Chicago - Chicago X (LP) (1976) - €10,00

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Chicago X is the eighth studio album, and tenth album overall, by the American band Chicago. It was recorded at Caribou Ranch and it was released by Columbia Records on June 14, 1976. The album made it to number three on the Billboard 200.

The album produced Chicago’s first number one single in the United States, “If You Leave Me Now“. 

The single went on to win two Grammy Awards: for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus, the band’s first Grammy Award; and for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists, for arrangers James William Guercio and Jimmie Haskell.

Two other songs from the album released as singles—”Another Rainy Day in New York City“, and “You Are On My Mind”—made it into the Billboard Hot 100. “Another Rainy Day in New York City” made it to number 32, and “You Are On My Mind” went to number 49.

Although it was their tenth release Chicago X (1976) was actually the band’s eighth studio effort — as Chicago IV (1972) had been a live set from Carnegie Hall and Chicago IX (1975), which precedes this disc, was their first best-of collection. 

Musically, the combo had effectively abandoned their extended free-form jazz leanings for more succinct pop songs. That is not to say that the band couldn’t rock, because they could as evidenced by the Terry Kath (guitar/vocals) full-tilt rave-up “Once or Twice,” which commences the album. 

The hot brass section bows deeply and respectfully to their Muscle Shoals counterparts as Kath does his best funky Otis Redding vocal. 

Showing his tremendous depth of field, Kath bookends the LP with the empowering and positive “Hope for Love.” 

In between those two extremes are some of Chicago’s best-known works — such as Peter Cetera‘s (bass/vocals) chart-topping light rock epic “If You Leave Me Now” and Robert Lamm’s (keyboards/vocals) “Another Rainy Night in New York City.” 

The latter side also reveals a minor motif, as it is a Latin-based song about the Big Apple. It follows in the footsteps of the improv-heavy “Italian from New York” from their previous studio effort, the fusion-filled Chicago VII (1974). 

Lamm contributes a few other tucked-away classics to Chicago X as well — such as the aggressive and sexy “You Get It Up.” There are also a pair from James Pankow(trombone/vocals) in the form of the syncopated “You Are on My Mind” — which crossed over onto both the adult contemporary as well as pop music charts. His other composition is the classy brass of “Skin Tight.” 

The upfront horn interjections and overall augmentation are akin to the sound made famous by their West Coast Tower of Power contemporaries. 

As a majority of their previous efforts had done — all sans their debut — Chicago X was a Top Ten album and “If You Leave Me Now” became a double Grammy winner, for both Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo Group or Chorus and Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s). 

The latter award was actually not given to the band, but rather to noted string arranger Jimmie Haskell and the group’s longtime producer, James William Guercio. Another well-deserved Grammy was given to John Berg for his visually enticing cover art — depicting Chicago’s logo on the wrapper of what otherwise appears to be a Hershey chocolate bar. 

As the album was released in the summer of the U.S. bicentennial (1976), the all-American image was undoubtedly and duly noted.

Side A

A1.  Once or Twice - 3:01

A2.  You Are on My Mind - 3:24

A3.  Skin Tight - 3:20

A4.  If You Leave Me Now - 3:58

A5.  Together Again - 3:53

A6.  Another Rainy Day in New York City - 3:03

 

Side B

B1.  Mama Mama - 3:31

B2.  Scrapbook - 3:28

B3.  Gently I’ll Wake You - 3:36

B4.  You Get It Up - 3:34

B5.  Hope for Love - 3:04

Chicago

• Peter Cetera – bass, lead and backing vocals
• Terry Kath – acoustic guitar, guitars (except on "If You Leave Me Now"), lead and backing vocals
• Robert Lamm – keyboards, lead and backing vocals
• Lee Loughnane – trumpet, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Together Again"
• James Pankow – trombone, lead vocals on "You Are On My Mind," backing vocals on "You Get It Up"
• Walter Parazaider – woodwinds, backing vocals
• Danny Seraphine – drums, backing vocals on "You Get It Up"
• Laudir de Oliveira – percussion, backing vocals on "You Get It Up"

Additional personnel

• David J. Wolinski – keyboards on "Hope For Love"
• James William Guercio – lead and rhythm acoustic guitars on "If You Leave Me Now", guitar on "Hope For Love"
• George Hyde, Gene Sherry – french horns on "If You Leave Me Now"
• Othello Molineaux – steel drums on "Another Rainy Day in New York City"
• Leroy Williams – steel drums on "Another Rainy Day in New York City"
• Jimmie Haskell – string and brass orchestration on "If You Leave Me Now" and "Mama Mama", conductor on "Gently I'll Wake You

Production

• Produced by James William Guercio
• Engineered by Wayne Tarnowski
• Assistant Engineer – Tom Likes
• Strings recorded by Armin Steiner at Sound Labs (Hollywood, CA).
• Mastered by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab (Los Angeles, CA).
• Album Cover Concept – John Berg
• Logo Design – Nick Fasciano
• Candy Bar Photo – Columbia Records Photo Studio
• Inside Photography – Reid Miles

Notes

Release:  1976

Format:  LP, Vinyl

Genre:  Soft Rock

Label:  CBS Records

Catalog#  86010

Vinyl:  Goed (VG)

Cover:  Goed (VG) (Gatefold)

Prijs: €10,00