Chicago III

PAGE INITIATED:  FEBRUARY 9, 2003.

LAST UPDATED:  SEPTEMBER 3, 2005!

Chicago III

Originally released as Columbia C2 30110 in January, 1971.
Peak Hot 200 Album chart position:  #2.
Reissued as Chicago Records 3003 in 1995.
New remastered edition reissued as Rhino R2 76173 on July 16, 2002.

Produced by James William Guercio for Poseidon Productions.
Engineered by Donald Puluse and Sy Mitchell.
Recorded by Lou Waxman and Willie Greer.
Recorded November 1970.  Recorded and mixed at CBS Studios, New York, NY (Studio B).

Cover design by John Berg.  Cover logo by Nicholas Fasciano.
Flag sewn by Natalie Williams.
Photographed by Sandy Speiser/Columbia Records Photo Studio.
Lettering by Melanie Marder and Annette Kawecki.

THE BAND
Robert Lamm -- Keyboard and lead vocals
Terry Kath -- Guitar and lead vocals
Peter Cetera -- Bass and lead vocals
Daniel Seraphine -- Drums and percussion
Lee Loughnane -- Trumpet and background vocals
James Pankow -- Trombone
Walter Parazaider -- Woodwinds and background vocals

REVIEWER'S NOTES

You've already read a good portion of the back story as to how this record came to fruition, and the sequence of release of the singles from it.  Now I'll go into more detail about this great American classic album.

Chicago III expanded the horizons of its listeners with this third double set.  Three titled suites, some great rock burners, and a little country and classical thrown in for good measure.

Fans cheer whenever the band does "Free" live.

This album has (and, IMHO, will continue to) stand the test of time and the ever-changing tides and tastes (and even those infamous 'open mouth, insert both feet, echo internationally, and alienate the record-buying public' RIAA presidents) of the music industry.

DID YOU KNOW...?

...that Chicago had run out of its surplus material when it came time to record Chicago III?  The band took over CBS Records Studio B in New York in November 1970 and came up with another classic.

... that there is more collaboration this time out?  Danny Seraphine makes his first two songwriting contributions, and Peter Cetera adds two more.

MY TRACK-BY-TRACK REVIEW

01) Sing A Mean Tune Kid (Robert Lamm) -- 9:15
(Lead Vocals:  Peter Cetera)

A tribute to all the singers and bands that didn't make it to the big time.  Another grunge-esque backing rhythm and killer axe on sax.

02) Loneliness Is Just A Word (Robert Lamm) -- 2:37
(Lead Vocals:  Terry Kath)
Issued as B-side of Columbia single #4-45370 on April 19, 1971.

A little tune based loosely on Neal Hefti's theme for the film "The Odd Couple", and a short introspection about how a lonely person feels.

03) What Else Can I Say? (Peter Cetera) -- 3:14
(Lead Vocals:  Peter Cetera)

Another nice little country harmony from the bass man, and a tune about missing your love.

04) I Don't Want Your Money (Terry Kath-Robert Lamm) -- 4:46
(Lead Vocals:  Terry Kath)

Terry rocks it up good here, starting with the warm-up before launching into that scorching electric guitar riff and a very soulful vocal.  Very nice work by the horn and rhythm sections here.

(Tracks 5-10 -- TRAVEL SUITE)
This suite attempts to capture the life of Chicago on tour, which they did a lot of to support the two prior double albums!  A very collaborative effort by the band as a whole.

05) Flight 602 (Robert Lamm) -- 2:44
(Lead Vocals:  Robert Lamm, Peter Cetera, Terry Kath)

Mohawk Airlines ran this flight from NYC to Canada, a fact Robert revealed in the Carnegie Hall live set.  Another nice country-flavored tune.  Given the political climate of the time regarding the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, this song also struck an unintended chord about draft-dodgers fleeing to Canada.

06) Motorboat To Mars (Daniel Seraphine) -- 1:30
(INSTRUMENTAL)

A nice showcase for Danny.  Nobody does it better!

07) Free (Robert Lamm) -- 2:15
(Lead Vocals:  Terry Kath)
Issued as Columbia single #4-45331 on February 8, 1971.  Peak position:  Pop #20.

A single verse about wanting to be free of the hurt and pain and loneliness of being on tour.

08) Free Country (Robert Lamm-Walter Parazaider-Terry Kath) -- 5:47
(INSTRUMENTAL)
Issued as B-side of Columbia single #4-45331 on February 8, 1971.

Nice flittering flauting by Walt.

09) At The Sunrise (Robert Lamm) -- 2:47
(Lead Vocals:  Robert Lamm with Peter Cetera)

10) Happy 'Cause I'm Going Home (Robert Lamm) -- 7:28
(INSTRUMENTAL, with vocal effects by Robert Lamm and Peter Cetera)

11) Mother (Robert Lamm) -- 4:30
(Lead Vocals:  Robert Lamm)

Another grunge-esque tune here, and a very political lyric about the way industry treats the planet (the "Mother" is Mother Earth):  "A mother has been raped and left to die in disgrace, she is gone...".

12) Lowdown (Peter Cetera-Daniel Seraphine) -- 3:37
(Vocals:  Peter Cetera)
Issued as Columbia single #4-45370 on April 19, 1971.  Peak position:  Pop #35.

Modern grunge, as we know it, really starts here, with Terry's "I don't give a shit" generic riff on the verses and lackluster yet sizzling solo.  The rest of the performances are all very solid, though. Robert plays a different keyboard here, sounding much like the organ you'd find in a baseball park.

(Tracks 13-17 -- AN HOUR IN THE SHOWER (Terry Kath) )
(Lead Vocals: Terry Kath, except where indicated)
This suite showcases Terry Kath at his best, not only as a songwriter, but as a singer and musician as well.

13) A Hard Risin' Morning Without Breakfast -- 1:52

First, we start off with a little acoustic guitar/drum lead-in...

14) Off To Work -- 0:46

...then we move into a hard rockin' electric groove with the rest of the band joining in...

15) Fallin' Out -- 0:53

...and now a nice marching beat by Danny with punctuation by the horns...

16) Dreamin' Home -- 0:49

... ...

17) Morning Blues Again -- 1:10
(Lead Vocals: Peter Cetera and Terry Kath)

...and a dreamy country-esque vocal by Peter before Terry takes over and closes it out on acoustic.

(Tracks 18-23 -- "Elegy")
This suite is about a species whose presence on the planet may soon be ending:  Man.

18) When All The Laughter Dies In Sorrow (Kendrew Lascelles) -- 1:05
(SPOKEN:  Robert Lamm)

A wonderful, yet cryptic and elegaic poem...  See the Playlist under Chicago for the text.

19) Canon (James Pankow) -- 1:05 (Featured MIDI)
(INSTRUMENTAL)

A gentle lead-in with flute...

20) Once Upon A Time.... (James Pankow) -- 2:34
(INSTRUMENTAL)

...and now the rest of the band joins in, as we devolve into...

21) Progress? (James Pankow/James William Guercio) -- 2:35
(INSTRUMENTAL)

Sound effects courtesy of the Industrial Revolution.

The horn section gets in some great industrial-sounding riffs along with the sound effects.

22) The Approaching Storm (James Pankow) -- 6:26
(INSTRUMENTAL)

The band unleashed!  All the performers get their moments here...

23) Man Vs. Man:  The End (James Pankow) -- 1:33
(INSTRUMENTAL)

A great way to close it out!