Chicago III

Last updated

Chicago III
ChicagoIII.jpg
Studio album by
Chicago
ReleasedJanuary 11, 1971
RecordedJune – December 1970
Studio CBS 30th Street, New York City
Genre
Length71:29
Label Columbia
Producer James William Guercio
Chicago chronology
Chicago
(1970)		Chicago III
(1971)		 Chicago at Carnegie Hall
(1971)
Singles from Chicago III
  1. "Free"
    Released: February 1971
  2. "Lowdown"
    Released: April 1971
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Chicago III is the third studio album by the American rock band Chicago. It was released on January 11, 1971, through Columbia Records. The album was produced by James William Guercio and was the band's third consecutive double album in less than two years. [2]

Contents

Much like the previous year's Chicago (many times referred to as Chicago II), Chicago III is made up of both multi-part suites and more conventional individual songs. The album saw the band integrate a number of different genres including folk and country ("What Else Can I Say", "Flight 602"), free improvisation ("Free Country"), and musique concrète ("Progress?") into their sound, while also continuing in their trademark jazz-rock style.

Chicago III was a critical and commercial success. It peaked at number two in the US, their highest chart placement at that point, and received positive reviews. While neither of its singles ("Free" and "Lowdown") matched the success of the band's previous and following singles, both managed to make the top 40, peaking at numbers 20 and 35, respectively. After the release of the album, Chicago would perform at New York's Carnegie Hall. Performances from this run would be released on the following album, Chicago at Carnegie Hall .

Background

In the wake of the enormous worldwide success of their second album, Chicago spent almost all of 1970 on the road, an exhausting undertaking. Former drummer Danny Seraphine, described the members of the band as "fatigued and road-weary" when they went into the studio to record the album. [3] : 122 

Released in January 1971, initially on Columbia Records, Chicago III — the band's first album to sport a Roman numeral in its title [2] — sold well upon its release and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) a month later. [4] It provided Chicago with its highest charting disc yet in the US, going to No. 2 on the Billboard 200. [5] "Free", written by Robert Lamm, made it into the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and "Lowdown", co-written by Peter Cetera and Danny Seraphine, reached the top 40. [6] Chicago III marked a dwindling in UK fortunes in comparison to the band's first two albums, Chicago Transit Authority and Chicago, reaching No. 9 in a brief chart run. [7]

In 1974, jazz bandleader Stan Kenton added a suite of songs from the album ("Canon", "Mother", "Once Upon a Time" and "Free") to his band's repertoire, releasing it on the album Stan Kenton Plays Chicago. [8]

Musical style, writing, composition

The band had used up its storehouse of original material on its first two albums. It needed new material for Chicago III, and the songwriters worked "nonstop" [3] : 122  Danny Seraphine said the band "took the opportunity to experiment with instrumentals and showcase our skills as musicians." [3] : 122 

Their long hours on the road gave the principal songwriters, Robert Lamm, Terry Kath and James Pankow, much food for thought, resulting in more serious subject matter, which contrasted with the positivity of their first two sets.[ citation needed ] In his retrospective review of the album, Jeff Giles writes that Lamm's "Travel Suite" was "inspired by the boredom, loneliness, and beauty of the road," and characterizes Pankow's "Elegy" suite is an "ecologically minded composition" [9] (an issue Lamm also touches upon in "Mother").[ citation needed ] While Kath's multi-part "An Hour in the Shower" provides a reprieve from the sobering explorations elsewhere, Chicago III was undeniably the result of a band who had seen the flip side of the world over the last several months.[ citation needed ] "Lowdown", co-written by Peter Cetera and Danny Seraphine, was Seraphine's first co-writing credit, and he was appreciative of the support Cetera gave him during the writing process. [3] : 123 

Chicago III incorporates a variety of musical styles. [10] "Sing a Mean Tune Kid" features the influence of funk,[ citation needed ] "What Else Can I Say" and "Flight 602" have a country feel,[ citation needed ] while abstract qualities are found in "Free Country" and "Progress?"[ citation needed ]

Recording and production

The album was produced by James William Guercio, who was Chicago's producer for its first eleven albums. [11] [12] This album was mixed and released in both stereo and quadraphonic. In 2002, Chicago III was remastered and reissued on one CD by Rhino Records. [13]

Artwork and packaging

The album cover design is titled "Tattered Flag" on the band's website. [2] Included with the album was a poster of the band dressed in the uniforms of America's wars, standing in front of a field of crosses, representing those who had died in the still ongoing Vietnam War. It also gave the number of casualties from each war up until the time of the album's release. [14]

