Reviews (page 6 of 8)
A powerful blend of jazzy soul that went a little left field at times. A powerful album.
Yeah Free Form Guitar is unforgivable.
This album is at its best when it’s doing bluesy freak outs. Pretty enjoyable.
South California Purples, I'm A Man
Ils m'ont déçu sur la fin
Good
Good bluesy album never heard before despite hearing loads of their songs.enjoyed guitar solos on long numbers
Not good, not bad.
I thought I’d like them more than I did. Obvious talent but didn’t land. Also that guitar improv sucked.
Solid album, a little to much Jazz for my taste but I enjoyed it overall.
Very nice 3*
Neat
Very very high 3! Really solid album, with great blues and jazz and psychedelic moments. I loved the cover of I’m A Man- just not more than the original. Ranking this a 3 because there aren’t any standout tracks to me that I’ll necessarily revisit.
Breaking the law
Favourite tracks: I'm a man; liberation
Hmmm love Chicago 3
Klassik Rock, geht so
My parents would have given this a 5. The musicianship is top notch but it’s just not for me.
There are a few songs that I really like from this album. However, there is just too much repetition for my taste. Too many guitar riffs and drums that repeat and repeat and repeat. I am not a fan of repetitive music.
Not sure why I thought Chicago was an 80s rock band. They've missed my radar my whole life I guess. This was good, plays like a very lively jam session, clearly great musicians. Though most of the tracks feels quite long.
Not particularly my cup of tea, as the majority of the experience felt like a big jazz jam session. Objectively, the arrangements were hefty with a big brass sound. I found the lyrics were pretty lacking, which is understandable if the focus of the album is on the instrumentals.
This was a bit of a rollercoaster. I expected to dislike it, was surprised by it being pleasantly jazzy at the start, and then the whole thing devolved into a heap of noodles. I don’t think any of these tracks needed to be anywhere near as long as they are.
Hmm. One point for cow bell. But demerits for way too much noodling.
Free Form Guitar 🤪
surprisingly good
Think I enjoyed this album a little bit more more with each listen. Didn't think I'd like the horn/brass stuff as much as I did, but damn they made it work very well. This album had a little bit of everything, good and bad. Probably could have done without the 7 minute guitar solo in the middle, but I really enjoyed the rest of the album. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is and Beginnings are classics that I remember on the radio back in the day. Southern California Purples, Listen, I'm a Man and Poem 58 had that funk/soul sound I really enjoy and I would call my "surprise" good songs. While Peter Cetera wasn't prominently featured on this album, I really enjoy his voice. He left Chicago and had a few sappy love song albums in the late 80's and early 90's. And while I called them sappy, what can I say, sometimes I really dig a sappy love song. I liked this album. For the most part really enjoyed the sound and the groove. Went a little long, but a solid album I'm going with a 3.5. Almost feel like I'm underrating here, but shit, that what I seem to do with a lot of these albums. Scoreboard will show 3, but damn close to a 4 for this listener. 3.5
Look, there are things I love about this album. I love the jazz/rock synergy, for one. Great musicianship overall. Fantastic voices abound. But there are things I loathe about it, too - primarily their complete inability to edit themselves. Let's just look at the Steve Winwood masterpiece "I'm A Man" that Chicago covers on this album. The original succinct, tight little pop/rock and roll tune comes in at 2:58. These long-winded mofos in Chicago turn that into a 7 minute and 43 seconds long atrocity. MORE is not always BETTER. Not every musical inclination need be indulged. Sometimes, and I think this is the case here, less could have been much, much more.
Tons of energy! Possibly too much for a 76 minute album, but a fun listen nonetheless. 6/10
Some really good songs.
Algunos tracks muy buenos y clásicos, pero otros muy malos. Le hubiera dado 4 estrellas si no es por esos tracks
This one was tough because the highs are so high, but it got really rough when it was bad. I want more Chicago, but the band definitely had kinks to work out
Chicago is one of those bands that seems ethereal and timeless, like they've just been around forever, a constant staple and sensation. Therefore, it's weird to look at this debut album and look at it as the album that "started it all"; they just feel like they've ALWAYS been huge and larger than life. This is yet another band who came out swinging, knowing their sound immediately and being great at it. This jazz rock sound is so synonymous with Chicago. And while they evolved their sound over the years, it has always kept this core. There is a lot more prog rock and psychedelic presence here than I expected from Chicago, too. It makes sense, considering the album came out in 1969, that it would have those kinds of influences, but I feel like those sounds definitely became more subtle over time in their music as they honed further in on the jazz rock sound. Now, all that said, I will definitely critique and say this album has a place on this project and has good music, but in my opinion is far from their BEST work. I'm kind of bummed that this is the only entry from them.
funky but a little too much at times
Nice to hear the early stuff with Terry Kath
dont really care about it idk
too much of a jam session, would've been better if it was 20 minutes shorter, Free Form Guitar was awful
Quite a decent album until Free Form Guitar.
Favourite songs: South California Purples, Questions 67 and 68, Listen Least favourite songs: Free Form Guitar (an almost 7 minute squelchy guitar solo was unnecessary), Liberation 3/5
The only song on this album that I was previously familiar with was "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", which I've always found amusing. Guy walks up to Robert Lamm and asks him what time it is, and Lamm gets all philosophical: "Like, does anybody REALLY know what time it is, man? Think about it." I imagine the guy's reply being something along the lines of "Sounds like whatever you just smoked is top-notch, but I just wanted to know if I'm late for my dental appointment." Anyway, this was much funkier than expected. My only complaint is that many of the tracks are overlong. I'll have to go back and listen, but I feel like "Poem 58" would have worked as two different tracks (think Zeppelin's "Heartbreaker" and "Living Loving Maid"), in which case I would prefer "Poem 59" (aka the latter, funkier half of "58"). Regardless, we've hit a stretch of albums that haven't really done it for me, and this was the best one in a while. Let's call it a 3.5.
Skön jazz
This album has the genre of rock but it gave me more of a jazz vibe. I did enjoy this album a lot though, it's a nice chill up beat album that's perfect for anytime of day. One of the reasons this album works is the amount of intrumental sections there are, it's sometimes nice just to listen to the talent of playing the instruments. Stand out tracks are Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is, Questions 67 and 68, and Someday.
