Chicago Transit Authority

What can I say? I gravitate towards Chicago's "cringier" soft rock material, so this was my first real dive into their early sound. There's some terrific musicianship here, particularly Terry Kath's guitar work, but the band seems determined to stretch every musical idea until it wears out its welcome. Between the extended jams, unnecessary intros and outros, and seemingly endless horns, I found myself wishing someone had stepped in and reeled them in. There's plenty of talent on display, but this album desperately needed someone who knew when to say enough is enough.

Mom Jeans in the form of an album.

Chicago became famous for pumping out album after album of very smooth Soft Rock throughout the 70's, but I was told they started out way more artistic. As it turns out they pretty much were themselves from the very beginning. Yes, this record is jazzier and somewhat proggy, but it's still very soft. Like a softer forefather to Steely Dan, if that's even possible. It's your mom's Jazz-Rock, it's ok. Key tracks: Questions 67 and 68

Albums like this should come with a warning sticker, like those "Parental Advisory" ones... Something like: "Warning! Album contains excessive noodling, free form guitar jams and jazz wankery! Not suitable for people who like three minute pop songs! May annoy you, your wife, pets and children!"

2/10 The epitome of noodling. Disgusting, pointless, pretentious crap. The opposite of Jimi and Jimmy and the Beatles, despite trying to include itself in the same brackets. Horrible relentless horns that give you no space to breathe. A criminally overlong two star album that loses a whole freakin star due to Free Form Guitar and Liberation.

The casual listener might say there’s too much self-indulgent jamming going on and the fat could have been trimmed, and they would almost have a point. But to distill this down to the essentials is to miss the point of the album and to take it out of its era. That same casual listener probably thinks Chicago is where classic rock meets your dentist’s waiting room. This album proves them wrong and proves what a talent Terry Kath was.

This was really good. Very funky, some great guitar cuts in here. Enjoyed it

The arrangements are extraordinary. Stylistically it's a mess. Introduction's migration from funk to Las Vegas Review (ala Tom Jones) to Television Orchestra (ala Lawrence Welk) and back again is, while technically impressive, more egotistical than artistic. Generally, the performances are impressive. Although, Terry Kath is among the legion of guitar players whose fingers never connect with their hearts and ears; his playing is always a demonstration of (impressive) athletic prowess and pattern recognition (fretboard mastery), but never the slightest bit musical. (The album would be SIGNIFICANTLY better without Free Form Guitar and Liberation.) Ultimately, what makes this an interesting, but mediocre record is the weakness of the songwriting. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? is decent. The rest (excepting the cover I'm a Man) are entirely forgettable. (The world has to wait until Chicago II to get some of Cetera's extraordinary, if cheesy, ear worms in the mix.) So, we are left with a sonically pleasing, technically impressive, interesting collection of tracks that go on and on and on without really getting anywhere special.

Rubbish

3.5 but songs a bit long for my taste

There are some real fun songs on here, but there are also some really annoying guitar sounds on here that drag on a bit too long, and that's coming from a guy who digs jam bands.

First half was ok, but no need for a double album if the second half is a mad experiment. Not something that really took hold of me.

Solid start for a legendary band. Much different groove than 1980's Chicago. There's a lot more horns! "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is" is a classic track you still hear almost daily on the radio. "Questions 67 and 68" and "Beginnings" were hits and still get airtime. They were close to getting funky on "Listen" which is horn driven but Kath's guitar shreds that song! He tears it up on "Poem 58" as well. They actually do get funky on the cover of "I'm A Man". Overall they had a much more aggressive sound on guitar back then (see "Liberation" and "Free Form Guitar") which gave their sound more muscle. 3.5 stars. Too much horn for me, bit of a dated sound, but a solid record.

Chicago is one of those bands I've never liked, no matter how many times I've heard them.

So many long and irritating guitar solos but was still a solid one

good

Started oh so cool and then got a bit too weird

Surprisingly good considering their hits.

So late 60s Chicago is NOTHING like the 80s Chicago we grew up with. Lol. I feel like I should have liked this, but I didn’t. On paper it has things I typically like - jam band length songs, prominent horns section, a little jazzy funkiness. But it was just off for me. It sounded pretty basic in some of the songs and the free form guitar nonsense was particularly terrible. Disappointed overall.

