Xi [Original recording reissued]

Chicago | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 28, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Chicago Records
• ASIN: B0000021RT
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #489,166 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Mississippi Delta City Blues

2. Baby, What a Big Surprise

3. Till the End of Time

4. Policeman

5. Take Me Back to Chicago

6. Vote for Me

7. Takin' It on Uptown

8. This Time

9. The Inner Struggles of a Man

10. Prelude (Little One)

11. Little One

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Never the Same Again, May 16, 2002

By 

W. Langan "take403" (the end of the world to your town!) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Xi (Audio CD)

I know it sounds like a cliche, especially since 2 reviewers issued the same statement with different words. But face it- Chicago would never be the same again after Terry Kath accidentally took his life. Not only that, they fired control freak manager/producer James Guercio and would never record at Caribou studios afterwards.

Kath opens with "Mississippi Delta City Blues", which had been included in their live set as early as 1972. In this song, he mourns the end of a relationship but keeps a brave face for others. "Baby What a Big Surprise" isn't a bad song. I like Lee Loughnane's flugelhorn arrangement in it but Peter Cetera's lyrics are a bit cheezy. Jim Pankow's "Till the End of Time" is the most forgetable songs here- stick to your trombone chores, Jimmy! Things pick up with Robert Lamm's "Policeman", which shows our police force in a more favorable light than on "State of the Union". Danny Seraphine contributes the poignant "Take Me Back to Chicago", which was dedicated in memory of a drummer from Chicago (but soon rang too true to Kath)- "...and lay my soul to rest." Chaka Khan contributes some soulful harmonies. Next is Lamm's hilariously sarcastic "Vote for Me", where a politician makes promises impossible to keep like extending the railroad system "from Waikiki to Old Delaware" and "new cars that run on beer or anything except gasoline"! Kath pens and croons the grim blues number "Takin' It On Uptown", which sounds a little too prophetic. Loughnane sings the impressive "This Time". "The Inner Struggles of a Man" sounds a lot like the "AM/PM Mourning Suite" on Chicago II which segues into "Prelude/Little One." I suppose it sounds a little corny unless you have kids of your own but Kath's sensitive vocals on "Little One" make it sound all the more poignant. Terry, rest in peace, we miss you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars End of an Era, February 7, 2001

By 

Nordamerikanischerelch - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xi (Audio CD)

As others have noted, this is the last album that featured some great guitar work by Terry Kath, the polished production talents of James William Guercio and it was the last album the group recorded at Caribou Ranch. These points are significant when one considers that after this album, the group lost some of their appeal and musical flair.

This album is a mixed bag that highlights the best and worst of Chicago. Among the best tracks on this album are Terry Kath's "Mississippi Delta City Blues" and the Hendrix influenced "Takin' It Uptown." "Blues" features a punchy horn section and it's probably one of Kath's better bluesy vocals. "Uptown" kicks some serious ass and it shows what a guitar virtuoso Kath was.

Lee Loughnane's "This Time" is probably the best song on the album. Both the three-pronged guitar effect and the brass section are nothing less than solid and Loughnane's vocal is also polished.

Robert Lamm always delivers both as a singer and a songwriter. "Vote for Me" is an envigorating if not sardonically witty piece that rightly expresses the disgust and disillusionment with our elected officials. "Policeman" is an interesting, thoughtful piece where Lamm extends an olive branch to those law enforcement officials he previously railed against.

"Inner Struggles" is a heavy but agreeable orchestral arrangement that's worth listening to. "Take Me Back to Chicago" is pretty decent too. Lamm's vocal is solid and Chaka Khan gives it that soulful edge that takes you to the South Side.

"Little One" is too sappy for my tastes and it probably should've been left off the album. "Baby, What a Big Surprise" is another forgettable piece. I don't care if this was a Top-40 hit, the lyrics and musical arrangement flat out suck! However, the WORST offender is James Pankow's "'Til the End of Time." Pankow is a fine trombonist but he's a LOUSY singer and his piano playing is flat. Sorry Jimmy, but you should stick to doing brass arrangements and horn charts and leave the singing to Kath, Cetera and Lamm.

Despite these weak moments, I'd have to say Chicago XI is worthy of consideration. Fans of the group will want to add this album to their collection if for no other reason than to relish what was the group's swan song.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Terry Kath's Last Hurrah, January 5, 2001

By 

Steven R Fleck (Rockville Centre, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xi (Audio CD)

Chicago XI marked the closing of the volume on these integral elements:

It was the band's final effort with founding guitarist Terry Kath before his accidental suicide, their last with producer James William Guercio, and their last on Columbia Records.

The major criticism I have of XI is that it's somewhat subdued. Other than Kath's inspired reworking of MISSISSIPPI DELTA CITY BLUES (1st appearing on Live in Japan), laid back tracks abound, including the one true ballad by Pete Cetera, the ho-hum single BABY WHAT A BIG SURPRISE. Kicking back in the hammock with it are 4/5's of Side One, including Pankow's equally lazy TILL THE END OF TIME (with a rare vocal by the trombonist), and Bobby Lamm's POLICEMAN and TAKE ME BACK TO CHICAGO (groovy R&B chorus, tho).

Side Two kicks it a bit with Lamm's uptempo & funny VOTE FOR ME, and 3 extraordinary tracks: a welcome but eerie guitar cranker by Kath called TAKE IT ON UPTOWN (with cover lyrics that read like someone about to end his life), Lee Loughnane's wonderful THIS TIME, and Danny Seraphine/D. Wolinski's touching epic, LITTLE ONE, with truly poignant vocals by Kath. I remember listening to it after he died and being overwhelmed with sadness.

Ironically, Kath's performance is the only element that seems truly alive. Check out the funky strumming on the opener, and, good heavens, the rhythm part on UPTOWN, let alone the leads. His solo on THIS TIME is gold in it's simplicity, turning the guitar part BACKWARDS in the final 4 bars, perhaps in tribute to Hendrix, who reportedly IDOLIZED KATH. His performance on LITTLE ONE supposedly became the standard for hiring his eventual replacement. I mean, it's almost like great fiction.

It's interesting how Kath's guitar-heavy songs are in stunning contrast with the rest of the band on XI, like he was alienating himself from their direction. The fact that he succeeded 100-fold and nearly ended their musical career as a result makes XI more of an interesting, tragic portrait of a great guitarist than a great Chicago album.