Chicago IX: Greatest Hits

Chicago

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 4, 2005)
• Original Release Date: October 4, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B000AYEI90
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,737 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Chicago IX: Greatest Hits '69 - '74 was the band's first greatest hits collection. Originally released 30 years ago in November of 1975, it spent five weeks atop the Billboard album chart and has been certified four times platinum! Still to date, it is the biggest selling album of their career. Chicago IX features signature favorites the band still performs on tour today, such as "25 or 6 to 4", "Beginnings," "Saturday in the Park," "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is," and "Call On Me." It was the first Chicago album to feature pictures of the band on the cover, incorporated into their trademark logo. Chicago IX: Greatest Hits '69-74 completes Rhino's reissues of the band's signature early recordings.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific, But Mostly Unnecessary Collection, October 8, 2005

By	Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

CHICAGO IX: GREATEST HITS was first released thirty years ago and it was a fitting testament to the classic period in Chicago's continuing legacy. While Rhino justifiably remastered and rereleaseed (often with bonus tracks) their early catalog, was it really necessary to reissue this greatest hits package? After all, Rhino put out a definitive two-disc set, 2002's THE VERY BEST OF CHICAGO: ONLY THE BEGINNING, that covers every song here--and 28 more.

However, it should be noted that there are two distinctive differences. THE VERY BEST OF included a new edit of "Make Me Smile" that was over a minute longer than the original LP version, and they used a truncated version of "Beginnings," editing out the drum and percussion interlude. Both of these songs appear in their original album version on CHICAGO IX. Is that enough difference to warrant the purchase of this reissue? You'll have to decide that for yourself. But, overall, this is a solid (if somewhat skimpy) collection of Chicago's early hits. RECOMMENDED

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only CHICAGO you need, October 6, 2005

By	Brian Shaw "bshaw20" (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews

I was skeptical at first because it might be a "remaster" and remasters by certain engineers need to be avoided, and that's the case with the Chicago double-disc greatest hits. However, I listened to this re-release, and it sounds just like the Columbia and Chicago Records version, which was the previously releaed CD. Therefore it does not sound harsh and over-"EQ"-ed.This CD contains all of their essential hits, save for a couple which were relegated to the sequel. None of those wimpy ballads in here!

There are no new liner notes or anything like that, the only thing added was the Rhino logo and the FBI disclaimer. This is definitely just a reissue, and not a "remaster," which is good news.

I would opt to go with the "Group POrtrait" box set but for starters this is highly recommended.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Of The Kath Era, June 14, 2006

By	Gord o' The Books "Gordon" (SE Michigan) - See all my reviews

This is a great CD to play when driving alone. All the songs are singable, you hear every shading of the Chicago sound. It connects the diversity of Chicago's first 7 albums. There was a time when this album was hard to listen to. All 11 of these songs were everywhere on the radio, on almost every format. But that was long ago - and now those moments when you hear Chicago in public are rare.

In about 45 minutes - you get a snapshot of what made Chicago so great in the 1970s. Unlike their second and third greatest hits packages, it is not Cetera-heavy. I like Peter Cetera, but he wasn't all that Chicago was about!

I give this 4 stars, however, because Rhino could have done something interesting with this remastering, like maybe include the B sides of these singles, or maybe the songs that only cracked the Hot 100 - something interesting like that.

Who should buy this album? Chicago completists, 60s-70s music collectors, and anyone that wants to make sure their collection has every flavoring of quality music covering the past half century.