Comments on: TAKE ME BACK TO CHICAGO http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/ E AHO LA'ULA Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:48:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: beastofsound http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-839 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-839 Great post. As a trumpet-playing youngster growing up in the 70s, I was inspired by a number of the "horn ensembles": early Chicago, Don Ellis (I never tired of listening to his double live album), Blood Sweat & Tears, Chase, and War come quickly to mind. I didn't care much for Maynard Ferguson though. Great post. As a trumpet-playing youngster growing up in the 70s, I was inspired by a number of the “horn ensembles”: early Chicago, Don Ellis (I never tired of listening to his double live album), Blood Sweat & Tears, Chase, and War come quickly to mind. I didn’t care much for Maynard Ferguson though.

]]> by: Harry http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-840 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-840 Does this mean I can come out of the closet now? Chicago Fans Anonymous or something? Chicago, BS&T, Chase - and don't forget Dreams. Does this mean I can come out of the closet now? Chicago Fans Anonymous or something? Chicago, BS&T, Chase - and don’t forget Dreams.

]]> by: Mark Hasty http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-841 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-841 Yes, this site is jazz-rock friendly. You're safe here, Harry! Yes, this site is jazz-rock friendly. You’re safe here, Harry!

]]> by: Archie Leach http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-842 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-842 Viva Chicago! They only stopped being my all-time favorite band sometime around 2002 because the girl I always thought about whenever I listened to Chicago suddenly decided she was going to get married, and to somebody not named "Michael A. Knapp". They have been replaced by Steely Dan. I forget which album it is (Chicago #5?) but the one where Danny Seraphine's 2-minute long drum solo leads into "I Just Want To Be Free" is still magical. Bob Stroud played it on his Rock And Roll Roots program this morning (July 4) on 97-1 The Drive. Viva Chicago! They only stopped being my all-time favorite band sometime around 2002 because the girl I always thought about whenever I listened to Chicago suddenly decided she was going to get married, and to somebody not named “Michael A. Knapp”.

They have been replaced by Steely Dan.

I forget which album it is (Chicago #5?) but the one where Danny Seraphine’s 2-minute long drum solo leads into “I Just Want To Be Free” is still magical. Bob Stroud played it on his Rock And Roll Roots program this morning (July 4) on 97-1 The Drive.

]]> by: Mark Hasty http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-843 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-843 It's Chicago III, and the track is "Motorboat To Mars." Steely Dan is good, but they've always been a little arch for my taste. I like them; I don't love them. It’s Chicago III, and the track is “Motorboat To Mars.”

Steely Dan is good, but they’ve always been a little arch for my taste. I like them; I don’t love them.

]]> by: Archie Leach http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-844 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-844 Motorboat to Mars. Well, that's a pretty trippy title. Speaking of trippy, "Searching" always reminded me of someone having a near-death experience and then somehow, miraculously coming out of it: As my life goes on I believe Somehow something’s changed Something deep inside Ooh a part of me There’s a strange new light in my eyes Things I’ve never known Changin’ my life Changin’ me I’ve been searchin’ So long To find an answer Now I know my life has meaning Ow oh Now I see myself as I am Feeling very free Life is everything Ooh it’s meant to be When my tears have come to an end I will understand What I left behind Part of me I’ve been searching So long To find and answer Now I know my life has meaning Woah woah Searching Don’t you know I’m hell yeah For an answer To the question Oh yeah For our minds Baby Baby it’s true It’s only natural It’s only natural baby, yeah Good things In life Take a long time Yeah yeah As for Steely Dan: Yes, I can see how the adjective "Arch" can be used to describe the band, especially if you get caught up with the "lyrics". The lyrics are the most cynical and weary of any band that I know, and yet, the music is about as uncynical as possible. While driving, I've had to pull off the road, onto the shoulder, because a Steely Dan song (usually "My Old School") came on the radio, and I really had to collect myself. Motorboat to Mars. Well, that’s a pretty trippy title.