This double album debut is a massive 76 minute blast of horns, percussion, and (free form!?!) guitar backing competent vocals from Peter Cetera and Terry Kath. They stuck with this formula for two more good albums during the early 70's before running out of steam. This album is generally good, if not spectacular, but does represent a landmark sound from the time.
The prominence of horns is interesting. It straddles the lines between jazz fusion, classic rock, funk and pop, and sometimes finds a nice balance. There are some strong, tuneful, lively songs on here - a lot to like, in the end. Unfortunately it's hard to really love, as it's prone to being a bit proggy, a bit self-indulgent (track 7, I'm looking at you) and a bit bloody long (both the individual tracks and the album as a whole).
It's great for what it is, but I still can't handle over an hour of jamming.
I like the jazzy tracks
Interesting 3*
The good: The version of I'm a Man is superior to Spencer Davis Group's version. Peter Cetera can play bass. Damn. In fact, the musicianship on this album is terrific. The bad: The Free Form guitar solo is nothing but noise and is damn annoying. They became sappy balladeers in the 80s. Overall, it's decent albeit a bit all over the place.
I quite enjoyed this album so a definite 3*
I think I would probably like it more if I listened again so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.
Definitely better than later era Chicago, but I've never been a big fan of all the big jazzy horns in rock, like this or like Blood Sweat & Tears. There are some really good moments on this album, but also a lot of jams that are just too long and indulgent. Overall it's pretty good but not great. 3 stars.
This was NOT the Chicago I was expecting. In fact I Googled "Chicago Transit Authority" because I was sure it must be a different band. This was bluesy, catchy, with more depth and complexity than the 80's Chicago I was familiar with- the synth piano, ballad band. This wouldn't be at the top of my playlist, but I enjoyed listening to it.
Un album de ville-américaine-rock à l'image de Boston (à ne pas confondre avec l'état-américain-rock, représenté par Texas). Ces Illinoisans abuseront des trompettes mais ce n'est pas moi qui vais m'en plaindre.
Fun, a lot of turmpets. Great guitar solo in "Poem 58".
This leaves me mostly unimpressed. It's not bad, but Chicago's later material is much, much better. This is mostly inoffensive, easy-listeing blues and soul. 2.5/5
3/5 Best: Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? Worst: Free Form Guitar
Side A was fun rock jazz with big band horns that really worked. Got a little experimental for me on B side but the highs were high
Was really into the first few tracks. Jazzy rock with almost a big band feel to it with all the horns. Second half starting with Free Form Guitar got a little too jammy for me
Kinda fun. Bit long though. What were they thinking with Free Form Guitar...
Some really good stuff in here, but also some stuff that sounds like the background music from a 70’s porno. Not a fan of that seven minute “guitar solo” either. Lots of hits and lots of misses. 3/5
not my favorite jazz rock band in the world but this album deserves some credit. not terrible at all though i thought the first half was stronger than the second
Bien, pero un poco largo y rollo las musicales.
This is the only Chicago album I actually have listened to in full before and so I knew what I was getting into. It's fine music. Still hate the 7 minute long noise track though since it feels very un-Chicago like. Do love me some good horns. It's an interesting debut album.
Chicago! Lets go! Didn't realize how jazzy they were! Diggin this! the first one was just instrumental. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? I've heard this one! Wow Poem 58 is awesome! Very Hendrixy
Free Form Guitar was a bit much, but generally good.
The distinct feeling here is: I'm so glad it's over! Don't get me wrong, some of the songs were OK. Lots of guitar solos, nice vocals - feels very jazzy. Not sure this is my cup of tea really. Feels very much like an album of it's time. Some other thoughts: Poem 58 has fun guitar. Favourite track so far. Freeform guitar isn't even a song. it's a crappy soundcheck. Kinda ruined the album for me. I'm a man is quite decent. Sounds like a typical 70s rock ballad, a song of its times. still good. Could've been played on the Life on mars tv show soundtrack. Someday - vocals sound autotune-y. how is that even possible when this is a late 60s album? regardless, it is annoying and I dislike it. I'm being very generous with a 3 star rating.
Started strong, got a bit toonexperimental and drawn out.
It’s really over the top but I can’t help but like it…
Totaalisesti jo unohtanut miltä tää kuulosti, mutta tais olla jotain himpun alle kolmosta. Voi mennä metsäänkin vaan en silti jaksa tarkastaa.
Aika jees. Välillä meni pelkäks kitaramölyks, nii vähän tuskailin kuuntelun kanssa. Kuitenkin kokonaisuudessaan päätä nytkyttävä pläjäys. 3/5
There are some hits here, but also a lot of hap-hazard Jazz. Obviously these guys are classically trained, and unafraid to take chances on some licks, but the guitar gets a little out of control at times. I respect the melding of instruments and genre bending.
Ganz nicer Classic Rock, aber manchmal extrem anstrengend z.B. dieser sinnlose Gitarren Track
Interesting and complex instrumentals, very jazzy but I appreciate the mix with lyrics. Its not often to have good jazz with lyrics incorporated in my experience. Its interesting to see the '69 version of rock from chicago. 3/5
I started off thinking this was quite interesting but it soon became a bit tiresome and overlong. Very white, bit funky, bit jazz, bit prog. All over the place really. Gotta admire the ambition though. I'm a Man is great.
Solid
Not what I was expecting to hear from Chicago - this goes hard! Not my typical genre, but if I was doing to listen to something that sounds like this, this would be the album I go to.
Like many people coming to this for the first time I was completely surprised by the sound and the songs - not what I expected from the Chicago I knew from the late 70s/early 80s. Really interesting music and songs, then it over does the prog and meanders away a bit with guitar solos.
A couple classics, but feels really dated.
This album has half of all of the unknown songs I heard from my dad’s radio growing up. They probably should’ve worked on their editing, though.
trut horn, lidt langhåret. humør musik.
A great jazz-rock, prog-rock collections of song with some really great musical achievements here. My problem with this album however that the direction of the album doesn't go anywhere, and it is particularly evident when an album is as long as it is (76 minutes). I often felt like the songs drag on forever. So it is a 3.5 instead of 4.
Goed, sommige nummers iets te langdradig, vooral 2e helft
3.5 They had such a great sound that nobody had before them. Rock with horns. Good stuff.
Would have really enjoyed this more if it were just instrumental.
