Chicago - Chicago III

1971

Track Listing                                                     

1. Sing a mean tune kid                                          13. A hard risin' morning without breakfast              

2. Loneliness is just a word                                    14. Off to work                                                                    

3. What else can I say                                            15. Fallin' out                                         

4. I don't want your money                                     16. Dreamin' home                                                       

5. Flight 602                                                           17. Morning blues again                           

6. Motorboat to mars                                              18. When all the laughter dies in sorrow                                     

7. Free                                                                   19. Canon                                  

8. Free country                                                      20. Once upon a time...                        

9. At the sunrise                                                     21. Progress?                        

10. Happy 'cause I'm going home                          22. The approaching storm                                                  

11. Mother                                                             23. Man vs. Man, the end                  

12. Lowdown                 

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

Chicago III is the third album released by Chicago, and is the third straight double album released by the band.  It is not as popular as their first two albums, only containing two top 40 hits.  The album consists of three medley's, "Travel Suite", "An hour in the shower", and "Elegy".  The album peaked at number two on the Billboard Pop charts.

Recommendations

Growing up at an early age listening to a lot of Chicago, I was never familiar with this album.  My dad wasn't the biggest fan and I see why.  It is not as loaded as other Terry Kath-era Chicago albums.  There are still some good tracks here making it an album that should still be in your library, as all Terry Kath-era Chicago albums should be.

If you plan on purchasing Chicago III

You must purchase the 2002 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 III but want to hear some tracks from it

I almost think it's worth owning the album instead of purchasing individual tracks.  The opening track is a must own, a few of the tracks from the "Travel Suite" such as the CSNY sounding "Flight 602", and "Free" are must owns.  The single "Lowdown" and the tracks from the "An hour in the shower" medley must be in your library as well.  Due to the fact that the An hour in the shower medley is broken down in to 5 tracks, (which is less than 6 minutes) you would spend more purchasing these tracks at Itunes or Napster.  So really, you would be better off just owning the entire album.  For more suggestions I have my ideal compilation for the band at my Chicago Home Page.

My Top 5