Chicago X

by Chicago

Overview

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 disc was released in the summer of the U.S. bicentennial (1976), the all-American image was undoubtedly and duly noted. ~ Lindsay Planer

Product Details

Release Date:	07/22/2016
Label:	Friday Music
UPC:	0829421342007
Rank:	174498

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Chicago   Primary Artist,Vocals
Jimmie Haskell   String Conductor,Strings
Peter Cetera   Bass,Vocals,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Robert Lamm   Vocals,Keyboards,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
David "Hawk" Wolinski   Piano,Mellotron
Danny Seraphine   Drums,Vocals,Percussion
Othello Molineaux   Drums (Steel)
Terry Kath   Guitar,Vocals,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Laudir DeOliveira   Congas,Vocals,Trumpet,Percussion
James Pankow   Vocals,Trombone,Percussion
Walter Parazaider   Woodwind,Percussion,Horn,Vocals
Leroy Williams   Drums (Steel)
James William Guercio   Bass,Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Lee Loughnane   Vocals,Trumpet,Flugelhorn,Percussion,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Wayne Tanowski   Engineer
Jimmie Haskell   Orchestration,Brass Arrangement,Orchestral Arrangements,Arranger
Peter Cetera   Composer
Robert Lamm   Composer,Lyricist,String Arrangements
Cory Frye   Editorial Supervision
Danny Seraphine   Drum Programming
Armin Steiner   Engineer,String Engineer
A. Scott Galloway   Liner Notes
David McLees   A&R,Project Supervisor
Gary Peterson   A&R,Project Supervisor
Nick Fasciano   Artwork,Logo Design
Tom Likes   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Dave Donnelly   Mixing,Remastering,Remastering Engineer
Bob O'Neill   Project Assistant
Terry Kath   Composer
Steven Chean   Project Assistant
Jeff Magid   A&R,Mixing,Project Supervisor,Remastering Engineer
Doug Sax   Mastering Engineer
Steve Woolard   Project Assistant
Mike Engstrom   Product Manager
Wayne Tarnowski   Engineer
James Pankow   Composer,Brass Arrangement
James William Guercio   Producer
Lee Loughnane   A&R,Composer,Project Supervisor,Remastering Engineer
Reid Miles   Photography
John Berg   Design,Cover Art Concept
Tim Scanlin   Project Assistant
Maria Villar   Design,Art Direction