Speaking of trippy, “Searching” always reminded me of someone having a near-death experience and then somehow, miraculously coming out of it:

As my life goes on I believe
Somehow something’s changed
Something deep inside
Ooh a part of me

There’s a strange new light in my eyes
Things I’ve never known
Changin’ my life
Changin’ me

I’ve been searchin’
So long
To find an answer
Now I know my life has meaning
Ow oh

Now I see myself as I am
Feeling very free
Life is everything
Ooh it’s meant to be
When my tears have come to an end
I will understand
What I left behind
Part of me

I’ve been searching
So long
To find and answer
Now I know my life has meaning
Woah woah

Searching
Don’t you know I’m hell yeah
For an answer
To the question
Oh yeah
For our minds
Baby
Baby it’s true
It’s only natural
It’s only natural baby, yeah
Good things
In life
Take a long time
Yeah yeah

As for Steely Dan: Yes, I can see how the adjective “Arch” can be used to describe the band, especially if you get caught up with the “lyrics”.

The lyrics are the most cynical and weary of any band that I know, and yet, the music is about as uncynical as possible.

While driving, I’ve had to pull off the road, onto the shoulder, because a Steely Dan song (usually “My Old School”) came on the radio, and I really had to collect myself.

]]> by: Nor http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-845 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-845 No disco album, but one disco song...Street Player from Chicago 13...disco, but a cut above a lot of what was being released at the time. No disco album, but one disco song…Street Player from Chicago 13…disco, but a cut above a lot of what was being released at the time.

]]> by: bill tuttle http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-846 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-846 I don't even know where to begin descrbing the influence early, pre-AOR Chicago's music has influenced me. I am no naive listener, unaware of jazz, being a long time fan of Miles, Coltrane, Monk, to Weather Report, Jaco, I am a huge Pat Metheny fan, etc. Early Chicago formed my esthetic. It created my ears. In particular: all of Chicago II, and I do mean all, most of Chicago III, the Travel Suite being tremendously underrated (what compares the poignancy yet the jamming intensity of "Happy Cause I'm Going Home"?) But for all the brillance of CTA, II, and III, I cannot fail to mention the importance of their most eclectic album, Chicago VII, with Devil's Sweet and Italian from New York and Aire, as well as powerful proto-ballads like "Searchin'". Almost nothing in my extensive experience of music, is as good as the best of these early Chicago albums. I hate to admit, I cannot listen to anything after "Hot Streets," a tremendously underrated album. Thanks for letting me ramble. Early Chicago is absolutely the best and almost nobody knows it. And it still holds up! I don’t even know where to begin descrbing the influence early, pre-AOR Chicago’s music has influenced me. I am no naive listener, unaware of jazz, being a long time fan of Miles, Coltrane, Monk, to Weather Report, Jaco, I am a huge Pat Metheny fan, etc. Early Chicago formed my esthetic. It created my ears. In particular: all of Chicago II, and I do mean all, most of Chicago III, the Travel Suite being tremendously underrated (what compares the poignancy yet the jamming intensity of “Happy Cause I’m Going Home”?) But for all the brillance of CTA, II, and III, I cannot fail to mention the importance of their most eclectic album, Chicago VII, with Devil’s Sweet and Italian from New York and Aire, as well as powerful proto-ballads like “Searchin’”. Almost nothing in my extensive experience of music, is as good as the best of these early Chicago albums. I hate to admit, I cannot listen to anything after “Hot Streets,” a tremendously underrated album. Thanks for letting me ramble. Early Chicago is absolutely the best and almost nobody knows it. And it still holds up!

]]> by: Zygote-Design http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-847 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-847 <strong>The Transit Authority</strong> Hasty has a great post on one of my favorite bands, Chicago. Until recently I had a Chicago album on vinyl. Yes, I'm that hardcore. How anyone can knock a band that had "Wishing You Were Here" -- one of my favorite songs of all time -- i... The Transit Authority
Hasty has a great post on one of my favorite bands, Chicago.

Until recently I had a Chicago album on vinyl. Yes, I’m that hardcore.

How anyone can knock a band that had “Wishing You Were Here” — one of my favorite songs of all time — i…

]]> by: Arguing with signposts... http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-848 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/06/30/take-me-back-to-chicago/#comment-848 <strong>Spreading the love around ...</strong> I will be traveling today via car, so blogging will be non-existent until late this evening. But maybe I'll have something profound to say at that time (ha!). So in the meantime, check out these fine stories: We should be... Spreading the love around …
I will be traveling today via car, so blogging will be non-existent until late this evening. But maybe I’ll have something profound to say at that time (ha!). So in the meantime, check out these fine stories: We should be…

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