I quietly enjoy Chicago’s music. The jazz mixed with rock just works with these guys and the songs are easy to listen to. Good music when it gets turned on.

I've said it before, I love a good horn section and Chicago delivers on that every time. Amazing band, the players are killing it from the very first track. Man I was grooving to this entire album, except for that weird free form guitar thing they did that was out of place and not good. A few familiar tunes on here as well. I didn't expect to like this as much as I did, it hit just right last night and I'll absolutely revisit.

Really crosses over a few genres, but enjoyable trip.

Had some nice songs and some less nice songs

..

I really wasn’t feeling the first two tracks at all but then I enjoyed Beginnings so things were picking up. The tracks after that were great until Free Form Guitar which wore out its welcome very quickly. I’m A Man got me back into it, I love me some Spencer Davis Group and this was a great cover of them. After that nothing stood out massively apart from Liberation went on for donkey’s. Overall there’s some brilliant tracks on here but also a lot I didn’t care for. It’s over an hour long and I really don’t think it needs to be. Chop 20-30 minutes off it and I’d be giving it a 4 minimum. Top Track - I’m A Man

What a brave first album. Make it a double album and have at least 2 big hits and some crazy jazz guitars. 4 Stars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKg1GX4m-xA

This album is great. I'm a man being the highlight.

Very 1969's music - very fun and enjoyable. Jazz rock is great.

Too long, too noodly, and just not interesting enough. Killed me by the end of it

I’ve always been a casual Chicago fan. I enjoy their bigger radio hits, but I’ve always gravitated more toward their stripped-down, over-produced ’80s run, when Peter Cetera was their lead singer and David Foster was behind the boards, helping turn them into one of the biggest acts on mainstream radio. This review, however, isn’t about that Chicago. It’s about The Chicago Transit Authority, and this album was pretty much exactly what I expected: energetic, loud, bombastic, and packed with brass, constantly straddling the line between rock and groovy jazz. It was definitely enjoyable, although at 76 minutes, it felt a little too long, and some of it gets pretty experimental. But if I’m being completely honest, I still prefer ’80s Chicago. You know, the stuff most die-hard Chicago fans hated. Yeah. That Chicago.

Pretty solid album, though they did go off the rails a few times. I kinda like this version of Chicago more than the uber-80s shlock they put out with Peter Cetera.

Didn’t enjoy it. This whole era and vibe leaves me cold.

Masterpiece

Cool jazzy music, I enjoyed

Amazing. I always knew this had some bangers on it, but I didn't know it was all bangers from start to finish. The horns, the guitar work, the lyrics, the grooves, it's all just so, so good. This is one of those records I have honestly been sleeping on for way too long. I mean it's hard to overstate how impressed I am with this album. Especially for 1969, there just weren't that many bands doing things this diverse.

it's just ok, so soft rock but not my type

meh pero son buenos

Such a solid debut album! As someone that grew up with Chicago already being a part of the zeitgeist of blues-rock, soul and jazzy funk, I never really thought to look back at their catalog and dive in, but this record really crushes it. My only real complaint is "Free Form Guitar", as cool as it is, feels like it goes on for just a little too long.

I knew Chicago liked their brass instruments. I just didn’t realise they were planning to move the entire horn section into my head. 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 is an ambitious mixture of jazz, rock, and blues, with impressive musicianship and arrangements that occasionally seem determined to throw everything at the listener at once. There’s plenty to enjoy here. The interplay between the guitars, rhythm section, and horns can be genuinely exciting, and the band clearly has no shortage of ideas. Unfortunately, they also seem reluctant to leave any of them out. Over the course of this lengthy double album, the relentless brass arrangements gradually lose their impact, and what initially sounds thrilling becomes rather exhausting. A good and occasionally fascinating jazz-rock debut, but one that could have benefited from a little restraint. The album is over, the record player has stopped, and somehow I’m still hearing trumpets.

3.5

Whoever did the Animal Crossing soundtrack has definitely listened to the opening track. Did not make it through Free Form Guitar.

love the funky vibes. great trombone.

