Chicago - Chicago II

1970

Track Listing                                                                         

1. Movin' in                                                  13. Fancy colours                                                               

2. The road                                                 14. 25 or 6 to 4                                                                     

3. Poem for the people                                15. Prelude                                                           

4. In the country                                          16. A.M. Mourning                                                       

5. Wake up sunshine                                  17. P.M. Mourning                                                       

6. Make me smile                                        18. Memories of love                                                                        

7. So much to say, so much to give            19. 1st movement                                      

8. Anxiety's moment                                    20. 2nd movement                                                                                

9. West Virginia fantasies                           21. 3rd movement                         

10. Colour my world                                    22. 4th movement                                                                              

11. To be free                                             23. Where do we go from here                  

12. Now more than ever                  

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 II is Chicago's follow up their amazing debut Chicago Transit Authority.  It's actual title is Chicago, but known today as Chicago II.  This album features some of their best known work such as "25 or 6 to 4", "Make me smile" and "Colour my world". A series of songs that James Pankow called "Ballet for a girl in Buchannon" consists of tracks 6-12. When I was younger I would listen to this album starting with track 3 all the way through track 14 and just stop.  The reason I would stop listening you may ask?  Well, track 15 starts off with a flute and turns classical, so I just figured it was classical music and quite boring.  Now having just purchased Chicago II and being much older I listened to the album start to finish and absolutely loved every second of it!  The four classical music sounding tracks 15-18 are actually quite good. Especially the last track, "Memories of love" sung by Terry. In fact, to my surprise, Terry wrote the entire sequence of those songs.  Tracks 19-23 are labeled a separate title like 6-12 called "It better end soon", I personally wish it wouldn't end.  This arrangement by Bobby Lamm is awesome.  It is an anti Vietnam War track with some amazing vocals and guitar from Terry and a nice flute solo from Walt.  The album ends with Peter's first writing credit, "Where do we go from here". 

Recommendations

I am quite upset that after all these years of just listening to classic tracks such as "Poem", "Country", "Sunshine", "Buchannon", "Fancy", and "25", that I would just stop the album right there.  This is one of Chicago's finest albums from start to finish and is must for every music library. 

If you plan on purchasing Chicago II

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 typically do not see 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 II but want to hear some tracks from it

For the price of the album it is not worth it to download tracks from it. Just purchase the album.  You will not be disappointed, I promise.  But if you still insist on not taking my advice, you can download any tracks off this album at Itunes or Napster I have my top 5 listed below for suggestions, and have my ideal compilation for the band at my Chicago Home Page.

My Top 5