Group Portrait | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | October 1991 | |||
Recorded | 1969 | –1980|||
Genre | ||||
Label | Columbia/Legacy (1991-Original) Chicago Records (Reissue) | |||
Producer | James William Guercio, Phil Ramone, Chicago, Tom Dowd | |||
Chicago chronology | ||||
|
Group Portrait is a compilation album by the American band Chicago, released in 1991 by Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings originally, [1] later reissued on the band's Chicago Records label. It includes hits and album cuts from the band's first fourteen albums along with rare tracks. [2]
Group Portrait bears notable differences from most of the band's other official compilation and live albums including the following: it is not assigned a number in the album title number sequence; its cover art depicts people instead of just a logo art concept; and it includes commentary from band members James Pankow, Robert Lamm, former members Peter Cetera, Walt Parazaider and producer James William Guercio. [3] Unlike the 2003 anthology The Box released later, this collection only covers their tenure with Columbia Records, and does not include Warner Bros. material. [4] Also, only full-length versions of songs are included [5]
According to reviewer Byron Mucklow, no remixing was done for this compilation; the material was digitally remastered from the master tapes. He describes the sound as "clear and punchy". [6]
Rock music critic Bill Wyman wrote a generally dismissive review of Group Portrait, for the Chicago Reader , calling it "an altogether fitting testament to Chicago's hippie self-absorption and dopey excesses." He called Chicago "probably the most unforgivably terrible rock 'n' roll band of the 70s" and said Group Portrait memorialized the band "in suitably monstrous fashion". He goes on to say that Chicago had some "decent" singles, already collected on two greatest-hits albums, and names "Wishing You Were Here" as the group's "most notable performance". In his opinion much of the lesser-known material included on Group Portrait belongs in "the nether reaches of our subconscious." [1]
In The Detroit News and Free Press, on the other hand, Group Portrait was faulted for not including more of Chicago's less popular tracks, saying it only "[dipped] a toenail into the vaults", and calling it "a comprehensive if conservative retrospective." Group Portrait merited five out of a possible eight eighth notes on the paper's rating scale – not essential listening, but recommended for fans of the group. [7]
Disc | Track | Title | Length | Original release |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Introduction" | 6:35 | Chicago Transit Authority (1969) |
1 | 2 | "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" | 4:35 | Chicago Transit Authority |
1 | 3 | "Beginnings" | 7:55 | Chicago Transit Authority |
1 | 4 | "Questions 67 & 68" | 5:03 | Chicago Transit Authority |
1 | 5 | "Listen" | 3:22 | Chicago Transit Authority |
1 | 6 | "Poem 58" | 8:36 | Chicago Transit Authority |
1 | 7 | "I'm a Man" | 7:40 | Chicago Transit Authority |
1 | 8 | "Make Me Smile" | 4:35 | Chicago (II) (1970) |
1 | 9 | "So Much to Say, So Much to Give" | 1:02 | Chicago (II) |
1 | 10 | "Anxiety's Moment" | 0:57 | Chicago (II) |
1 | 11 | "West Virginia Fantasies" | 1:33 | Chicago (II) |
1 | 12 | "Colour My World" | 3:00 | Chicago (II) |
1 | 13 | "To Be Free" | 1:31 | Chicago (II) |
