Chicago V [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Chicago | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 20, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1972
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B00006FR47
• Also Available in: DVD Audio  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,294 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though it may not have been clear at the time, Chicago's fifth album marked something of a turning point for the most successful American rock act of the 1970s. V was not only the band's first single-disc release, but, incredibly, its 11th LP worth of music in just three years. That Herculean workload may have watered down their previous studio album (III), but it also seemed to teach them a few important lessons as well. Here they manage not only one of their biggest hits (the joyous "Saturday in the Park"), but a stubborn, focused retrenchment of their most adventurous musical instincts in the bargain. That notion is clear from the intentionally ironic opening of "A Hit by Varese," through cuts like "While the City Sleeps," "State of the Union," and the autobiographical "Alma Mater," which bristle with the band's jazzy instincts and avant-garde influences. Even the album's other Top 30 hit, "Dialogue (Part I & II)," remains one of its more unusual chart entries. This digitally remastered new edition contains three bonus tracks (a Terry Kath noise-guitar-powered, previously unreleased studio take of "A Song for Richard and His Friends," the gritty outtake "Mississippi Delta City Blues," and the original single edit of "Dialogue") as well as Don Heckman's new liner notes, which feature insightful comments from several band members. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Expanded & remastered. The band's first single-LP album, includes the crossover hit 'Saturday In The Park' and nine more original tracks, plus bonus tracks 'A Song For Richard And His Friends' (studio without vocals), 'Mississippi Delta City Blues' (1st recorded version with scratch vocal) & 'Dialogue (Part I & II)' (Single version). 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Transitional Album, May 23, 2005

By 

Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chicago V (Audio CD)

Given the transitional nature of Chicago V, I can't imagine that all diehard fans of the more poppy Chicago material and all diehard fans of the first three recordings would like it, although there must be some overlap. As a huge fan of the first three recordings (and as a bassist), I feel that Chicago V (1972) along with their 1969 debut (Chicago Transit Authority), II, III, and the live recording IV, defines a period where the band was at a creative peak. Although there are the (so-called) "pop" hits "Saturday in the Park", "Dialogue Pts I and II", and I suppose to some extent "All is Well", Chicago V is far from being a pop vehicle. Instead, the music seamlessly bridges the gap between their smash hits and the wild, full-throttle acid jazz-rock of 69-71. Specifically, the "big band" type arrangements on V (nearly all of which were written by Robert Lamm) sacrifice none of the instrumental virtuosity or experimentation of earlier works, although the pieces are somewhat shorter and presented in a tighter, more cohesive format. For example, there are no lengthy song-cycle suites or extended guitar solos. It does not however, take a careful listener to appreciate the sheer complexity of the arrangements on V, which emphasize dense ensemble work, odd time signatures (the waltzy 3/4 and 6/8 are used quite a lot, amongst others), and unusual chord voicings, in addition to the wide stylistic range of the music, which runs the gamut from the gospel-ish vocal parts on Alma Mater, to the awesome jazz-rock of "State of the Union" and "Goodbye". All of the musicians are absolutely top shelf and Peter Cetera is unquestionably the most under-rated bass player in all of rock. In fact, he is one of the few rock bassists that can play a convincing walking bass line. All in all, this recording (including the bonus tracks) makes a nice bookend at the conclusion of a five-album sequence of incredible music written during 1969-1972 that is also indicative of future trends. As a fan of both jazz-rock and progressive rock, Chicago V works for me on a number of levels and is highly recommended along with CTA, II, III, and IV.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new Chicago, November 10, 2002

By 

Brian Christie (Calgary, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chicago V (Audio CD)

CHICAGO V marked the beginning of a new incarnation of the Chicago sound. After 1971's double CHICAGO III (which depleted their reserves of songs) and the quadruple set CHICAGO AT CARNEGIE HALL, the band decided it was time for a change. Recorded in a mere few days in September 1971, CHICAGO V was released the following July featuring just one disc and ten relatively-shortened tracks. Of course "Saturday In The Park" and "Dialogue (Parts 1 & 2)" are well-known to Chicago aficionados, but what about the rest? Chicago basically merged their freewheeling avant-garde and melodic tendencies together to create classics like "A Hit By Varese", "All Is Well", "Now That You're Gone" and "Goodbye". Robert Lamm hit his peak on this album, authoring a staggering 8 of the 10 tracks. The album's enormous acceptance was evidenced by its incredible NINE weeks at # 1, making it the biggest album of 1972. Now, CHICAGO V is fleshed out with an early take of Terry Kath's fine "Mississippi Delta Blues", a backing track for "A Song For Richard And His Friends" (which appeared on the live CHICAGO AT CARNEGIE HALL) and the single version of "Dialogue". And take it from me, it all sounds GREAT. A well-done reissue.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars While The City Sleeps, May 22, 2006

By 

John P Bernat (Kingsport, TN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chicago V (Audio CD)

This was the last "good" CHicago album, before they pandered completely to top-40 tastes and drowned in sentimentality.

The lower brass is great here, especially in "Hit by Varese." This song challenges the band's followers to think about musical forms outside the "new norm" - just like Satie on BST's second album.

But, anyway, my favorite is "While the City Sleeps." I was working the midnight shift in a factory in Chicago at the time of this song's popularity, and it was exactly the same rhythm as a large hydraulic machine which ran all night long. Tis music, for such an unlikely reason, is part of the soundtrack of my own life growing up in Chicago.

But it was the last time the band tried to create and maintain a dialogue..."We can make it happen." We really let the boys down, I guess...but then I guess that they let us down, too.