TAKE ME BACK TO CHICAGO

It is not easy being a fan of the band Chicago. It’s doubly tough if you’re a music-criticism camp follower, since you’re forced to read about how one of your favorite bands is generally regarded as one of the least-deserving popular acts of the rock and roll era.

“Lounge act.” “Schlockmeisters.” “Neither swinging nor rocking.” “The album covers are more interesting than the albums.” Chicago’s been blamed for everything from the rise of “lite rock” radio to the 1987 stock market crash, it seems. I, for one, am tired of it. Not only is Chicago not the musical sinkhole they’re claimed to be, they’re a deeply influential band long overdue for critical reappraisal.

First, the numbers: Chicago charted 35 singles between 1970 and 1991. They’ve had three #1 pop singles and seven #1 adult-contemporary hits. That alone is a significant body of work. Chicago has also charted albums in five different decades, something no other artist (not even Elvis or the Beatles) has done.

Of course, this won’t be enough to shut up the critics. They’ve been taking aim at Chicago for a long time. And I’ve been paying attention. So hang on, because I’m going to attack the canonical list of anti-Chicagoism, and when I’m done, I think I’ll have made my case for why Chicago matters for non-nostalgic reasons.
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“THEY COULDN’T HIT AN ELEPHANT AT THIS DIST-”

Drudge is reporting that all signs are pointing to a Kerry/Clinton ticket this fall. Without passing judgement on Ms. Clinton, this report (if true) represents a serious tactical error on the Democrats’ part. The American people are probably not quite ready to forgive Bill Clinton, and certainly seem in no great rush to return to the Clinton Era. Hillary is, of course, a completely different person than Bill, but it’s hard to imagine that the GOP wouldn’t succeed in linking the two and using lingering anti-WJC sentiment against the Kerry/Clinton ticket.

I doubt this is true anyway; the article reads like one Democratic insider’s pipe dream.