This whole album sounds like a meandering jam with moments of cohesion. Chicago is definitely a group of very talented musicians, but I definitely have to be in the correct mood to listen to them.

Too jazzy.

Too much noodly guitar and not enough substance for me here. "Beginnings" and "I'm a Man" were alright

Ahead of its time for 1969! I don't think this has quite the emotional resonance of Sly Stone or Jimi Hendrix. It feels more jazzy. Almost like math rock. We got to see this band live a few years back, and they played a lot of material from this album. I'd describe it as disorienting, but in a positive way; the soft-rock elements are interrupted with a lot of digressions or experimental touches. It's a long album, but the individual songs didn't feel long. I even liked the Free Form Guitar one.

Yes!!!! A nostalgic album for me, as Chicago is one of my family's favorite bands. What a fun blend of genres. Gives ya jazz, gives ya rock, gives ya funk. I love the noodling here, infused with rhythm and energy. It goes pretty dang hard at points too! This is probably a 4.5 for me, bumping to a 5 because MAN I loved how weird this album was.

glaub nonie es chicago album glost, die hend doch e uuuhuere langi karriere gha und sind irgendwenn zur schnulze band worde? bass isch geil im erste song, blöser suuper. aber schochli richtigslos. de text vo does anybody know what time it is findi uhuuere cringe. ich bin biiitz wärmer worde demit. s isch huere experimentell und jazzy zum teil und denn wieder bluesrock. ich bin jetz bi free form guitar und dasch schono experimentell. er behauptet er hegis ohni pedals gspielt. wie au immer. krass. aber es isch chli es umegemasturbiere findi. ou bi south california purples e i am the walrus reference. hihi. nocher krassi hornline. i'm a man isch halt en krasse song vom steve winwood. und denn glaub no jimi hendrix reference öppe bi 5:40? cooli version. letste track vieeeel zlang eh alles viel z lang aber es 3 gits well no fun.

DOPPELALBUM HAHAH introduction het meh als gnueg blöser glaub ok er het iwie e schöni stimm, mega klar sächsesibezg mentioned! mmh s solo vo poem 58 isch na hot hahaha free form guitar het gad so e beruhigendi würkig gha (so white noise mässig), iwie no e cooli "pause" (und für 1969 wahrsch scho speziell) DAMN ich han erst jz glese, was füren erfolg das album gsi isch ok es verlürtmi hert bi dem genoodel (liberation ganz schlimm) FUCK LIBERATION FÜHLT SICH WIE 30 MIN AH bin nöd us prinzip lange lieder abgneigt aber booii bin grad sehr tempted, weg dem es 2 geh, aber ich han einiges vorher na cool gfunde, drum eifach es 3

Its an ok album. Didnt find anything greatly, and its just the base of rock but i respect!

Enjoyable, a pleasant listen

#287/1001 🇺🇸 Let jazz be jazz and rock be rock. I can't get on with this record, there is a horrible smugness to it. Musically proficient, but don't they just know it. Best Track: I'm a Man.

# Album Name: Chicago Transit Authority # Artist: Chicago # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Very mid album, was expecting way more. # Top Tunes: Beginnings / Im a man # Would I listen to it again? ill give it another chance

Never been a Chicago fan and that fact remains even after sitting through a whole album

Another double album that would be way way better as a single album. A couple of really good songs, but tracks like "Free Form Guitar" and "Liberation" lapse way too far into jam band territory for my liking.

I unabashedly like Chicago, but most of my experience with them revolves around the Peter Cetera era of the band. I hate soft rock as a general rule, but Pete Cetera era Chicago soft rock does something for me. But this is kinda awesome. If you played this next to Peter Cetera era Chicago, I would not believe they were the same band. Turns out this Chicago did have some balls after all (forgive me, Pete). This is not the Chicago I thought I liked, but a much different prog rockier Chicago that I still really like. 8/10

Strong start with funky jazzy rock fusion. I didn't hate the trumpets. Didn't really like the Freeform Guitar, Hendrix did it better. But respect the experimentation. How they evolved into a cheesy 80s ballads band is a mystery.