Chicago is still garbage… this album is passable though 6/10
Funky little album, would of given a 4 without all the solos
Hm, only knowing the sunny "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" didn't prepare me for how forward-thinking & experimental Chicago's debut could be. Has a great finale in "Liberation", with the superfast last couple minutes & the brazen, sirens/trombones (just around the 11 minute mark), but there's a few songs/jams in the middle I struggled to engage with tonight. HL: "Does Anybody Know...", "Questions 67 & 68", "Listen" March 13, 2023
Oh my God Chicago kicks ass
Not the Chicago from the schlocky adult contemporary radio your parents played while you were captive in the back seat. A band experimenting with finding its sound…meh.
not what i expected. i think I had them mixed up in my head with the band "Boston". a lot of nice work on the horns, and some pretty big guitar freakouts. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. my favourite track was the final track, "Liberation" which was wa big guitar freakout before coming together at the end.
- enjoyed does anyone really know what time it is
Way better than expected. Does anybody really know what time it is? Lots of noisy guitar and horns. Some cheese. Peter cerera one of 3 singers
Horny horn time!! That introduction was too long but the first real track is a banger! More of this please! YES! Shit just goes! Dump that boring intro and bring that heat! Horny horns and smooth crooning, hell yeah brother! Peter motherfucking Cetera in the building! Some ripping guitar!
Liked the instrumentals, liked most songs. 3.5/5
Really liked the style of this but I wish there was less singing. It wasn't that interesting compared to the instrumental. The introduction was my favourite track for this reason Absolutely lost my shit when Questions 67 and 68 started because Panic at the Disco sampled it lol
101 / 1069 Starts off really strong, Jazz Rock as the description states. The second half (or second LP as it were) isn't as strong. Had it only been the first half an easy 4, but given the second half taking it down to a 3. Should have been cut down.
Like Chuck Mangione and a prog band decided to record an album. 3 stars for being weird af.
good rock instrumentals but too long
Poor start but gets a bit groovy Enjoyed but don’t recall a stand out track
Horn-based rock/pop. Talented musicians, but not super interesting.
Good album. I enjoyed the rock and funk, but the instrumental interludes went on for longer than I liked
Best Song: Beginnings. Hits a fever pitch crescendo, where the many layers of instrumentals coalesce in a really nice way. Worst Song: Free Form Guitar. I wonder if at any point in planning, playing, recording, or mastering, anyone asked whether someone would actually want to listen to this. Overall: A group of highly talented musicians that sometimes seem more motivated in trying to show off their talent than to write songs people want to hear. Everything here - at the album level but also at the level of individual songs - feels like it is in desperate need of an editor to pare things down and trim the fat.
This is an interesting album. I was kind of looking forward to listening to it because I definitely know a few Chicago songs but really don't know anything about their style or what a full album would be like. I can't say I'm a fan but the album definitely improves as it goes on. It started out with some horn-heavy, jazzy, prog rock songs that are not my thing at all. As the album progressed it falls into more rock and jam-based songs. 'South California Purples' in particular almost sounds like Cream. Then, there's a crazy track like 'Free Form Guitar', which is basically just noise rock. It's cool they jump around but doesn't make for a very cohesive album. Standout Tracks: Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, Beginnings, Poem 58, I'm a Man, Liberation.
Great jazz rock album. I’d not heard it before and will listen again. A pleasant surprise.
Improv jazz meets classic rock. Fun, but a bit too wandery/rambly
3.7
these guys can play their instruments like fucking champs. They are tight as all get out. This album is too long. every song seems to go on forever. probably would be amazing live.
Jammer, lots of classics on here
Too experimental for my taste
Surprisingly fonky, but a bit overstuffed.
I didn't love it nor did I consider any songs worth coming back to, but I'm not going to deny that this was a well-produced album. God the instrumentals were fantastic, so I was pleased that for once it was the forefront.
Honestly not even their best album. Still decent though. 5/10 if I could.
Pretty good for background music
I'm glad they went in the direction they did. There's a lot of wankery here. Some good songs, but a lot of unnecessary additions here.
Techincally, the band were called Chicago Transit Authority at the time of this album's release, but when they became successful, the actual Chicago Transit Authority threatened to sue, so they changed their name to Chicago. To my knowledge, that's about the third most interesting fact about Chicago. The most interesting is also upsetting: their guitarist Terry Kath died accidentally at a party when he fired his gun at his head in order to prove that the gun wasn't loaded. It was. The second most interesting fact about Chicago is that most people only like one song by Chicago, 25 or 6 to 4. It is transparent why this is the case: the main riff has a decent enough frug (as it should, considering it's swiped from the similarly sticky-fingered Led Zeppelin's Babe I'm Gonna Leave You), and the brass provides real propulsion. After that, the seam of interesting Chicago facts appears to be mined dry. Is anyone shocked that Chicago are a bit dull? Anyone scrunching up their eyes in bafflement that Chicago don't inspire rock n' roll myths worthy to ring out through the halls of Valhalla? I don't believe I'm slandering anyone's favourite band when I assert Chicago's tedious nature, in both the senses that I'm not uttering falsehoods and that Chicago is nobody's favourite band. One can say that Chicago were, like many dull bands, too worthy, too conscious of their artistry to inspire adoration, and this is a sizeable factor, but the main reason they're unloved is just that they're a bit dull. This, their self-titled debut, exemplifies all that made Chicago a quintessential also-ran in the public's affection. With a debut double album, they aimed high, but ignored the merits of concision. And there's the first wrinkle: the songs are just too bloody long. If we count Prologue, Augst 29, 1968 and Someday (August 29, 1968) as one song, then only two songs out of an adjusted 11 clock in at below 5 minutes, which doesn't detract from the pre-existing condition of worthy dullness. Another consequence of this length is the second wrinkle: the songs meander capriciously, stepping with rapidity from the occasional good riff to a spot of godawful proggy organ diversion. The listener pines for a strong producer to edit out the wanky parts and just leave us with that pleasant frug for which Chicago did have the capacity. That's a central frustration of this album: quite often you'll hear a snippet that genuinely appeals, only Chicago then decide to chance their hand and start invoking their jazz influences or attempting a bit of an experiment. You just want the band to make a solid rocker, not articulate their Thelonious Monkish faith. That solid rocker is here somewhere amidst the horns and the drum solos, and my 3 stars is in part a memorial to what could have been if Chicago took themselves a little less seriously and managed to be a bit more fun. NoRadio, signing off.
