please Rhino, stock the 1972 Japan album, find some old footage of the original band, and keep them alive! We can't bring Terry back, and Pete and Danny probably wouldn't consider a reunion, so the old archives are all we have! I'm 48 years old and as a former musician and presently a sound engineer, am still very much connected to all types of music, and thank goodness Bob, Lee, Jimmy, and Walt have kept the band going all these years, but we still love the energy and power of the "Serious Seven"! I say "serious" because they were all accomplished musicians and will go down in history as the finest musically talented band of our time - period! Young musician "wannabes" buy the early albums, and the new DVD, listen closely, and take notes!
CHICAGO 4-Ever!!!
-Bob B in NC-

My brother, helped organize a concert at Alumni Hall at DePaul University, I think it was around 1970. I was 8 years old and sat in the front row and was mesmerized for what seemed to be hours.
I'm 43 now and still listen to their music daily, although I prefer the CTA stuff (with Terry Kath) it's all good.
Last summer I sat on a boat on Lake Michigan and listened to them play the opening night at the new facility, Northerly Island... It was the about the 20th time I saw them but they sounded like they did when I was 8, which is a true testament to exactly how talented these guys really are.

Chicago is quite possibly the best American band of all time, at least while Terry Kath was alive. Though I support their current endeavors with all my heart, I long for all the Terry Kath work you can release. As such I join the sizable crowd that kindly asks for a CD release of "Chicago Live in Japan." Carnegie Hall was great, but I want to hear the best of the first three albums AND Chicago V, and I don't have an MP3 player to run the files for Live in Japan. Please do what you can, Rhino. I will jump on the opportunity if you give me it.

Definitely need a dvd from the terry kath era! There were plenty of shows that were videotaped including tanglewood 1970, japan 1972, the tv shows, rockpalast in germany 1977 and houston 1977. There would be enough for 2 dvd's. Many of us who loved the original band never got to see them live. This would be a great way to put out some great footage to please us die hards and show the rest of the music world what a great band chicago is and that they should be in the rock n roll hall of fame. The dvd's would be a nice way to celebrate 40 year anniversary.

Chicago Plays Rhino

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