{"product_id":"chicago-chicago","title":"Chicago – Chicago","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChicago – Chicago (Chicago II)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA landmark of early-1970s jazz rock and progressive rock, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChicago - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecommonly known as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eChicago II\u003c\/em\u003e—captures the band at the height of their adventurous, brass-driven sound. Released in 1970, it was the group's second album and the first to use the shortened name Chicago, following their debut as Chicago Transit Authority. The album became a major commercial breakthrough, reaching the Top 5 in both the US and UK.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eBlending rock, jazz, soul, classical influences and powerful horn arrangements, \u003cem\u003eChicago II\u003c\/em\u003e showcases the ambitious musical identity that made the band one of the defining American rock groups of the era. Rather than simply adding brass to conventional rock songs, Chicago incorporated their horn section directly into the arrangements, creating an expansive sound built around electric guitar, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion, vocals and the distinctive trumpet, trombone and woodwind work of the band.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe album features several of Chicago's most enduring songs. Make Me Smile, written by trombonist James Pankow, forms the opening and closing sections of the ambitious seven-part Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon, which also includes the beautiful Colour My World. The suite demonstrates the band's ability to move seamlessly between intricate instrumental passages, melodic rock and sophisticated vocal arrangements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003ePerhaps the album's most famous track is 25 Or 6 To 4, featuring Peter Cetera's distinctive lead vocal and an explosive wah-wah guitar solo from Terry Kath. The song became Chicago's first US Top 5 hit, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and remains one of the defining recordings of the band's career. Despite decades of speculation surrounding its unusual title, songwriter Robert Lamm explained that it refers simply to the time of night—25 or 26 minutes before 4am—while he was working on the song.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eElsewhere, Wake Up Sunshine, Fancy Colours, Memories Of Love and the ambitious four-part It Better End Soon demonstrate the band's progressive tendencies. The latter is an extended jazz-rock suite that combines political commentary with complex arrangements and instrumental passages, while Where Do We Go From Here provides a more reflective conclusion to the album.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eWith its combination of jazz fusion, progressive rock, brass-heavy arrangements and classic rock songwriting, \u003cem\u003eChicago II\u003c\/em\u003e remains an essential album for collectors and fans of 1970s rock. Featuring Make Me Smile, Colour My World and 25 Or 6 To 4\u003cspan\u003e, this classic Chicago vinyl LP is a standout addition to any progressive rock, jazz rock or classic rock collection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTracklist\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide A\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMovin' In\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Road\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePoem For The People\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn The Country\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide B\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWake Up Sunshine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBallet For A Girl In Buchannon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMake Me Smile\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSo Much To Say, So Much To Give\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnxiety's Moment\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWest Virginia Fantasies\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eColour My World\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo Be Free\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNow More Than Ever\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide C\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFancy Colours\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e25 Or 6 To 4\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrelude\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA.M. Mourning\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eP.M. Mourning\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMemories Of Love\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide D\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt Better End Soon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1st Movement\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2nd Movement\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e3rd Movement\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4th Movement\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhere Do We Go From Here\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pMJH8uB6u0s?si=HpMVtbGLJWthhnVW\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CBS Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55173286592854,"sku":"CBS 66233","price":6.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1009\/1013\/7686\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_78a2f1ec-378f-4b78-a06a-caa7ade3300c.jpg?v=1788265257","url":"https:\/\/www.sounds-grounds.co.uk\/products\/chicago-chicago","provider":"Sounds + Grounds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}