I became acquainted with Chicago the version of the band (in the 1980s) that I am most likely to not listen to. This earlier work with it's progressive rock tendencies is more likely to capture my attention. I've never listened to the whole Chicago Transit Authority album before, but I was familiar with 4 or 5 tracks. There is an ambition to this record, and I think Chicago achieves some worthwhile music with most of the tracks. "Free Form Guitar" and some occasional noise on the other tracks might keep me from relistening to the whole album again.
The instrumental songs were the highlight of the album.
not bad
Music to sell aluminium to.
What a way to start a career in an interesting way and become one of the most generic classic rock band in history. Please don't name your band after a city.
It's a very nice prog/jazz-rock and pop album from 1969 with a powerful introduction that might be one of the best instrumental moment of this band. Sadly, too long-winded so we loose interest in it.
Had no idea what to expect from this beyond AOR but certainly wasn’t expecting such a mix of things on one record. Can’t really imagine listening to it again but glad I heard it once.
Chicago do as they damn well please. I was expecting Soul horns which I was familiar with from Chicago 13 but here are Soul and jazz and prog horns. Chicago are playing whatever they damn well please. It’s refreshing in its own way. This is an elusive album but I kind of dig it.
I mean, it was alright. A bit incomprehensible at times.
Overall good, but had to skip a few songs
Seems like they're stuck in limbo between an early and late 60s sound. Not all together bad but a bit confusing.
A different Chicago than what most people are used to. In this album, it’s a lot of progress rock and instrumental solos played for long periods. Some of the songs were solid and showed similar signs of the jazzy Chicago. This album just seemed a bit out of form but it’s not that bad. 5.8/10
Nice rock music with horns and trupets
Teilweise sehr funky, hat much an Oceans 11 erinnert.
Ikke hørt på før, og ble underholdt. Låt ganske tidløst ut, som om det ble utgitt i går?
Had to double-check to confirm that yes, they're the ones who brought the '80s ballad "Hard to Say I'm Sorry". The radio staple is far from the jazzy rock sound of their debut album. And it's surprisingly decent, considering I'm not a big fan of jazz. The tracks are overlong, however. A daring move for a debut album, tbh. Strip it down a bit and it'll be a nice eclectic jazz-rock album.
Not bad, but not really my thing
Not what I expected, being only vaguely-aware of their yacht rock radio songs. Funky, bluesy and psychedelic, like a much-better Small Faces. Lots of this is indulgent jamming, but the good parts are excellent
Fine, better than I expected. Not excellent but perfectly fine to listen to.
3/12, 25%
damn the opening songs really slap. but after a while it really starts to fall off, and objectively the lyrics are kinda meh and a lot of bits just feel like they're trying to be experimental, and that's just not where they shine, they have a really nice songwriting style and I love the way Chicago uses horns in their pieces, either as a build or for dramatic effect or just to highlight the melody, so when they don't use them or they try something vastly different most of their appeal sorta dissapears. like high 3
Some fun, toe tapping songs. A lot of stuff that sounds like some real white guy soul. Great musicianship. Overall not a bad album to start the day to.
This was an interesting one. Did not remind me of the Chicago I know, but I was a really interesting one. The songs are intense and the solos are real groovy
This is a somewhat tough one to rate because the high points of the album (particular the more blues and jazz inspired tracks: 5 stars) and really high and the low point of the album are really low (the jarring, psychedelic instrumental parts: 1 star).
There was nothing like this when it came out.
Surprisingly guitar heavy outside of the singles and a bit more...prog than I was expecting in there extended breakdowns/solos.
Horns and horns and horns
This album has all the hallmarks of a really interesting and important piece of music. It exists between and across genres, features expanded and interesting instrumentation, and features rhythmic changes throughout. This jazz/funk rock album should be an easy five star. However, despite some really great moments, the album suffers severely from its own bloat. Longer tracks turn into jam sessions that frankly don't really go anywhere interesting. The guitar playing is messy which does not contrast well to the prepared sections. If this album would have shaved off about 1/3 of its length and focused on the tight rhythm section, then it would have been an easy five star album.
- Sehr 60', 70' Experimentell - Cooler Sound - Manchmal sind mir instrumentals ein wenig zu langatmig
Not the biggest fan of jazz, but wasn't too bad.
3/5 not really my jam but it was a good rock album
The whole band?
Recognized a few of the songs, but haven't ever sat down and listened to Chicago. Had that 70s-ish funky-ish sound. Even though it's not my favorite genre, I liked the big band feel.
Surprisingly cool
Need another pass. Way better than I expected though, legit good late 60’s rock
I don't know... 2.5/5
not bad
Yet another of those recordings made by skilled musicians, well crafted and produced, but so boring
Better then i expected. Not really my thing. I always want a band with a full horn section to do more.
Didn’t know they had this in them! Great psych feel on here.
There are plenty of things I like about this album: the multiple singer approach, the jazz and soul inflected rock, the guitar playing... They definitely have a very distinct, identifiable sound that I enjoy... but it's simply too long...far, far too long...
Clearly talented but overall a bit too jammy for me. My parents liked them, that's all I remember. I will say, "Free From Guitar" is completely out of left field and I can't imagine most people who like Chicago like it, but I dig the random noise track, very Hendrix. Can't believe it's over 6 mins long as well.
Déu n'hi dó amb el tour de force que suposa encaixar tot d'una l'estrena de Chicago (i com devia de ser per ells crear-la). I què diferent del que faria la banda quan Peter Cetera agafés les regnes. Aquí potents influències del jazz es barregen amb un rock majestàtic, amb elements també de r&b/soul. Complexe i difícil, i no sempre els experiments que intenten arriben a bon port, però al final, és un disc amb prou cos i temes com per ser tingut en compte
Fine album, some tracks go on far too long.
A cosy, pleasant enough listen with a nice big band sound, and I like the sax that pops up in most of the tracks. But as others have said before me, it's all just too much, the songs are almost all too long, and it is very self-indulgent. Just squeaks a 3, would've been edging close to a 4 if it was 20% shorter.
