Customer Reviews

Christmas: What's It Gonna Be Santa

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In recent years, and especially now more than ever since Rhino Records has been re-releasing the Chicago catalogue, I have seen the CHI-fan base divided into two separate factions--those who are sick and tired of the greatest hits packages, often with a new track or two thrown in for good measure, and those fans who are comfortable with where and what present day CHI is, and are thankful for any and all new material that gets thrown their way. I'm not going to waste my time here, or yours, debating who is right and who is wrong...it's all a matter of opinion, anyway...but I need to say this:

Rhino Records' strong point is, and always has been, in producing reissues and repackagings. That's what Rhino is...a REISSUE label. That isn't to say that artists haven't released original material from time to time on the label, (The Monkees' 1996 effort, Justus, comes to mind--and while a fan favorite, was a commercial flop, even further emphasizing my point that origial material is not what this label is all about), but when Chicago sold their catalogue to Rhino, it should have not been any surprise that this would happen. More often than not, it's Rhino's modus operandi to issue a new track on an old album here and there to peak interest from collectors. They do it all the time--and not just with Chicago.

But getting on the topic of this new reissue of CHI's Christmas album--well, it could certainly be MUCH worse. We aren't getting one or two new songs, but actually a full SIX new tunes, all of which are absolutely well-done, and fit in effortlessly with the original tracks that were recorded in 1998. Keith Howland gets his first shot at a studio lead vocal, Lee graces us with another Terry Kath-esque lead, and Bill rocks out on "Rudolph" (easily my favorite track on the whole album), to name just a few of the highlights. I love Christmas music anyway, and these additions to what already was a great album makes it even better.

For those folks out there who need a new CHI-music fix, I'd heartily recommend Robert Lamm's new solo effort "subtelty&passion", which features just about the whole band making guest appearances...while it's not technically a Chicago release, it's the next best thing. But for those who are enjoying these reissues from Rhino, and have enjoyed the previous edition of the Christmas album, you won't be disappointed here, either!

I have always liked Chicago. I didn't buy this CD when it 1st came out as Chicago 25 but had planned to. With the extra songs included, I'm glad I waited until now to get it. The original brass and woodwind section of James Pankow, Lee Loughnane and Walt Parasaider are all here.

Lee Loughnane, original trumpet player for Chicago, comes out more on lead vocals than he has on the past, singing lead on "Let It Snow!" (this rendition became a big hit for Chicago)and "Sleigh Ride." Jason Scheff, bass player, sings lead on "Silent Night," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "O Come All Ye Faithful" (Walt Parasaider does a fine job on woodwinds) and "This Christmas" (Jason's singing sounds a little like Peter Cetera's). Bill Champlin, keyboardist and guitarist, sings lead on "Little Drummer Boy" (Tris Imboden, Chicago's drummer, did a fine job on drums here), "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "What Child Is This?" and a song he wrote himself called "Bethlehem." Keith Howland, guitarist, sings lead on the rockin' version of "Jolly Old St Nicholas" (I like the alternative band lyrics "Walter wants a saxophone, Jimmy a trombone..." with Keith himself begging Santa for a new guitar!). Robert Lamm, original keyboardist, sings lead on "Winter Wonderland" (I like the alternative chord changes on this which only Chicago could have come up with), "Christmastime Is Here" (from a Charlie Brown Christmas), "The Christmas Song," "Feliz Navidad" and closes the CD with "White Christmas." With all the personell changes, it's hard to imagine a Chicago CD without him! Many of Chicago's children (and Roy Bittan's) are featured on lead vocals with "Child's Prayer" (which Lee wrote) and "One Little Candle" (this one features none of the members of Chicago, since they were busy taking pictures of their children; I guess I'd be the same way if it were one of my kids!).

James Pankow, Chicago's trombonist, does a fine job with the brass arrangements and Roy Bittan from the E Street Band produced this album and helped out with keyboards on many songs. David Milman's liner notes explain the making of this and the addition of new songs. The band originally recorded this in March of 1998 in California, complete with Christmas decorations in the studio!

All in all, this is a great job from Chicago and Roy and a fun Christmas album!

Chicago could have just "phoned it in" and this would have been a good Christmas album. But, it is clear that the band put a lot of creative energy into this album, as described by band members in the liner notes. So, it really is a great album even if you just want a taste of what latter-day Chicago sounds like in the studio. It offers everything you would want from Chicago - great vocals, musicianship, and of course my heroes the horns! Plus, the arrangements are truly inventive. One additional note - why aren't Chicago in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame???

