Chicago Transit Authority [Original recording reissued]

Chicago | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 28, 1995)
• Original Release Date: 1986
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Chicago Records
• ASIN: B0000021RB
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #288,256 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Introduction

2. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

3. Beginnings

4. Questions 67 and 68

5. Listen

6. Poem 58

7. Free Form Guitar

8. South California Purples

9. I'm a Man

10. Prologue, August 29, 1968

11. Someday (August 29, 1968)

12. Liberation

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Formed in 1967, the Chicago Transit Authority echoed the concepts of Blood, Sweat & Tears by adding a jazzy horn section to their rock sound. Before shortening their name due to pressure in their hometown, the CTA released this impressive debut album. Featuring the vocals of keyboard player Robert Lamm, guitarist Terry Kath, and bassist Peter Cetera, Chicago's sound was smoothly orchestrated one minute and overtly raucous the next. The late Terry Kath indulged himself in "Free Form Guitar" and wailed aggressively in the cover of the Spencer Davis Group's hit, "I'm a Man." Robert Lamm wrote most of the original material, including the successful "Beginnings" and "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is." This record shows Chicago fully formed and sounding great. --Mitch Myers

Product Description

Formed in its namesake city in 1967, Chicago is the first American band ever to propel albums into Billboard's pop Top 40 for five consecutive decades. The group's first two albums were released as double LPs, and their unprecedented fusion of rock, pop, and jazz won Chicago immediate success. Their debut, CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY, was originally released in 1969 and climbed to #17 on Billboard's pop albums chart; CHICAGO II followed in 1970, and rose to #4. Reissued for the first time on 180-gram virgin vinyl as part of Rhino's ongoing partnership with Chicago to upgrade their extensive catalogue, these classic albums sound better than ever. Mastering for these 2-LP deluxe gatefold editions was done from the original analog tapes. --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Would sound just as fresh today..., February 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Chicago Transit Authority (Audio CD)

Considering the drek which passes as music these days, "CTA," if it were released today, would sound just as innovative and fresh as it did 31 years ago. If the "Chicago Transit Authority" were introduced today as a new recording artist with this disc as its first release, and if it were listened to by the hoards of people who probably don't even know that there was a group called "CTA" before they became Chicago, it would rock the music scene perhaps even more so than it did in the late 60's. Nothing in today's popular music even comes close to the genius of this work.

Aside from the three big-name tracks, "Beginnings," "Does anybody reall know..." and "Questions," this disc contains the best recording ever of "I'm a Man," which is much better than the Spencer Davis Groups' version.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So original, so bold., November 25, 2002

By 

DocRossow - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chicago Transit Authority (Audio CD)

CTA ("Chicago 1") has never received the due it so richly deserves from rock critics. This album is simply one of the best creative efforts of the late 60's, and introduced a sound that has never been duplicated. This album is in my top ten of all time, though there are tracks I really don't care for (that's how good the good stuff is).

To this day I feel the power and magic my friends and I experienced when we first heard "Introduction". I play this song for my two sons whenever I want them to hear how a truly great band plays together, yet allows the individual to showcase their great talent. "Introduction", worth the price of the album by itself, remains for me a powerful example of musicians who are at the top of their art.

"Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is", "Beginnings", "Questions 67&68", "Listen", and "I'm a Man" are all great tracks, as evidenced by the early hits from this album.

Fans of Chicago in the late 70's and 80's may have never known what a great bass player Peter Cetera was (knowing only his syrupy ballads of that later era). Robert Lamm on the keyboards and Terry Kath were undeniably the best at their craft in this moment in time. The brass "section"-Pankow, Parazaider, and Loughnane-characterized the energy of this album.

But the most overlooked drummer in rock and roll history, Daniel Seraphine, made the sound complete. Seraphine was the first drummer I ever heard that proved that the drums were a true musical instrument, and not just for keeping the beat. In all my years of following the "best of" lists, his name rarely if ever appears in the list of great drummers. But I can assure you that you will be mesmerized by his playing. He is the best that ever was.

"CTA" and "Chicago II" are the best 1-2 albums ever produced. Own them and listen for a lifetime.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Worthy Introduction, August 6, 2000

By 

Robert Kennedy "robkennedy" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chicago Transit Authority (Audio CD)

Many long-term Chicago fans will tell you that the band was never better than on this, their first album. I definitely include it among my top two or three. Those who came to know Chicago only during (or after) the Peter-Cetera-ballads phase could very well be surprised with a listen. Because, above all else, the first album shows that once upon a time Chicago was a free-playing Rock Band - with horns thrown in.

The proof begins on the very first track, appropriately titled "Introduction". Launching with a bluesy horn riff over a rocking rhythm chart, the band proceeds to display its considerable versatility in the next six-and-a-half minutes. "If you've nothing to do, sit back and let it through and let us play for you" sings guitarist Terry Kath before the band moves through its paces. Styles change along with key and time signatures, leading to a central episode that is hard rock worthy of Hendrix. (This album should convince most observers that comparisons of Kath to Hendrix are not gratuitous.) But, lest the band be pigeonholed, "Introduction's" final chord is a dissonant seven voice jazz chord worthy of Kenton.

The album then moves to the well-known singles including "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" and "Beginnings". Admittedly these sound a bit shop worn after thirty years, but they yield overlooked surprises. For example, listen to Peter Cetera's bass-playing throughout. Much more than simply playing the chord roots, he was constantly inventing rhythmic counter-melodies. (He would achieve a peak with this style three years later on "Dialogue".) But the gems of the album are the songs that weren't singles: "Listen", which like "Introduction" is a song about the band's craft; and "Poem 58" and "South California Purples", hard rock tunes the likes of which would rarely be heard on future Chicago albums. My favorite track is "Someday", a tune about the '68 Democratic Convention with an extremely inventive harmonic structure.

The only real drawback is that the album is a bit long - it was the first of Chicago's double LP sets and is not as concise a statement as Chicago II, or even Chicago III. But this is also a benefit ("Free Form Guitar" excepted) in that it gives the rhythm section an opportunity to shine. Which, in the end, is the story of this album. Chicago would go on to bigger stardom, and even some (arguably) better albums, but they would never again approach the energetic, uninhibited rock of Chicago I.