Could never quite work out what this album was meant to be, but was a decent listen
I liked some of the tracks a lot more than I thought I could with Chicago but there was a decent bit of sonic blues assault going on. The rest of the album not my thing but can appreciate it
It is quite an intriguing union of styles and sounds. The album has the heart of a rock album, which stands out on tracks like 'Listen', 'South California Purples' and 'Liberation', but there is a depth and a soulfulness there (i.e. 'Poem 58'), as well as an occasional pop-anthem vibe to some of the songs (i.e. 'Beginnings'), that make it feel a bit like a musical square peg. All told, the album is an enjoyable debut from a group of people that seem like they are really enjoying making music together, regardless of what genre people want to try and pack them into. Who would have thought at the time that these dudes would still be rocking and touring together half a century later!
I wanted to like this album, I really did. Parts of it are good. However, the album grinds to a fucking halt during the 10 minute long Free Form Guitar song, and it had already been a while since the album had any notable highlights. It's fine for albums to do experimental stuff, but that song does not fit in with the rest of what they're doing, and it is absolutely crucifying to listen to 3/5
This has a nice sunny sound that would have sounded fresh in 1969. The hits are great. The longer jams not so much. "Free Form Guitar" might sound better with Hallucinogenics – but I’d be worried about having a bad trip. “If You Leave Me Now” was in the distant future when they penned these songs.
A fun mixture of big band and rock instrumentation that provides an instant nostalgia shot. While the more anthemic nature of the LP means I don't see myself returning to all the tracks for easy listening, the album as a whole is a toe-tapping ride from start to finish.
way more brass band than I expected 3.5
4 star album if you cut the song lengths down by 2 minutes each and get rid of the guitar noise track
Free Form Guitar, oh yeah! South California Purples, cool. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, sounds familiar. It probably deserves a few more listens but for now it's a 3.
This album had some good parts but was uneven.
I have to say this got a bit tiresome towards the end, the 15 minute long song at the end could've done without. A mixed bag of enjoying some of the funky riffs and it becoming a bit samey
3.5
Ágætis byrjun hjá Chicago.
That horn-heavy Chicago sound. A fun listen but nothing really stood out...except was that where The Prodigy got that riff?
I didn't listen to all of it, jazzy stuff is not normally my thing, but I might try again sometime because I did like the rhythm of it
What an intro! Blue-sey, jazzy, full of horns, full of hope, full of keys and full of dreams. Do I know what time it is? Yeah, it's 25 or 6 to 4. This is a bnad that has really moved around the musical block. It's a good listen and I'd do it again.
Other than seeing its prog rock and other than most of the songs being really long because of this I know nothing… The album starts off with an introduction track, the song contains some brilliant “ horns”. The first part is much more lively then it goes into a slower “ jazzier” instrumental section ; only to briefly descend into madness then finally to go back to how it was before even bringing back the vocals. Does anybody really know what time it is is a shorter track for this album ( still 4 mins) it starts with a piano section then the horns come crashing in. It takes half the song for any vocals which is a shame but it’s still good when it gets there. Beginnings is nice it’s got a nice acoustic guitar in the mix which really brings the song together then it goes into madness with a great drumbeat and some good horns. The song is also probably the one with the most vocals in it which is good as well.The only problem is that the last minute is useless. Next up is questions 67 and 68 the instrumental kinda sounds like a grand intro to a game show. The song itself is really good I love the horns throughout alongside the crashing piano. A definite favourite so far. Happy to see on the wiki that this was released as a single ( although it didn’t seem to do well). Next is the song listen I liked the bass quite a bit especially at the start. It’s not a favourite, probably being the worst so far, but it’s just because of how good it’s been so far and shorter songs usually feel much worse on prog albums. After that swoops in poem 58 an 8 minute largely instrumental track, the guitars especially are really great on here it might only be me who feels this on here but something about the drums just feel a bit wrong and it does drag but of course it drags it’s a prog song! Free form guitar comes on with this really “droney” sound to it and drags for the whole hellish six minutes. I mean I like experimentation but not in this way if you know what i mean ( harder to listen to than revolution 9 by the Beatles). South California purples is a return to the normal sound but done in a slightly heavier fashion. The guitars are great, the horns are great but i’am kinda left wanting a different sound on those keyboards. My favourite part though has to be the build up on the chorus. The crashing symbols are cool and the stealing from the Beatles works nice. Closing off side 3 is i’am a man apparently it’s a cover so that’s cool it starts with a really good bass line where all the other instruments sorta circle around it making for one of the best build ups on here. My only issue is that the vocals could be a little louder in the mix. It does really drag at the 5 minute mark even if they build up on things again. Then starting off the last side is prologue, August 29 1968 it’s fine just an interlude that could’ve been merged as the intro to… Someday is a great song I like how it pulls out of the intro. It’s got the most poppier sounds and it is rather short but i’am happy for it’s existence as I was getting bored at this point. The album ends with liberation a 99% instrumental track. To be fair it’s not a great instrumental track at 14 minutes its way too long for its purpose and to be fair it only gets worse when it drops in what’s essentially a shorter repeat of free form guitar. It does go back to the main sound though and does add some limited vocals and the last minute or so is quite good. Man, after some time this got annoying! But what I liked I really liked so i’am in the middle here.
The last half of the album sounds like a random jam session
Solid
Chyba pierwszy raz spotykam sie z banda, jeszcze dziwniejsze. bo hamerykanska banda grajaca muzyke rokowo jazzowo popowa, zadziwiajaco zroznicowana jak na jeden krazek, ktory trwa jednak 76 minut, zespol podczas nagrywania albumu skladal sie z siedmiu czlonkow, wiec sporo instrumentow sie pojawia, jak to w jazzie talerzowanie, saksy, trumpety, do tego dochodzi trzech wokalistow, ktory rotacyjnie maja traki, ktore byly pisane glownie przez klawiszowca Lamma, ktory zadbal o popularne brzmienie zespolu, natomiast jego eksperymentalna strona lezy na barkach glownej gitary Terrego Katha, ktorego autorstwa jest introwy trak i free guitar form, ktory sam w sobie jest czyms unikalnym jak na lata 60 i album jazzowo rokowy, sama gitara podpieta pod ampa, ktora przez 6 minut jamuje tworzac jakies podwaliny pod noisowa muzyke, wiec dobry piczek, bo cos nowego czlowiek uslyszal, najbardziej zapadajacym w pamiec hajlajtem bedzie Kathowa solowka, a najbardziej popularnym traczkiem zostaje im a man, wiec oba utwory leca na plejke
Svänger. storbandigt.
poem 58 e a brincadeirinha com i am the walrus foram legais mas está longe de ser um dos lançamentos mais quentes daquele ano
I think largely because of Peter Cetera's 80s solo career, I assumed Chicago was some dull 1970s US soft rock band and had no need to investigate. Scratching at the surface with this album, it sounds like a lot of the 1960s rock music I like and wouldn't sound out of place in my record collection. I don't know if this is a typical Chicago album but there's some sweet guitar playing, and even some of the vocals sound Hendrix-like. Might need to listen to some more of this.
