Customer Reviews

Chicago Story - Complete G.H.

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have loved Chicago since the 60s, and at one stage had a number of their LPs. However, I found that I did not listen to them very often because I only wanted to hear certain tracks. I have therefore been looking, for a long while, for a compilation that includes the songs I like most. How happy I was when I discovered this compilation, because there all my favourites were: Lowdown, Saturday in the park, 25 or 6 to 4, Rainy day in NY city etc... For someone who likes Chicago but does not have the time or money to buy their rather large collection of albums, I really recommend this 2CD set. In addition, all tracks are remastered and the sound quality is truly superb. The notes accompanying the discs indicate that the band was involved in compiling this collection, which also makes a difference (some 'best of's are compiled by the recording companies and the exclusion of the artists can result in less than satisfactory compilations). In addition, these truly great hits span the entire history of the band from 1967 up until 2002!

I purchased this double CD as a casual fan of Chicago, having only heard the hits "If you leave me now", "Hard to say I'm sorry" and "You're the inspiration". While it is a testament to the success of the band that such songs are still incessantly played on the radio, the legacy of Chicago is really not limited to these power ballads.

It is no secret that Chicago place great emphasis on musicianship and their brass instruments in particular certainly had a large influence in their signature sound. Arguably, their power ballad hits (with Peter Cetera as lead vocal) had stifled the artistic and progressive directions of the rest of the band - leading to Cetera's leaving of the band to pursue a (highly successful) solo career (c.f. Steve Perry leaving Journey after his over-produced commerical pop and massive influence did not sit well with his bandmates).

I must admit that in addition to the songs mentioned above, the "mainstream" pop songs "love me tomorow" and "baby what a big surprise","Hard habit to break" and "we can last forever" appealed most to me, but that is more taste than anything else. Someone more into instrumental and progressive songs will not be disappointed with "Lowdown", "Colour my world" and the popular "saturday in the park". Indeed, while I am a big fan of the high vocals of Cetera and guitar tone of Terry Kath, there is more to Chicago than these guys (as you would expect from a band with such longevity)

In short, this CD has 39 songs from Chicago spanning over three decades. With their highly diverse musical output, if you are a pop-rock fan and aren't pleased here then there is seriously something wrong with you!

I am told this is a great collection that contains music that was not available on the various file sharing systems that were available back in the heyday of the internet.
(Stands on porch, shakes cane and yells at kids to get off of the lawn)

A classic compilation from one of the premier bands of the 70s and 80s. This is a must for any music collection.

This music takes me back...I went to see them in concert in Tunica and had to have the CD afterwards!

This is 1-CD edition of the "The Very Best Of: Only The Beginnings"(2002). All tracks in this CD are from "Very Best" and the liner notes of it is completely same to VB's.
In my opinion, this edition is released for several foreign countries. Therefor, this is a complete collector's item for US,Japan,... You should buy "The Very Best", if you can.
But the song sellection of this edition (Most of them are works after "If You Leave Me Now") is interesting for me.

This import compilation only scratched the surface of this band that is some 40 years old. A better compliation would be Group Portrait or The Box. Those compilations are more of a cross section and chronology of the band's history. Don't waste your money on this one. The band Chicago does not even consider this part of their official discography.