I've always enjoyed CHICAGO, but they've never been one of my "must have" groups. . .until now. Long time, hardcore fans might not enjoy the softer side of this group displayed here, but the rest of you should love this compilation. The tunes are almost all familiar, yet done in with those inimitable, jazz-infused vocals that made CHICAGO so listenable in its first years. The brass is scaled back on most numbers, but it is, likewise, unmistakably from those Chi-Town guys. Best of all, it is imminently catchy, relaxed, playful, groovy, and even occasionally reverential, all at once. What a delight this album is, reminding me of best of the Vince Guaraldi Trio in their stylistic approach. Of the 20 songs, "Little Drummer Boy" is the one you're most likely to hear on the radio, but others show more depth: "Bethlehem (a new recording for this CD)", "Feliz Navidad," and "Winter Wonderland (another new recording)" to name just a few. I hope to find one decent new Christmas album each year, but I struck the mother lode this year. Buy this--you won't regret it.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, Chicago adds to their already great lineup of timeless classic Christmas tunes a few more tracks that make this CD a "must-have" even if one has their Christmas CD from four years ago. This CD is much like their music I grew up with in the 70's and I am glad to see they still have it after all these years. The power of the awesome horn section combined with the great mixture of percussion, ivories, strings and vocals in the Christmas tradition brings back much of their imaginative spirit we have come to expect from the band. I have followed this group since 1970, having bought most of their recordings, I would rate this up there as one of their best. There are plenty interpretations of the Christmas classics but this band just added another flair just not heard out there. I even got another generation hooked on Chicago thanks to this CD. Now my teenage son is begging me for their older stuff. My favorite track is "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" with Keith Howland's guitar licks and his vocals adds another dimension to an already vocal-rich lineup of Robert Lamm, Jason Scheff and Bill Champlin. Even Lee Loughnane gets into the singing act on another awesome tune of "Let It Snow" from their original Christmas release. There will always be folks out there that don't like Chicago's music no matter what they do, for those of us that do, thanks guys for another dimension to your brilliant career.

I have had this CD since it came out in 1998. It does not disappoint if you like any kind of Chicago music styling. Chicago has used all the best talents of the group's amazing musicians and vocals to put together holiday that you will listen to a month before and after the the holidays. It is very uplifting like all of their music.

When I learned of a re-release Chicago Christmas CD , I couldn't wait to get it! Chicago 25 is awesome....and this one has a few more tracks on it. It's so good, it's in my cd player from about mid-October to well after the holidays. When I play it for friends, they cannot believe it's Chicago, till they hear the distinctive sounds of the horn section, or Robert Lamm's soft renditions of traditional favorites. And the other guys aren't too shabby either! Especially Keith Howland on the track: Jolly Old St Nicholas. He totally rocks on this one. You will not be disappointed if you add this CD to your Christmas collection !!!

There really isn't a whole lot I can say about this CD as it more or less speaks for itself. If you like jazzy, modern renditions of Christmas music, this is as good as it gets. If you like Chicago, this is also pretty darned good. Quite honestly, the re-recording of "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" featured on this album is almost worth the cost alone.

Rhino Records which has already released a dozen of Chicago's first albums as enhanced re-issues, has put out this 20 song offering. Chicago : What's It Gonna Be Santa" is a re-issue of "Chicago XXV" , a superb contemporary collection of Christmas classics with a Chicago original mixed in. This new release however, adds six newly recorded tracks to the 14 on Chicago XXV, making an already good thing even better.
The original selection of Christmas tunes is simply terrific. Chicago, following in the approach of "Night and Day Big Band" wherein the American supergroup re-arranged big band classics with an inventive and fresh variety of styles, tempos and grooves, takes a similar artistic path with their Christmas release.
Such holiday standards as "White Christmas" and "The Christmas Song" are done in an uptempo pop-funk style while "Let It Snow!" shows off Chicago's ability to really rock in a blues shuffle groove. Bill Champlin's soulful "Have Yourself a Merry Little" Christmas" gives this moody classic a wonderfully original blues treatment. And, throughout the disc, the legendary Chicago horns play through trombonist Jimmy Pankow's melodic arrangements in their unique, warm and fat style.
The six new tracks really compliment the original CD, adding even more new styles and sounds. The disc's opener, Bobby Lamm's "Winter Wonderland" lays down an infectious rock groove with excellent vocal arrangements making great use of Chicago's arsenal of superb vocalists. Lead guitarist Keith Howland who covers some tunes in concert, shows off his first studio lead vocal with a quick tempo pop rock version of "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas". Bassist Jason Scheff's tenor has never sounded better than on "This Christmas", which has a wonderful 70's soul retro sound with the Chicago horns propelling the arrangement. Bill Champlin again shows why he is probably the greatest blue-eyed soul singer around with a gutsy, funky "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". It sounds like an odd combination, but this track really works.
Following up to his terrific arrangement of "Let It Snow!", trumpeter Lee Loughnane pens a superb shuffle version of "Sleigh Ride". Again, he steps behind the microphone to tackle lead vocal duties and his deep voice, reminiscent of the late Terry Kath's depth and timbre lends itself perfectly to this classic.
"Chicago: What's It Gonna Be Santa" is just terrific and certainly one of the most inventive and eclectic holiday CD's by any artist. There's something for everyone here to enjoy.
Essential holiday listening as well as essential Chicago.

I love Chicago. I have every album or CD the band ever released. In the past years I noticed that there were a lot of the older songs with new covers. They changed some of the songs around to make "best of" CD's as well. I purchased Chicago 25, their Christmas album about four years ago. I really enjoyed it. This appears to be the same album with some additional tracks. I won't buy this one, I wish that Chicago had made a second Christmas album because the first was so nicely done. If you don't have it and are looking for some tasty Chicago treatments of Christmas music with the horns and their style of writing and playing, I'd advise you to get this CD. If you are a Chicago enthusiast you may be disappointed if you have "25." I rate Chicago 25 and "Santa" 5 stars. Both are great listening.