Not what I expected. Eclectic and yet still missed the mark for me. I must be more difficult to please than I thought.
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: I’m a man
Chicago is another of those bands that I know very well by name, but couldn't have told you one of their songs. Looking through their catalog, I was surprised to find that actually "Saturday in the Park" was the only title I instantly recognized. But two minutes into "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" it suddenly became a song I knew! It seems Chicago is sometimes straight up jazz, sometimes a precursor to 80s easy listening, sometimes organ and electric guitar more fitting of the late 60s, sometimes a preview of 70s soul. Sometimes all at once, sometimes shifting in and out. And then... outta nowhere... the cacophonous experimental noise rock of "Free Form Guitar!?" What is going on here?? I don't think I would have guessed that this album was from 1969. I would have placed it in the late 70s or early 80s? Until "Someday," which is awesomely about the 1968 DNC protests. Overall, there is some really great surprising stuff on "Chicago Transit Authority." And also some stuff I really don't care for. This album leaves me with more questions than answers though. I still don't know what time it is, and I really want to know what questions 66 and 69 are, as well as poems 1-57. Or what genre this is.
How the hell is Introduction 6:30? That’s not an introduction. It’s like a drunk uncle that ambled, swerved, and fell up the stairs on the way to give a suuuuuuper awkward wedding reception speech about how the bride’s ex was more liked by the family. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? comes on and the cringe continues with the uncle adding that the ex is probably a better lay based on the vocals emanating from … and suddenly there are trumpets and the uncle loses his train of thought. Amazingly the uncle gathers himself and tells an entirely coherent story about how deep love made him feel long ago when he met hit late wife and how he can tell the bride feels that feeling and he admires the groom for making her feel that way. Applause ensues. “As I was walkin’ down the street one day…” that whole sound is fantastic! I love it. This album is the ultimate rollercoaster. I really like parts. Then there is shit like Free Form Guitar or the last minute of Beginnings … non-directional wastes of time. It’s frustrating. Im all for mixing jazz instrumentation with rock … the trumpet, bone, and sax with guitars and drums is great. Unfortunately it also came with jazz’s drunk uncle. This was a 4 sided, double LP. If this album were cut in half it could have been something truly amazing. Minus one star for each superfluous side.
Crazy to think that there was a time where you could have had such a band name as Chicago Transit Authority. Maybe this album simply isn’t truly indicative of their commercial success to date, but it’a hard to believe that this sound brought them success. Aside from an over abundance of horns and jamming, there are simply no real songs on this album. There seems to be a lack of a true concept or direction, with most of the fun being with the musicians rather than the listener. I would definitely have been sold on a live performance and the flawless production and musicianship truly saves it, but the jamming becomes irritating and the instrumental sections predictable. Sad to say that I wasn’t blown away as a whole.
Enjoyed this.
I liked most of it, I just got bored as a lot of the songs were too long with the instrumental solos.
One of the best albums of its era
Fängt fast zahm an, findet sich erst auch noch nicht so richtig, obwohl in Beginnings und Question schon gut die Richtung angedeutet wird. Wird dann noch bisschen anstrengend, aber dann, nach Free Form Guitar: wow, zwischenzeitlich schon crazy gut: Spielfreude und Freiheit, Polyrhythmen und MLK: Herr Ober, bringsiemir das gleiche wie dem Mann da! Gegen Ende wird dann der alte Zirkusgaul sogar für 14 Minuten zum Traben im Kreis durch die Manege geschickt. Danach ist er natürlich postorgasmisch lahm - aber auch glücklich, bis knapp an die 4!
Muchos guitarrazos por todos lados. Progresivo, denso, largo. A ratos me saturó aunque supongo no es problema de la banda sino del género. 3.5 estrellas que bajan a 3 porque no sé si lo quiero volver a escuchar.
I thought it was very interesting at points. Most of the time I was fan of the sounds dancing together. Other times, especially one of the guitar solos I thought was too much. Maybe I don't have the ear to listen and properly appreciate it. I thought it was just too much. Not for me.
Jai aime, un bon melange disntruments et ca sonne tres bien. 3.75
3.9 - Considering where Chicago ended up in the 80s, it was a surprise to hear where they began. 1968 finds Chicago fusing funk, jazz, rock and R&B, in a similar vein as Sly and the Family Stone and Funkadelic. It's a big and bold sound buttressed by horns and an expanded rhythm section. The studio mastery and high value production that characterizes Chicago's output is on full display. What distinguishes this record for me are the artistic risks, some successful, others not. The protest recordings on "Someday" are poignant and ground the album in its time and place. Conversely, there are some boring extended jams ("Liberation"). My biggest knock is with "Free Form Guitar" which sounds like it's trying to be the "Maggot Brain" of guitar feedback - just a silly, cacophonous jerkoff.
It was good, just couldn’t listen to it on repeat.
Didn't know what to expect from this, not knowing the band name offhand. Started off funky, OK, I like, then we got to "I'm a man" and it capped off a load of psych-funk/free-form that I wasn't expecting at all.
Nice horns. Cool mix of prog and easy listening. Production was good. I appreciated the Beatles reference.
Inventive, very much a product of its times (boogie bass), good horns, soulful vocals. A little tedious after a while.
not really for me. the music was cool. songs were so long
3/5
A bit of a mixed bag: On one hand, excellent tracks that are the very definition of classic rock (see I'm a Man); on the other, what seem to be live recording of wanking with guitars sessions (see Free Form Guitar).
Good.
Couple of great tracks, some seem indulgent
Some unexpectedly great guitar work. Little too long. Solid jazz rock. 6-7/10
Riktigt nice. Stökigt, jazzigt, rockigt. Lite steely dan-vibe.
