Chicago – Chicago

Chicago – Chicago (Chicago II)

A landmark of early-1970s jazz rock and progressive rock, Chicago - commonly known as Chicago II—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.

Blending rock, jazz, soul, classical influences and powerful horn arrangements, Chicago II 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.

The 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.

Perhaps 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.

Elsewhere, 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.

With its combination of jazz fusion, progressive rock, brass-heavy arrangements and classic rock songwriting, Chicago II remains an essential album for collectors and fans of 1970s rock. Featuring Make Me Smile, Colour My World and 25 Or 6 To 4, this classic Chicago vinyl LP is a standout addition to any progressive rock, jazz rock or classic rock collection.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Movin' In
2. The Road
3. Poem For The People
4. In The Country

Side B

1. Wake Up Sunshine
2. Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon
3. Make Me Smile
4. So Much To Say, So Much To Give
5. Anxiety's Moment
6. West Virginia Fantasies
7. Colour My World
8. To Be Free
9. Now More Than Ever

Side C

1. Fancy Colours
2. 25 Or 6 To 4
3. Prelude
4. A.M. Mourning
5. P.M. Mourning
6. Memories Of Love

Side D

1. It Better End Soon
2. 1st Movement
3. 2nd Movement
4. 3rd Movement
5. 4th Movement
6. Where Do We Go From Here