1 | 14 | "Now More Than Ever" | 1:10 | Chicago (II) |
1 | 15 | "Fancy Colours" | 5:10 | Chicago (II) |
1 | 16 | "25 or 6 to 4" | 4:51 | Chicago (II) |
1 | 17 | "Where Do We Go from Here" | 2:50 | Chicago (II) |
2 | 1 | "Flight 602" | 2:45 | Chicago III (1971) |
2 | 2 | "Free" | 2:16 | Chicago III |
2 | 3 | "What Else Can I Say" | 3:13 | Chicago III |
2 | 4 | "Mother" | 4:28 | Chicago III |
2 | 5 | "Lowdown" | 3:35 | Chicago III |
2 | 6 | "A Song for Richard and His Friends" | 6:22 | Chicago at Carnegie Hall (IV) (1971) |
2 | 7 | "A Hit by Varèse" | 4:51 | Chicago V (1972) |
2 | 8 | "Saturday in the Park" | 3:56 | Chicago V |
2 | 9 | "Dialogue Part I" | 2:57 | Chicago V |
2 | 10 | "Dialogue Part II" | 4:12 | Chicago V |
2 | 11 | "Alma Mater" | 3:52 | Chicago V |
2 | 12 | "Feelin' Stronger Every Day" | 4:14 | Chicago VI (1973) |
2 | 13 | "In Terms of Two" | 3:30 | Chicago VI |
2 | 14 | "Critics' Choice" | 2:49 | Chicago VI |
2 | 15 | "Just You 'n' Me" | 3:43 | Chicago VI |
2 | 16 | "Something in This City Changes People" | 3:42 | Chicago VI |
3 | 1 | "Life Saver" | 5:18 | Chicago VII (1974) |
3 | 2 | "Happy Man" | 3:31 | Chicago VII |
3 | 3 | "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" | 4:28 | Chicago VII |
3 | 4 | "Skinny Boy" | 5:12 | Chicago VII |
3 | 5 | "Byblos" | 6:16 | Chicago VII |
3 | 6 | "Wishing You Were Here" | 4:33 | Chicago VII |
3 | 7 | "Call on Me" | 4:01 | Chicago VII |
3 | 8 | "Brand New Love Affair, Part I & II" | 4:29 | Chicago VIII (1975) |
3 | 9 | "Harry Truman" | 3:01 | Chicago VIII |
3 | 10 | "Old Days" | 3:29 | Chicago VIII |
3 | 11 | "You Are on My Mind" | 3:21 | Chicago X (1976) |
3 | 12 | "If You Leave Me Now" | 3:54 | Chicago X |
3 | 13 | "Together Again" | 3:53 | Chicago X |
3 | 14 | "Another Rainy Day in New York City" | 3:01 | Chicago X |
3 | 15 | "Hope for Love" | 3:03 | Chicago X |
4 | 1 | "Take Me Back to Chicago" | 5:15 | Chicago XI (1977) |
4 | 2 | "Mississippi Delta City Blues" | 4:40 | Chicago XI |
4 | 3 | "Baby, What a Big Surprise" | 3:05 | Chicago XI |
4 | 4 | "Prelude (Little One)" | 0:52 | Chicago XI |
4 | 5 | "Little One" | 5:44 | Chicago XI |
4 | 6 | "No Tell Lover" | 4:13 | Hot Streets (XII) (1978) |
4 | 7 | "Closer to You" | 4:54 | B-side of "Must Have Been Crazy"; recorded during the Hot Streets sessions |
4 | 8 | "Gone Long Gone" | 3:59 | Hot Streets (XII) |
4 | 9 | "Alive Again" | 4:05 | Hot Streets (XII) |
4 | 10 | "Must Have Been Crazy" | 3:24 | Chicago 13 (1979) |
4 | 11 | "Doin' Business" | 3:25 | Previously unreleased (1991); from the rehearsal sessions for Chicago XIV (1980) |
4 | 12 | "Song for You" | 3:41 | Chicago XIV |
4 | 13 | "Thunder and Lightning" | 3:32 | Chicago XIV |
4 | 14 | "The American Dream" | 3:17 | Chicago XIV |
4 | 15 | "Beginnings (Live)" | 6:15 | Chicago at Carnegie Hall (IV) |
Chicago is an American rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1967. The group began calling themselves the Chicago Transit Authority in 1968, then shortened the name in 1969. Self-described as a "rock and roll band with horns", Chicago's songs often combine elements of classical music, jazz, R&B, and pop music.
Chicago Transit Authority is the debut album by the Chicago-based rock band Chicago. It was recorded and released in 1969 and became a sleeper hit, reaching number 17 on the Billboard 200 by 1971 and spawning 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.