Good music
Fun instrumentals. A fan
Pretty solid Jazz/Rock fusion album. However, I just wasn't really in the mood for it today. Worth revisiting another time when it might strike my fancy more, could easily see it being a 4.
Big Band Jazz meets Rock! It’s definitely a unique sound. Didn’t mind it, but probably just not my thing
Dit is heel anders dan de band Chicago. Dit is jazz ... maar niet mijn ding :-). Tenminste het begint allemaal heel jazzy. De rest van het album is ook erg soul en juist die stukken vind ik geweldig. Jammer dat een volgend nummer weer begint met piano-geneuzel zoals bij jazz. Of van die gitaarsolo's waar ik niet van houd. Gelukkig ook weer gewoon "middle of the road". Alles bij elkaar lekkere muziek met verschillende stijlen, voor ieder wat wils zou ik zeggen. Mijn favoriet is"Listen". ***
Esta muy bueno. Solo hay varias rolas de más de 6 minutos que debieron terminar en tres.
Who knew Chicago used to have a horn section!?!? Me, coz it keeps coming up this year. Still interesting to hear how much they changed from 60s to 80s and while I like the idea on paper it turned into a bit of a chore by the end of the album.
strong 3. Some great jazz rock, would get a 4 but the album is overly long and 'free form guitar' is pretty bad
Stanky Soft Rock. Some really cool tracks, and a few bland ones
Not bad, but don't think it's one I would listen to again
While I feel that this album was made by talented people, it really did nothing for me. I don’t think I’d go out of my way to put it on. I had moments where I really enjoyed the instrumentals and then the lead singer would pipe in, and I really was not a fan of his voice. This album kind of made me feel like I was listening to the Grateful Dead, like I needed to be zonked out and drunk to enjoy it. With peace and love of course.
Classic rock with jazzy/soul tones. It’s all very well written and performed, but this sort of thing doesn’t do much for me
Me encantó hasta que llegue a Free Form Guitar, se recupera en Someday. Mi muy favorita Beginnings
It starts off like a decent classic rock album, but ends like a mediocre one. 7.6/10
I had only heard the songs Chicago did in the 80s, song I just didn't like (too saccharine for me), and much later I heard a few of their earlier songs, which to me are notably better. I had not listened to this album before now, though. Definitely more rockin', soulful, political, and interesting as a listening experience than the song I heard on the radio in the 80s. Very much a reflection of late 60s rock/soul/pop and the cultural and political climate at that time, this helped me to view the band Chicago in a better light. A bit too dated for me now, and I don't have any personal memories associated with this music, so I doubt I'll listen to it again, but I can see why people would like it.
Not bad. Hacen un poquito de todo.
Als Hintergrundmusik 4 Sterne, zum aktiven Hinhören nur 2. Daher nur 3 Sterne. Erstaunlich seifig für 1969.
Ohh endlich mal 14-minütige Gitarrensongs zum Träumen. Liberation und Listen sind meine Favoriten auf dem Album, machen Laune! Konnte man alles entspannt durchhören. Manches allerdings für meinen Geschmack zu jazzig, einige Parts erinnert mich ein bisschen an Fahrstuhlmusik.
Ganz nett aber irgendwie etwas wirr von der Zusammensetzung.
false
3.5 some decent songs
Good
The debut Chicago album is a DOUBLE ALBUM?! And it's "only the beginning" (see what I did there?). Chicago is, without a doubt, very good at this kind of music. It's well-composed, well-performed, and well-paced. This is all undone by Side C's opener "Free Form Guitar" which rocks my socks. It totally breaks the flow of the album built up for the past 30-40 minutes by just experimenting with horrid guitar sounds and I love it. I wish more albums had a mid-point wake-up call. After that though it gets right back into it's normal groove and everything is alright again. I definitely feel that this is one of the better double albums, but it still ends up being too big for it's own good.
Ik vond het eigenlijk best wel tof, maar 5 kwartier was echt teveel van het goed. En dat nummer waar iemand 6,5 minuut met een verrote bladblazer bezig is? Wtf?
Is dit dezelfde Chicago als van 'Hard to say I'm sorry'? Jeetje, wat klinkt dit anders.
Strong start but loses me towards the second half of the album. Once the song part of Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is? came on i really enjoyed it, but there was a lot of odd instrumentals throughout the album. Free Form Guitar was just jarring
too much brass for my tastes.....but i can see how this would have been super fresh in its day
I thought Chicago sounded like Journey... It's much better than than that, I liked the rock and the horns and the weird stuff
Zaczęło się spoko, ale nudy
Sometimes good, sometimes it drags on.
This could’ve been, and should’ve been two albums. There’s no reason for this to be an hour and fifteen
Some favorites, like the horn sections
Some sick riffs
best in small doses. more jamband than I was aware
More complexity in the music than I might have given it credit for. Not really my thing, and I think the lyrics are a little dull and trite.
1969. Horns! Jazzy. Fun.
High highs, but a couple too many free form tracks
Kinda corny of course, but love the horn section.
I've always liked Chicago, but I'd never heard their first album. It was a really interesting blend of everything that I've known of them, plus some throwbacks to the era which initially produced them. It wasn't a top tier album for me personally, but merited 3 stars.
Not Chicago’s best but an interesting no vocal sound
A couple of my favorite Chicago songs on here, and a surprising amount of heavy guitar wanking.
not bad
Love the innovation here even it gets weird at times
Tiring. 5.5/10 FT: Questions 67 and 68
An enjoyable enough of a listen with plenty of talent on display. I just don’t feel compelled to revisit often. A decent record that's easy to appreciate, even if it doesn't fully click with me.
Free form guitar c’est quoi ce bordel ?
4/10
Meh
I generally like Chicago. This had some great classic Chicago tracks, but overall it was a bit of a slog to get through. The tracks were all generally too long, and the album was for sure too long. Plus Free Form Guitar was just horrible to listen to. 2/5
Prior to this listen, I would have likened myself a fan of Chicago. From start to finish, this album was way to experimental for me. Less than 10 minutes in, I was ready for it to be over, the piano on "The Beginning" seemingly surrounding me, as the lyrics reminded me, "it's only the beginning." When "Free Form Guitar" came along, I wondered why I had been so critical of the experimental piano. Absolute torture. Songs I enjoyed previously must have been radio edits, as I struggled to get through even the very familiar "Does Anybody...." "Questions 67 and 68" was enjoyable, but only a five minute reprieve from 76 and a half minutes of songs I hope I never hear again.