This had its moments, and I genuinely think it's good music, that doesn't hold my interest. Anyone rating this a 5, I get it. Just not hitting that way for me.

didn't like it at all

The equivalent of unflavoured ice cream without any sugar.. Not even vanilla

Not really my cup of tea. But the jazz is nice.

I have a degree of respect for this, but it has little soul and I wasnt into it

Is this the same band that did ‘If you leave me now’? I’ve avoided them for decades because of that song. Funky, if a bit too long, with too many guitar solos. Would have got 4 stars if it wasn’t for that awful screaming guitar track

Main takeaway: the longer I stare at the word 'Chicago', the stranger it looks. Anyway, not much emotional connection to the album, but it's upbeat. Lots of horns. Indulgent at times, very backgroundy at others, occasionally insufferable (Free-form Guitar) and sometimes (Questions 67 and 68) kind of great, in a slightly cheesy way. Too long, but interesting along the way, and worth at least one listen.

no peter cetera??

A funky rock classic. Love Chicago.

10/14/26. Very soulful, loud, and uplifting in a lot of spots with this album! Chicago is a very solid band and always enjoy their music when it comes across.

Dope

1 song is enough.

When the first couple songs featured the trombone so heavily, I thought this was going to be a 5/5 album. However, when the trombone usage waned, so too did my interest wane. Not a bad album by any means, and plenty of good stuff here; just not enough trombone for a guy like me.

Groovy funky and "horn"y. I guess this is a pretty classic (1969!) album I've certainly never listened to from front to back. Lots to enjoy. Also (like so much funky improvisational jammy music) it can get pretty boring and tedious. Overall, fine and cool I guess?!

Would be 5 stars but for the Free Form Guitar track.

I don't want to live in a world where "Free Form Guitar" is left off this. I really mean that.

Quite jazzy and technically extraordinary

it was ok

Phenominal album. A big jazzy rock pop jam band, done beautifully. Terry Kath is a monster on guitar, "Free Form Guitar" is one of the most insane pieces of music I've ever heard, and it was made it 1968 without using pedals! I grew up hearing Chicago on the radio a lot, and playing their songs on Rock Band. Love love love this record

3.5

The agency that oversees the public transportation system in Chicago, Illinois.

★★½

In my ignorance I was expecting 80s rock, which in retrospect was because I was confusing them with Boston - an understandable mistake in my opinion - but what I got was an epic, genre-blending wall of sound from start to finish. Starting with a big band jazz sound, then gradually morphing into guitar-led, jazzy, bluesy rock. Sure, the solos go on longer than strictly necessarily but I enjoyed every minute of this. It's the sound of a band making music they enjoy, and to hell with choosing a genre.

Sound: Experimental, brass-driven Lyrics: Romantic pop Highs: "Introduction," "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?," "I'm a Man" Lows: "Free Form Guitar"; also, it could have been a single LP

The debut double album that announced seven musicians blending rock, jazz, and classical influences with a horn section as the primary voice — rawer and more politically engaged than the polished pop the band would eventually become, the protest era energy audible throughout in ways the later catalog quietly retired. This is Chicago before Chicago became a soft rock institution, and the difference is significant. The horn section is the central achievement — Peter Cetera's bass and Terry Kath's guitar anchoring a brass lineup that gives the whole thing a texture rock bands weren't attempting in 1969. Kath's playing throughout is the surprise, the extended improvisation showing a guitarist operating at a level that the band's later commercial success obscured completely. "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" and "Beginnings" make the case for what the band could do when the jazz influence and the songwriting found each other most convincingly. The honest limitation is the free guitar — seven minutes of improvisation that earns its place for a specific kind of listener and tests the patience of everyone else. The double album format that allows the best moments their full ambition also allows the self-indulgent ones to run unchecked, which is the occupational hazard of 1969 rock ambition and the reason this lands at four rather than five.