Track listing

Side One
No.TitleLyricsMusicLead vocalsLength
1"Sing a Mean Tune Kid" Robert Lamm Lamm Peter Cetera 9:13
2"Loneliness is Just a Word" Terry Kath 2:36
3"What Else Can I Say"CeteraCeteraCetera3:12
4"I Don't Want Your Money"LammKathLamm4:47
Side Two
No.TitleLyricsMusicLead vocalsLength
1–6"Travel Suite"
(total length: 22:30)		"Flight 602"LammLammLamm2:45
"Motorboat to Mars"— Danny Seraphine —1:30
"Free"LammLammKath2:16
"Free Country"——5:46
"At the Sunrise"LammLamm
  • Lamm
  • Cetera
2:48
"Happy 'Cause I'm Going Home"7:28
Side Three
No.TitleLyricsMusicLead vocalsLength
1"Mother"LammLammLamm4:30
2"Lowdown"
  • Cetera
  • Seraphine
CeteraCetera3:35
3–7"An Hour in
the Shower"
(total length: 5:30)		"A Hard Risin' Morning Without Breakfast"KathKathKath1:52
"Off to Work"0:45
"Fallin' Out"0:53
"Dreamin' Home"0:49
"Morning Blues Again"1:11
Side Four
No.TitleLyricsMusicLead vocalsLength
1–6"Elegy"
(total length: 15:27)		"When All the Laughter Dies in Sorrow" Kendrew Lascelles —Lamm1:03
"Canon"— James Pankow —1:05
"Once Upon a Time..."——2:34
"Progress?" (sound effects courtesy of the Industrial Revolution)——2:34
"The Approaching Storm"—Pankow—6:26
"Man vs. Man: The End"——1:33

Personnel

Chicago

Production

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [26] Gold50,000^
United States (RIAA) [27] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

Chicago is an American rock band formed in Chicago in 1967. The group began calling themselves the Chicago Transit Authority in 1968, then shortened the name to its current one in 1969. Self-described as a "rock and roll band with horns," their songs often also combine elements of classical music, jazz, R&B, and pop music.

<i>Chicago Transit Authority</i> (album) 1969 studio album by Chicago

Chicago Transit Authority is the debut studio album by the American rock band Chicago, known at the time of release as Chicago Transit Authority. This double album was released on April 28, 1969 and became a sleeper hit, reaching number 17 on the Billboard 200 by 1971. Chicago Transit Authority spawned several successful singles, including "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", "Questions 67 and 68" and "Beginnings". The album stayed on the Billboard chart for 171 weeks, beating the previous record for a rock album's longevity of 155 weeks and has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). For this inaugural recording effort, the group was nominated for a Grammy Award for 1969 Best New Artist of the Year. The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.

<i>Chicago</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Chicago

Chicago is the second studio album by the American rock band Chicago, released on January 26, 1970, by Columbia Records. Like their debut album, Chicago Transit Authority, it is a double album. It was their first album released under the name Chicago—the band's prior name, Chicago Transit Authority, was changed due to a threatened lawsuit from the actual mass-transit operator bearing the same name—and the first to use the now ubiquitous cursive Chicago logo on the cover.

<i>Chicago V</i> 1972 studio album by Chicago

Chicago V is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Chicago. It was released on July 10, 1972, by Columbia Records. It is notable for being the group's first single album release, after having released three consecutive double albums and a four-disc box set of live material.

<i>Chicago VI</i> 1973 studio album by Chicago

Chicago VI is the fifth studio album by American rock band Chicago and was released on June 25, 1973, by Columbia Records. It was the band's second in a string of five consecutive albums to make it to No. 1 in the US, was certified gold less than a month after its release, and has been certified two-times platinum since. It is the first album to feature percussionist Laudir de Oliveira, who would become a full-fledged member of the band for Chicago VIII. VI is the first studio album to feature the original band members on the cover before the death of leader and co-founder Terry Kath.

<i>Chicago VII</i> 1974 studio album by Chicago

Chicago VII is the sixth studio album by American rock band Chicago. It was released on March 11, 1974 by Columbia Records. It is notable for being their first double album of new material since 1971's Chicago III and remains their final studio release in that format. It features session percussionist Laudir de Oliveira, who would become a full-fledged band member for the release of Chicago VIII the following year.

<i>Chicago VIII</i> 1975 studio album by Chicago

Chicago VIII is the seventh studio album by American rock band Chicago, released on March 24, 1975 by Columbia Records. Following the experimental jazz/pop stylings of Chicago VII, the band returned to a more streamlined rock-based sound on this follow-up.

<i>Chicago IX: Chicagos Greatest Hits</i> 1975 compilation album by Chicago

Chicago IX: Chicago's Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album, and ninth album overall, by the American band Chicago and was released in 1975 by Columbia Records in both stereo and SQ quadraphonic versions.

<i>Chicago XI</i> 1977 studio album by Chicago

Chicago XI is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Chicago. It was released on September 12, 1977, through Columbia Records. It was both the last to feature guitarist and vocalist Terry Kath prior to his death in a gun accident just over four months later, and the last to be produced by longtime associate of the band James William Guercio.

<i>Hot Streets</i> 1978 studio album by Chicago

Hot Streets is the tenth studio album by the American rock band Chicago, released on October 2, 1978, by Columbia Records. This was the band's first album with all-new material released since their second that did not have a numbered title. It was also the first album not to feature original guitarist/vocalist Terry Kath, who died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound in January 1978. He was replaced by Donnie Dacus on this album.

<i>Greatest Hits, Volume II</i> (Chicago album) 1981 compilation album by Chicago

Greatest Hits, Volume II is the second greatest hits album by American rock band Chicago, released on November 23, 1981 by Columbia Records.

