I've never been a Chicago fan, but now, at such an obviously late date, I'm starting to realize that particularly regarding their first two records, I'm missing something.
So I recently picked up Chicago Transit Authority via Amazon. And yeah, I sure was missing something. The second album is next on my list.
I just thought this quote from the liner notes of Chicago Transit Authority was special. It's not only a tribute to Chicago but a huge tribute to guitarist Terry Kath.
I know many here would be aware of this, but for those who are not:
"Terry (Kath) brought a lot of fire and soulfulness to the band," (Chicago horn player) Walt Parazaider says. "Before we ever recorded the first album, we were playing the Whisky in L.A. -- I'm putting my saxophone away, and a guy tapped me on the shoulder. It was Jimi Hendrix. He just said, 'Your horns are one set of lungs, and you know your guitar player is better than me.' " Parazaider also recalls Hendrix talking about taking the band on the road, and recording with the horn section: "We did get to go on the road with Jimi, but unfortunately the horns didn't get to record with him, because he passed away."
"But I think Terry was tremendously overlooked," he continues. "Ours was very much a team. But I think if Terry had The Terry Kath Experience or something where he was totally up front, he would have a lot more recognition."
[Edited on 2/17/2017 by robslob]
The first time I saw Hendrix was at the Anaheim Convention center, capacity 7500. Opening act - CTA with Terry Kath. Pretty amazing.
I wonder what Jimi would have thought of this:
Maybe you figured out why I was talking about the first two records. I don't really know much about the band or their history, but from what I've heard they became a lot more pop after Terry Kath died in a gun accident in 1978. Your video from 1984 certainly would back that up.
The first time I saw Hendrix was at the Anaheim Convention center, capacity 7500. Opening act - CTA with Terry Kath. Pretty amazing.
And I hate you for being at that one. If I were JUST a little older........I grew up in Southern California as well.
I'm 62 and went to my first show at 16.......1971..........Grand Funk @ The Forum. Only one year after Hendrix passed, so if I were only a year or two older I might have seen him. 16 was the magical age because it was when you could get your driver's license, and my Dad was quite cool about letting me use the car.
Heard CTA at Atlanta I. Very different animal than the later pop band.
The first album - Chicago Transit Authority - is excellent ... one of my favourite albums ...
The second album - Chicago - is very good as well ...
From then on each album became a little more commercial ... especially after the tragic passing of Terry Kath ...
So for recommendations their first 2 studio albums? Is there also some archive live release from that era that you could recommend?
I have very little knowledge of Chicago (Transit Authority) but i really dig "South California Purples".
I have an early live recording somewhere of CTA - it is a Capt Skipper remaster - I'll dig it out and send you a copy Roger
Wow Colin, much obliged!
The first 2 are great...I like III, IV and V after that I loose interest...Terry Kath was amonster
