Chicago - Chicago at Carnegie Hall

1971

Track Listing

Disc 1:                                                                            Disc 2:                     

1. In the country                                                                                1. 1st movement            

2. Fancy colours                                                                               2. 2nd movement                                              

3. Does anybody really know what time it is? (intro)                         3. 3rd movement                                   

4. Does anybody really know what time it is?                                   4. 4th movement

5. South California purples                                                               5. 5th movement         

6. Questions 67 & 68                                                                       6. Introduction                     

7. Sing a mean tune kid                                                                   7. Mother

8. Beginnings                                                                                   8. Lowdown                         

11. Mother                                                                                       9. Flight 602                 

12. Lowdown                                                                      10. Motorboat to Mars

                                                                                        11. Free

                                                                                                        12. Where do we go from here

                                                                                                        13. I don't want your money

Disc 3:                                                                           Disc 4:

1. Happy cause I'm going home                                                      1. Listen

2. Make me smile                                                                            2. Introduction

3. So much to say, so much to give                                                3. South California Purples

4. Anxiety's moment                                                                        4. Loneliness is just a word

5. West Virginia fantasies                                                               5. Free form intro

6. Colour my world                                                                          6. Sing a mean tune kid

7. To be free                                                                                   7. An hour in the shower

8. Now more than ever                                                                   8. 25 or 6 to 4

9. A song for Richard and his friends

10. 25 or 6 to 4

11. I'm a man

Band Members:       

Robert Lamm - Vocals, keyboards     Terry Kath - Vocals, guitar

Peter Cetera - Vocals, bass     Danny Seraphine - Drums

Lee Loughane - Trumpet, vocals     James Pankow - Trombone

Walter Parazaider - Woodwinds, vocals     Produced By :  James William Guercio

Notes

Due to the popularity of Chicago, the band was able to land a gig for a full week at the infamous Carnegie Hall in New York.  It was an amazing event and the band wanted to record the whole week and release not only a double record (like their 3 previous albums) but a quadruple album!  Columbia Records was not for the idea at all, but the band was able to do it, taking a cut in their royalties.  They ended up recording for the entire week and comprised the album into 8 sides.  The album sold many copies and was loved by fans, but critics didn't care much for it.  The sound quality, which has now been well improved was not that great and the band's energy with the exception of Terry Kath & Danny Seraphine just didn't seem to be all there.  It's a nice live set, which pretty much includes every track from their first three albums.  In 2005 there was a remake of this album including 8 tracks from that week that were never released.  Chicago at Carnegie Hall, which is commonly known as Chicago IV, peaked at number 3 on the Billboard charts.

Recommendations

Due to the history of this album and the fact that its the only live album (that is not out of print) that features Terry Kath, this is a must own.  I would never not recommend anything that features Terry Kath.  Kath is the major highlight on this album with his amazing vocals and extended guitar solos. 

If you plan on purchasing Chicago at Carnegie Hall

You must purchase the 2005 remastered version.  Rhino Records have remastered all Terry Kath-era albums, and they sound great!  Along with the remastering there are liner notes from Rolling Stone editor David Wild which include quotes from band members and unseen photos.  I have never seen this album available in local record stores, but it is always in stock at Cdnow.com at a reasonable price.  

If you don't plan on purchasing Chicago at Carnegie Hall but want to hear some tracks from it

This album has 39 tracks, which is quite a lot.  If you have no interest in owning the album, then you should probably avoid purchasing any individual tracks.  All these tracks with the exception of an extra movement in "It better end soon" and "A song for Richard and his friends" can be found on the previous three albums.  It would be too expensive to pick through individual tracks, but if you like, you can do this at either Itunes or Napster.  For more Chicago suggestions, you can view my ideal compilation for the band at my Chicago Home Page.

My Top 5