Thunder and Lightning (Chicago song)

Last updated
"Thunder and Lightning"
Thunder And Lightning.png
Single by Chicago
from the album Chicago XIV
B-side "I'd Rather Be Rich"
ReleasedJuly 30, 1980 (1980-07-30)
Recorded1980
Genre Jazz fusion
Length3:32
Label Columbia
Songwriters
Producer Tom Dowd
Chicago singles chronology
"Street Player"
(1979)		"Thunder and Lightning"
(1980)		"Song for You"
(1980)

"Thunder and Lightning" is a song by American band Chicago. It was released on July 30, 1980, [1] as the first single from their twelfth studio album Chicago XIV and is written by keyboardist Robert Lamm and drummer Danny Seraphine. It features Lamm and Peter Cetera on vocals. It was produced by Tom Dowd.

Contents

"Thunder and Lightning" peaked at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 [2] [3] and No. 46 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It is the first song to feature Chris Pinnick on guitars, who became the band's guitarist four years later.

Reception

Billboard thought that "Thunder and Lightning" was one of the best songs on Chicago XIV", adding that it was "embellished by Chicago's characteristic brass and percussion wizardry." [4] Record World wrote that the song's "patented horn chops, guitar stings and spirited vocals are all wrapped in Tom Dowd's magical production on this initial release from the tireless band's XIV LP." [5] Music critic Nick DeRiso of Something Else! Reviews wrote that the track "showed Chicago could still summon a spark of energy even as the band struggled for direction in the early '80s." [6]

Personnel

Chicago

Guest musicians

Charts

Chart (1979)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 [7] 56
US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [8] 46
US Cashbox Top 100 Singles [9] 67

References

  1. ↑ "Chicago – Thunder and Lightning". Dutch Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart for September 20, 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Chicago – Thunder and Lightning (single)". elpee.jp. Bee-Media. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Billboard's Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard . July 26, 1980. p. 68. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Record World Single Picks" (PDF). Record World . August 23, 1980. p. 14. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  6. ↑ DeRiso, Nick (February 2, 2019). "Chicago, "Thunder and Lightning" from Chicago XIV (1980): Saturdays in the Park". Something Else! Reviews. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Chicago Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  8. ↑ "Chicago Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  9. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996 . Sheridan Books, Inc. ISBN   978-0-89820-209-0.
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