Nah
Ok, aber nicht der große Knaller. 2/5
2.46
This album took me by surprise. It was not what I was expecting as it sounds different than the Chicago that I am familiar with. The tracks were heavy on the instrumentals. They were fun for a little bit but the songs themselves were lengthy. Perhaps too long. It made it difficult to listen without finding the need to skip to the next song after 4 minutes. Fav song - Beginnings or Poem 58.
This is clearly pushing the boundaries of Jazz and merging it with the later styles of the 60s but for me it doesn't work. I really struggled to connect with it as it had a lazy 60s pop song vibe with an excess of formal loud brass. The only thing I liked was the drums (And occasional guitar solo) as they seemed to hang the absurd together by a thread and made parts of it enjoyable. From one song to the next was like the homecoming of the king, down the red carpet in some kind of fairytale jazz / pop ballad (trumpets all lifted in a line). Everytime I started connecting with the music another excessive brass interlude kicked in. I suspect this is a taste thing as there is definately alot in this. Not my jam and one that maybe has significance of the time but a little indulgent for my liking. p.s. "Free Form Guitar" sounds like a formula 1 race re-made through the medium of electric guitar. Interesting Everytime I started connecting with the music another excessive brass interlude kicked in. I suspect this is a taste thing as there is definately alot in this. Not my jam and one that maybe has significance of the time but a little indulgent for my liking.
It is a very out there album. Very cool and experimental, with a lot of interesting moments throughout. As in the rest of their discography, it lacks having more memorable moments across the album, but gotta value the uniqueness. 7/10 [KEEP]
Ummm Free Form Guitar was definitely a choice. I think the whole album could have been shortened by half an hour - it dragged on quite a bit
could have easily trimmed 30 minutes of self-indulgent bullshit
Introduction - 3 Does anybody really know what time it is? - 2 Beginnings - 2 Questions 67 and 68 - 3 Listen - 3 Poem 58 - 3 Free form guitar - 1 South california purples - 3 I'm a man - 4 Prologue, august 29, 1968 - na Someday (august 29, 1968) - 2 Liberation - 2
White adult contemporary, the blueprint. It's amazing how they sounded like this on their debut, not 5 or more albums in, which is more traditionally when bands reach their stadium rock status.
Somehow way less than the sum of its parts. I should love this album, but it isn't doing it for me
Mostly OK although uncool until Free Form Guitar, which really stinks up the album. Even Nigel Tufnel wouldn't subject a Spinal Tap audience to a guitar solo this bad. The jazzed-up cover of I'm A Man is also much worse than the original. And the final track, the self-indulgent, solo-laden, masturbatory and ironically-titled Liberation, leaves me with a really bad taste in my ears. No thanks.
In snippets this is great. You’ll get a snatch of something genuinely great. Only to be absolutely ruined 10 seconds later.
i honestly can't think of a single song of theirs... but i feel like i know them? well clearly i don't actually know chicago cause this is not the sound i was expecting. i was probably confusing them for boston lol. this is bluesier than i was expecting. once again i am begging, BEGGING, musicians to understand the length of their songs. i don't actually care to listen to 7 minutes of free form guitar wailing. maybe that took significant skill? i don't know. and 14 minutes???? are you kidding me? i'd love to give points for the blues but this wasn't really the best of the blues either. 2/5
Not so sure about that. Upbeat album, but nothing stood out. More like 2.5
Not what I expected. Very jazzy rock, lots of instrumental segments and one of the mos annoying "songs" ever (Free Form Guitar). There are some parts that are enjoyable, but this listen-through was mostly me waitimg for it to be over...
The algorithm hates me. 9 albums in 5 have been jazz. Saw Chicargo thought might be alright. At least their is some singing. However still the tuneless playing. Song two Does Anybody Really Know starts with what sounds like a monkey playing the piano. Hold on we have an actual song. Praise the gods of music. Curates egg. Free Form Guitar is as bad as expected list of messing about and feed back. Why?
I was expecting something entirely different.
Clasico, pero no tan chido
eh
I only knew Chicago from their 80s hits which I never liked. I was hoping to like this version of the band much more, but I don't really
Not my thing.
This album is pretty listenable right up until the 7th track "Freeform Guitar" where it grinds to a halt. Who thought sticking a track that sounds like a car exhaust backfiring for 7 minutes in the middle of the album was a good idea?
2,2/5
I really do enjoy later Chicago but this was not enjoyable overall for me. Too much 60’s BS with organ solos and guitar tracks that really serve no purpose.
Bad suburban high school jazz band meets AOR meets absolute wank. If you have enough songs for your debut to be a double album, either get an editor or release two albums.
I liked some
Appreciate a song about time but not my jam overall.
Some good tunes here but a lot of self indulgence and filler.
Not a fan of these kinds of jazz blues rock with horns and this old style of singing. The highlight for me was actually the Free Form Guitar song.
What an absolute mess of an album. At various points it offers some good blues rock, and as a historian I enjoyed the references to the 1968 Democratic convention on ‘Someday’. But basically every song is twice as long as it needs to be, and some really drag- Free Form Guitar is a genuinely offensive listen. A real mixed bag, even within songs.
Nope
Haven't heard this album before. For the first couple of songs I was actually quite hopeful. Then the random guitar feedback song started and the rest of the album after it was boring 2/5
Meh
What's with all the jazzy classics the past 2 days? I enjoyed yesterday's offering, but this did not compare. Some parts were OK, but mostly a bit too experimental for me.
y’a trop de choses qui se passent ça m’angoisse
Man, that was mostly boring. Kind of picked up in a few spots, but definitely would not choose to listen to this.
Another 16+ minute song. It was a fine listen but not a album I’ll go back to.
Didn't care for the buzzsaw solo in the middle.
Not for me. This is exactly the type of music I dislike, but the brass made it a tiny bit better. Sounds like lots of 70s US TV soundtracks.
I have always found Chicago to be kind of boring
First half of the album reminded me of a nice sunny day. The second half on the other hand was somehow draining and unpleasant. Unfortunately not an album for me.
Bit self indulgent. Enjoying smell of own farts too much. Quality musicianship. But too long for that reason. enjoyable at times. Same ballpark as Steely Dan. But Not as good Wont get a revisit
Not my cup of tea