As with most bands in the late 60s that survived through the 70s there are a lot of changes sonically. This feels like the most interesting version of Chicago. Beginnings is an amazing song. There is a lot to choose from though

This one is really growing on me. I think the first time I listened to this I didn’t quite know what to make of it. This time I really enjoyed it. Only on the second half did it start to slip for me. The first half was solidly a 5. And I enjoyed a great deal of the long play. But the cohesion just isn’t there on the back end. It feels a lot more like stuff thrown together than a developed concept. 4 Boolean: True

Someone needed to tell their guitarist to chill out!

It’s fine but it goes on forever and becomes annoying

Dad rock!

Chicago Transit Authority was quite a nice surprise of an album. Chicago describes themselves as a rock and roll band with horns and that definitely is not wrong. This album is definitely jazz rock in the truest sense of the term and it is some really good jazz rock. The vibes were all completely there, the guitars, bass and trumpets were all great and it's one of those albums where the length of the songs didn't bother me that much but that could be because jazz is a genre that lends itself to longer songs much better than a lot of other genres. I will say that i could have done without Free Form Guitar considering that was just 6 minutes of Terry Kath messing around with his guitar but overall, this was a great album. Best Song: Beginnings Worst Song: Free Form Guitar

not for me but I liked the long crunchy guitar solo actually, lol

I love this album. Early Chicago is amazing. Terry Kath is your favorite guitarist’s favorite guitarist. I have grown to appreciate Free Form Guitar more and more over the years as I have picked up guitar myself. How does he do that? And the songwriting is just incredible. All the band members are fantastic. This was their DEBUT?!?! Poem 58 has always been my favorite. I absolutely love the repetitive riff in the second half, one of my favorite riffs! I’m going to go ahead and rank all the tracks: 1. Poem 58 2. South Carolina Purples 3. Beginnings 4. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? 5. Questions 67 And 68 6. Introduction 7. Listen 8. I’m A Man 9. Liberation 10. Free Form Guitar 11. Someday 12. Prologue The last side isn’t my favorite, but the first 3 sides are more than perfect, so it’s an easy 5 star regardless. Oh and well timed album for the fall season. It’s always been a fall album in my mind for whatever reason. Maybe because that’s when I first listened to it all those years ago

Thought I would like this but it feels try-hard.

Chicago Transit Authority hieß die Band aus Chicago, Illinois, nur auf diesem einen Album, danach genügte der Kurzname. Eingespielt wurde das Debüt Ende Januar 1969 in den Columbia Recording Studios in New York, produziert von James William Guercio, im April erschien es bei Columbia als Doppelalbum. Für eine unbekannte Band war das ein ziemliches Risiko. Musikalisch ist es Jazz-Rock mit Bläsersatz, in dem Funk, Soul und Blues ständig mitspielen. Am besten ist die Platte, wenn sie nicht zu viel will. „Questions 67 and 68“ und „Beginnings“, beide von Robert Lamm, summe ich nach Jahrzehnten immer noch mit, „Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?“ hat dieselbe Leichtigkeit. Die eigentliche Überraschung ist Terry Kaths Gitarre, rau und ohne Rücksicht auf Radiotauglichkeit. „I'm a Man“, im Original von der Spencer Davis Group, wird hier zum ausgedehnten Jam. Nicht jede Länge muss sein, an ein, zwei Stellen in der zweiten Hälfte hätte ich gekürzt. Bei diesem Tempo fällt das kaum ins Gewicht. Dass die Band später glatter wurde, macht dieses rauere Album für mich eher wertvoller. Wer Chicago nur von den Balladen der Siebziger kennt, sollte hier anfangen.

leuke interessante nummers maar free form guitar die pakt me wel

Cheesey and not in a good way

very good, I like the almost Rock Jazz fusion to some of these songs, I like this kind of classical rock style.

could not get through it also did not find it cohesive

This is a 5 without Free Form Guitar

Goed begin - tegen het einde een beetje nerveus soms

Why do we need "Free Form Guitar"? Who is this for??? I feel like this album starts off so strong and has its moments but then just gets bogged down with noise and totally off-the-wall stuff that makes it so hard to get through. Man I really wanted to like this album more.

It was generally ok until the free form guitar songs which mostly sounded like engines revving and I was convinced I had been transported outside a biker bar. I don't need all of that experimentation and playing to be highlighted in a major album release.