The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning

Chicago | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 2, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B000068ZVQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (147 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #554 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #18 in Music > Pop > Oldies > General
  • #27 in Music > Pop > Soft Rock
  • #30 in Music > Pop > Adult Contemporary > General AAS

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

From the perspective of 15 subsequent platinum albums and 20 top-10 hits, it's hard to imagine that Chicago began their career as a bona fide prog-fusion act, an early FM radio favorite whose jazz-tinged, album-length suites found them a hip cult following even as they confounded label execs. Ironically, when the pioneering horn band (a contemporary of Blood, Sweat & Tears and inspiration for one-hit wonders like Lighthouse, Ides of March, and Ten Wheel Drive) relented and allowed their music to be edited down to single length, their success was explosive. Most of the "single edits" on disc 1 of this 39-track anthology provide ample evidence of that de facto formula: a catchy riff ("25 or 6 to 4," "Saturday in the Park," "Color My World") develops into a hook-filled, pop-savvy production rife with the band's trademark horn perfection. One could argue that that sensibility--and a midcareer tilt toward producer David Foster, songwriter Diane Warren, and the MOR ballads that became some of their biggest successes--degenerated into formula. Indeed, there's much on the second disc to support that notion. This set spans it all, showcasing newly refocused edits of some their biggest early hits and lesser-known tracks like their lively '95 cross-cultural collaboration with the Gipsy Kings on a cover of Louis Prima's swing classic "Sing, Sing, Sing." --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Subtitled - Only The Beginning. Double disc with 39 hit singles spanning Chicago's complete 35-year history. Including the #1 singles 'If You Leave Me Now,' 'Hard To Say I'm Sorry' and 'Look Away'. Booklet features detailed liner notes by Bill DeYoung. Rhino Records. Slipcase. 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

136 of 138 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars + 1/2 stars: Excellent Compilation, But..., July 7, 2002

By 

Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning (Audio CD)

Don't throw out your copy of the 4-disc Portraits box set just yet. While Rhino does a terrific job of distilling Chicago's career from their 1969 debut (before shortening their name from Chicago Transit Authority) through their final Top 40 hit in 1991 ("Chasin' the Wind"), I do find fault with some of Rhino's decisions.

For starters, only 34 of the band's 35 Top 40 hits are here. Missing is 1975's "Harry Truman," which went to No. 13. Also, unlike 1991's box set, several of these songs are edits. Granted, if you remember these songs from AM radio, you won't notice the difference. These are, after all, the single versions of these songs. So on songs like "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" the piano introduction has been deleted. "Beginnings" has the percussion at the end edited out. "I'm a Man" does not include the drum and percussion interlude.

Other than that, this is a well chosen and thorough collection. Where the box set only covered the band's history through 1980, Rhino brings the band's history up to date with the inclusion of their thirteen hits from the Eighties and Nineties. The set conlcudes with the Louis Prima standard "Sing, Sing, Sing" which Chicago performed with the Gipsy Kings on their 1995 album Night & Day: Big Band. In addition, the 16-page booklet is informative, if not somewhat brief when you consider the band's 30-plus year history. [Note: When Columbia released the Portraits box set, it included an extensive booklet; the current Chicago Records version now in print contains no booklet at all.]

At any rate, this anthology will make redundant the three current greatest hits collections. If you're a fan of the hybrid music Chicago helped create by adding a full-time horn section to a rock band and you're still listening to your worn out vinyl records, this collection is a no-brainer. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

98 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Tale of Two CD's, December 27, 2002

By 

G. J Wiener (Westchester, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning (Audio CD)

What a difference between two CD's. Well I guess that is what you get with a band that has evolved as much as Chicago.

The first CD is nearly flawless. All of it was recorded when Terry Kath was alive and the band recorded rock, blues, and a few ballads augmented by stunning horn arrangements. Terry Kath's guitar solos are oh so creative. Just listen to the wah wah infected solos on I'm A Man and Lowdown and the lightning fast soloing on 25 or 6 to 4 and Make Me Smile. The tone is oh so cool by Mr. Kath on Feelin' Stronger Everyday as well as the Peter Cetera sung Questions 67 and 68.

Robert Lamm's contributions on Saturday In The Park and Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is are strong. Catchy tunes with good singing. Peter Cetera adds some nice songs as well. In moderation, Peter is just fine, tenor voice and all. Overall, this first CD is an easy five stars in spite of a few questionable edits.

The second CD is a horse of a diferent color. It starts off nicely with Old Days. Then we have Baby What A Big Surprise. Not Chicago's worst song, but certainly a sign of an unfortunate power struggle shift to Peter Cetera's sappy ballads. I actually like Take Me Back To Chicago as Robert Lamm's vocals are on the money and guest star Chaka Kahn contributes nicely as well. Afterwards its kind of hit and miss with the sappy Peter Cetera ballads. Some are more tolerable than others.

When Peter left, Chicago deteriorated even further with synthesizers dominating the scene and terribly uninspired vocals as well as horrible drumming(Why in the world did they can Danny Seraphine?). Also, whatever happened to the horn arrangements? Where is keyboardist Robert Lamm for that matter? They were the backbone of this fine band. Is this even Chicago or an imposter band? Someone notify the music police!!!!!! Its really a chore to endure six straight sappy ballads performed without any sign of the true blue Chicago.

Fortunately, this disc closes strongly with the reworking of Sing Sing Sing. The horns are back as well as some good guitar and a strong percussion beat. However this second disc rates two-two and a half stars and brings down the overall package to a three and a half.

This may be a good place to start to get a comprehensive overview of Chicago. However, fans that like a natural mix of rock and jazz might want to try their first eleven releases and pick and choose from there. As for those people who like the balladeering synthesizer drivel, I just can not help you.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 39 or 34 to 2, July 8, 2002

By 

Jason Stein (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning (Audio CD)

Once again, I must give my explanation of compilation packages. They are not designed for fans who have all the cds from the artist. A good package will include all the artist's top 40 hits plus key album cuts. "The Very Best Of: Only The Beginning" gets a high mark for including all of Chicago's top 40 hits with the exception of "Harry Truman". The five non-hits, though not what Chicago enthusiasts would select, are fine additions to this compilation. All tracks are digitally remastered, which is a plus on the 1969-1980 material, and a nice enhancement of the 1982-1991 material. I particularly liked Chicago's version of The Spencer Davis Group's "I'm A Man". For anyone who grew up in the 1970's, or like myself, the 1980's, this compilation is filled with memories. Unfortunately, as is documented here, Chicago became a slickly produced ballad factory beginning with "Chicago 16", but not glaringly apparent until "Chicago 18". At any rate, the power ballad never sounded so good. I think only Toto could rival Chicago for power ballad excellence (they need a two disc compilation!) This is a great way to introduce kids to a great band, or a great way to condense a collection on to cd, digitally remastered. Listening to this compilation just reminds me of the pitiful state of top 40 radio today. I can only think of the band Cake, offhand, that uses brass in their music currently. Rhino Records does a nice packaging job. I liked how they displayed all the album covers under the cd tray, and how they give track information in the cd jacket. The liner notes were nothing special, just brief career overview. All in all, the best two disc Chicago compilation under one roof thus far.