Chicago VI

Chicago - Chicago VI

Chicago VI
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CD Details

Artist: Chicago
Brand: Chicago
Edition: Music CD
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2002-08-20
Music Label: Rhino
Soundtracks:
  1. Critics' Choice
  2. Just You 'n' Me
  3. Darlin' Dear
  4. Jenny
  5. What's This World Comin' To
  6. Something in This City Changes People
  7. Hollywood
  8. In Terms of Two
  9. Discovery
  10. Feelin' Stronger Every Day
  11. Beyond All Our Sorrows
  12. Tired of Being Alone

Music reviews of Chicago VI

Music Review: Mellow and Downbeat
Rating: 4 Stars

At the time of Chicago VI's release Chicago was one of the most prolific rock groups in existence, churning out a number of double albums before releasing the single disk Chicago V and then this single disk album. The earlier albums were full of experimental jazz-blues-rock fusions mixed with a variety of rock and highly orchestrated instrumentals. While you might stand back and wonder whether Chicago was a group in search of itself, it was more likely that the incredible amount of talent in the group led to the eclectic variety of styles. Chicago V and Chicago VI marked a turn towards shorter compositions with less experimentation.

The opening song, "Critics' Choice," is about a favorite topic for a number of artists who sometimes feel they must pander to critics to have any musical success. I am a little surprised that Chicago would have felt this way given their highly creative and original first albums where they clearly were unconcerned by the critics. It may be that some criticisms started to sting about this time. This song is a piano solo accompanying a plaintive vocal; a mellow opening song that sets the tone for the rest of the album.

The second song, "Just You `N' Me," is an upbeat love song. The beat and hooks are somewhat pop, but the addition of horns gives this song a solid Chicago flavor. This song was released as a single with "Critics' Choice" and reached #4 in 1973. This song was also included in a couple of greatest hits collections for Chicago.

"Darlin' Dear" is a powerful rock love song with a touch of blues that stays in a lighter vein, even with the heavy music. This song is one of the more complex compositions on this album and features strong contributions from electric guitars, piano and horns. Once again Chicago proves their ability to create music in whatever style suited their needs.

The Terry Kath song "Jenny" is downbeat with blues vocals overlaying the instruments playing a rock beat. It is initially tempting to classify this song as pop, but while the flavor is there the song resists classification as pop and is closer to blues-rock.

The next song betrays its early 70s origins. "What's this World Comin' To" is a fast paced rock song with a soul flavor. Chicago's ever-present brass section is prominent throughout this James Pankow penned song. While the music is upbeat, the vocals are relatively downbeat, continuing to provide a darker tone to this album as compared to Chicago's earlier albums.

"Something in this City Changes People" is downbeat and slow. The poetic words describe the cynicism of city-dwellers and how they come to act differently from how they once were when they lived elsewhere. There are lines such as "...Everyone's my friend, they pretend..." lamenting how people will not say what they mean. Later there are lyrics that describe how people can become self-centered and egotistical, "...Egos magnified, quite unjustified..." I am assuming that this song relates some of Robert Lamm's experiences in Los Angeles, where it often seems that people create a persona that has little to do with their inner self and their true feelings. "Hollywood" is another Robert Lamm song that continues in the same vein as the previous song. The lyrics expand the theme of the previous song with lyrics such as:

Watch
What you say,
When you say it,
Someone you know,
Will betray it,
Will betray it.

"In Terms of Two" is a Peter Cetera love song. The song is typical of Peter Cetera's style, meaning pop, though the instruments used are a bit unusual. The vocals and music are competent, though generally unremarkable.

"Rediscovery" is a cleverly placed Robert Lamm song that talks about breaking out of a down mood. This funk-flavored song leads into the end of the original album, the upbeat power song "Feelin' Stronger Every Day," that is all the more powerful because of its placement at the end of a string of mellow songs. "Rediscovery" is about the search for personal meaning, relying on nature as the source. The last song continues the theme of picking up and moving on. This song is one of the best on the album and reached #9 in 1974, far less than it deserved, but competition was very stiff at that time.

This remastered album includes two bonus tracks. The first of these, "Beyond all Our Sorrows," is a Terry Kath demo that clocks in at seven minutes, easily the longest song on the CD. This raw track is mellow and strong, a haunting and emotional performance that, while in the theme of the original album, should have been placed ahead of "Feelin' Stronger Every Day" to keep the flavor of the end of the album as originally intended. In spite of its position, this song deserves to be heard and is a valuable addition.

The second track is "Tired of Being Alone," with Al Green. This track is another worthy addition to this album. The performance sounds live or informal, a soulful blues song that is in the same vein as the emotional performance of the previous song.

"Chicago VI" is emotionally downbeat. The group sounds tired and depressed, perhaps as a result of several years of intense creativity and moving to California and being overwhelmed by fame. There is a raw emotional edge to this album that hints at the group's feelings. There are some creative discontinuities, and yet, the album has some wonderful moments that provide an astute listener with a wonderful listening experience. This album may not be as polished as their earlier efforts, but has much less pop than the efforts to come.
More Chicago VI free music reviews:
1 2 3 4 5

Description of Chicago VI

Chicago VI was another solid platinum plus smash for Chicago. Buoyed by the success of huge hit singles like "Just You 'N' Me" & "Feelin' Stronger Every Day," their sixth platter was chock filled of even more smashes like the piano driven opener "Critic's Choice" and "Hollywood." Friday Music is honored to announce the Chicago 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl Series with our first chapter Chicago VI. This LP features the original core line-up of Lamm, Kath, Cetera, etc. Mastered impeccably from the original Chicago Records/ Warner Bros. tapes by Joe Reagoso, also presented in a nice gatefold cover.

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