Chicago is the second studio album by Chicago-based American rock band Chicago. Like their debut album, Chicago Transit Authority, this was a double album. It was their first album under the name Chicago and the first to use the now ubiquitous cursive Chicago logo on the cover.
Peter Paul Cetera is a retired American musician best known for being a lead vocalist and the bassist of the rock band Chicago from 1967 until his departure in 1985, before launching a successful solo career. His career as a recording artist encompasses 17 albums with Chicago and eight solo albums.
Chicago III is the third studio album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1971. It was the band's third consecutive double album of new studio material in less than two years.
Chicago at Carnegie Hall is the first live album, and fourth album overall, by American band Chicago. It was initially released on October 25, 1971 by Columbia Records as a four-LP vinyl box set, and was also available for a time as two separate two-record sets. A Quadraphonic mix of the album was proposed, but was never made, possibly due to the band's objection to the album being released in the first place. This is the only Chicago album of the group's first ten releases not to have a Quadraphonic release in any format.
Chicago VI is the fifth studio album by American rock band Chicago and was released on June 25, 1973. 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.
Chicago XI, released in 1977, is the ninth studio album by the American band Chicago and marked the end of an era for the band. This would be the last Chicago studio album to feature guitarist Terry Kath prior to his death in a gun accident just over four months later, and the last Chicago LP to be produced by James William Guercio.
Chicago XIV is the twelfth studio album by the American band Chicago, released in 1980. Recorded at a time of waning interest in the band, Chicago XIV remains one of Chicago's poorest-selling albums, failing to reach Gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and was deemed a commercial flop. It is also notable for being their last studio album with Columbia Records, and the last one to feature percussionist Laudir de Oliveira.
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II, also known as More Bob Dylan Greatest Hits, is the second compilation album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on November 17, 1971 by Columbia Records. With Dylan not expected to release any new material for an extended period of time, CBS Records president Clive Davis proposed issuing a double LP compilation of older material. Dylan agreed, compiling it himself and suggesting that the package include a full side of unreleased tracks from his archives. After submitting a set of excerpts from The Basement Tapes that Davis found unsatisfactory, Dylan returned to the studio in September 1971 to recut several Basement songs, with Happy Traum providing backup.
Peter Cetera, released in September 1981, is the self-titled first solo release by American musician Peter Cetera, released while he was the bassist and lead vocalist of the band Chicago.
Rarities 1971–2003 is a compilation album by The Rolling Stones that was released in 2005 worldwide by Virgin Records – as well as by the coffee-chain Starbucks in North America – and features a selection of rare and obscure material recorded between 1971 and 2003. The album peaked at No. 76 on the Billboard chart.
The Slade Box is a four disc box set by the British rock band Slade. It was released by Salvo on 2 October 2006.
"Beginnings" is a song written by Robert Lamm for the rock band Chicago Transit Authority and recorded for its debut album Chicago Transit Authority, released in 1969. The song is the band's second single, but failed to chart on its initial release.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"Little Red Rooster" is a blues standard credited to arranger and songwriter Willie Dixon. The song was first recorded in 1961 by American blues musician Howlin' Wolf in the Chicago blues style. His vocal and slide guitar playing are key elements of the song. It is rooted in the Delta blues tradition and the theme is derived from folklore. Musical antecedents to "Little Red Rooster" appear in earlier songs by blues artists Charlie Patton and Memphis Minnie.
"Colour My World" is a song written by American musician James Pankow, one of the founding members of the rock/jazz fusion band Chicago. Part of Pankow's "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" song cycle/suite, it was recorded for their second album Chicago, also called Chicago II (1970). Terry Kath sings the lead vocal, and Walter Parazaider performs the memorable flute solo.
The Banshees were an American garage rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1966. The group is best remembered for its sole single, featuring the dissonant proto-punk anthem, "Project Blue". The song has become a classic of the musical genre of garage rock and is featured prominently on several compilation albums.