<i>The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning</i> 2002 greatest hits album by Chicago

The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning is a double greatest hits album by the American band Chicago, their twenty-seventh album overall. Released in 2002, this collection marked the beginning of a long-term partnership with Rhino Entertainment which, between 2002 and 2005, would remaster and re-release Chicago's 1969–1980 Columbia Records catalog.

<i>Love Songs</i> (Chicago album) 2005 compilation album by Chicago

Love Songs is a compilation album of romantic songs by the American band Chicago, their twenty-ninth album overall, released in 2005 through Rhino Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make Me Smile</span> 1970 single by Chicago

"Make Me Smile" is a song written by James Pankow for the rock band Chicago with the band's guitarist, Terry Kath, on lead vocals. Part 1 of Pankow's 7-part "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" song cycle/suite, it was recorded for their second album, Chicago, which was released in 1970. The song "Now More Than Ever", a separate track from the same song suite, serves as a reprise of the song and appears edited together with it on many later versions, including a single edit, on several greatest hits collections, and in many live performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Questions 67 and 68</span> 1969 single by Chicago

"Questions 67 and 68" is a 1969 song written by Robert Lamm for the rock band Chicago and recorded for their debut album Chicago Transit Authority. It was their first single release. Peter Cetera is the primary lead singer with Lamm also on vocals. In 2015, Dave Swanson, writing for Ultimate Classic Rock, listed the song as ninth in a list of top ten Chicago songs. Writing for Rock Cellar magazine, Frank Mastropolo rated the song as number 11 in a list of "Top 11 Question Songs".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free (Chicago song)</span> 1971 single by Chicago

"Free" is a song written by Robert Lamm as a part of the "Travel Suite" for the rock band Chicago and recorded for their third album Chicago III (1971), with Terry Kath singing lead vocals. It was the first single released from this album, and peaked at #20 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lowdown (Chicago song)</span> 1971 single by Chicago

"Lowdown" is a song written by Peter Cetera and Danny Seraphine for the rock band Chicago and recorded for their third album Chicago III (1971). It was the second single released from this album, and peaked at No. 35 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Cetera provided lead vocals while guitarist Terry Kath used a fuzzbox and wah-wah pedal for his guitar solo and Robert Lamm made prominent use of the Hammond organ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feelin' Stronger Every Day</span> 1973 single by Chicago

"Feelin' Stronger Every Day" is a song written by Peter Cetera and James Pankow for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VI (1973). The first single released from that album, it reached #10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wishing You Were Here</span> 1974 song by American rock band Chicago

"Wishing You Were Here" is a song written by Peter Cetera for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VII (1974), with lead vocals by Terry Kath, while Cetera sang the song's bridge. The third single released from that album, it reached No. 11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, No. 9 on the Cash Box Top 100, and hit No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart.

<i>Live in Japan</i> (Chicago album) 1972 live album by Chicago

Live in Japan is a live album by American rock band Chicago, released in November 1972. It was recorded over the course of three days at the Osaka Festival Hall on the band's tour in support of Chicago V in 1972. The group recorded Japanese-language versions of "Lowdown" and "Questions 67 And 68" to coincide with their Japan performances. They performed both songs in Japanese during their stay, which are documented on this album.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r60769
  2. 1 2 3 "Chicago III". Chicagotheband.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Seraphine, Danny (2011). Street Player: My Chicago Story. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN   978-0-470-41683-9.
  4. ↑ "Gold & Platinum: Chicago". RIAA. Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Billboard 200: Chicago III". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Chicago Chart History: Hot 100, p. 4". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  7. ↑ "CHICAGO | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  8. ↑ McDonough, John (February 27, 1975). "Stan Kenton Plays Chicago". All Things Kenton – Down Beat Record Reviews. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  9. ↑ Giles, Jeff (January 12, 2016). "Revisiting Chicago's Third Album, 'Chicago III'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  10. ↑ Lass, Don (May 2, 1971). "Record Reviews: Chicago Revisited". Asbury Park Press. p. C13. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019– via newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  11. ↑ Ruhlmann, William James (1991). Chicago Group Portrait (Box Set) (Media notes). New York City, NY: Columbia Records. pp. 1–8. Archived from the original (CD booklet archived online) on November 12, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  12. ↑ "A Chicago Story – Chicago". Chicago the band. Archived from the original on October 30, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  13. ↑ Waller, Don (July 20, 2002). "Killer Catalog: Ambitious Rhino Reissues Program Salutes "One of the Great Groups"". Billboard. p. 42. Retrieved January 18, 2019– via Google Books.
  14. ↑ Newsom, Thomas B. (February 12, 1971). "'Blues Chick of Counter Culture'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri, USA. p. 3D. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  15. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 62. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  16. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5226". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Chicago – III" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Chicago – III" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  19. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Chicago". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 46.
  20. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved June 20, 2024. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Chicago".
  21. ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  22. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Chicago – III". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Chicago Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1971" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Chicago – Chicago III". Music Canada . Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  27. ↑ "American album certifications – Chicago – Chicago III". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved June 21, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.